PRESIDENT'S COLUMN DAVID COURREGES, UNIVERSITY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
2022 Austin Bar Association Commencement Oh, the Places We Have Gone!
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efore we begin this celebration, I invite you to silence your phones and refrain from talking. Be courteous to those around you. For those of you who still insist on using flash photography—don’t. It distracts me. The 2022 Austin Bar Association Commencement is about to begin! [Cue “Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 in D.”]1 [Clear throat dramatically, make reassuring yet pithy reference to allergies.] Good day everyone! My name is David Courreges, and I am delighted to be your host for this, the 2021-2022 Austin Bar Association Commencement Exercises. Allow me a moment to recognize our distinguished faculty for yet another fine year in the face of unprecedented adversity.
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AUSTINLAWYER | JUNE 2022
Delaine, Debbie, Sonta, Chase, Doug, Carol, Marissa, Leslie, Melody and Pannapa, we are afforded great opportunity because of you…. We are better because of you! Thank you! [Pause to allow for thunderous applause.] To quote the great Sir James Paul McCartney and the late, great, but never knighted John Winston Lennon: The long and winding road… Will never disappear. I’ve seen that road before. It always leads me here… Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.”2 Graduation day is a time to rejoice. It is also a time to reflect on that long and winding road we have valiantly traversed together. Today, we pause to acknowledge and celebrate a brief milestone in our journey which began seemingly so many years ago, and has led us here once again. We began the year by proclaiming this, the second in a succession of “year of years,” to be our Homecoming. You were challenged to come together as a family to continue our work as stewards of our community, promoters of the rule of law, preservers of access to justice, and
buoys of one another. Despite what seemed to be an endless parade of variants and postponements, you responded to the call! You did not disappear! [Pause for intermittent chuckles from Beatles fans in conjunction with awkward silence from the rest.] While it is impossible to single out every committee, section, member, and/or affiliate who has contributed to make this year a success, I would like to honor a few of the many who have gone above and beyond to ensure we continue to bring quality service and opportunities to you, our members. To the Bench Bar Committee who has overcome three postponements of its namesake conference: The fourth time is the charm! Thank you for your tenacity and willingness to “pivot” at a moment’s notice. You are amazing! We are looking forward to celebrating our distinguished judiciary with you on June 3!3 [Applause.] Speaking of amazing! Didn’t the Gala Committee do such a wonderful job? Please give them a hand! [Applause.] Like the Bench Bar Committee, they were
asked to pull off something quite spectacular in the face of the unknown. In fact, most of the planning was being done while the City of Austin was in the midst of Stage 5. Their determination and foresight guaranteed an in-person event even if we were faced with the prospect of yet another variant. And they did just that! Amanda, Mary-Ellen and Nadia… you rock! Speaking of rock stars… the District and County Judges! Thank you for trusting us to help facilitate CLEs and town hall events to help you and our members feel more comfortable with returning to in-person hearings and trials. We appreciate you for all you continue to do for our community, and are always happy and grateful to have the opportunity to work with you! [Applause with great reverence.] Please join me in conveying special gratitude to the Equity Committee and its chairs, Ayeola Williams and Mindy Gulati, for continuing to facilitate our exploration of equity and implicit bias awareness. I invite you to make a concerted effort to attend the 2022 Equity Summit on Friday,
