Page 4 - NovemberDecember24 Report

President’s Brief
President’s Brief
Our Members are
Our Best Ambassadors
By Faith C. Whittaker
Getting involved with the CBA has been one of the most
impactful opportunities for my career. I am especially
grateful for the mentors who encouraged my involve-
ment. My involvement started when Judge Michael Newman
arranged my attendance at a YLS happy hour with then-Exec-
utive Director John Norwine. Judge Newman encouraged me to
attend and ensured that John would introduce me to people and
feel welcomed. As the expression goes, the rest is history.
I reached out to former CBA Presidents, who have long
emphasized the importance of being an active part of the orga-
nization. They shared valuable insights on how you, too, can be
an ambassador.
Engage Actively
Judge Trotter Bratton emphasizes the importance of bringing
friends to CBA events. She shared, “I got involved in the CBA
when my friend Shonita took me along to a YLS Habitat for
Humanity event. Working in government, my exposure was
limited at that time to attorneys practicing primarily criminal law.
That event allowed me to make friends and build relationships
that are still going strong today. It’s important to bring people
along with you. Our bar is only as strong as the bar members who
pour into it.”
For example, the Cincinnati Bar Foundation’s “Rock the Foun-
dation” event is an excellent opportunity to introduce colleagues
to the CBA, showing them the rewards of involvement.
Engage with the Community
Breck Weigel adds that many lawyers in our community may
be unaware of the benefits of engagement. He said, “There are
multiple lawyers in our community who would be eager to engage
with the broader legal community, including the CBA, but don’t
appreciate the benefits or know how to get involved. This is no
one’s fault. To be candid, many of our members are affiliated with
the larger firms where it is easier to be engaged and pursue lead-
ership positions. My view is that it takes a proactive approach to
reach out to those who are not engaged (whether a member or not)
4 THE REPORT | November/December 2024 | CincyBar.org
and share with them the benefits of being a part of the larger legal
community. While these efforts begin with the Board, there are
multiple platforms within the organization that can assist in the
effort. And when you succeed, highlight their successes.”
Volunteer and Fundraise
Fundraising and volunteering are vital components of being an
effective ambassador. Kelly Mulloy Myers noted, “The Cincinnati
Bar Association is one of the best bar associations in the country.
I believe the professionalism and civility among Cincinnati practi-
tioners is due in no small part to the many opportunities the CBA
has for attorneys to learn from each other, serve the community
together, and socialize with one another. Taking a new associate
or mentee to an event is a great way to introduce them to all of
the opportunities the CBA provides to get involved, give back and
network.”
Be a Role Model
John J. Williams reflects on his introduction to the CBA. He
shared, “My introduction to the CBA started at a happy hour
sponsored by the CBA at Caddy’s. The then president of the Bar
Harry Santen made a point of coming over to our YLS group and
engaged us in conversation and invited us to get more involved.
As a result of Harry’s invitation, I have been actively involved in
the bar for over 30 years and as a result I have had opportunities
to engage in the profession in a meaningful manner which has
allowed me as well as my family opportunities to give back to the
profession and the community that I would not have otherwise
been offered. The real value that I have garnered from my partici-
pation is the lifelong friendships that have developed with others
in the profession.”
As an ambassador for the CBA, remember that your involve-
ment can shape not only your career but also the surrounding
legal community. I hope to see you and a guest at an upcoming
event.
Whittaker is a partner at Dinsmore and the 2024-2025 CBA president.