A Look Back and Our Plans for the Future

<p>Thank you for the opportunity to serve as ABI president. ABI benefits from an incredible
synergy of volunteers and a world-class professional staff.
</p><p>This year, we celebrate ABI's 25th anniversary. From an entity without members,
assets or staff 25 years ago, we have grown to 11,500 members, an annual budget
of $8 million and an outstanding professional staff of almost 30. We put on
a seminar or meeting somewhere in the United States about every three weeks.
Our educational programs are outstanding. Our Internet site and e-mail distribution
are the best sources of bankruptcy information in the United States.

</p><p>This year we will publish a new book or monograph, on average, nearly every
month. We publish the <i>ABI Journal</i> 10 times each year, which has more
information than anyone can absorb. And that information is unique in combining
professional analysis with practical suggestions and recommendations.
</p><p>Our <i>Law Review</i> has been cited by the Supreme Court. We have donated
more than $500,000 to support research and publishing; currently we are spending
an additional $350,000 for a statistical study of professional fees in bankruptcy
cases. We sponsor a moot court competition for law students and a case competition
for MBA students, providing an unparalleled educational opportunity for future
leaders in law and business.
</p><p>Building this incredible enterprise is the result of inspired vision and very
hard work. I come to the presidency after the hardest work has been done. In
this 25th anniversary year, we recognize and thank those who have done the heavy
lifting. We honored some of our early leaders with a video presentation and
personal awards at our Annual Spring Meeting. A museum display highlighting
our accomplishments was unveiled, which will travel to our regional seminars.
Each <i>ABI Journal </i>for the coming year will include articles about the
important achievements of the past, how they were accomplished, and those who
were instrumental in conceiving and in carrying out the projects.
</p><p>To help new members find a place in the ABI, we have instituted the ABI Ambassador
program. Experienced ABI members meet with new members at each regional and
national meeting to welcome them to the ABI, answer any questions they may have
and help them get involved. We have also embarked on a number of new initiatives
to expand our programs and member benefits.
</p><p>First, we will work to improve an already close relationship with bankruptcy
judges. Next year, for example, the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges
will hold its mid-year Board of Governors meeting in New York during the Duberstein
Memorial Moot Court Competition. About 20 judges will extend their stay to judge
part of the quarter-final, semi-final and final rounds. We also plan to present
joint educational programs with the NCBJ at its meeting in Orlando in 2007.
I hope that there will be other opportunities for judicial cooperation.
</p><p>Second, we plan to partner with the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) on an Annual
Institute for bankruptcy court law clerks. Funding restraints have not allowed
the FJC to provide as much support for judicial law clerks as it would like.
ABI proposes to sponsor the Annual Training Institute in cooperation with the
FJC to welcome new bankruptcy law clerks to the federal judiciary with educational
programs and improved communication channels.
</p><p>Third, we have launched an initiative to work on the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy
Procedure, which are as important to your practice as the Bankruptcy Code. Those
Rules are written by a very dedicated committee of the U.S. Judicial Conference
that makes enormous effort to get input from the bench and bar. It holds public
hearings, maintains a Web site and requests written comments. Unfortunately,
the committee typically receives very little input. This year, we will work
to establish a vehicle for ABI members to provide balanced, thoughtful comments
to the Rules Committee, both on desirable rule changes and on proposed Rules
that have been published for comment.
</p><p>Finally, ABI is already the "go-to" source in the press for accurate,
unbiased information about bankruptcy issues in the United States and in the
world. The ABI staff handles daily inquiries from the media and even gets media
referrals from government agencies. We will continue to develop ABI as the absolutely
essential source of information for the media. We are studying the creation
of an ABI Media Center that would engage experienced media professionals not
only to enhance information resources for the press, but also to give ABI leaders
and members the training they need to work effectively with the press.
</p><p>If you want to "Get Involved," if you want to get to know and work
with your fellow ABI members, and if you don't know how to make that happen,
contact ABI's Membership Department. We want you to have every opportunity to
write, speak, serve on a committee or undertake some other important project
to get the most out of your membership and to become our next generation of
leaders.