Dear Members,

What a great Spring Meeting we just had in New York!

It was, as predicted, our largest seasonal meeting ever, but this April event was bigger still because of the quality of the programming and the camaraderie on display.

I know that I have thanked them before, but I would like to express my gratitude once again to our Spring Meeting sponsors, our Planning Committee and our incomparable and indefatigable Section staff, and I would especially like to thank the Meeting Co-Chairs, Bob Brodegaard, Ingrid Busson and Albert Garrofé (and Co-Chair "Emeritus" Mike Byowitz).

In addition, I would also like to thank each of you who participated. For the better part of a week, we achieved collectively what none of us could have done individually. We listened and learned, we tried to make a difference, we shared our experiences, and we managed to have some fun. No one who attended will soon forget the sensational Rainbow Room formal. This has to be the best dancing Section in the ABA!

Let me share with you a view of the Spring Meeting through the eyes of a student, a first-time attendee, whose report to a law school dean included the following:

"I recently had the privilege of interacting with a great many lawyers at the ABA Section of International Law's Spring Meeting in New York. I was able to attend fascinating lectures, debates, seminars and round-table discussions on subjects ranging from women's rights in Africa, to the legality of General Musharraf's declaration of a state of emergency in Pakistan, to the closer-to-home subject of the extent to which law schools should focus on international law in their curricula. Throughout all of this, one thing became apparent above all else. These lawyers were passionate. Passionate about the law, and passionate about their opportunity to take action and work for change. I found the entire experience inspiring.

I was also amazed to see the sense of community that exists in the legal world. I was struck by how far out of their own way these people would go to help each other out, often for no personal gain. This solidified my desire to become a part of this legal community, and to play my role in helping that community give back to society at large (a theme that ran through the entire meeting)."

By the way, the author of that report was my 22-year-old son, and this dad would like to conclude this Chair's message by again thanking all the Spring Meeting attendees, in this case for making parenting easy for me in the first week of April by your examples as role models and by the other contributions made on that occasion to ensure another very special display by the Section of:

"International Law, World Class."

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)

- Click here for other programs of interest.

ILN Deadlines:

Winter 2009 Issue: Human Rights – September 9, 2008

Spring 2009 Issue: India – December 11, 2008