See You Soon
| Publication year | 2022 |
| Pages | 04 |
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
BY JOI KUSH
This is it—the final days of my CBA presidency. A year ago, my journey started with a virtual swearing-in ceremony and all the unknowns we had been living through since spring 2020. It was because of these unknowns, and the continuing uncertainties of how to live in a pandemic world, that I chose to focus on one simple goal: engagement— engagement between our leadership and our members, engagement between our members, and engagement of the association with the community at large.
After over a year of stay-at-home orders, lock downs, and countless zoom meetings, we craved in-person meetings and face-to-face connections. Often it seemed like we were almost there and life was returning to normal. But COVID-19 has proven itself a stubborn and unpredictable adversary. Just when we thought we might be in the clear, variants and cases surged, and official guidance changed. We had no choice but to adapt.
Throughout these past 12 months, I’ve tried to balance our need for engagement with the need to promote the safety and well-being of our members. We hosted in-person get-togethers when it could be done safely and virtual meetups when that wasn’t feasible. But whether in-person or remote, the connections I made were strong, each bringing me a restored sense of energy and reminding me how lucky I am to work in this honorable profession. For me, this year has been, simply stated, incredible.
As my term winds down, I reflect on how the year evolved and am thrilled to report that the CBA is thriving. Despite the pandemic, we continue to “uphold the honor and integrity of the bar, cultivate cordial relations among Colorado lawyers, encourage statewide engagement in CBA programs and leadership, and perpetuate the history of the profession and the memory of its members.” [1]
My Road Warrior Days
Some of my most memorable moments this past year came while traveling the state to visit the various local bar associations. In Salida, I had the honor of meeting Daniel Thom, president of the Heart of the Rockies Bar Association, and connecting with past CBA President Dick Gast. While the gathering was small, its impact on me was great.
In Durango, I saw firsthand the great work of Julianne Begay, president of the Southwest County Bar Association. She led the charge in drafting and adopting the association’s bylaws and further rejuvenated the association by targeting the needs of its members after conducting a detailed survey.
In Cortez, I met with Beth Padilla, who leads the Four Corners Bar Association, and helped promote the association’s CLE on equity, diversity, and inclusion, “Indian Law in Colorado.”
Sumi Lee, head of diversity outreach for the Colorado Judicial Branch, joined me when visiting the Seventh Judicial District Bar Association in both Telluride and Montrose. She provided the Seventh JD Bar with a thought-provoking CLE on diversity in the judiciary and the dire need for additional diversity on the bench. Kudos to President Amy Ondos for organizing these meetups—keep doing great things!
Brian Burns, president of the Mesa County Bar Association, provided his members with a meaningful lunch CLE and an evening of culture. The CLE was led by Jon Olafson, who presented on the CBA Executive Council’s Racial, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (REDI) Committee, which he chairs. Afterward, we all celebrated the in-person get-together over some local wine and entertainment, courtesy of two opera singers and a harpist.
My home visit...
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