Last year the members of our Association proved that they could play together magnificently to achieve a common goal, one which is of benefit to all our citizens and to the justice system. Under the leadership of Ron Harrison, President of the Association, and Jim Julian, Chair of the Amendment Three Committee, Association members throughout Arkansas committed their time, energy, and, in some cases, their fortune to achieve passage of a new judicial article. It was exhilarating to realize the power of our Association to effectuate change when its members unite solidly behind an effort to carry Arkansas forward.

While we are still stimulated by our victory at the ballot box we must unite behind a clear vision of where the profession must go in this new century. At a time when the practice of law is threatened by change so swift and sweeping it is difficult to fully comprehend its impact , we must first insure that our profession is firmly rooted in a tradition of service- to our clients, to the justice system, and to our communities, worthy of preservation.

We must then determine how we can best preserve the traditional practice of law and yet still move beyond the status quo to meet the challenges of change. In the coming Bar year we will strive to accomplish these goals by beginning new initiatives and continuing successful efforts now in place.

As lawyers we must work to maintain our leadership role in society through continued emphasis on ethical and civil conduct worthy of our profession. In coming years, the public will judge, not only our profession, but the entire justice system in large part by the way lawyers pursue their livelihood. Through the organization of mentoring programs, through professionalism initiatives in the law schools; and through renewed efforts to instill in new lawyers the obligation to serve not only the profession but the community we will insure our professional longevity in an increasingly foreign world of multi-disciplinary practice, multi-jurisdictional practice, and mind boggling technological advances.

We must continue our efforts to bring more people of color into the mainstream of the Association and the practice of law in Arkansas. No longer is this just the right thing to do, or even the smart thing to do. It is the only thing to do if we are to successfully maintain our relevancy when faced with the ever changing demographics of the state and nation. Entering its second year, the Arkansas Bar Diversity Commission, chaired by Judge Henry Jones and Past President Ron Harrison, is developing plans to bring law firms, major corporations, law school counselors, and well qualified minority lawyers together to address the hiring and retention of the minority lawyer.

Finally, we must work diligently to educate our youth on the law and practice of law. By continuing our successful programs, such as the Mock Trial competition, and initiating new ones such as a web site for youth education on the law, we can make a difference, albeit difficult to quantify, in maintaining an informed public, a public in possession of a clear understanding of the justice system.

Like so many of you, I love this profession and am devoted to the Association. As your new President, I will do whatever is within my ability to advance the cause of both in the coming year.

It's easy to get good players.
Gettin' 'em to play together, that's the hard part.
Casey Stengel