Chair’s Message
By Adriane J. Dudley
Adriane J. Dudley is a principal in the St. Thomas, Virgin Island, firm of Dudley, Clark & Chan and is the Chair of the Section.
Greetings Colleagues,
Despite the tough economic times about which we are tired of hearing, I’m sure, we have some things for which to be thankful. Our health, our families, our colleagues, our potential, our improving weather. Okay, so I’m really stretching the optimism point, but it is time for some good news. A glance at the Section’s website at www.abanet.org/statelocal and the ad in this newsletter will reveal some truly useful and timely CLEs. In fact, our most recent CLE session was a webcast from St. Thomas to the West Coast. At least you could see St. Thomas if you couldn’t be here!
Another issue of significance for the Section is a Report and Recommendation to the ABA House of Delegates on the issue of transfers of federal funds to states and local governments—pure federalism. I won’t spend this space explaining the Resolution but urge every member to e-mail our Delegates, Ben Griffith at bgriff@griffithlaw.net and/or Patricia Salkin at psalk@albanylaw.edu and learn about the Resolution and how you can assist the Section in lobbying for its adoption by the House of Delegates.
Now for the not-so-good news. The Section will have to cut its budget by at least 10% in short order yet continue to provide our members with useful programs and assistance with the impact of these times on your lives, your jobs, and your law practices. A good example of such assistance is our July 30 to August 2, 2009, Annual Meeting in Chicago. On Friday, July 31, 2009, we will hold a phenomenal program: “Fed Times 50—50 State Attorneys General Going After Your Company.” This CLE will discuss responding successfully to complex multi-state regulatory matters. If you cannot attend this program in person, we are offering all of the CLE programs in teleconference format, live from the meeting. You can still earn CLE credits by teleconference. We will offer the CLE to government attorneys at a discount, thanks to funding from the Underserved Lawyer Fund.
Another timely program concerns “Our Decaying Infrastructure: Restoring It to Excellency in Financially Troubled Times.” President Obama, Speaker Pelosi . . . are you listening?
We are committed to spending your money for your benefit so that you will continue to support the Section. We really need you now more than ever! If you haven’t paid your dues, now is the time! If you have questions, ideas, or suggestions for making our Section more effective and productive, please e-mail me at adudley@dudleylaw.com .
We may be down, but we’re sure not out!!
