Vol. 29, No. 4 #2 (August 2006). EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

• Author: By Mary B. Guthrie

Wyoming Bar Journal

2006.

Vol. 29, No. 4 #2 (August 2006).

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT

WYOMING LAWYERAugust 2006/Vol. 29, No. 4EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORTBy Mary B. Guthrie

Tempus fugit. Time flies. I cannot believe how quickly the last 3 1/2 years have passed. As clichéd as it sounds, it seems like it was just yesterday when I became the Bar's executive director.

I had barely gotten my coat hung up, when Sharon Wilkinson, the Bar's very creative Communications Director, advised me that I should write a column for the February edition of the Wyoming Lawyer and that it was due in two days. At first, I felt a little overwhelmed, because while I always have read publications from the Bar, I must admit that sometimes I did not read the Executive Director's column with a great attention to detail. Consequently, I was stumped for a topic and I really didn't want my maiden effort at writing to be mediocre and subject to criticism. (I have no idea how many lawyers read Bar publications, but even if only half of the membership does so, that means that1,500 friends and acquaintance might wonder if I was up for the job.)(fn1)

Thankfully, I was quickly inspired to write about my long term friendship with Dick Honaker, who was the 2002-2003 Bar president. Only in Wyoming would Dick had been a student of mine when I taught honors English at Laramie Senior High School in 1967, a later associate at the Attorney General's office and the person who hired me to be the executive director. Since that first column, I have had no shortage of ideas for topics and I thank everyone who has written to say that they have enjoyed my view on life.

In fashioning this last column I decided to see how famous folks had taken leave of a position. Consequently, I read several famous "farewell addresses" in hopes of finding some inspiration or pattern. The recurrent themes were to acknowledge and thank constituents for the privilege of being able to serve and then give some advice. (I have decided to summarize a few of these "farewell addresses" so that you won't have to read them yourself and also to bring a modicum of seriousness to this column).

In his "Farewell Address of 1796," George Washington urged Americans to "observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all." In 1961, President Eisenhower presented his...