As I write this column on New Year’s Eve, I hope that each of you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season.
2002 closed with some very special occasions and outstanding events and projects for our Association. On Dec. 3, many of our members attended and participated in the investiture for United States District Judge Tim Corrigan. The ceremony was both moving and entertaining (including a stirring rendition of the Notre Dame fight song by the Bishop Kenny High School Band – something you do not often see in a Federal courthouse). It was a privilege to share that very special occasion with Judge Corrigan, his family, friends and so many members of our judiciary.
On Dec. 5, we had an outstanding turn out from members of our Association and the bench for our annual Bench and Bar Party. The Bench and Bar Party is one of our Association’s best-loved traditions. This year it was a treat for us to have the event at the new Berkman Plaza and tour that development. Special thanks are in order for Diane Gill and her staff for all of their hard work on the event and for the good folks at Berkman Plaza for hosting our Association.
Our annual JBA Holiday Project was once again an overwhelming success. The project helps brighten the holidays for many senior citizens in the community that participate in the Meals on Wheels program. We very much appreciate the efforts of Sonya Hoener and Martha Bolton of Marks Gray, who chaired the project committee, as well as those of all who served on that committee or participated in the project.
We have many great JBA projects and events to look forward to in 2003. One event that is anxiously anticipated is our Monte Carlo Night that will be held on Feb. 1 at the Cummer Museum. This event debuted last year and was a smashing success. Because of the overwhelming requests from many who attended last year’s event (and many others who wish that they had), we are bringing back the event. If you have not already received an invitation, you will shortly. I hope that you will make plans to attend this great party.
This time of year provides an opportunity for each of us to reflect upon the previous year and look forward in anticipation to the year to come. I know that many of us will think about ways that we can grow and improve in our professional lives. We can all learn ways to better serve our clients, those we work with and our profession.
We all should also take advantage of this time to think about ways we can grow and improve in our personal lives. For me that will include finding ways to spend more meaningful time with my family, giving more time of myself to my community and my fellow man, growing in my faith, and never forgetting that there is a whole lot more to life than what goes on at the office. Some of these things may be on your list as well.
I will pass on this small bit of wisdom that I have learned about New Year’s resolutions. Unless your resolutions include finding ways to get more beer and chicken wings into your diet and to spend more time on your couch, the effective date for any diet or fitness resolutions should not be until after the last college bowl game is played. Using that time-tested strategy, I have been able to have many of those resolutions last almost until the Super Bowl.
I hope that each of you enjoy a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.