A call for commitment.

• Author: Parker, Bruce R.
• Position: President's page

As I write this last President's Page, approximately a month remains of my term as your President. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving you and our fine organization. I appreciate more than I can describe in this column all those who took time from their practice and families to help on the numerous programs and projects that were implemented this year.

In earlier columns, I have spoken about developing a passion for excellence, embracing as an organization and individually a spirit of innovation and change as a means to improve our collective performance and the status of our efforts towards achieving our strategic goals. In this last column, I want to talk about commitment, and in particular, commitment to the IADC.

In the five years that I have served on the Board of Directors, close to 600 new members have been admitted into the organization. The accomplishment and talents of this group are quite impressive. Of the approximate 2,500 members in our association, approximately 25-35% are active as defined by contributing newsletters, Journal articles, writing amicus briefs, participating in the Trial Academy and/or the Satellite Trial Academy as a faculty member, attending membership meetings, Regional Meetings, or specialty programs such as the Corporate Counsel College and Professional Liability Roundtable. If just half of the approximate 600 new members admitted in over the past five years become committed and active members, the impact on the IADC will be dramatic.

Members who have not become active may question whether the commitment of time and expense justifies what I am urging. Others may be willing to commit their energies to the IADC, but are unsure how to proceed. In the balance of this column, I will address both questions.

As to the first question, the return on your "commitment investment" is likely to take many forms. First, as professionals, each of us has a responsibility to ourselves and our clients to improve our skills regardless of whether we practice within a corporate (insurance or otherwise) legal department or a law firm. Many of the IADC CLE programs are participatory. Participating in programs (internal committee CLE and workshops) with talented lawyers will increase your knowledge and improve your skills.

Another return from your investment in IADC is new and enriching relationships that you will develop. Had someone told me 16 years ago when I attended my first IADC membership meeting that a significant benefit of...