PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The Year That Wasn't, Then It Was

By Fred L. Young Esq. DBA President Shareholder, Green & Green, Lawyers flyoung@green-law.com 937.224.3333

On June 26, 2020, I stood in the Boardroom of the Dayton Bar Association with Judges Mary Wiseman and Kate Huffman, the DBA Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Otchy, and my wife, Cathy. My inaugural speech as President was performed into a video camera with just the DBA logo on the screen for me to see. While the moment was not itself glorious, it was with friends, and with the person I love very much.

We all hoped that life would soon return to normal, but it did not and it probably will not for a very long time. We continue to face unprecedented challenges, but even in the worst of times, you turn into the wind and move forward.

That is what the Dayton Bar Association, its members, its Board members, and Jennifer Otchy and her team have done throughout this pandemic. We pivoted, innovated and changed with the times all to keep our Association vibrant and moving forward for the benefit of all of us.

Some thought this year would be a write-off in many ways. I just cannot think that way. There are too many voices that push me along my path to simply sit back. Some thought this year would lack any real events, like our annual Bench Bar. That’s not what I wanted to see happen. This year’s Co-Chairs, my law partner and dear friend, Tom Green, and Judge Steven Dankof, worked hard to create a virtual presentation that kept us interested over two days, learning and being moved by our speakers. I cannot recommend enough the book “Picking Cotton” written by our keynote speaker, Jennifer Thompson. Her compelling story stays with me to this day.

Our Holiday Luncheon, another high point every year, was a virtual success as well, with Judge Thomas Rose and Governor Mike DeWine spending time with us despite their busy schedules.

The DBA found success in other events as well. Our DBA Leadership Committee excelled at organizing a February blood drive with appointments filled to the brim. That fantastic group of professionals helped our community at a time of dire need.

Even before the pandemic began, the DBA was focused on the growth of active participation in our Sections. I am a believer that our Sections are the lifeblood of our legal community and our Association. There you find opportunities for education, networking and professional growth. We were already considering ways to expand virtual participation in Section meetings before virtual reality was the only game in town. Our Section Chairs and Vice Chairs have worked hard to entice attendance, offer great meeting topics and keep the associative aspect of our world intact.

With no intent to exclude other Section leaders from my appreciation, I want to specifically express my thanks to Sharalie Albanese, who leads our Paralegal Section. She always finds great speakers and comes up with interesting meeting topics. Sharalie is dedicated to our paralegals and their professional growth. I invite our attorneys to sit in on her meetings as well. I believe you will find the time well spent.

Our CEO, Jennifer Otchy, and her team were forced to work remotely, but that did little to slow their efforts on our behalf. Her team shined in their innovation and creativity to ensure our members continued to receive true value from their memberships. From bringing us interesting webinars and CLEs, to ensuring we still could communicate and associate, the DBA staff kept our engines going and our wheels turning. Under Jennifer’s leadership, we enhanced the telephone system and will be soon rolling out a new website structure that will benefit us all.

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One of the greatest privileges associated with my role as the DBA President has been serving with our dedicated Board members. I had big shoes to fill (side query - Judge Wiseman, how did you get such big feet?). But each of our Board members plays an invaluable role in helping the DBA navigate these uncharted waters. Our President Elect, Merle Wilberding provides wisdom and leadership that will allow for a great transition into the next term. Anne Keeton is leading efforts to create a much needed Health and Wellness Section. The past year was an immense burden on the health and well being of us all, but we lawyers really need guidance and help in these areas, pandemic or not.

Our Second Vice President, Caroline Gentry undertook the task of establishing our Social Justice Task Force. The Task Force is committed to promoting and supporting anti-racism and social justice in the legal profession and the community at large, and seeks to increase diversity within the legal profession, empower under-represented individuals, develop and strengthen crosscultural awareness, educate members and the community on social justice and allyship issues, and partner with local governments and organizations working toward the same goals.

These are just a few examples of the great year the DBA put together in the face of headwinds unheard of in our lifetimes. There are many more examples, but Shayla puts a strict word limit on me every time.

I have a few more weeks of “heavy lifting” to do in my term, but I deeply thank the DBA and its membership for the opportunity to serve you. Despite the hurdles, I will remember the entire time and the people with whom I have worked and served with tremendous joy.