Dear Members,

You have drawn a card from the Section of International Law Community Chest, and it is telling you to "Take a Walk on The Boardwalk"!

 The Section's annual Leadership Retreat will take place at Bally’s in Atlantic City on August 6 and 7 at what is arguably America’s most famous address, the corner of Boardwalk and Park Place, immediately preceding the ABA Annual Meeting (August 7-12) in New York City.  Our Retreat Co-Chairs, Steve Richman (a Jersey Boy) and Sara Sandford, look forward to welcoming you at this pre-event.  And they've done a terrific job formulating the agenda, which includes everything from demystifying an ABA International “career path” to strategic planning.  We'll be joined by Michael Brandewein, an internationally recognized expert on management, communication, leadership and team building, to assist in our training and breakout sessions.  Here is your chance to network with your fellow Section leaders, make some new friends and build strong partnerships, while helping to make the Section the best it can be.

But let me assure you – it won’t be all work and no play.  We’re organizing some great social events, including a reception and dinner at the charming Atlantic City Country Club (think "World Class") on Wednesday, August 6. For the golf lovers among you, it may be surprising to learn that this country club is most famous for being the birthplace of the terms “birdie” and “eagle” and has a tap room named one of Golf Digest's 50 Best 19th Holes.  (Don’t worry, we’ll provide the transportation.)

The event is open to all Section members.  Well, to be eligible, you either have to be a Section leader, want to be a Section leader or want to know more about how to get the most out of your Section membership.  Still, I think that covers all of you.  Do bring your families as well.  We have budgeted for quality time on the beach.  (Here's where I confess that London is my adopted home and that the Retreat will be a homecoming for me.)  Having spent all my childhood summers on the Jersey Shore, this Jersey Boy can vouch for the magic of the place.  For many of our overseas members, back and forth to the States as you may have been for business meetings and events, here is a chance to discover the real America.

Gathering in this way is important.  My international law firm, with the same challenge as our Section – its talent spread around the globe – relies heavily on periodic retreats to ensure that we realize our fullest potential and progress our strategic thinking.  To be sure, after a quick succession of law firm retreats (global partners; U.S. law practice; departmental; practice group), my wife asked whether, having retreated so much, I could still see the front line.  Perhaps she is right.  Looking at these events as "retreats" may be counterproductive.  The special opportunity presented is one of taking the Section forward.  And I know of no better "short-cut" for helping individual members to move ahead in the Section leadership and advance their understanding of what is on offer.  Perhaps we should rename the event our “Section Leadership Advance”!

We took you to the coveted blue squares, Mayfair and Park Lane, of the English version of the Monopoly game for our London Fall Meeting.  Now the Section offers that same prime location as reflected on the American edition of the game board.  So, to paraphrase another Jersey Boy, Bruce Springsteen:

"Put your Section pin on and fix your hair up pretty and meet me in August in Atlantic City."

We promise a Section Leadership Advance with "International Law, World Class" — and lots of hoagies and cheese dogs. Who could ask for anything more?

Jeffrey B. Golden, Chair, Section of International Law, 2007 - 2008

Click here to view a video greeting from the Chair: Windows Media (.wmv, 3.73 MB) RealMedia (.rm, 3.17 MB)