Views from the Column:
On Being There, And The Larger Picture
Steven N. Berger,
Engelman Berger, P.C.
I was inducted in Class XXIV in 2013, and have made it to all but one induction ceremony since. This year’s induction, once again held in the courtyard of the National Portrait Gallery, highlighted the College in so many ways. The ceremony reminded me that though we may spend our days litigating for stay relief or negotiating the terms of a reorganization plan,
our profession still entails service to the public and our national institutions. That reminder sparks (or re-sparks) thoughts of whether and how I personally am participating in the loftier side of the practice.
My favorite part of the College’s induction ceremony is the spoken summary of the collective bigger picture accomplishments of the group of inductees. The causes and passions of our Fellows range broadly in the areas of charitable, civic and professional betterment. Over the years, mention has been made to, among others: charities dealing with hunger and literacy; churches, synagogues and other religious-based groups; museums; and civil and civic rights groups, ranging from LGTBQ rights to voter rights, civil liberties, literacy, addiction treatment and prevention.
Within the realm of betterment of the profession, we have heard of pro bono service projects, education of consumers, education of attorneys, and other legal initiatives. Of course, there is no ideological unanimity among our Fellows, such that in any given year, the summarized activities may even run counter to one another. For example, this year, we were told that certain inductees have been working on both sides of the issue of whether domicile as a basis of venue ought to be perpetuated!
In experiencing the annual recitation of these collective undertakings by our Fellows, I find hope for the future and take pride in being associated with the College. I hope you do too.
Officers
Marc A. Levinson
Chair
Mark D. Bloom
President
James L. Baillie
Vice-President
Hon. Joan N. Feeney
Vice-President
Grant T. Stein
Vice-President
Melissa Kibler
Treasurer
Taft A. McKinstry
Secretary
Board of Directors
Marc Abrams
Agustin Berdeja-Prieto
Daniel C. Cohn
Dennis Connolly
Lawrence D. Coppel
Jeffrey H. Davidson
Karen A. Giannelli
Jan M. Hayden
Annette W. Jarvis
James R. Kelley
Eric W. Lam
Hon. Neil P. Olack
Norman L. Pernick
Catherine Steege
Robert J. van Galen
Jane L. Vris
Ex Officio Directors
G. Christopher Meyer
Paul E. Harner, Chair, ACB Foundation
Board of Regents
Stephen D. Lerner
Chair, Board of Regents
Michael J. Goldberg (1st Cir.)
James L. Bromley (2nd Cir.)
David B. Stratton (3rd Cir.)
Douglas M. Foley (4th Cir.)
Berry D. Spears (5th Cir.)
Michael P. Coury (6th Cir.)
Kenneth J. Malek (7th Cir.)
Michael R. Stewart (8th Cir.)
Thomas E. Patterson (9th Cir.)
Kenneth L. Cannon, II (10th Cir.)
Sarah R. Borders (11th Cir.)
Prof. Ingrid Michelsen Hillinger
At Large
Hon. Jeffery P. Hopkins
At Large
Cynthia Nelson
At Large
Scholar-in-Residence
Prof. Ralph Brubaker
Counsel
R. Patrick Vance
Executive Director
Shari A. Bedker
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College Columns May 2018 Issue
Editors
Steven N. Berger
Lynnette R. Warman
Layout
Carole L. McNamara
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We are considering adding content to the Columns and making other updates. If you have input on what you would like to see here, please email us at:
Steven N. Berger, [email protected]
Lynnette R. Warman, [email protected]
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