PEC considers changes to the Bar’s Annual Convention
PEC considers changes to the Bar’s Annual Convention
A major technology program should continue to be part of the Bar’s Annual Convention and the Bar should push to eliminate paper and tickets from its yearly gathering.
Those were among 24 recommendations for the convention made by the Program Evaluation Committee and accepted by the Board of Governors at its recent Atlantic Beach meeting. PEC Chair Michael Higer said a subcommittee led by board member Michelle Suskauer did the review.
“The subcommittee reviewed every component of the Bar’s Annual Convention; they researched what each unified state bar offered; they obtained state bar attendance data from the ABA,” among other information, Higer told the board.
Recommendations touched on CLE and convention fees, the General Assembly, traditional luncheon events, communications, attendance and ticketing, facilities, fundraising, and the role of the Annual Convention Committee.
The board unanimously approved the recommendations.
They include:
• Continuing to offer an annual technology program similar to this year’s Clio InSession technology program. For the immediate future, that program should be held on the Wednesday of convention week.
• Looking for ways to increase virtual attendance, especially as a way to promote what the Bar offers for its members.
• Considering different convention pricing for such groups as senior lawyers, young lawyers, first time attendees, and government lawyers and look at innovative fee structures, such as an all convention CLE pass, a daily CLE pass, a two-day CLE pass, and “a networking/social pass.”
• Asking the Young Lawyers Division to have one of its regional Basic Skills Course Requirement courses at the Annual Convention.
• Reducing meetings scheduled at the same time as the General Assembly to encourage more assembly attendance, offer live streaming of key speeches, and record those speeches to make them available online after the convention.
• Considering videotaping for the Bar’s YouTube channel and possibly live streaming of the Supreme Court chief justice’s annual State of the Judiciary address.
• Keeping convention programs and events as family-friendly as possible.
• Creating online materials and marketing for some convention activities and target various convention activities to different Bar demographic and practice groups.
• Using a process for the 2016 Annual Convention that will allow scanning name badges and tickets and aim for a completely ticketless convention for 2017.
• Comparing live and electronic attendance from the 2015 convention in Boca Raton and the 2016 convention in Orlando.
• Creating a fundraising subcommittee on the Annual Convention Committee.
• Finding sponsors to underwrite quality Wi-Fi service for attendees.
• Ensuring that the convention and its activities are accessible to those with disabilities.
• Creating a “lawyers lounge” where convention attendees can relax, charge electrical devices, do some work, and meet and network with other attorneys.
