The IADC in its 85th anniversary year: our productive past and exciting future.

• Author: Hodges, George S.
• Position: International Association of Defense Counsel

It has been a unique privilege and opportunity to serve as IADC President for the past year. Our membership truly represents "the best and the brightest" of the defense community, and it has been a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to have had the opportunity to meet and work with so many of them.

I want to especially thank Greg Lederer, our incoming President, and Walt Sinclair, Immediate Past President, for their tireless efforts on behalf of the organization. My duties and responsibilities were so much easier knowing that I could turn to Greg and Walt at any time for assistance, evaluation, and, most importantly, well reasoned advice and opinion. Greg is going to be an especially fine President, and all IADC members will benefit from his leadership.

I also want to thank each of the members of the Board of Directors, as well as IADC Executive Director Oliver Yandle and his talented staff for all they have done over the past year to advance the goals, standards, and ideas of our Strategic Plan.

As for the current status of the IADC in the midst of our 85th year:

Membership

As of June 3, 2005, the IADC had 2,423 active members. Our membership retention rate during the current fiscal year is more than 98 percent, a figure "well off the charts" for any volunteer organization. Membership retention is a clear indication of the special benefits and opportunities afforded by IADC membership and the active roles that so many of our members are now enjoying in the organization. Since November 1, more than 100 nominees have passed through the rigorous membership process and have accepted membership in the IADC. I want to thank the chairs and members of our State Membership Committee, the Diversity Committee, the Corporate and Insurance Membership Task Forces, and the Board of Directors for assuring that our membership remains current, diverse, and well qualified. New members continue to represent "the best and the brightest" of the communities of in-house corporate counsel, insurance executives, and outside counsel while reflecting a more complete and diversified background than ever before.

Regional Meetings

During the past nine months, we had 15 Regional Meetings in various locations representing geographical cores of IADC membership. These meetings afforded a special opportunity for major segments of IADC membership, including those who are unable to attend our Annual and Midyear Meetings, to enjoy networking with fellow members and friends...