It is an honor and privilege to serve as 2008-2009 Chair for the Admiralty and Maritime Law Committee. This is set to be an exciting year. We have many events and publications planned for this year, including a Law Student Writing Competition with a cash prize, a maritime-theme issue of TortSource, multiple newsletters, the Annual Survey for the TIPS Law Journal, and at least one CLE. Additionally, several members of the committee are working on a new book on Recreational Boating Law. 

Most of the committee's activities this year focus around publications and/or membership. Although we have a large committee and a few very active members, we hope to bring in more young lawyers, law students, and non-lawyers. Additionally, we hope to energize some of the passive members into contributing to a newsletter or assisting with regional events. Members interested in submitting articles and case summaries should contact our Vice Chairs and newsletter editors, Mike Frevola and Chris Nolan. If you have an idea for an article that would be appropriate for The Brief or the TIPS Law Journal, contact our publication liaison and Chair-Elect, Mike Daly. If you are a law student, an admiralty lawyer, or a maritime professional and you or your organization would like to sponsor a regional get-together or some other membership event, please contact our Membership Vice-Chair, Anne Kulesa.

Finally, if you are interested in becoming an active member in any other way, please contact me at jkulesa@tthlaw.com. Additionally, consider attending the TIPS Fall Meeting on Hilton Head Island, SC, or the TIPS Spring Meeting in Colorado Springs, CO. Registration for TIPS meetings is generally free, and there are scholarships available that may be of particular use to law students and young lawyers who are looking to become involved.

Joseph Kulesa, Chair