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Officer Reports
Michael T. Glascott Goldberg Segalla Buffalo, NY
We had a wonderful meeting at the Greenbrier and then the COVID “boom” hit us once again. Playing it safe, we had no choice but to go
much have things really changed? We had cholera in 1910, flu in 1918, Asian flu in 1956, Hong Kong flu
in 1968, and most recently, HIV/ AIDS since the 1980s. Is there any doubt that the more things change, the more they remain the same? While the pandemic has disrupted so much of our “normal” life, we will always have a new pandemic, a
While the pandemic has disrupted so much of our “normal” life, we will always have a new pandemic, a new foe, and a new challenge, but the resourcefulness of our members will keep
the Federation vital and relevant throughout.
new foe, and a new challenge, but the resourcefulness of our members will keep the Federation vital and relevant throughout.
While few could have imagined all that would follow our 2020 Winter Meeting at the Camelback resort, the Federation has done well.
Our recruitment has remained strong and our attrition is low. Our financial position has never been better. Indeed, we are most fortunate to have a group of talented, resourceful attorneys. It is a bonus that we happen to enjoy spending time with each other.
In April 2020, I began calling members to make leadership appointments. Despite the unknown challenges which continued to evolve with each
passing month of the pandemic, the enthusiastic response of our members was inspiring. Your “can do” attitude was invigorating. Bob Christie advised he had the same experience when making calls for leadership positions this spring. FDCC members are simply the best. Many thanks to all of you that said “yes” when called upon.
I tell that FDCC story whenever people ask what I get out of the Federation. I also promise that this will be their experience if
they wish to get involved. Tricia and I have checked a lot of boxes over the years. Let’s see, friends with some of the finest people we know? Check! Incredible trips and experiences with our best friends? Check!! Creating new professional networks to provide value to our firms and employers? Check!!! For those that engage, we receive far more than we give.
For those Federation members, like me, that ask “how did I get past admissions,” just remember
it is not where you start, but where you finish. It does not matter how accomplished you were upon your arrival, working with Federation colleagues will enhance your skills. Steel sharpens steel and what better place to enhance your skills than in the friendly confines of
the Federation. The future of the Federation is bright and we should all look forward to meeting future challenges together.
FDCC Defense Counsel Member Michael Glascott is a Partner with Goldberg Segalla in Buffalo, NY and Chair of the FDCC Board of Directors. Contact him at mglascott@goldbergsegalla.com.
virtual with our remaining fall events. Protecting the health of
our members was our priority and, while the loss of our in-person opportunities is unfortunate,
we have nothing to complain about. The Federation had an extraordinary year and we shall continue to flourish during what remains of the pandemic. How long the pandemic lasts is anyone’s guess, but we will continue
pivot and adjust to whatever environment we have in order to provide our members with excellent programming and valuable member benefits to stay connected and engaged.
As challenging as the last year
has been, we will always have unique challenges which must
be overcome. We need to keep things in perspective. Consider the comments of President Kennedy in a televised news conference in 1960 when he said:
The balance of power is shifting. There are new and more terrible weapons, new and uncertain nations, new pressures of population and automation that were never considered before.
A strong argument could be made that nothing has changed since 1960. Bad people with scary weapons seem to be a constant in our history. Disease? Just how
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