The President’s Message

“Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds.”

― Regina Brett Ah … summertime. It is that time of year that is often marked by the gleeful sound of children at play, the inviting aroma of burgers sizzling on a nearby grill, the incredible sight of lightening, and the frightening experience of torrential thunderstorms that take flight as quickly as they appear. For many, summer is a time to vacate, retreat, and refresh. Some may take an occasional trip to the beach, enjoy a night at the ballpark, observe fireworks, or attend a concert, wine festival, crab feast, or lobster boil. Others will take in a new movie, read for pleasure, plant a new flowerbed, or simply master the art of doing nothing. In the blink of an eye, summer will end, autumn leaves will fall, and winter will be upon us. Soon the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving and the winter holiday season will enthrall us, and we will wonder how the year passed so quickly.

Before the summer completely escapes us, I pause to recount the fourth Thursday in June when Jack Turnbull (much too cheerfully) passed the mantle of the Baltimore County Bar Association (BCBA) on to me. Although I had actively served on the Executive Council for nearly a decade, that moment (which – for years – seemed so far in the distance) came all too quickly. The changing of the guard occurred near the close of the Stated Meeting in June. It took place in Ceremonial Courtroom No. 5 in the old Towson Courthouse – a few days shy of the official start of summer.

During my remarks, I emphasized that the Vision Statement of our five-year Strategic Plan best expresses the importance of our Bar Association:

The Baltimore County Bar Association is a welcoming and diverse community where legal professionals at every stage of their careers create meaningful connections, find opportunities to learn and lead, and advance the Baltimore County legal profession and community.

I also noted that our Organizational Values prompt us to:

• Operate with integrity

• Think innovatively

• Serve the community

• Hold ourselves to a high standard of excellence, and

• Have fun

Our focus throughout this bar year is to consistently reflect and embody the Vision Statement and allow our Organizational Values to prompt our actions. By getting back to the basics and being intentional in all we do, we will become who we say we are … “a welcoming and diverse community where legal professionals at every stage of their careers create meaningful connections, find opportunities to learn and lead, and advance the Baltimore County legal profession and community.”

One of the greatest honors I have as the incoming president is the selection of the charity with which we will partner. As I announced during the Stated Meeting, I selected the American Cancer Society (ACS) as our charity for the 2023-2024 term. ACS provides muchneeded support to those who are “in the fight” and offers tremendous programs that benefit survivors, family members, and caregivers.

Cancer knows no boundaries. As an 11-year survivor, I know all too well the challenges this disease can bring. I also know first-hand how helpful ACS can be to those battling the disease as well as their family members, caregivers, and other supporters. I encourage each of you to support ACS throughout this bar year and beyond. As you do, I also invite you to share your stories of survival. You may never know how much your words will encourage others to stay in the fight.

Once again, thank you for the opportunity for allowing me to serve as your BCBA President. Together, we will become who we say we are … “a welcoming and diverse community where legal professionals at every stage of their careers create meaningful connections, find opportunities to learn and lead, and advance the Baltimore County legal profession and community.”

Now … let us answer the call of the ocean, crack crabs, chase fireflies, lie in the grass, count the stars, and enjoy the waning days of summer . . .

- Lisa Y. Settles, President Baltimore County Bar Association, 2023 -2024

2023-24 Officers

President Lisa Y. Settles

President-Elect Sondra M. Douglas

Secretary Richard Grason VI

Treasurer Robert K. Erdman, Jr.

Executive Council

Tyler J. Nowicki

Michelle Daugherty Siri

Alaina L. Storie

Mariela C. D’Alessio

Hon. Michael S. Barranco

Stuart A. Schadt

John G. Turnbull III

Immediate Past President

Alexander J. Walsh, Young Lawyers Chair

Rachel M. Ruocco, Executive Director

Advocate

Chair