State & Local News Vol. 20, No. 3, Spring 1997 CHAIR'S MESSAGE By Janice C. Griffith Report on Midyear Meeting Events The successful teleconferencing of our annual Hot Topics Land Use program highlighted our Midyear Meeting in San Antonio. Not only did we fulfill our goal to increase our focus on substantive law issues at Council Meetings, but we made it possible for the first time for practitioners, not in San Antonio, to join in on our land-use dialogue. Goal 7 of our strategic plan calls for Section leadership training and development. In furtherance of this goal, our Midyear Meeting featured presentations by David Cardwell, Carol Dinkins, and Karen Mathis who shared their knowledge about the inner workings of the ABA to enlighten us as to how leaders emerge within the ABA organization. The historic walking tour of downtown San Antonio gave us yet another opportunity to enjoy each other's company while learning about San Antonio history. The meeting culminated in the adoption of a proposal to join the Public Contract Section in a study to determine whether the Model Procurement Code should be revised in light of technological changes that have occurred since the drafting of the first code two decades ago. The Value of Section Membership The results of our recent membership survey caused me to reevaluate the real worth of Section membership. For annual dues of $35, members receive four issues of both The Urban Lawyer and the Section's newsletter. The Urban Lawyer has achieved national acclaim for its coverage of state and local government law issues. It furnishes: annual comprehensive reports of recent developments in all major areas of state and local government law; articles on diverse topics ranging from federalism to the Americans With Disabilities Act; and updates on such cutting edge issues as the county supremacy movement, federal mandates, city welfare reform, and the impact of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Section's State and Local Law News provides: current information on selected substantive topics; coverage of hot topics, as the article on privatization in the Winter 1997 issue; technology information; practical, "hands on" advice, as in our last newsletter, on how to perform legal research using the Internet; Supreme Court Update by Beate Bloch; and Washington's Labyrinthine Ways by Otto J. Hetzel. In addition to these publications, the Section sells a number of books written by experts in diverse areas of state and local government law. As a Section member, our mailing list assures you of notice of these helpful publications. The Section enjoys a long-standing reputation within the ABA community for the quality of the continuing legal education programs it offers. Yet to come this year are new programs covering these topics: privatization of and automation of technology services, nuts & bolts, a primer for young and new attorneys, military base closings, and changing trends in the devolution of power to the states: a case study on restructuring welfare programs. Those connected to the Internet can access the Section's homepage at http://www.abanet.org/statelocal/home.html. Our homepage provides information on state and local government law issues and upcoming events. It contains world wide web links to other Internet locations. Three online discussion groups have been created recently to enable a Section member with a specific problem to obtain information from other practitioners who may have encountered a similar issue. Section members frequently extol the value they receive from networking with colleagues at Section meetings and events. The ability to converse with others practicing in the same substantive area, but in varied practice settings in different parts of the country, remains one of the strongest reasons for joining the Section. Our Section is characterized by lively dialogue stemming from a diverse membership including public sector lawyers, private practitioners, and law professors. Our expertise covers such disparate areas as public finance, labor relations, and land-use regulations. Not only do members get referrals from other lawyers they meet through Section activities, but they also develop lifetime friendships with many of the people they meet at our activities. Due to the fact that our Section is one of the ABA's smallest, we offer newcomers many opportunities to get involved in the Section. If you are willing to work, while having fun, you can make a difference in the State and Local Government Law Section. We are a friendly group, and we have fun together whether it be over Texas barbecue or walking along city streets on one of our historic walking tours. Please come and join us!