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by Todd G. Friedland
It’s July. I love July. Kids are out of school, June gloom starts to fade, and summer gets into full swing. The days are long. My wife D’Ann bought me a new barbecue for Father’s Day (hint hint, D’Ann). Judges are letting us wear aloha shirts and golf shirts to court (please?). I’m this much closer to our August family vacation. My business partner, John Stephens, is walking precincts in his bid for Costa Mesa City Council. And, importantly, the OCBA has survived my first six months as President. Whew!
All kidding aside, I love this job. Don’t get me wrong; it can be frustrating. The number one question I am asked in person, and at heytodd@ocbar.org, is: “Is it a lot of work?” Ask any Past President and they will undoubtedly respond with an emphatic “Yes!” It can also be very frustrating because, while none of us wants to admit that something is not possible, it is absolutely not possible to make it to every meeting and event needing an OCBA presence. Perhaps that is a testament to the active engagement of the OCBA, its sections, and its committees. There is so much going on. If any day you are looking for something to do, check the calendar at ocbar.org. I bet you’ll find something relevant and interesting.
Make no mistake, serving on the OCBA Board, and now serving as an officer, is also an extremely rewarding experience. Every day, I see firsthand how the OCBA is making a difference in the legal community, and in Orange County as a whole. Moreover, unlike some other Bar associations, ours remains strong in membership, finances, and activities. If you have not become more involved in the OCBA beyond just being a member, give it a shot. Here are some updates on OCBA activities that might interest you:
The OCBA Nominating Committee is hard at work vetting potential candidates for the OCBA Board and OCBA Secretary positions. Nominations closed on June 27, 2016. Each potential candidate will be interviewed by the Nominating Committee and a slate will be chosen. Thank you to the volunteers on the Nominating Committee who sacrifice so much of their time to choose the best possible slate of candidates to lead the OCBA: Michael Baroni (Chair), Cherrie Tsai, Dean Zipser, Deirdre Kelly, Ed Susolik, Ivy Wang, Jeff Reeves, Joe Chairez, Mike Yoder, Michael Gregg, Nikki Miliband, Rick McNeil, Rose Amezcua-Moll, and Yolanda Torres. Were you interested in running this year but missed the deadline? Talk to any of the Nominating Committee members about the process and qualifications considered so you will be ready for next year. The 2016 election occurs in September. When that time comes, please vote. Your vote matters in charting the OCBA’s future course.
Save the date: October 22, 2016. The Civic Center Homeless Task Force is working hard to commence an OCBA presence in the Santa Ana Civic Center where approximately 500 homeless men, women, and children are living. The population is growing. We are looking for ways for our members to apply their unique skillsets to the Civic Center population. Hopefully the assistance we provide will help some get off the street or improve their situations in a meaningful way. Living at the Civic Center is not a workable solution—for homeless people or for the general public and employees that use the Civic Center. Our main event this year will be Stand Up for Homeless on October 22, 2016. The task force is comprised of individuals from the OCBA as well as concerned citizens, community volunteer organzations, and government groups. But a great number of volunteers will be needed to help organize and run our outreach efforts. If you know of resources the task force should consider, or you want to volunteer to help, please contact me at heytodd@ocbar.org.
Take a law student to lunch. The 1L Kickstart Program, led by Michelle Philo and John Sganga, is now looking for volunteers. The Kickstart Program’s goal is to take every 1L at an ABA-accredited law school to lunch in the fall. We might need 500 volunteers to pull this off. So don’t be afraid. It’s just lunch. You can tell the 1L war stories or provide some helpful hints. Perhaps you will find your next law clerk. Email me at heytodd@ocbar.org with the subject “Kickstart” and we will add you to the interest list. Do it now, operators are standing by.
Finally, a few words about Kirsten Kreymann. Many of you know Kirsten Kreymann as the Pro Bono Director of the Public Law Center where she, Ken Babock, and the rest of the staff and volunteers do such wonderful work. For the last 1.5 years, I have had the honor of serving on the OCBA Board with Kirsten, and have witnessed her commitment to volunteerism and the OCBA firsthand. She also shares one of my passions: training and mentoring junior attorneys. But, it is hard to keep such a bright shooting star stationary and, sure enough, Kirsten was made an offer she could not refuse: She has left PLC to build and direct pro bono efforts for a large law firm—hopefully setting an example for other large firms to follow. Unfortunately for the OCBA, her new position required her to relocate and resign from the OCBA Board. Kirsten, I am sure I speak for our Board and our members in thanking you for your service and dedication.
Todd G. Friedland is the OCBA’s 2016 President. Todd Friedland is also a business litigation partner at Stephens Friedland LLP in Irvine. If anything he has said offended you, it is likely he was misquoted or his comments were taken out of context. Please also accept this apology in advance for anything he might say in the future. Contact/follow him at heytodd@ocbar.org, todd@sf-lawyers.com, or @heytoddocba.