   |
|
State & Local News Vol. 21, No. 3, Spring 1998
Chair's Message: Volunteers Are the Key to Our SuccessFrederick W. Leonhardt is Chair of the Section and practices law with the firm of Gray Harris & Robinson, PA, in Orlando, Florida.
By Frederick W. LeonhardtOver the years since the State and Local Government Law Section was created (1949), we have been blessed with hundreds of dedicated volunteers who have made a difference for our Section and the legal profession generally. Almost all of these volunteers started their involvement with one or more of our Section's committees. I would like to invite you to become involved in our Section's committees. The current committee organization provides an easy avenue for quick involvement in a variety of substantive areas. Your service could include being chair, vice chair of reports, vice chair of programs, technology vice chair, membership vice chair, or the chair of a subcommittee on a substantive topic of interest. Whatever your desired method of involvement, you should contact me at 407/244B5655 or our Section Administrator, Jackie Baker, at ABA headquarters in Chicago at 312/988B5652, and let us know what you would like to do. Current committee options include:
Land Use, Planning and Zoning-Overviews current issues in the fields of planning, zoning, and land-use law including legislative, judicial, and administrative topics in virtually all public jurisdictions. Public Finance-Focuses on financing activities of state and local governments and all forms of public borrowing including bonds, notes, taxation of interest, state and local government bond obligations, and state and local tax, and special assessments. Governmental Operations and Liability-Addresses a wide variety of issues including local government organization and management, election law, ethics, employment law, privatization, state and local government liability, and "special duty" relationships between individuals, property owners, and governmental entities. Environment-Considers all aspects of environmental law and regulations by state and local governments, including air, water, and solid waste. Public Education-Overviews all legal issues applicable to publicly owned and operated education facilities at the primary, secondary, and collegiate levels. These include finance, employment, government, special education, charter schools, free speech, and ethical issues facing attorneys representing public educational institutions. International Law-Examines developing law in relation to government agencies and municipal bodies on a multi-country, comparative basis. Identifies strengths and weaknesses from local government experiences in many different countries. Crisis Management-Studies emerging issues facing state and local governments. Disaster PreparednessCPromotes the Section's special project on disaster preparedness for the benefit of private and public attorneys. This project arose following the bombing of the World Trade Center and has been updated after other natural and man-made disasters. Membership on all committees includes attorneys for private clients, developers, and landowners, as well as attorneys for public agencies. Members of the academic community also play a vital role in each committee's operations, Committees meet by conference call periodically and also in person at the Section's Spring Meeting and at the ABA Annual Meeting. Members correspond regularly with the committee chair and ABA staff. The committee structure provides a steady flow of new leadership for our Section and we earnestly solicit your support and involvement. Thank you in advance for your consideration of further involvement in the Section.
|