President's Message

Celebrating the Legacy of the AADC

We live in a busy time. Carbon paper has been replaced by email and instant messaging. Technology is king. The pace of our practice, and the pace of our lives has sped up to what seems like a frenzy. We are bombarded with details, and then with messages on how to balance it all: work, kids, family, friends, school, church, sports, home, vacation, the list goes on and on. As I sit here thinking back on my 14 years as a member of the AADC, I think back to what has motivated me to donate so many hours to this organization. I am reminded of the “AADC Mission and Purpose,” something I usually don’t have time to reflect on, and it tells me why. The AADC is not just a professional organization, it is a group of professionals carrying on a long standing tradition of promoting worthwhile causes.

Most of you probably don’t realize that the AADC turned 45 years old this April. The AADC is older than me. In fact, this might be the first year ever that the incoming President is younger than the organization itself. As I reflect on this, it occurs to me: the AADC has quite a legacy. And, in the busy modern practice of law, it is easy to lose track of this legacy. And so it is a more appropriate time than ever, it seems to me, to pause for a moment and celebrate this legacy. For starters, we must honor the past, and pay tribute to those that have championed the ideals that form the basis for our Mission and Purpose. Then we must embrace the future by conducting our practice with the same level of professionalism as those we admire.

As you read this, think back on all of the superior lawyers that elevated the practice and this organization. Think about your mentors. As I think back, I am fortunate to have had many. I often reflect on the method by which my mentors practiced. Some words that come to my mind are: thoughtful, confident, fair, balanced, reasoned, and courteous; but above all else, professional. This is a profession, after all. And this is a professional organization. So as we reflect, it is fair to think about the meaning of that word. Some might already know what it means. Some might want to debate it. To me, it means solving a problem with a handshake. It means trust. It means respect - for each other, and for this profession. I can’t count the number of stories I have heard from my mentors about how a handshake meant a deal - how there was no need for a page long confirmation of a phone conversation – how reasoned decisions were made to advance a case along - how past generations of professionals conducted the practice of law here in Arizona. Time ticks. Things change. Technology evolves. And so does the practice of law, for better or worse. But if we take a moment each day to solve a problem with a handshake, or resolve an issue without the need for immediate email barrage, we can go a long way to carrying on the culture of professionalism that established the legacy of this organization.

Please stay tuned for our newsletter, and updates through the year on our list serve. Your involvement will go a long way toward helping us celebrate the legacy of the AADC.

Rick