By President Carter E. Strang, Partner, Tucker Ellis & West LLP
This is my final article as Chapter president. My term of office ends Sept. 30, 2010, which is before the next Chapter newsletter will be published.
I thank the FBA-NDOC Board of Directors and Representatives, my fellow officers, our Chapter members and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio for their help in making this a truly great year for our Chapter.
We certainly lived up to the FBA’s motto: “Raising the Bar to New Heights.”
It is important to denote milestones, as our Chapter recently did in June at its “Tribute” honoring Chief Judge James Carr and Magistrate Judges James Gallas and David Perelman. Our Chapter’s milestones over this last year warrant mentioning as well.
1) Conversion of the Chapter newsletter to electronic-only format
During the last year, the Chapter newsletter transitioned from a hard copy, black/white, publication circulated at considerable Chapter expense and then only to Chapter members, to its current publication in an electronic format that is in color, has no length restrictions, and is sent electronically through the District’s ECF system to an audience 20 times larger than in the past: The more than 10,000 attorneys admitted to practice in the District. The increased audience has resulted in our voice being heard by many more attorneys, who now are aware of our Chapter and its many great events. It has also resulted in a newsletter that is more scholarly than ever, as the new format and audience has attracted many more attorneys who want to publish in the newsletter. Special thanks to Newsletter Committee Chair Steve Jett and all the members of his committee for their help in making our Chapter’s award winning newsletter the FBA’s best Chapter newsletter.
2) Representatives
During the last year we added “Representatives” to our Board. Representatives are non-voting members of the Chapter’s Board. Many served on Chapter committees and assisted with Chapter events. They include Barb Paynter, as a public representative who brings communication expertise to our Chapter; U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Steve Dettelbach, who is the more recent addition and who brings his considerable enthusiasm and expertise; and our many law school representatives, who are listed in the Law School Corner of the newsletter. All have added energy and expertise to our Chapter that is much appreciated.
3) Law school growth
This year we created partnerships with four district law schools: Akron University College of Law, Case Western Reserve College of Law, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and the University of Toledo College of Law. At each school, the Chapter had a Dean/Faculty Representative as well as a 3L and 2L Representative. Chapter events were held at the law schools and the Chapter conducted a membership drive that resulted in an increase of 64 Chapter student members. No other Chapter has seen a growth of student memberships as large as our Chapter achieved this year.
The Chapter sponsors Constitutional Law Awards at all four schools (Toledo was added this year), and recipients receive a cash award and Chapter recognition. Special thanks to all the law school representatives and to Rennillo Deposition & Discovery, which sponsored the cost ($25) of all the student memberships.
4) Chapter’s community outreach
Our Chapter coached the Garrett Morgan High School Mock Trial Team in the Cleveland Mock Trial Competition. Garrett Morgan HS is in the Cleveland Municipal School District. The students and their teacher were very appreciative of our Chapter’s assistance and the team did very well, with several students winning individual awards. Many of the students are—as a result of the experience—considering an interest in law as a career. Thank you to Tom Baker for serving as coordinator of the project.
5) Expanding Chapter footprint—Akron, Toledo and Youngstown
To make us a more truly Northern District Chapter, we need to expand our programs in Akron, Toledo and Youngstown. This year, we did so.
In Akron, we held our June Chapter Board meeting and held a Brown Bag lunch (attended by a capacity crowd of more than 60 attorneys) at which Judges Cook and Lioi spoke.
The Chapter held its first event in Youngstown: A Brown Bag lunch with Judge Limbert on July 15. Thank you to Judge Limbert for hosting the lunch. Please check the Chapter website and our next newsletter for stories about it. It was a huge success. The Chapter is planning additional events in the Mahoning County area.
Finally, the Chapter continues to grow its Toledo presence. It was a sponsor of the University of Toledo Law’s Military Commissions Act of 2009 Symposium, and Toledo area residents Jason Hill (Chapter Treasurer) and Catherine Garcia-Feehan (Chapter Trustee) are planning additional Chapter activities for the Toledo area for the upcoming year.
Carter E. Strang is President of the Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the FBA. He is a Partner in the Cleveland office of Tucker Ellis & West LLP. He is a trial lawyer who focuses on environmental, mass tort and product liability litigation. He has handled a broad range of matters in both state and federal court. He is a frequent lecturer and author regarding legal issues.
