Page 6 - January 2019 | Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal

BarJournal COLuMN

JULY/AUGUST 2015
frOM THE CHIEf ExECUTIvE OffICEr

COnTInUInG OUr THOUGHT

lEAdErSHIP EvOlUTIOn

Rebecca Ruppert McMahon

appy New Year! Directors in October 2018 — on two issues of position to take action on every issue that you
It’s official ... the start of critical importance: the conditions within the identify, we definitely want to create a plan
the last year of this decade. Cuyahoga County Jail located downtown and that reflects the passions and priorities of you,
Is it just me or is the time proposed legislation that would expand the our members.
Htrain chugging along faster jurisdiction of the Cleveland Housing Court. Many of you shared your perspectives
and faster? Much of this work has been the result during 2018 — thank you! I hope more and
We’ve got another big year planned inside of a coordinated and collaborative effort more of you will speak up and out, whether
Barland, one that started with our “Goodbye between our dedicated Board of Directors during programs like the Hot Talks, in
2018, Hello 2019” video salute to all of you, and our Thought Leadership Committee. As response to specific requests for member
our members, for making the past year so we all dive into 2019, thought leadership will input and beyond. For ease of use in the
successful. (If you missed the message, you continue to be at the forefront of our collective New Year, we have created a new webpage
can see it through January on our website at effort, including the ongoing identification of — CleMetroBar.org/ThoughtLeadership
CleMetroBar.org or anytime on the CMBA’s issues that are important to advancing the — where we will post all of our requests
YouTube channel.) We are grateful for the interests of our CMBA members, as well as the for input and opinion, in addition to
individual and collective energy you infuse into administration of law and justice. We will be cataloguing both upcoming and past
our hometown Bar each and every year. From tailoring our strategies for how best to address actions. On this same page, you can also
the programs and events you attend to the pro those issues, including the potential offering share your ideas and comments. And of
bono and community programs to which you of seminars, summits, debates, Bar Journal course, you are always welcome to email me
give your valuable time, you truly are the secret articles, op-eds, essay contests and more. directly. Or even better, let’s talk live!
ingredient to our recipe for success. As always, we want and need your Every voice matters. I hope you’ll share
One of the most compelling and wide- feedback to help shape our course of action. yours ... and Meet us at the Bar again and
reaching member-driven efforts of the past When our Bar speaks, we do so on behalf again in 2019.
year centered on our continued evolution of our members. Knowing what you think Here’s to a healthy and prosperous year for
toward becoming greater Cleveland’s “go-to” is critically important, both in terms of us all!
organization on matters of law and justice. developing programing content and when
As you may recall from past articles, we are we occasionally speak out on an issue of
striving to land the CMBA on everyone’s speed particular importance. Whether you meet us Rebecca Ruppert McMahon is the CEO of the
dial — or digital equivalent — when important at the Bar regularly or less than regularly, we CMBA. She has been a CMBA member since
issues arise. “What does the Bar think?” is the want to hear from you. Each member voice 1995. She can be reached at (216) 696-3525 or
question we hope will be asked of us again and is important to us. While we won’t be in a rmcmahon@clemetrobar.org.
again and again. For big issues and for small.
Because of your engagement, the CMBA
a variety of vehicles — priority issues facing listen.
took a number of substantive steps in 2018
toward identifying and addressing — through

“Hot Talks” which included discussions on the learn. H t
our community and our profession. These
included a series of ripped-from-the-headlines

#MeToo Movement, guns in our community
and schools, Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s Engage. TALKS
nomination and more. The CMBA also
released public positions — consistent with the
Public Positions Policy adopted by the Board of
6 | Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal clemetrobar.org