ABOTA National Board Meeting Recap

Chapter leaders convene to discuss vital aspects of ABOTA membership

Chapter leaders from across the country gathered in Santa Barbara, California, for the Chapter Leadership Conference. More than 80 officers from 48 chapters, including leaders from state and regional organizations as well as executive directors, met to discuss ABOTA membership recruiting and retention efforts, finances, and chapter programs. This annual conference seeks to inform chapter leaders of the many programs and projects that have been successfully executed at chapters around the country. Leaders learn about the tools and packages that will assist their chapters in achieving their goals in the coming year.

The attendees heard from National Officers and Board Representatives on topics such as the state of jury trials in America, membership recruitment, retention, engagement, diversity, finances and how to take advantage of the resources available from the National Office and the ABOTA Foundation.

To view materials from the Chapter Leadership Conference and access resources for your Chapter, view the Chapter Leadership Guide.

Democracy is not invincible or inevitable: ABOTA will be at the heart of efforts to reinvigorate civics through new and existing programs

ABOTA held its Annual Membership Meeting and first National Board Meeting of the year in Santa Barbara as well. More than 150 members were in attendance and participated in the National and Foundation Idea Exchange on Friday and the National Board Meeting on Saturday.

The National and Foundation Idea Exchange included committee updates from 20 National and Foundation Committees. The Idea Exchange offers committee members the opportunity to share current projects and upcoming goals. This new structure allows committees to collaborate and innovate in furtherance of ABOTA's missions. All members are invited and encouraged to join committee meetings which are held virtually during the year.

Sign up for National and Foundation Committees here.

Suzanne Spaulding, who serves as senior adviser for homeland security and director of the Defending Democratic Institutions project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), was a guest speaker at the National Board Meeting. Ms. Spaulding provided an extremely interesting presentation about the attempts by foreign interests to undermine public confidence in our governmental institutions, including the judicial system, and she noted that reinvigorating civics education in defense against such efforts is a national security imperative. National ABOTA and the ABOTA Foundation are partnering with CSIS to further civics education efforts. One specific program CSIS is engaged in involves teaching civics to adults in the workplace and is titled, “Civics at Work.” CSIS provides resources for employers to implement civics education programs in the workplace. ABOTA’s work with CSIS is meaningful and important.

CSIS Resources:

·    Civics as a National Security Imperative (speaker series)

·    Civics at Work

·    Civics for Adults Guide for Content Providers

·    Implementation Guide for Businesses

Make the Pledge: If you are interested in helping with this initiative or have corporate clients that you think would be a good fit to approach about implementing Civics at Work, please sign up here.

Congratulations to our new members!

The National Board approved 39 new members from around the country on Saturday, January 28. Congratulations and welcome to our new members!

Two members achieved an elevation in rank and seven were granted senior status.

Congratulations to Vick Putman of the San Antonio Chapter for becoming an Emeritus Member of ABOTA! Thank you for your work and dedication to the organization.

View the full membership report here.

The next membership application deadline is March 30, 2023. If you have any questions, please email membership@abota.org. You can view applications and membership requirements here.

Legislative consultant retires after 30 years with ABOTA

After 40 years in the lobbying business and 30 years representing ABOTA, William H. Edington formally announced his retirement which was effective on Dec. 31, 2022.

“Representing ABOTA has been the highlight of my career, and all of you have been a part of all that," Mr. Edington said to the National Board. “The friends that I have made with our association, I will always cherish and remember with great joy. It has truly been an honor for me to represent you in Washington, and I will miss it greatly.”

Mr. Edington has a been a fixture at the American Civil Trial Bar Roundtable since 1996. While ABOTA does not use member dues for lobbying efforts, Mr. Edington’s presence in Washington, DC, kept ABOTA leaders up to date on legislative matters on Capitol Hill.

Supporting the Roundtable: Your LAF contribution supports ABOTA’s long-standing and successful efforts to preserve and promote the people’s right to a civil jury trial. Through your contribution, ABOTA is able to continue to be the sponsor and the facilitator of the American Civil Trial Bar Roundtable. The American Civil Trial Bar Roundtable brings together leaders of the major civil trial bar organizations and the ABA to work together in the continuation and preservation of the civil trial justice system. The Roundtable is active in developing a well-reasoned and balanced approach to civil trial justice issues and is a powerful voice in preserving and promoting the civil jury trial right and related issues.

As a reminder, your Roundtable pledge can be paid in full or through payments of at least $250 annually. Of course, you are also welcome to increase your gift at any time. We appreciate your generosity and encourage you to fulfill your Roundtable committment. For your convenience you have two options to make a payment:

Option 1

Click here to pay online.

Option 2

Please make check payable to:

ABOTA-LAF

Attn: Finance

2001 Bryan Street, Suite 3000

Dallas, TX 75201

Other News from ABOTA

Ethical Considerations and Best Practices of Virtual Litigation

This conference will assist attendees in planning for ethical, professional and top-notch performance in all virtual litigation settings and in overcoming challenges when they arise.

Chapter Visits

If your Chapter plans to hold an in-person or virtual meeting and would like Steven W. Quattlebuam, 2023 National President, or Christopher J. Beeman, 2023 Foundation President, to attend, please notify the National Staff.

Beware of Phishing Scams

Scammers often use email to trick chapter leaders into giving them their personal information. The emails often look like they are from an ABOTA member you may know and trust.