State & Local Law News, Vol. 19, No. 3, Spring 1996 G. Richard Hill is Chair of the Section and practices law in Seattle Washington, with Phillips McCullough Wilson Hill & Fisko. Chair's Message By Richard Hill This "Chair's Message" serves as an invitation. You, and your colleagues, are invited to accept a challenge, a challenge that will take time, energy, and commitment, a challenge that offers professional reward and personal satisfaction. You are invited to step forward, or if you don't have the time at present, to help us identify others, to accept leadership roles in our State and Local Government Law Section. For years, our Section has served as a leader for practitioners who work for and with state and local governments. The Section identifies current issues of significance to the profession, analyzes and addresses those issues, and presents them to its members, inviting participation and debate, and encouraging resolution of problems and development of the law. To remain a leader, however, the Section recognizes that it must recruit and develop the future leaders of the profession to become active in Section activities, to participate in the Section's committees, CLE and publications programs, and Council and Executive Committee activities. Just as the Section is only as strong as its members, it is even more true that the Section is dependent for its health and growth upon its future leaders. Strategic Plan Identifies Leadership Priority The strategic plan review that the Section is now completing has identified only one completely new goal, a goal that had been an implicit Section priority, but which will now become explicit: To Develop Strong Section Leadership. We now clearly recognize that for the Section to accomplish the many tasks it has undertaken, including its ambitious publications and CLE programs, its broad ranging committee activities, its analysis and resolution of challenging issues of ethics and other contemporary conundrums, in order to succeed, the Section must identify new leaders, and provide training, guidance, and opportunities to these individuals. The Section intends to establish criteria for each of the leadership positions available, from subcommittee chairs to Section Chair. We will identify and publicize leadership opportunities, and establish a formal training program to provide assistance and guidance at each level within the Section. We will encourage existing Section leaders to build on their already existing networks, to share the benefits and the burdens of their positions, and to serve as mentors for the leaders of the future coming up through the ranks. The Section's strategic plan will serve as the basis for the fulfillment of our leadership goals. The plan will serve as a map for the Section's future, and offers tasks and timetables to hold our leaders accountable for the trust that has been placed in them. Committees Provide Leadership Opportunities The training ground for many of our Section leaders began in the committees. Our committees, covering subject matters ranging from land use to public finance, from education to transportation, from government liability to crisis management, offer opportunities for research, writing, speaking, networking, and, yes, leadership. Many subcommittees are looking for chairs, many committees are seeking vice chairs. Now is the time to volunteer. Larry Ethridge, our Section Secretary, is responsible for our committees. You may either contact him directly with your expression of interest, call me, or address your request to the pertinent committee chair. Nominating Committee Recommends Appointments Our Section Nominating Committee, chaired by our Chair-Elect Janice Griffith, is currently in the process of identifying candidates for many Section positions, including Council members, Section Delegates, Secretary, and others. Janice earnestly wants your input into her Committee's deliberations. Feel free to contact her with your suggestions. Section's Diversity Goals The strategic plan specifically seeks to increase minority and women representation on committees, Council, and in other leadership positions. The Section also seeks to increase participation by government attorneys and law professors. The Section affirmatively and enthusiastically seeks to increase diversity in Section leadership positions, and is committed to provide the environment and training to succeed in its goals. Participate Early and Often Whatever your time availability, active involvement in the Section will prove rewarding. The Section needs your time, your commitment, and your leadership abilities, so that it can continue to serve its members and the wider community in the years to come. You are urged to contact Larry Ethridge, Janice Griffith, our Staff Director Jackie Baker, or me, to volunteer your time to Section activities, or to suggest others who you think might benefit from Section involvement.