Page 39 - FDCC_Flyer_Winter2024

and involve them
in attending (and
even organizing) regional
or loal gatherings. But ultimately,
as with most activities within the
FDCC, the primary objective is
to foster connection within our
organization and to maximize the
benefits of membership.
On Monday, November 11, the
State Reps and Regional Chairs met
to discuss the objectives for the
2024-2025 year. The first objective
is to continue holding informal
city-wide/regional networking
events, with a focus on connecting
with members who have not yet, or
not recently, attended a meeting.
The FDCC has likewise invested in
this goal by creating a budget for
these events. Specifically, the goal
for these events—which, ideally,
will coincide with the registration
periods for the 2025 Winter Meeting
in Charleston and the 2025 Annual
Meeting in Park City—is to serve as
a reminder to our current members
about the dual benefit of fellowship
and professional networking that
the FDCC provides. Anecdotally,
I have noticed that these informal
local meetings get people excited
and serve as a great opportunity to
encourage registration. State Reps
are encouraged to coordinate with
the membership in their state and
region to organize these events.
And if you’re reading this and
are interested in hosting or
coordinating an event—particularly
if you live in an area with a
significant number of FDCC
members—please reach out to me
or your designated State Rep!
A second objective for this year is to
establish a network within the State
Rep program
dedicated
to helping our
fellow members
during natural disasters and their
aftermath. Hurricanes Helene and
Milton have each been a timely
and somber reminder of just how
critical the need for assistance
may be. For example, if multiple
members are required to evacuate
their hometown or are displaced
following a natural disaster,
members in other cities within
the region could provide access to
office space and other professional
resources and could even assist in
locating temporary housing for the
displaced member and their family.
There is undoubtedly a need for this
in each of our regions; however, the
ways in which our members can
provide assistance will necessarily
vary based on the circumstances
and the issues specific to each
region. If you are reading this
and happen to have ideas on any
region-specific assistance the FDCC
could provide to its membership,
we would love to hear them!
Third, and finally, the State Rep
program will be coordinating
a competition-style food bank
donation
drive this
holiday season
through Feeding America,
previously known as Second
Harvest. Feeding America is part
of a nationwide network of over
200 food banks and 60,000 meal
programs so people can access
food without judgment or stigma.
Inspired (in part) by the sense of
community and local pride evoked
during our Hockey Hall of Fame
event at the 2024 FDCC Annual
Meeting in Toronto, the goal is to
provide donations to programs
that directly help our individual
local communities while uniting
in our efforts to raise funds for the
same worthy cause. Beginning
on November 18 and continuing
through the month of December,
each Regional Chair, along with the
State Reps within their respective
regions, will lead fundraising
efforts for Feeding America by
encouraging the FDCC members in
their state to donate to the Feeding
America food bank of their choice.
On behalf of the FDCC State Reps,
we are excited to provide even
more value to FDCC membership
by strengthening relationships in
shared communities, celebrating
our common ground, and serving
the needs of the membership
within our individual regions.
Kelly Brilleaux is an FDCC Defense Counsel
member, Chair of the State & International
Representatives Program and a Partner
with Irwin Fritchie Urquhart Moore &
Daniels in New Orleans, LA. Contact her at:
kbrilleaux@irwinllc.com
Our primary objective
is to foster connection
within our organization
and to maximize the
benefits of membership.
34 winter | federation flyer www.thefederation.org
section title FDCC News