The VBA Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Bar Association.
Issue link: http://vba.epubxp.com/i/815343
SPRING 2017 • 5 cultivation is essential to the short- and long-term suc- cess of the VBA. We must have a plan to retain current members and recruit new members. Mary Zinsner, a former member of the Board of Governors, did an outstanding job as chair of our 2016 Membership Committee. Current board member Tom Connolly assumed the chairmanship 2017 with impressive tactical plans to market membership. During the first quarter of 2017, we launched a membership challenge to all VBA members and a special challenge to each member of the Board of Governors. e challenge is for each existing VBA member to recruit one new member in 2017. I am confident that each of us can take time to encourage at least one of our colleagues to join the VBA. e challenge to each member of our Board of Governors is to recruit two new members. e board must lead by example. As VBA President, my responsibility is to steward the resources of the VBA so that we can guide this association to stay true to its long-standing mission. We must invest in those resources — our members and our staff. We must rec- ognize and remember that we are accountable for sustaining and promoting the VBA mission. We can best do that by engaging and energizing our leadership, past and present, our staff, and our members. We must push a little harder and reach a little further. Please join us, and invite others to join us, too. One VBA! ■ David S. Mercer is a principal of MercerTrigiani, an Alexandria-based law firm that specializes in common- interest ownership community associations. He became a VBA member in 1974, joined the Board of Governors in 2013, and is a member of the Real Estate Section. He is a past chair of the VBA Substance Abuse Committee. He also attained emeritus status and is a past president of the assistance program Lawyers Helping Lawyers. My responsibility is to steward the resources of the VBA so that we can guide the VBA to stay true to its long-standing mission. past leaders for advice and counsel and encourage their continuing engagement. » e VBA is the recognized advocate for the independence of the judiciary. We enjoy a cordial relationship with the judiciary and will continue to take steps to protect the independence of our judges. » Our work on law reform is well recognized by the General Assembly. We must continue to support the work of the Boyd-Graves Conference and our substantive law sections that do the important work of developing legislation consistent with the VBA mission to improve the law. • Enhancing Communication: e VBA has adopted several social media platforms as a means for delivering member information more quickly, completely, and personally. During my tenure, I will communicate on Twitter @davidsmercer. Also, I have been document- ing my VBA travels across the state on my President's Instagram account and urge you to follow me at @vbaprezmercer. Members can remain current and connected by using VBA communications tools: » Visit the VBA website at www.vba.org (log in for greater interaction) » Read and share tweets @VaBarAssn » Follow The Virginia Bar Association on Facebook at facebook.com/VaBarAssn » Connect on the members-only LinkedIn group page » See VBA photos on Instagram @thevirginiabar » Contribute to e VBA Voice, our monthly online newsletter » Submit articles to the VBA Journal, our three-times-a-year member magazine • Focusing on Membership: Membership service and