At the May 14, 2002 Executive Council meeting, among other important issues discussed was the concept of a unique opportunity for our Association to associate itself with ABC/WMAR/Channel 2 here in Baltimore. The concept is a marketing program whereby throughout the year WMAR will tell its viewers to click on the “Baltimore Law” logo on its website known as insidebaltimore.com. “Baltimore Law” will offer viewers a listing of our members on the website and there are four ways in which a member of our Association can be involved if she/he wishes to do so.

1. A complimentary listing including the name, address and phone number of the member will be listed in alphabetical order.

2. A member will have the option for an annual payment of $150.00 to have her/his photograph along with her/his name, address and phone number in the alphabetical listing as well as his/her name, address and phone number in two (2) additional concentration listings.

3. In addition to the alphabetical listing with your photograph, you will also be provided by WMAR with an audio presentation of your message (maximum of two minutes) and a total of four (4) concentration listings in addition to the alphabetical listing for an annual fee of $250.00.

4. Last but not least, and the option that I have already chosen personally, is a visual taping of yourself by WMAR-TV, informing the viewers about your law firm (maximum two minutes) plus up to eight (8) concentration listings in addition to the alphabetical listing for an annual cost of $500.00.

In the next few weeks you will be receiving in the mail a packet explaining in detail the elements of the program as well as a list of twenty-three (23) concentrations from which to choose the appropriate number of choices depending on your level of participation, and naturally there will be a simple participation form to consider.

This is the first effort of this nature here in Maryland and to my knowledge, in the country, where instead of only being able to advertise inexpensively in hard copy form, the opportunity is being presented to us to go to the next level so to speak and advertise tastefully on the internet without paying an excessive fee.

Bud Clarke is in the process of finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding to be executed between the Association and ABC/WMAR-TV Channel 2 to protect the interest of the Association and to protect the confidentiality of our members. We will not be turning over our membership list to WMAR-TV although the cost of the mailing and the cost of the mailer will be borne by WMAR-TV.

No member need participate if she/he chooses not to do so, conversely if you simply want to be included in the alphabetical listing there will be no fee for this service, which is complimentary.

The above having been said, it is time for me to move on from office in that a year has nearly come and gone since June 21, 2001 when I was honored to be named President of the Association. It has been a fascinating year for me, what with two new District Court Judges, four retiring Circuit Court Judges recently replaced by four new individuals, not to mention the impact on us all from the September 11, 2001 attack on our country and on our culture.

If I had a defining moment over the last year as President it was the overwhelming support I received from so many members regarding the phantom holiday party concept in lieu of a physical event whereby we raised over $5,000.00, every penny of which was presented at the annual banquet by Dana Williams to Colonel Robert Schweitzer, Chairman of the Maryland National Guard Foundation. What a tribute to our Association to be able to make such a statement on behalf of our fellow and sister citizens.

I want to close out my year by thanking the Executive Council consisting of Dominick Garcia, Deborah Schubert, Alan Bussard, Dana Williams, Bud Clarke and Alex Wright, Jr. along with John Nagle, III and Jennifer Beach for their consistent effort to improve our Association along with my thanks to Carole Otte for the Lawyer Referral coordination she handles so well plus heart felt thanks to our Executive Director Heather Martin for all she does for us. Not last and not least, I want to express my sincere thanks to the Committee Chair Persons and Vice Chair Persons who consistently produced excellent programs and last but not least, thanks my fellow officers, Treasurer John Gontrum, Secretary John Nowicki and Incoming President Steve Nolan, you three were always there for me and you will better appreciate the comfort that you gave me when each of you sits in the seat of the President.

The gavel will be transferred from me to Incoming President Steve Nolan at the quarterly meeting/stated meeting set for Thursday, June 20, 2002 at 4:30 p.m. in Ceremonial Courtroom Number 5 in the original Courthouse. Please make an effort to attend as this annual event is one of our traditional highlights.