Res Ispa on Board Leadership Forum

June is when the State Bar of Michigan hosts its annual dual leadership forum for incoming bar leaders and continuing legal education institute at Mackinac Island's historic Grand Hotel1. Having attended the forum about nine times now, it has become a true tradition for me, like pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. This year, I participated on a panel that spoke about law-related education. It was delightful to pass along the testimonials from our local attorneys who participated in our Constitution Day project last year. To the lawyers who returned their surveys about their experience with that project, thank you very much. Your comments have likely inspired bar leaders in other communities to take up the worthy cause of educating our future generation of leaders about their rights and responsibilities as citizens of our community.

The primary purposes of the forum are: for new bar leaders to get to know their state bar leadership and staff, who provide an incredible depth and breadth of resources; to become more inspired for their coming year at the helm; to hear about issues currently facing our profession and how the state bar is assisting its members navigate those issues; and to learn the nuts and bolts of running an effective organization. This year's forum accomplished all of those goals, and more, like learning how to use social internet networking to build your organization. For me, the "more" was my annual run - no, jog - around the island, which measures about 8.2 miles.  This self-imposed torture was of course occasioned by the famous, or infamous, as the case may be, Grand Pecan Ball, a devilish scoop of vanilla ice cream rolled in pecans served over Sander's hot fudge. Unlike last year, I did not see Governor Granholm out for her morning run, sporting her celebrity sunglasses and baseball cap. I don't know if she was on the Island with us this year, but if she was, I can't blame her for skipping that morning - it was 60 degrees and drizzling.

Our economic times make it difficult for boards to choose to spend their members' money for new leadership to attend this training.  However, I was thrilled to see the Vanzetti Hamilton Bar Association's incoming president, Robyn McCoy, at the forum.  I hope that other local bar organizations, including committees and sections of our local bar, will call on me to connect them with state bar resources and provide them with information about bar leadership whenever needed. It is an honor and privilege to serve as your commissioner, and I hope that you will call on me whenever I can assist you.