PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Vision 20/20 – Focused on Recovery
Step 1 – Get Involved and Get Engaged
Dean T. Xenick
2020-21 PBCBA President
As I stated in my speech when I was
installed, one of the main missions of
the Palm Beach County Bar Association
is to serve our members and that is
what we will do this year. Now, more
than ever, we will serve our members
in this uncertain time.
To achieve that goal we will be
implementing our “Vision 20/20”
initiative, which will be “Focused on
Recovery.” When Vision 20/20 was
first conceived, Covid-19 had not yet hit.
The original thought was to “Focus on
your practice,” essentially ideas that
you can “focus” on in order to make us
more effective lawyers, how to improve
our service to the community, and how
to make our practices better, to bring
everything into 20/20 focus in the year
2020. But once the pandemic worsened,
this focus would shift, still on your
practices, but with an eye towards
recovery during this unprecedented
time.
So, during this Bar year, through our
committees, webinars, and other
programming, we will strive to give you
the information you and your practices
need to thrive, not just survive, during
this trying time.
One of the ways to come up with
innovative ideas is to tap into those
who we know and trust for ideas
and solutions. Thus, one of the first
items we will be undertaking is a
local Voluntary Bar Association
Summit, where our local voluntary
bar associations will roundtable ideas
that Palm Beach County attorneys can
use, real world solutions to some of our
toughest current challenges.
Speaking of challenges, I am pleased to
report that our Committee for Diversity
and Inclusion, chaired by Lawonda
Warren and board member Scott Smith,
has already met and started working
on some innovative ideas relative to
the promotion of equality and justice,
in light of recent events. Please keep
your eye out for their upcoming events.
In addition, by the time you read this
we will have had our first committee
chair meeting. I would like to extend
a heartfelt thank you to our committee
chairs and members for stepping up
and volunteering, they are the lifeblood
of our Bar Association. We have
over 30 Committees in almost every
practice area, so chances are we will
have programming and events that
will benefit you. I have asked these
committees to knock it out of the park
this year, to focus their work, including
CLE opportunities, on helping you
flourish and helping you serve your
clients.
One of our main events, the Bench Bar
Conference, will proceed virtually in
August. Being able to proceed with, and
not cancel, one of our flagship events
was no small task and is a testament
to our “rock star” Bar staff, who have
risen to the challenge. The fact that
our Bench Bar Conference will be
going forward is also a testament to the
hard work and dedication of our Bench
Bar Committee, led by Salesia Smith-
Gordon and Michael Pike. I would like
to thank them and their outstanding
committee for all of the extra work
it has taken to make the Bench Bar
Conference a reality again.
Finally, one of our goals this year will
be to keep you as updated as we can
in regard to when, how, and in what
manner the courthouse will open up
and what it will “look like” when it does.
We are in constant communication
with the 15th Judicial Circuit and will
relay all pertinent information as we
receive it. We will also do our best to
provide programming, town halls and
webinars on courthouse topics which
will benefit our judges and attorneys
alike. Stay tuned.
So, as I said previously, my ask of you is
to GET INVOLVED and GET ENGAGED:
• If you have not already done so, please
RENEW your membership. Your dues
help us help you. Encourage friends
and colleagues who have not joined or
renewed their membership to do so.
• Read our emails, check our website
and social media regularly. “Like” us
on Facebook.
• Read the monthly bulletin.
• Sign up for a webinar or CLE.
• Volunteer for a committee.
• Volunteer in the community, using
your skills and education to make a
difference.
I promise doing these things will benefit
you both personally and professionally.
At the end of the day this is YOUR Bar
Association. Our role as your Board is
to make it better for all of our members
and to help you succeed. Your Board
dedicated to your success and the
continuation of our Bar Association to
our 100th birthday and beyond.
Thank you to past president Jessica
Callow for her leadership during some
of the most extraordinary times we
have seen and to President-Elect Julia
Wyda for her dedication to taking the
reins next year. Thank you also to
our amazing Board, I am fortunate to
be surrounded by such talented and
selfless people.
Thank you again for this amazing
opportunity to serve you this year. If
you ever have any questions, concerns
or ideas of how we can do better, I invite
you to call or email me. My email is
[email protected].
Step 2 – “How to fish”…..Stay tuned
PBCBA BAR BULLETIN
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