Abrams: Compliments are Easy to Accept

Several of the IndyBar executive team recently attended the American Bar Association Mid-Year Conference where we spent time with other bar association executive officers and professionals to exchange ideas about different programs and what is working or not working in our communities and states.

We learned of one association providing matches for senior attorneys desiring to retire and new attorneys looking for a mentor and a career. We learned of the challenges of mandatory bars where the state Supreme Court has ruled they cannot continue to operate in the manner they have operated for many, many years. We learned how some associations are working hard to find value for the attorneys in large national and regional firms. Stay tuned for updates on that message.

One thing that we constantly hear from other organizations is how forward thinking and progressive the IndyBar is compared to other bar associations in the country. We received requests from other bar execs for their officers to spend time with us and “pick our brains” on how to successfully manage and operate a bar association.

There is only one reason why we consistently have these requests made of us. I would like to think it is unequivocally the result of outstanding past presidents and board members, including household names in our Indianapolis market such as Phil Isenbarger, Jim Voyles, Scott Chinn, Chris Hickey, John Maley, the list is endless (if your name is not here, it is because I let someone else pick the names to be included). However, I do not believe there is any question that the success of our organization can be primarily attributed to Julie Armstrong, our Executive Director, and the outstanding staff that works with her.

For some of the more experienced attorneys, many of you knew Rosie Felton, Julie’s predecessor and mentor. Julie has managed to inherit many of the great skills that Rosie had in operating the association while also developing her own unique skill set to further herself and our association. All of the staff at the IndyBar have been able to provide some key piece of the puzzle to make our association a national monument to so many of the other state and local bar associations.

Please take the time to stop by our IndyBar office at 135 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 1500 to say hello to our staff and let them know how much you appreciate all the great work that they do. We cannot provide them with enough accolades to really let them know how much we appreciate their time and effort.•

Compliments are easy to provide when the staff is great.

Julie and her team are nothing short of first rate.

They manage 100s of programs and 1,000s of different opinions.

Sometimes it seems it might be easier to slice a couple onions.

Staff’s creativity is known throughout the Bar land.

Their programs and ideas are beyond the grandest of grand.

They never come to a meeting without a well-developed plan.

To enable our bar members more time to hit the beach or golf course and work on their tan.