Life is short. Too short to be reading lengthy President Messages. So I will keep my columns on the lean side, barring unforeseen circumstances.
There is a preponderance of health reports that warn of the shorter lifespans of lawyers. Nevertheless, we continue to be so busy meeting the needs of so many and then compound the strain by diligently recording the great bulk of our daily work onto time sheets. How exhausting and time-consuming!
The truth about life's inequitable brevity was driven home to me in December of 1988 when my law partner, J. Earle Plumhoff, died from lung cancer shortly after his 48th birthday. As our Association President in '84, Earle exemplified every aspect of professionalism, including the importance of Bar Association participation.
Early in my career, the 56th President of this Association also mentored me about the benefits of active Bar involvement. My father, the elder Jim Nolan, taught me that one can get more out of the practice of law by devoting some time and energy to Bar activities: more personal satisfaction, more professional connections, more proficiency, and more overall balance. As the demands of day-to-day practice have become more arduous, his advice has proven to have immense value.
Thus, my primary goal this year as your 85th President is to increase active participation within the Association so that the BCBA can serve its members better. I sincerely believe that member service is the priority on which each Committee Chair must focus so that the programs we offer are meaningful and truly benefit lawyers and judges.
Before closing, I want to thank my predecessor, J. Calvin (Nip) Jenkins, Jr., for his many accomplishments on behalf of our Association in such a short period. The benefits of his work will carry over for years to come. I invite you to call me or e-mail me if there is a Bar program on which you would like to work.
Life is indeed short and thus we should occasionally devote some energy to meeting our own needs. The BCBA is just one vehicle to do just that.