HCBA Lawyer Magazine No. 31, Issue 1 | Page 11

H C B A P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E P a i g e G r e e n l e e – G r e e n l e e L a w P L L C Continuedfrompage8 programming and subject area CLEs to our membership. The YLD has even held a couple of social events using virtual platforms, and this year’s HCBA Board gathered for the first time during this bar year for a Zoom happy hour. We are all doing our best to help you to stay connected when we cannot be together. I am pleased to announce that the HCBA has added two new sections for this bar year, both of which were formed as the result of requests of our members. First, the Government Lawyers Section, which is the brain-child of its first co-chairs, Christian Katchuk and Lyndsey Siara, is dedicated to the advancement of govern ment attorneys and aims to bring public attorneys from all types of offices under one large, govern ment sector umbrella. We are very lucky to have a significant number of government lawyers as members of the HCBA, and I am so pleased that they now have a section that is tailored and devoted to them. Our second new section, the Technology Section, initiated and co-chaired by Past HCBA President Mike Hooker and Ryan McGee, plans to explore important issues arising at the intersection of technology and the law and will be devoted to assisting and educating lawyers on the use of technology in the legal practice. Now, more than ever, we rely heavily on technology in our daily practices; whether you are a technology wizard or you paid very little attention to it until about six months ago, I have no doubt that the Technology Section will benefit you. I applaud each of these HCBA members for recognizing a need within our bar and for being willing to step up and get these new sections up and running, particularly during these difficult times. If you are interested in either section, please visit the HCBA website and join; neither section has a membership fee. In addition to the two new sections, I am also excited to announce that during this bar year, in response to the need to cancel in-person HCBA quarterly membership luncheons for the foreseeable future, we will be having a complimentary, monthly CLE lunch-time speaker series – Keeping Us Together While We Have to Stay Physically Apart — the first of which occurred in August. When I asked Valeria Obi to serve as the HCBA’s Program Chair for this bar year, I explained to her that she would be planning the speakers for our typical four luncheons. Once it became clear that the pandemic was going to interfere with our regular routine, Valeria graciously agreed to coordinate this monthly speaker series in an effort to keep our members engaged. Our goal is to provide interesting speakers on topics of general interest to all of our membership, with complimentary CLE credit. I am extremely grateful for Valeria for taking on this challenge, and I hope you will all enjoy this new program. In closing, I want to reiterate the HCBA’s commitment to each of you, as we all make our way through these very imperfect times. I am extremely grateful that you gave me the opportunity to serve as your President; it is an honor and a privilege, and I promise to continue to do the best I can for our bar this year. While our physical doors may all be closed right now, I welcome you to call or email me with any thoughts or concerns you may have. And I very much look forward to seeing you all in person, whenever we can do so safely. Please take care of yourselves and each other. n S E P T - O C T 2 0 2 0 | H C B A L A W Y E R 9