Chair's Column

First, a big thank you to all of the people (and there were a lot of them) who attended my first national meeting in Washington, DC, to hear about Government Construction Contracting. Second, a heartfelt thanks to the masses of people who showed up for the regional programs in Philadelphia, Atlanta, St. Louis, and San Francisco. Third, I want to express my gratitude for all those who learned about power projects with us at the Midwinter meeting in Las Vegas. Finally, many thanks to the 715 of you (not a typo; it was an incredible 715 attendees) who joined us in New Orleans (despite some challenging travel) to hear from the experts on construction litigation.

The reason I am calling out the people who filled these meetings is that the great attendance we had at all of the meetings this bar year allowed us to make good on a promise I made when I became Chair of the Forum. The promise was to reverse course on a particular cost-cutting measure instituted in response to the Forum’s pandemic-induced financial malaise. While I agreed with many of the cost-cutting measures we took, there was one that I fought—unsuccessfully. As part of our austerity measures, we reduced the diversity fellowship program from six to four awardees annually and reduced the meeting scholarships from four to two.

When I became Chair, I committed to providing great content in exciting locations so that we could enhance attendance. My purpose was to have enough financial success to restore the scholarship and fellowship programs to their previous levels. And we did it. More appropriately, you did it by showing up in huge numbers for the national and regional programs. Thank you!

I am proud to report that the Forum is returning to our full complement of four Diversity Scholarships per meeting (including national meetings, regional programs, and the Trial Academy) and six Diversity Fellowships per year. The Forum’s Governing Committee voted to approve this change on the Wednesday of the Annual meeting. I found it particularly meaningful to announce the restoration of the Scholarships and Fellowships at the very same Annual Business meeting where we voted in as our Chair-Elect a product of the Fellowship program, Tracy James. Beyond Tracy, these programs routinely produce an outsized portion of the Forum leadership. These initiatives bring people into the Forum and show them a path to meaningful involvement. From there, it is the power of the Forum that keeps them engaged.

Investing in the future of the Forum with programs of this sort is imperative for the ongoing success of the organization—and I use the term “investing” with purpose. When I asked for a show of hands at the Annual Business meeting of people who were or had been Scholars or Fellows, the response was striking. After Fellows are set on the path, they often return for years to come.

Once people get a taste of what the Forum has to offer, many stay for a career—I count myself among them. A few years or even a few days of investment can result in decades of returns.

The Forum’s mission is “Building the Best Construction Lawyers.” To accomplish that mission, we must have a vibrant organization with opportunities for all of its members. Whether it is the Diversity Fellows program, the In-House Fellows program, or the Guide/Explorer program, the objective is to open the door and let people in. In the world of tightening legal marketing budgets (yet another bad remnant of the pandemic), I urge the Forum leadership moving forward to further expand opportunities for a structured introduction to our great organization.

To fulfill the Forum’s potential, it is incumbent upon all of us to help all newcomers (and the journeymen members who have not yet found their path) feel comfortable and confident in making their way into the Forum. Whether that is as simple as inviting them to join your table at a meeting, encouraging them to join your division, or inviting them to join you as you walk around the French Quarter Festival, we all play a role in maximizing our pipeline of talent. When we fill seats with active, welcoming, and diverse attendees at every meeting, as we did this year, we build the future of the Forum. I hope you will do your part. I certainly appreciate those who opened the Forum doors for me . . . more to come on that topic in my last column.