Executive Director's Notes Kba Headquarters a True Treasure
| Publication year | 2011 |
| Pages | 07 |
| Citation | Vol. 80 No. 4 Pg. 07 |
Executive Director’s Notes
Jeffrey Alderman
KBA Headquarters a True Treasure
Some of my loyal readers (do I have any?) may remember that I have previously written about the construction project at our home at the Kansas Law Center. Now that we've finally completed all phases of this project, I thought that I would reflect one final time about this historical and very successful endeavor.
The first time I ever walked into 1200 Harrison St. was for my initial interview during the KBA executive director search process back in January 2004. Even though the Law Center was only 30 years old, and despite the best efforts of our dedicated volunteers and staff, the building was clearly in need of a face lift as well as some good old-fashioned TLC.
I remember that it was a cold and rainy wintery day when I entered the back (south end) of the building. I sat down in what appeared to be an art deco orange chair from the 1960s and glanced up at the ceiling and noticed it was actually leaking in the lobby. Right then, I reconsidered and modified my action plan for the interview.
While the meeting incorporated numerous subjects and organizational plans for the future, it was evident the Board of Governors was ready to move forward to redevelop the headquarters and had already signed a fundraising agreement with ALPS Foundation Services and was working with an architect, the Schwerdt Design Group of Topeka.
I had been involved in a similar undertaking while working at the Detroit Bar Association in the early 1990s and indicated that my experience might be beneficial with such a venture.
Fortunately for me, and perhaps unfortunately for the Bar, I was hired. And so, the Raising the Bar Campaign (RTB) was born.
Our RTB efforts sought to increase the size of the Kansas Law Center through renovation and expansion including adding technological enhancements and modernization that were necessary to enhance member benefits.
The campaign also sought to strengthen the Bar's ability to fund projects to foster the welfare, honor, and integrity of the administration of justice by increasing funding for civil aid to the poor and improving the accessibility of the legal system.
With interest rates at all time lows, the state of the Interest on Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program was sketchy at best so we...
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