One of the benefits of the State Bar Presidency is the opportunity to travel around our state and meet with the members of the local bars. Even before assuming office, I spent time with the Nassau and Suffolk County Bars, Bronx Bar, Queens Bar, even the Franklin County Bar (which is up there in Malone, near the Canadian border).
In my first week as President, I had the honor of attending the Annual Dinner Meetings of both the Monroe County (Rochester, for you down-staters) and Erie County (Buffalo) County Bar Associations.
I congratulate outgoing Monroe County Bar President Jill Schultz for an outstanding year and look forward to working with the new President Thomas G. Smith as their 112th President.
Steve Lamantia has devoted himself nearly full time to his presidency of the Erie County Bar and while he will be a tough act to follow, I believe that the new President, Cheryl Smith Fischer, is up to the task.
Both Erie and Monroe County are fortunate indeed to have such superb leadership and high level of volunteerism within their membership, as well as two of the best Executive Directors in the state, Kathy Bifaro and Mary Corbitt. It was a privilege to meet the honorees at both events, including their 50-year members, and I returned to my office with a renewed sense of pride in being a New York lawyer.
The call to service is alive and well in Western New York.