SBAND PRESIDENT
JANUARY – NEW YEAR , NEW ADVENTURES
JENNIFER ALBAUGH SBAND President
It is hard to believe 2022 is gone , and 2023 is upon us . I don ’ t know about all of you , but I ’ ll keep writing 2022 as the year well into the spring of 2023 . On a side note , for those of you that don ’ t have this problem , please email me and teach me your tricks . I don ’ t know about all of you , but I genuinely look forward to the beginning of a new year . To me , the new year is a fresh start that brings new adventures . This year is no different , as over the next several months I will travel to New Orleans for the American Bar Association ( ABA ) Midyear Meeting and National Conference of Bar Presidents Midyear Meeting and then San Diego for the Western State Bar Conference Annual Meeting .
The ABA Midyear Meeting is held Feb . 1-6 . The purpose of the meeting is to “ discuss the latest issues and trends shaping the future of the legal profession .” The National Conference of Bar Presidents is held concurrently with the ABA Midyear Meeting . I have attended several conferences in my positions with the board of governors , but this will be my first conference from more of a national perspective .
I reviewed the agenda for this upcoming conference , and the amount of content is simply amazing . The sessions range from issues impacting our democracy to responding in a natural disaster and everything between . I look forward to meeting other bar presidents , and I look forward to expanding my understanding of issues and trends impacting our profession on more of a national scale . If you want additional information on either of these conferences , it can be found on the websites for the ABA and National Conference of Bar Presidents .
The 2023 Western State Bar Conference is held March 29-April 1 . The Western State Bar Conference includes leaders from 15 different states . It allows the bar executives , as well as board officers and members , to come together “ to discuss cutting edge issues for the profession , bar governance , and how to best manage their associations .” The Western State Bar consists of the Alaska Bar Association , State Bar of Arizona , State Bar of California , Hawaii State Bar Association , Idaho State Bar , State Bar of Montana , State Bar of Nevada , New Mexico State Bar , State Bar Association of North Dakota ( SBAND ), Oregon State Bar , State Bar of South Dakota , State Bar of Texas ,
Utah State Bar , Washington State Bar Association , and Wyoming State Bar .
While specific details regarding this conference are not yet available , I am anxious to discuss issues impacting our friends from the western side of the United States and understand how they are addressing these issues . I have found through my time as president-elect and president many of the states attending the Western State Bar Conference experience similar issues to us in North Dakota . If you want additional information on this upcoming conference , it can be found on the Western State Bar Conference website .
In addition to the foregoing new adventures , we are busy planning and finalizing details for the upcoming 2023 SBAND Annual Meeting that will take place in Bismarck June 14-16 . I am certain the content and sessions will not disappoint . Please remember , several awards are given out during the annual meeting , so when you see that email asking for nominations , please respond and nominate your fellow colleagues . I know I speak for all of the SBAND Board of Governors when I say , we hope to see all of you in Bismarck this summer !
4 THE GAVEL