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FROM THE PRESIDENT COLUMN

HONORED

TO SERVE

Ian N . Friedman

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association it again tomorrow. The fact that you’ve been is a partnership. We standing up here, the
12 Annual Meeting doing it for 50 and 65 years is remarkable. presidents and the board and so forth, we are
th
Inauguration Speech of I would be remiss if I didn’t recognize the half of what makes the CMBA great.
President Ian N. Friedman lawyer who I looked up to coming through law The other half, our partners, my partner
Friday, June 7, 2019 school, growing up, and who I can call a dear as I move forward in this year, is Becky
Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower friend, Jerry Gold, who’s here today, with 65 Ruppert McMahon, our CEO, who has done
years. You being here means the world to me. a tremendous job. Anyone in this room who
gain, I’d like to welcome and Marlon, you did a tremendous job this year, knows her knows she gets it done. And so, I
thank all of you for being and everyone in here recognizes you for the thank you, and I look forward to working with
here. I want to give, really, hard work, the foundation that you have set you this year.
thanks to all of you who forth on so many initiatives this year that I assure But it is also your staff. And, you know, we
A are in this room. It means you are going to be continued throughout my sit here and we see the names in the programs
a lot that you’re all here. To me, this is a presidency and into presidencies to come. So, of everyone who, you know, is being honored
special day, and to share it with friends and thank you. and so forth, but the staff is who gets it done
colleagues, there are no words. Stephanie Trudeau, the outgoing president every day. And so, I would ask the staff,
I’d like to thank my brother, Anthony of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation. everyone who’s here from the CMBA and who
Parker. As he said, we go way back. We are excited for you, Pat, to join, but you’ve also supports the CMBF, to stand up, please,
And my son, Gabriel, is calling out my got some very, very big shoes to fill. For those because you deserve applause from every
name, in case you hear that from the front row. of you who attended Rock the Foundation, lawyer in this room.
So, thank you for being here, Gabriel. you saw if she ever left law, she could be a I’ve known all of you, (still speaking to staff),
Justice Donnelly, again, thank you for your party planner like that. I encourage all of you for many years, and I am very, very excited to
fine words, and all of the judges and public to attend, and if you have the opportunity, to work with all of you in the coming year.
officials who are here today to celebrate more also thank and congratulate Stephanie. You So, now, Becky did talk about the different
than my installation as president, because as really did your share of work this year. Thank styles and so forth and how preparation may
you’ll hear from my words, today is — yes, I you very much. differ and so forth. And so, yes, I agree. I agree.
am becoming president, but this is the day that Pat, I look forward to working with you in And before I really get into the remarks, I do
I begin my service in the role of president to the year to come, and also Joe and Rose. have to tell you, just so that Becky’s comment
the Bar. And thank you to all of the judges and You know, we see a transition from Marlon is supported, what last night looked like. I had
officials who are here to recognize and honor to Ian, and we all know that an organization been told for well over probably six weeks
the Bar Association. works best if its leaders look at it in more that I have to have my speech prepared, and I
Thank you to all of the incoming officers that than one-year increments. If we look at it as couldn’t understand that. But they said, “Well,
we just talked about and all of the outgoing just a transition to put forward what needs Ian, your speech goes into the Bar Journal.”
officers who have spent the last few years to be done to better the organization, that is And I said, “Yeah, but I don’t know what I’m
giving all of their time. And this is a profession something that we have all committed to. And going to say.”
that does not leave us with a lot of spare time, so, as I stand here, I can promise you this is And they said, “Well, what do you do when
so those that give their time really love this going to be a great year. But I can also promise you go to trial?”
profession and cherish this profession. you we have great years to come with Joe and And I said, “I explain to my client why I don’t
The 50- and 65-year lawyers, I’ve been doing Rose following. have anything with me.”
this now for a little over 20, and some days I And then, most importantly or just as And they said, “Well, you got to have
wonder how I’m going to even get up and do importantly, we have to recognize that this something. Put some notes together.”

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