The Chair's Message

As my term as Chair is almost over, I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding efforts of so many of our colleagues on so many projects, and to share my deep sense of satisfaction for what we have been able to accomplish together.

For example, so far this year we have published two books and otherwise expanded our publication efforts; presented numerous successful educational programs on topics of interest and professional significance to our membership; provided written and oral testimony on regulatory reform proposals to the United States Senate; enjoyed a high level of committee activity on subjects as diverse as campaign finance reform, revision of the Administrative Procedure Act, and federal agency websites on the Internet; and completed three successful Council meetings where everyone in attendance was afforded the opportunity to participate fully in our deliberative process. And, on a social level, our Washington Fall Meeting dinner with the former heads of the Office of Legal Counsel, and the social events at the Nashville Mid-Year and Scottsdale Spring Meetings have afforded us and our families the opportunity to renew old friendships and develop new ones.

These successes will be expanded upon at our upcoming Annual Meeting in Toronto on July 31-August 3, 1998. Our meeting Co-Chairs, James Harbell of the Toronto law firm of Stikeman Elliott, Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society, and David Woodward of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, have done a truly outstanding job in organizing seven programs and a number of social events designed to attract section members, spouses, children, and other guests. If you have been unable to attend our prior meetings, please enjoy the full benefits of section membership by finding the time for Toronto.

As was the case at the Spring Meeting in Arizona, our social events will be aimed at making attendance more attractive to spouses, children, and guests of our members. Accordingly, in addition to a reception featuring Canadian regional cuisine graciously hosted by the Stikeman Elliott firm, and dinner at Biagio's, a charming Italian restaurant, we have arranged continental breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday mornings for spouses, children, and other guests, and the opportunity for sightseeing and other trips throughout the Toronto metropolitan area.

In addition to our Council Meetings on August 1 and 2, you will also have seven exciting CLE programs to choose from. These programs, which are described in greater detail in our Annual Meeting brochure, are:

1. The Line Item Veto, Where Do We Go From Here?

2. The Strange New World of Deregulated Takings: The Restructuring of Network Industries

3. Appellate Review of Federal Agency Action by a Single Judge

4. Cross-Border Electronic Commerce Regulation

5. First Annual Regulatory Update for Labor and Employment Lawyers

6. Canadian Trends in Environmental Law

7. Food and Drug Law in the New Global Marketplace: Harmonizing and Coordinating Transnational Health and Safety Regulation

We cordially invite you to join us at the Royal York Hotel and to enjoy the exciting and vibrant City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.