A Higher Purpose : Service
Melissa S . Kibler , Accordion Chair , American College of Bankruptcy
As we all know , the College recently celebrated the induction of our newest Fellows . Without question , one of the greatest privileges of being Chair of the College is being able to stand on the stage and welcome them , sharing such a special moment in their personal and professional lives . When preparing my remarks , I found myself examining the fundamental purpose of the College . And thus I set out to explain what the College is and what induction means to our new Fellows and their friends , colleagues and loved ones , who might be less familiar with the College . I came away with a focus on service that I found to be central to our organizational mission and to the nature and character of our Fellows . For those who were unable to join us at the induction ceremony , this column summarizes my remarks from that night .
Being inducted as a Fellow of the College is the highest form of honor , because it is recognition by our peers . You can ’ t apply , you can ’ t lobby . Instead , through a confidential and highly selective process , those who encounter you in practice – whether or not on the same side of the table , or on the same side of the Bench , or in the same area of practice – determine that you have met the high standards for nomination to the College .
But what does that mean ? Criteria for selection as a Fellow of the College include :
• the highest standards of professionalism , ethics , character , integrity , and professional expertise ;
• leadership contributing to the enhancement of bankruptcy and insolvency law and practice ;
• sustained evidence of scholarship , teaching , lecturing or writing on bankruptcy or insolvency ;
• community service ; and
• commitment to elevating knowledge and understanding of the profession and public respect for the practice .
There are many excellent practitioners in our field who are not Fellows of the College – but you will note that professional expertise was only one of many criteria I mentioned . What distinguishes Fellows is what we refer to within the College as “ Part B ,” which is a section of our nomination form . It is that service element – what each of you do to enhance the profession and the communities in which you live and work .
So why is this service element so important ? It goes back to the mission of the College :
The American College of Bankruptcy is an honorary public service association dedicated to the enhancement of professionalism , scholarship , and service in bankruptcy and insolvency law and practice . The word service appears twice in that mission statement – we are a service association dedicated to service in law and
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