Incoming President’s Message

The past four years have gone past in a blink of an eye. It feels like just yesterday that I received the call informing me that I had been selected by our Nominating Committee to serve as the next officer in the Montgomery Bar Association. Shortly after that call, many past presidents of the MBA reached out to offer congratulations and sage advice. While all those calls concluded with an open-ended offer to help, the advice offered varied. Looking back on those conversations, all the advice was valuable. However, one oftenrepeated comment was that the fall prior to becoming president would be remarkably busy. Fast forward to the fall of 2022, and I learned why the comment was so often repeated. In addition to the normal volume of bar activities were a myriad of tasks and meetings to plan for 2023. Amid those meetings, I received a friendly reminder from our excellent MBA staff that it was nearly time for me to submit this first article for SIDEBAR. I knew that I needed to plan what I wanted to write in this column.

I find that I often brainstorm best while engaged in mindless activities. Yardwork, time on a treadmill, or a commute all work well. Fortunately, our home in Worcester has no shortage of trees. A decade ago, when my wife and I purchased our home from the Honorable Stanley Ott and his wife, the trees were an appealing feature. Judge Ott even proudly told me that he took care of the leaves himself until he was in his mid-50s. Judge Ott also happens to be a graduate of Lafayette College. Having graduated from Lehigh University, and being in my mid-40s, I have another decade of leaf raking to go to avoid losing to a Lafayette graduate. The Rivalry is real, and it has provided me with ample time to brainstorm every year.

As I started raking leaves, I initially thought of the women and men who have served with tremendous distinction in the leadership of our organization. Past presidents and fellow officers who serve as a constant source of inspiration and have set the bar so high for the MBA. As a group, they are exceptional judges and lawyers and even better people. Together, through their efforts, our past leadership has helped make the MBA strong, resilient, and adaptive to meet the needs of our members. We have been blessed as an organization to have so many capable individuals guide the MBA.

Then my mind turned to the strength of our members. It is with awe that I see the devotion of our members to the MBA. Many of our members are at the very top of their respective practice areas. Our members, including the members of our Bench, are routinely called upon by other organizations to speak on topics throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. Our members serve the community, serve our association, and make Montgomery County a special place to practice law. Even beyond the many professional accomplishments of our members are the good deeds of the MBA’s charitable arm, the Montgomery Bar Foundation, chaired by Kate Harper, Esq. In the past twenty years, our Foundation has issued grants that total nearly one million dollars to law-related charities who directly impact Montgomery County and our legal community. My sincerest hope is that in 2023, our members will have the opportunity to continue their good work and to receive the recognition that they deserve for their professional accomplishments and charitable work.

I also gave thought to what I believe is one of the most unique aspects of the MBA, and one for which we are so grateful. That is, of course, the special relationship between our Bench and Bar. That special relationship has a deep foundation built on trust and is strengthened by tradition. It is a special aspect of the MBA and one that is not taken lightly. The relationship between our Bench and Bar is the envy of every other county bar association. We will continue to foster and maintain that special relationship, and the MBA remains committed to supporting our Bench in 2023 and beyond.

As the deadline for the article grew near, and after my yard was clear, I realized that I had already heard another MBA member express what I really wanted to communicate in this column. A few years ago, I was privileged to attend an awards ceremony for our 50-year members where remarks were provided by the Honorable William Carpenter. The remarks were characteristically powerful and memorable. Judge Carpenter began by expressing his thanks to the 50-year members for their exceptionalism and service to the Bar. He then remarked that someday a roll call would be taken of each of us, and when that day comes, he will say that he is, he was, and he will always be a proud member of the Montgomery Bar Association. Perfectly said. I too will always be a proud member of the Montgomery Bar Association. The MBA is a professional, charitable, and social organization that is second to none. Thank you for being a big part of our Association, and I look forward to seeing you in 2023!