3 minute read
Staying Connected. Staying Relevant. Staying Strong
by JILL S ITCHE
Working remotely has, until now, been a nice option when balancing work and life.
Suddenly, however, working remotely has become a way of life, forcing us to balance work and life in a whole new way. It’s participating in Zoom meetings while kids imitate TikToks in the background (in between study sessions, of course); it’s trying to stay relatively active
in the confines of your own home, including walking up and down the steps while on a conference call; it’s trying to figure out and respect when your colleagues are on the clock in order to accomplish your own set of tasks; it’s trying desperately not to get sucked into the latest online sale or keto recipe that pop up on my google searches; and it’s learning to communicate in better, yet different, ways. It’s about staying connected, staying relevant and staying strong.
The Columbus Bar Association remains strong amid crisis. We are fortunate that the CBA has such diversified business services that allow us to thrive.
Surety bond and insurance sales are strong; continuing legal education is 100 percent virtual, with fresh content on important topics; we continue to connect consumers in need of legal services with our lawyers; committee programming is being delivered via Zoom; notary training is being delivered online; and we’re developing new programs to keep members engaged during this unprecedented time, including our recent Bench Bar Conversations designed to keep lawyers apprised of changes in court operations.
The physical office facilities remain closed to outside participants through June (and maybe longer). The CBA team is working remotely and have done a terrific job of adapting. Meetings and events through June have been canceled or rescheduled, including the CBA Annual Meeting (which has been rescheduled for Sept. 25).
As with most companies, we’re closely watching cash flow. Demand for meeting space and certified court interpreters has decreased, and many of our members have simply not been in their offices to process payments. We’re working hard to alter our operations to minimize expenses on the assumption that it is entirely possible we may not be back to full operations anytime soon. Unfortunately, all of this means we have had to lay off three members of the CBA Team. These are tough decisions - losing a staff member is like losing a member of our extended family.
These are inimitable times for sure. We’ve seen weakness and strength; desperation and inspiration; prosperity and poverty; innovation and complacency; new businesses emerge, and old businesses collapse. These times force us to get creative; to rethink what we do and how we do it; to evaluate what’s truly important; and to remember why we do what we do. We remain true to our core purpose: we help lawyers be more successful. Everything we do is designed to enhance and inspire the continued advancement of our members. Why? Because, better lawyers deliver better legal services; and better legal services improve our community.
The Columbus Bar is home to some of the best and brightest legal talent, who are providing essential legal services to individuals, corporations, and government agencies; helping people persevere in the face of adversity; advising clients how to manage risk; and setting policy that will guide the course of our future. Now, more than ever, we need to stay connected.
There has never been a more important time to be a part of something greater than yourself. The Columbus Bar is your connection to the profession, where we lean on each other and learn from each other. Whether you are working remotely or onsite, the Columbus Bar will be here to help you thrive. We’re making our facilities more conducive to social distancing; we’re developing systems to strengthen our virtual capabilities; and we’re creating opportunities to stay connected even while we’re apart.
As always, please contact me anytime to let me know how the Columbus Bar can help you be more successful.
Jill Snitcher, Esq.
Columbus Bar Association jill@cbalaw.org
