In the year leading up to a leadership position in the Baltimore County Bar Association, the President and President-Elect are inundated with literature and invitations to seminars from the Maryland State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. On the State level, the Local and Specialty Bar Committee sponsors a two-day retreat where Bar leaders gather to exchange ideas, and compare successes and failures of their respective associations. On the National level, the ABA provides numerous publications including The Bar Leader, which not only offers innovative thoughts for enhancing the Bar Association experience, but also allows Bar leaders from across the country to discuss what has not worked for their individual associations. Putting aside the trials, tribulations, and myriad of problems associated with mandatory Bar Associations, I have come away with the opinion that we, in Baltimore County, are indeed very fortunate.

Whether speaking with someone from elsewhere in the State or from California or North Carolina, the one question I have been repeatedly asked is - How does your association get 800 plus lawyers to go to a formal dinner in January and no one gets hurt? The fact of the matter is, I don’t know. I believe, however, that the success of the annual banquet and other programs put on by the BCBA are a direct result of generations of lawyer members that have gone before us, as well as the current members, particularly those who are involved in the numerous committees of the Association. Since I came to Baltimore County in 1982, I have found a willingness on the part of the Association to welcome in new members and to create opportunities for them to interact with more experienced members. Whether attending the banquet, golf outing, or a CLE on Wednesday morning, members may find themselves playing a round or sitting next to a Judge, senior partner of a large law firm, or just another attorney who has a similar practice with similar problems. I have also found that knowing one attorney in Baltimore County will likely result in the meeting of many others.

Although one traditional event no longer occurs in Baltimore County, I’m sure many will recall the shows put on by Leonard Jacobson in the 1980's and early 1990's. The only requirements for being in the show were to show up, know that Leonard was the boss, and have fun. It didn’t matter that you may be making a fool of yourself. The important thing was to have fun. For those who aren’t familiar with the shows, Leonard would take certain liberties with the lyrics of popular show tunes, pop or rap songs, while inserting a legal theme. The result was many entertaining shows, held at the Limestone and Towson Dinner Theaters, that generated money that was thereafter donated to various charitable organizations. More importantly, it was an opportunity to meet other attorneys and judges outside of the traditional legal settings. The cast members included Lee Jacobson, Harry Fox, Jeff Foreman, Dana Levitz, Barbara Howe, Larry Daniels, Jim Beach, Pat and Dominick Garcia, Dave Mister, Thelma Thompson, Alan Silverberg, and Gordon Peltz, to name a few. There is no better way to get to know someone than by sharing a crowded changing room, with nothing but a curtain between the men’s and women’s side. Seeing men putting on dresses and makeup alone was worth the experience. While sitting around at rehearsals, the war stories abounded. The camaraderie and the friendships developed from that time endure for all of us today.

I encourage all members to participate in the activities sponsored by our Association. For the younger members, events such as the Bull Roast provide a great chance to get your families involved. At the recent Crab Feast sponsored jointly by the Baltimore County and City Bar Associations, I noticed that several young attorneys were sitting with Judge Joseph H. H. Kaplan, from the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, and one of the luminaries of the legal profession. My wife and I shared a table with Judges Robert Kershaw and John Howard. From Baltimore County, Judges Kathleen Cox, Vicki Ballou-Watts, and Mickey Norman, as well as Dana Williams, President-Elect of the BCBA, ate crabs and shared stories with their law clerks and other young lawyers. The relationships and acquaintances developed at these events will prove invaluable.

The strength of our association is our members. Their willingness to place professionalism and respect for their fellow colleagues above personal animosity has set the standard by which other Bar associations judge themselves. We have reason to be proud. With this in mind, I encourage all to participate in such upcoming events as National Adoption Day, the annual Memorial Service, and the Holiday parties. Take the time to meet old friends and make new ones.