As summer draws to a close, we start to replace flip flops with sensible, waterproof footwear when we take the dog out for a walk or hustle kids out the door. It’s back to school and back to business. And this year there is some important business that affects us all as we prepare for local, state, and a presidential election. We live in a state where it could not be easier to vote, because we can do it without even leaving our house. We can register to vote online. We receive our personally delivered ballot in the mail, which we can complete at our leisure. And when we are done, we need walk no further than the mailbox where we retrieved our ballot to send it along its way to our County Elections office.

Last month I announced an important step in the process of “spinning off” the Housing Justice Project as its own entity, by introducing you to Lisa Stone, who serves as the Transition Administrator in that process. Lisa got right to work, meeting with stake holders, sending out communications, and identifying key steps to help move the spinoff forward. I am grateful to have Lisa’s help and to benefit from her years of experience in the legal/non-profit arena.

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.

As May arrives, it brings not only the flowers promised by April’s showers, but also hints of our upcoming summer. This month also brings us Law Day on May 1st, a time to educate youth and adults across the country.

Each year the King County Bar Foundation hosts an annual event, the Breakfast with Champions. The Breakfast is our chance to honor the hard work of Bar Association staff and volunteers, highlight the Bar Association’s services, and build community with you, our champions of the law. I hope to see you there to say thank you in person!

The King County Bar Association exists as a vehicle to bring our professional community together. Our mission is to foster, advance and serve a membership that is both diverse and collaborative. To achieve this part of our mission the KCBA must be a place where people who hold divergent opinions still work together for the betterment of the profession, our community, ourselves, and our society. The inclusion of the front-page opinion piece in last month’s Bar Bulletin had serious consequences and caused harm to many members of our community.

As we step into February, we enter a month of opportunities ranging from observance of the silly or festive to a serious reflection of our nation and its history. Whether it is Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, or Fat Tuesday, each brings its unique significance (or lack of significance) depending on our own personal experience and perspective.

Happy New Year! As we step into 2024, it’s time for setting new goals and looking back on lessons learned. I am optimistic the coming year will provide many opportunities for KCBA to bring us all together to celebrate our successes, provide support to our community, and to support one another.
 

In addition to holiday parties and gatherings with friends and families, December brings the Winter Solstice. As days become colder and shorter, and nights get longer and darker, I often feel wrapped in contemplation (as well as my warm and cozy blanket). This natural turning point in the seasons serves as a powerful metaphor for optimism in the face of challenges. As the longest night of the year is immediately followed by longer days, we are reminded to look for places in our lives where things are getting brighter. Our bar is no exception.