President’s Message
lawyers were able to get along well over beers and another successful event was in the books. The highlight of any year at the Bar Association is the annual Bench Bar Conference, which was held at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, NJ. This year’s Conference was one of our most successful ever. We had a record number of attendees, a record number of sponsors, and a record amount of fun. We had excellent speakers, instructive CLEs, and entertaining programming the entire weekend. I’d like to thank Melanie Wender and her Bench Bar Committee for all their hard work this year. They stepped up in a big way and it showed. Congratulations go out to everyone involved.
Sean Gresh Bucks County Bar Association President
Our relationship with the Bucks County Bench has never been stronger. Early in the year we continued our commitment to ensuring that our members were provided with up-to-date information about COVID protocols through our online streaming meetings with the Board of Judges to discuss Justice Center health and safety protocols. We were able to work closely with the Court throughout the year to ensure that the Court was aware of issues that were important to our members and achieve results that benefit our members and their clients. We also had excellent attendance at Bench Bar from our Judges and their clerks. I’d like to thank President Judge Bateman and Court Administrator Heckman for their help in all these endeavors.
As we enter the holiday season, when time comes for each of us to give thanks for the blessings in our lives, I compose my final column as President of the Bucks County Bar Association with gratitude in my heart toward so many. I look back on our mutual successes with pride. We have enjoyed a very productive and entertaining year, due in large part to the dedication of our members and our staff.
We began wrapping up our year at the Annual Meeting and Open House. Ongoing concerns about health and safety caused us to think outside the box for this event. We decided that an indoor / outdoor open house would serve the members best. Greg and the staff truly outdid themselves with this event. We have received many compliments on how enjoyable the evening was, with more than a few suggesting that this format remain for the future. While this decision will be up to future Presidents and Boards, I think I speak for everyone that it was a fun night that was enjoyed by all in attendance.
We were the first Bar Association in the area to open our building to our members after the massive shutdowns caused by the global pandemic in 2020. We kicked off our year with the Opening of Assizes utilizing innovative ideas from our leadership and nimble planning and execution from our staff. I don’t think it to be hyperbolic to say that event was one of the most successful and fun Openings we have held in some time. We held our first (annual?) Around the World Cocktail Competition. Congratulations again to the WLD and their award winning (Carol Shelly’s) Manhattans. Everyone enjoyed the smash car, including some members of our bench, and the weather cooperated.
I can’t pass up the opportunity to thank the staff for all their hard work and dedication. Greg, Emily, Kristen, Barbara, Dylan, Lynn, Joanne, and Kelly, I am amazed by your work and your results. Thanks to each of you for making me look so good.
The weather did not hold out for the Hon. John J. Rufe Softball Game. We were able to get in a few innings before the skies opened up and forced us all to retire to the bar. Luckily, the “Seasoned” lawyers and Young
Now I quietly pass into the ether of history and join all the other past-presidents in welcoming Julie Goldstein to the
4
