Page 50 - FDCC Flyer Spring 2022

They are why we welcome new members from across the country “in person” over zoom and flock to in-person meetings post-pandemic. They are why we join committees, speak on panels and serve as hosts. They are why we talk, dine, drink and stay up late together. They are why we spend time getting to know not just each other, but our fellow members’ families, significant others and friends. We do these things not simply because we enjoy each other, but to earn the respect and trust of our peers.
And as we have seen, relationships started within the Federation last
a lifetime. Ellen Semple, wife of FDCC Defense Counsel Member James Semple at Cooch & Taylor, P.A. in Wilmington, DE, sent the photo above of FDCC “retired members” who spend the winter months in Florida. She reports that “After getting together informally (1 or 2 couples), they decided to try to gather a group for dinner” and the rest, as they say is history. This
We do these things not simply because we enjoy each other, but to earn the respect and trust of our peers.
photo was taken during the March 23, 2022 dinner gathering in Naples, FL.
Our Membership Development Committee (“MDC”) is working
to help members continue to engage and connect. As you read this, a subset of the committee is actively revising the New Member Handbook to make it a go-to resource for members. We also participate in virtual orientations
- small gatherings held twice a month with new members - which provide a quick glimpse into the workings of the organization.
It has been amazing to see the connections attendees have made just by participating in these one- hour sessions. The MDC is also administering the mentorship
program. If you are a new member and would like a mentor, please shoot me an email and I will set you up.
The opportunities to cultivate relationships with Federation members are boundless. The MDC encourages you to take advantage of them - join a substantive law section, volunteer to be a speaker, participate in a podcast, webinar or service project, write an article. The more you do, the more people you will meet, the more relationships you will develop. In turn, these relationships will enhance your return on investment in this great organization.
So, do what some of us call “drink the Kool-Aid.” Or, better yet, in the spirit of Churchill, drink the champagne!
Jennifer Johnsen is an FDCC Defense Counsel Member and a Senior Director on the Board. She is also a partner at Gallivan, White & Boyd in Greenville, SC. Contact her at: jjohnsen@GWBlawfirm.com.
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