Vermont Bar Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2 Vermont Bar Journal, Fall 2016, Vol. 42, No. 3 | Page 23

by Jennifer Emens-Butler, Esq.

WHAT’S NEW
Higher Logic

Sharing collective wisdom, the easy way!
As many of our members have probably
heard, the VBA is launching its partnership
with Higher Logic to provide user-friendly
online communities to its members. While
the new resource essentially replaces our
clunky listserve service, it provides so much
more! After performing much research and
sharing demonstrations to meet board approval, our Higher Logic online communities are near completion.
In late September, we will be running
beta test-groups of our online communities before we launch VBA Connect to the
full membership. When launched, members will be able to choose to receive contemporaneous emails, daily or weekly digests of emails, or no emails at all, when
discussions are posted. While this service
will have its own web location, it will have a
seamless single sign-on/login between vtbar.org and VBA Connect. However the
member chooses to receive emails, the
most obvious improvement the member
will see over the listserves will be the ability

to view archived conversations, search by
subject matter, post and share documents
and view other communities.
Online reviews from other users nationally tout how Higher Logic communities
have quickly become a top member benefit. Organizations use them for governance
groups, mentoring programs, or any type
of group seeking online collaboration. The
platform is noted as being incredibly user-friendly and convenient. Everyone can
get immediate access, giving them a relationship with each other and staff between
large meetings.
It is our hope that all of the VBA Sections
will discover what the Real Estate Section
has long known –sharing collective wisdom
is efficient, easy and engaging. Just as the
Real Estate Section members have benefited from a knowledge management culture,
other members will soon know the benefit of building a knowledge base. Conversations can easily be converted to private, secure conversations, or shared with
the membership. The platform will have

the ability to create a profile and directory, but the sharing level can be customized. As people share, the site will maintain a searchable Resource Library and Wiki
Glossary.
With emails and online conversations being the primary mode of communication,
the conventional fear was that the internet
will ultimately drive people apart. Online
communities do just the opposite, as they
bring people together. No one could have
imagined the powerful connections obtained through social media, networking,
and crowd-funding that exist today. Just
as crowd-funding has proven to be an extremely effective way of bringing people
together for a cause, crowd-sourced support is the ideal way to bring a professional
association together and build a community knowledge base. Look for our demo station at the Annual Meeting and get started!

ATTEND THE VBA’S PRO BONO CONFERENCE
Wednesday, October 26th
at the State House
from 9AM-4:15PM

This Pro Bono Conference will focus on the legal needs of refugee resettlements and
immigrants and how to assist them. The conference will help lawyers learn how to
fulfill their pro bono aspirations by providing education on pro bono needs and tools
including the new on-line pro bono project, unbundling, emeritus pro bono, low bono
and the small case rule.
Details coming soon at www.vtbar.org.
The conference will offer 5+ MCLE credits and lunch provided by the VBA. Immediately
following the conference will be a ceremonial swearing in (at 4:30) by the Vermont
Supreme Court, and a reception for the Poverty Law Fellows hosted by the Vermont Bar
Foundation.

www.vtbar.org

THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • FALL 2016

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