SBAND PRESIDENT
LEARNING THROUGH LEADERSHIP
A YEAR AS SBAND PRESIDENT
corner, and I invite everyone to attend as we
have put together a terrific group of speakers
and programming.
CHARLES DEMAKIS
SBAND President
My first article I wrote as summer was in
full swing and nature was in full bloom. My
year as SBAND president has now come full
circle as that summer transformed into fall,
and fall to winter, and now hockey season
has transformed into spring as we move
toward summer and fishing season. It seems
like yesterday I began my year-long role as
president of SBAND, and now it is quickly
winding down.
It has been an exciting year for me and for
SBAND. The legislative session has finished
for another year, and there were a number of
issues in which SBAND assisted. SBAND
also drafted and began implementing a
strategic plan for the next two years. The
annual meeting is now right around the
It has been my pleasure to serve this past
year as president. At the outset, I was a bit
unsure of where the role would take me, but I
am extremely proud of the accomplishments
of the last year. SBAND has made a
commitment to continue an important
program with UND Law School in funding
the rural justice program. Our strategic plan
is designed to maximize our resources to best
serve and benefit you, our members. We have
continued to foster our strong relationship
with the Supreme Court and to partner
with the statewide bench on programs to
strengthen the bench and bar. We have
seen continued growth in our membership,
committees, and member involvement with
the association.
I have been fortunate to have had a
committed, engaged, and dedicated board
for the past year that has made it a pleasure
to serve and lead. The work of the board
goes largely unnoticed and unrecognized.
To each one of the board’s members, I
thank you for your service to the board
and the profession and truly appreciate all
your hard work and dedication. The staff
at the SBAND office has made the year a
pleasure. Thank you for all the work you do
for the lawyers of North Dakota and for
the board. It does not go unnoticed.
During the course of the year, I have been
able to attend excellent programming and
engage with bar leaders from across the
country. Many of the issues we face are
the same, and to be able to learn different
strategies and ideas to better SBAND
has been very informative. To my wife,
Ashley, and our sons, Alex and Caden, I
owe a huge thank you for your support and
understanding this past year. There have
been missed hockey games and practices,
events, and normal family duties, but
you have all been greatly supportive and
understanding. I could not have had such
a successful year without all three of you.
Thank you!
Call for CLE Speakers
SBAND and the North Dakota CLE Commission
sponsor seminars and programs throughout
the year in all sorts of formats, including live,
webinars and IVNs.
We want to know about SBAND members who
have ideas for topics or who are interested in
being a presenter.
Contact Carrie Molander at [email protected].
4
THE GAVEL