As I enter my final month as President of the KCBA, June is beginning to reveal glimmers and glimpses of our long-awaited summer weather. The often gray and gloomy days of the past months are slowly beginning to dissolve into the fresh and bright days and evenings which make the Northwest so special to many of us. It was worth the wait.
In many ways it is hard to believe nearly an entire year has already passed since I assumed this post. It has been a tremendous honor to serve my beloved KCBA as it continues to serve this community and enrich the professional lives of its members. I am proud to work alongside each of the Trustees who volunteer so much of their valuable time to guide and steer the KCBA through the many challenges our organization has faced and is still facing. I want to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to all our Trustees for their unwavering dedication to the KCBA and the generous support they have given to me. Their time, knowledge, support and counsel have been invaluable in helping me do my best for the KCBA (as well as helping me keep my sanity). Thank you Erin Overbey, Sidney Tribe, Michelle Pham, Theresa Wang, Caleb Bonm, Robert Flennaugh II, Emily Gause, Ian Warner, Amit Ranade, Dylan Kilpratic, Judge Richard McDermott (ret.), Joel Merkel, Rory O’Sullivan, Shashi Vijay, Chalia Stallings-Ala’ilima and our ABA Delegate Kathleen Hopkins.
Thank you also to the New Lawyer’s Division Chair Alyssa Nevala and the other members of the NLD Board. Your contributions to the KCBA and its mission, as well as your enthusiasm as you begin your legal careers, promises a bright future for the next generation of KCBA leadership.
And of course, none of our service to the KCBA would make a difference without the incredible staff who dedicate themselves to our mission every day. Although this column is too short to thank every staff member I have had the privilege of working with, I do want to give some special thanks to Christina Entrekin Coad, Kathleen Jensen, Bridget Schuster, Sophie Peterson, Emily Lake, Jordan Brock, Tom Lockyear, DeAndre Williams, Janette Scott, Casey Almas, Jennifer Dixon, Mayra Vidrio, and Betty Flojo. Each of you has eased my workload this year while bringing a touch of levity to our collaboration. I am thankful for your support and all you do for our KCBA.
As many of you know, this year has been particularly challenging for the KCBA. Many of those challenges have provided valuable learning opportunities. The Board has faced issues ranging from a major potential service restructuring to addressing serious political and social concerns. Throughout this process, I have heard from many of our passionate members. Some have congratulated the KCBA on a job well done, while others have been deeply upset by certain decisions and actions. In both cases, I have learned and grown, both personally and professionally.
It hasn’t been only a year of challenges, however. As I have previously written, I have had the pleasure of attending so many incredible KCBA events and celebrations organized by our staff and meeting so many of our speakers, volunteers, and members. Most recently I had the privilege of attending a reception hosted by the King County Bar Foundation the evening before the Breakfast with Champions in May. The keynote speaker, ACLU President Deborah Archer, shared some impactful thoughts on our democracy while in conversation with Michelle Storms, the Executive Director of the ACLU of Washington. President Archer reminded us that our democracy is fragile, and we must be vigilant in protecting it. As lawyers, we have the responsibility to understand and communicate how American democracy is under attack so we can properly protect it. The KCBA’s mission includes improving access to justice and that work requires a democratic system of government. We cannot protect access to justice if our citizens don’t even have access to the ballot box.
I cannot think of a better way for our members to come together now than to work to protect our democracy, a democracy that I took for granted as a young person. Recent years have made it abundantly clear that we must never assume our democratic systems are secure. As attorneys, we have a sacred responsibility to uphold the rule of law, not only in the courtroom and our legal filings, but also in everyday discussions with our families and communities. We cannot afford to be passive and assume we may sit idly by while someone else does that work. It falls on us.
As my KCBA presidency draws to a close, I am pleased to introduce Erin Overbey as the incoming President. Erin is exceptionally well-prepared to lead the KCBA, maintaining our commitment to serving our members and community and addressing whatever challenges the next year brings. Although this position has demanded much of my time and energy, it has been worth it. By far, I have received more than I have given. I said in my first President’s Page you will get out of the KCBA what you put into it. I still firmly believe that. I am a proud member of this organization, and I am excited for the great things to come.
