The VBA Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Bar Association.
Issue link: http://vba.epubxp.com/i/815343
4 • VBA JOURNAL PRESIDENT'S PAGE Staying True to Our Mission BY DAVID S. MERCER PRESIDENT, THE VIRGINIA BAR ASSOCIATION I n preparing remarks for my installation as the 129th President of e Virginia Bar Association at our January Annual Meeting in Williamsburg, several close friends advised me to "keep it simple." at advice guides me in preparing this message. If you are expecting or hoping for a long list of changes, mandates, or initiatives for 2017, you may be disappointed — I do not intend to serve as an agent of change merely for the sake of change. I have been an active member of the VBA for 44 years. Professionalism, collegiality, public service, law reform, and leadership networking are all elements of the VBA fabric. ese elements attracted me to the VBA and have kept me an active member. I intend to reinforce and support these elements in my year of service to our venerable institution. My leadership goals for 2017 are simple but substantive: • Unveiling New Office and Member Center: Guide the VBA staff and members through the relocation to our new headquarters and launch VBA on Main, our new, high-tech, innovative, and full-service member center. We are creating a unique center that will offer current and new members an office away from the office. To learn more about VBA on Main, see the cover story on page 18. • Strengthening Finances: Focus on the financial underpinnings of the VBA. We need to cultivate even more sponsor-partners and properly recog- nize our long-term partners. Steuart omas, our President-elect and chair of our newly formed Resource Allocation Task Force, states, "e charge of our task force is to carefully examine the VBA mission — what we do best, what we should be doing — and make sure our staff, volunteers, and revenue resources are properly allocated." is is indeed an ambitious goal but critical to sustaining the VBA financially. • Forging Connections to Constituencies: Identify and implement strategies to reinforce critical and valued relationships with current and past leadership, the courts, and the legislature. Our most valuable resources are our Past Presidents, Board of Governors members, and Section leaders. We must turn to our e Virginia Bar Association is the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, dedicated to advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service since 1888.