A special note of gratitude is extended to Eddy Emmons (CANB) as he assumes the position of Past President. NCBC has benefitted immensely from the leadership that Eddy provided over the past two years, particularly during the last difficult months with the COVID-19 Pandemic and the cancellation of our 40th anniversary conference in Anaheim. Eddy was able to renegotiate the Anaheim contract and reschedule the conference in Anaheim to 2023. Eddy’s experience and knowledge are a great resource for us, and he will continue to work with us on the upcoming conferences.
The Board and Officers who will be serving the needs of the membership for the upcoming year are:
Board of Governors: Carolyn Baker (NCEB), Johanne Remy (CACB), Eileen Garrity (MAB), Dr. Khadijia White-Thomas (CANB), and Kevin Dempsey (INSB)
Past President: Eddy Emmons (CANB)
President-Elect: Andrea Redmon (ALSB)
Secretary: Shannon Morris (GANB)
Treasurer: Matt Brittain (NCMB)
Web Administrator: Joe Markley (NCMB)
Impact Editor: Jan Zari (CACB)
Co-Historians: Jeff Davis (SCB) and Jeffrey Peirce (NJB)
Additional information on these individuals may be found under the Administration tab of the NCBC website.
Although we were unable to host our annual conference this year, the Education Committee Co-Chairs, Dr. Khadijia White-Thomas and Eileen Garrity are working on offering some of the classes that were planned for the conference as virtual classes that should be available to members in the fall.
This past April, while much of the nation was in shutdown mode, the Benefits Committee arranged for a live webinar by FedAdvantage, entitled “Surviving Market Swings,” focusing on financial strategies in times of uncertainty. The one-hour webinar was recorded, and the link is available for viewing on the NCBC website. FedAdvantage has also offered to conduct this webinar for individual courts that may be interested. Information about scheduling a personalized webinar for individual courts is also available. The Benefits Committee continues to look for new ways to provide value to NCBC members through new and enhanced benefits offerings.
Earlier this year, the Membership Committee had another successful Member Appreciation Week. Membership during the annual membership drive increased by nearly 100 new members. The Committee is looking forward to 2021 with new and exciting activities for our members.
The Mentorship Committee successfully matched four mentees with mentors this past year, with participants providing extremely positive feedback about the program.
Through the efforts of the Awards and Scholarships Committee, NCBC awarded 50 Special Service Awards to members of the bankruptcy community for their efforts and achievements on behalf of the NCBC and the courts. The NCBC awarded the prestigious Judge Ralph H. Kelley Outstanding Achievement Award to outgoing Past President, M. Regina Thomas (GANB).
The NCBC staff leadership development program called “LEAD” Academy (leadership, excellence, achievement, and development) commenced its second class this year with 27 participants from different courts culminating in a week of virtual classes in July. Our thanks to the LEAD Academy Subcommittee and faculty for their hard work on the project and their ability to pivot to a virtual environment. Thank you, Sandy Smith (Ret.), Barry Lander (Ret.), Beverly Griffeth-Bryant (ILNB), Gina Zadra Walton (WAWB), Jan Zari (CACB), Megan Moore (CASB), Kathy Noel (CASB), Woody Parks (MNB), Melody Siefert (NMB) and Jamie Smith (MNB) for your contributions to the program.
In addition to this newsletter, the Impact Editorial Committee continues to receive great feedback on our online blog posted at http://www.ncbcblog.weebly.com. The page features a photo gallery, information about the NCBC, and links to submit an article and contact the editor. Users can subscribe to a mailing list that will send updates to the blog page directly to their email. The committee plans to add additional new features to the newsletter, including resources related to COVID-19, mental health and wellness resources, lighthearted memes, inspirational quotes, and other ways to help with coping and keeping a positive outlook during these trying times.
An integral part of NCBC’s success is the result of the efforts of our committee volunteers. Carolyn Baker and Jeffrey Peirce (Membership), Johanne Remy and Eileen Garrity (Awards/Scholarship), Carolyn Baker and Johanne Remy (Mentorship), Kevin Dempsey (Benefits), and Andrea Redmon (Outreach), are in the process of putting their committees together, along with Joe Markley (Website) and Jan Zari (Impact Editorial). Please reach out to the committee chairs if you are interested in joining a committee.
Our next annual educational conference is slated for August 2-4, 2021, in Boston, Massachusetts. One of the many things that makes the NCBC Annual Conference so special is that so many of our members come together in one place to meet, learn, and network with colleagues from all over the federal judiciary. Having lost that opportunity this year, our conference next year will be extra special. The Education Committee has begun work with their committee members and the host court, and is planning another exceptional educational program for our annual conference. We look forward to hearing their updates on conference planning in the next few months.
Thank you for your support! Please contact me or any of the Board members to convey ideas you might have or tell us how we might better serve you – our members. My prayers for the health and safety of you and your loved ones in this difficult time. Take care and stay safe!