by Fred Seely
Editorial Director
Jacksonville should be on the rotation for the Florida Bar’s annual convention — or at least its mid-year meeting — and the local Bar president says he’ll start a push for it.
“It would bring 4-5,000 attorneys and their families to the area,” said Tom Beverly Friday after welcoming the Bar’s board meeting here at the Adam’s Mark. “It would be prestigious for the Bar members here and it would be great financially for the area.”
The big Bar meetings now move around to the state’s big resorts; this year’s annual meeting is at the Boca Raton Hotel. One of a few area resorts could handle a meeting of this size, and Beverly says the city needs a concerted effort.
“The meeting sites are booked way in advance,” he said, “so we’re looking at 7-10 years out. But, we need to get started now.”
Beverly, in his welcome to the Bar board, said that Jacksonville was ready and his words were seconded by Mayor John Delaney.
“I think you’ll find this to be a delightful city with a lot of energy,” said Delaney in his welcoming remarks. “We’ve come a long way. We want you back.”
The Bar’s board met into Saturday with about 50 members here. It was the final board meeting for President Terry Russell of Fort Lauderdale, who turns the gavel over to Miami’s Tod Aronovitz at next month’s annual meeting.