Welcome to the first post, in the first-ever Presidential Blog here at the New York State Bar Association. I am honored to take office today and want you all to know that for the next short year, I am your acting President, here to serve our diverse membership with a commitment to making a genuine and enduring difference.
For 28 years - as an active member of this Association - the State Bar has, in many ways, been my professional home – a place where I have found purpose, value and enduring relationships, and unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and service to our members, the public and our profession. In taking the helm of this great Association as its 110th President, my goal is for every licensed New York lawyer to find a home at the State Bar.
Over the course of my many years as a state and local bar leader and throughout my year as President-Elect, I have met with lawyers across this state and have marveled at your passion for the law and your commitment to serving your clients and your communities. I have listened to your ideas and concerns, what motivates and informs you. I have learned what we, as the largest voluntary state bar association in the country, do well, and what we can do even better.
I want to continue those conversations throughout this year. I hope - through this blog and my messages in the Journal - to engage and inspire you to become better lawyers, more effective community and bar leaders, stronger advocates for those who cannot speak for themselves, and defenders of the rule of law. I look forward to your participation in this blog in order to provide greater opportunities to expand these vital conversations. (If you are new to blogs, click the Comments link at the bottom of this message to post a response.)
Together we can continue to enhance our credibility and visibility as New York lawyers, influencing public policy not only here in New York, but in national and international arenas. There really is no place like home, and I can think of no better “home base” for all New York lawyers than our Association.
Welcome home.
Comments (13)
Congratulations, Kate! I know I speak for many of your friends and bar colleagues from around the state in expressing how proud and happy I am to have you leading our Association. With your energy, drive and sense of fun, I know you will make a positive impact in many important areas and at the same time will enhance members' feeling of inclusion and enjoyment in being part of the Association. Go for it!
Best,
Claire Gutekunst
Posted by Claire P. Gutekunst | June 1, 2007 5:27 PM
Posted on June 1, 2007 17:27
Thank you Claire -- I am proud to be a part of an outstanding leadership team and am looking forward to working with you on our Strategic Membership Plan. And welcome back to our Executive Committee!
Kate
Posted by KMadigan | June 1, 2007 7:23 PM
Posted on June 1, 2007 19:23
Kate: Congratulations! We will all benefit greatly from your leadership.
Best regards,
Dennis McCabe
Posted by Dennis C. McCabe | June 18, 2007 2:58 PM
Posted on June 18, 2007 14:58
Congratulations....its a great idea, I am looking forward to it. LRJ
Posted by Louis R. Jerome | June 18, 2007 4:18 PM
Posted on June 18, 2007 16:18
Congratulations Kate! Your first President's Message was extraordinary - comprehensive, personal,thought provoking, and moving. You must have spent a lot of time to craft so much into so few words or you are a gifted writer of prose?? Maybe you are like Lincoln in this respect?? And this blog will generate responses from people like me who are too busy or lazy to take pen in hand or prepare a personalized email. I am hooked and look for to your next President's Message.Congratulations again and good luck , tom myers
Posted by Thomas E Myers | June 18, 2007 4:41 PM
Posted on June 18, 2007 16:41
Thank you, having this Blog is a terrific idea.
Posted by Carol Sigmond | June 18, 2007 5:38 PM
Posted on June 18, 2007 17:38
I am a member of the New York State Bar Association, and I was wondering how I can raise a question that is prompted by Melanie Kirpatrick in an article entitled "The Baghdad Bar" published on the Wall Street Journal Online on Sunday, June 17, 2007. The question is why isn't the New York State Bar Association assisting the Baghdad Bar?
I share the views of Ms. Kirkpatrick in her article that questions the priorities of Bar associations in America in giving vigorous representation to terrorists but doing nothing to assist Iraqi lawyers in establishing the rule of the law in that country. At the end of Ms. Kirkpatrick's article, she quotes an Iraqi lawyer, Aswad al-Minshidi, asking "Where are the great associatiosn of law we hear about?" In my view, the answer appears to be that Bar associations are caught up in advocacy for terrorists that can be fairly criticized as suicidal, but are nowhere to be found in Iraq where much needs to be done to establish the rule of law.
My older son is a U.S. Army First Lieutenant (with Ranger tab) serving as a platoon leader in Iraq. He and his comrades are doing something difficult and dangerous. Their honorable service makes me feel ashamed of our profession, which is doing nothing when we can do something to assist in establishing the rule of law in Iraq. Lest we forget, the Iraqi people voted three times in adopting a written Constitution and electing their current leadership. It is not perfect, but the alternative is radical Islamism and a much more dangerous world.
So, I wish to pose to the New York State Bar Association Ms. Kirpatrick's and al-Minishidi's challenge to help the Baghdad Bar. How may I do so?
Posted by Philip A. Byler | June 18, 2007 6:02 PM
Posted on June 18, 2007 18:02
Congratulations, Ms. Madigan, on taking our membership in an exciting new direction! You and I have never met, but, through your words, I like your enthusiasm, vitality and eagerness to bring us together as an association. Looking forward to a new year under your leadership!
Many good wishes for a productive Presidency,
Annamarie Donovan
www.donovanlawfirm.com
Posted by Annamarie Donovan | June 18, 2007 10:32 PM
Posted on June 18, 2007 22:32
Congratulation Kate, from the land of sunshine.
Best Regards, Joseph Orlando
Posted by joseph orlando | June 19, 2007 2:16 PM
Posted on June 19, 2007 14:16
Kate: Congratulations and best wishes for a wonderful year! Feel free to call on me for help in Westchester County. by the way, this is my first ever posting to a blog.
Posted by Linda Markowitz | June 19, 2007 6:26 PM
Posted on June 19, 2007 18:26
Congratulations Kate! I am so pleased to have you leading this outstanding organization. You are an inspiration to all attorneys and an excellent role model. I especially appreciate all the interest, effort and support you are placing into the Young/New attorneys and their particpation in the State Bar.
Best Regards,
Sherry Levin Wallach
Posted by Sherry Levin Wallach | June 19, 2007 10:25 PM
Posted on June 19, 2007 22:25
Thank you for all for your kind remarks and best wishes.
With regard to the post about the Time article and the Baghdad bar, while one might disagree with the editorial spin, the essential point is indeed one that we should examine. I have asked our International Law & Practice Section to explore it further to help us determine next steps.
Posted by Kathryn Grant Madigan | June 20, 2007 1:03 PM
Posted on June 20, 2007 13:03
Kate We were honored to have you address a stated meeting of the Queens County Bar Association. Your comments were well received and deeply appreciated. I hope that you continue to visit the "locals" as it not only energizes the leadership, but the membership as well. Keep up the good work. David Louis Cohen
Posted by David Louis Cohen | July 26, 2007 9:55 PM
Posted on July 26, 2007 21:55