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VOL. 1, NO. 2
April 2008
What's Happening With…
Guest Column:
Mary A. Cavallini, Associate Executive Director of Professional Services, Membership, and Market Research Group, discusses the value of membership. »
Membership Update:
A report from Andrew "Josh" Markus, Chair of the SOC Membership Committee. »
diversity matters
Jeffery G. Gibson, Chair of the new ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), provides an overview. »
Jottings From the Editor…
Lee S. Kolczun discusses the mission of SOC e-News »
SOC Discussion Lists  »
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What do you think of the articles in this issue? What would you like to see in upcoming issues? »
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Guest Column
Membership: It's Everybody's Business
By Mary A. Cavallini, Associate Executive Director, Professional Services, Membership, and Market Research Group
 Recently the Membership Division completed a study that showed more conclusively than ever before that Section, Division and Forum (Section) membership is the reason lawyers become and remain ABA members. And it is indeed the Sections that provide the programs, committees and projects that offer members the opportunities to participate and become personally involved.
So what is it the Sections need to help them continue to attract and retain members? The Association provides structure and stature, but does it do all it can to help these membership entities meet their goals, which ultimately translates into a larger, stronger, and even more viable organization?
On Thursday, March 20, almost 60 ABA staff -- including Sections -- with membership responsibilities were invited to meet together as, perhaps, the most powerful staff working group ever organized to discuss these issues. Hank White welcomed the group, Membership Director Diane Bruhl shared membership statistics, and Market Research Director Laura Metzger’s presentation on "The New Recruit" gave us insight into the needs of "Baby Boomers" (born 1946 – 1964), and Generations X (born 1965 – 1976) and Y (born 1977 – 1997). After sharing individual successful recruitment and retention stories, break-out groups were formed to brainstorm, and a report with their conclusions and recommendations is being put together as I write. A "Why Is It?" wall was used to post questions with no holds barred as to topic. Responses to all questions were promised within ten days.
This was an exciting start to what we hope will be more and more collaborative efforts from the staff who work with members every day -- the Section, Division and Forum staff. Their expertise, experience and knowledge of what their members want will help Membership and Marketing create ever more powerful opportunities to move toward a stronger, larger, and more flexible Association more attuned to the needs and expectations of its members, particularly the younger ones.
Watch this space for more information as it becomes available. We hope to share our report with the Board, the Standing Committee on Membership and, of course, the Section Officers Conference Membership Committee. We hope that you will feel free to bring questions or ideas to us. (E-mail me at cavallinim@staff.abanet.org.) This is not a one-time effort, and results of this first meeting must be reviewed and refined on a regular basis. Our success is your success.
©2008 American Bar Association. All rights reserved.
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