Membership: It's Who We Are
By Jon Duckstad

"All for one, one for all"
Alexandre Dumas

Whether you are in solo practice in Aitkin, toiling for a large firm in St. Paul, or house counsel for a corporation in Zumbrota, you may perceive the MSBA as too large and impersonal to take notice of your particular concerns or contributions. But be not deceived. Such feelings are misplaced.

The strength and vitality of the MSBA depends directly on members just like you.

In 2002, as a member of the MSBA, you were one of 15,044 reasons why the MSBA is and remains an extraordinary bar association. Perhaps you contribute as one of the many lawyers who perform pro bono service. Or perhaps you worked on the Habitat for Humanity house the MSBA built last spring. You may be a judge for the high school mock trial program, volunteer reading to kids in the schools, lobby for passage of legislation, or coach a youth sports team. Whatever role you fill, you carry with you the image of the legal profession and of the msba, and for that contribution we thank you.

Each member of the MSBA brings to our organization a special combination of strengths: knowledge of substantive law, individual experience in practice, unique gifts, opinions, and perspectives. Over two-thirds of our members are also members of MSBA's 33 substantive law sections and contribute through these to each other's education and to the development of the substantive law. Other members serve on one or more the Association's 29 committees and task forces, managing the affairs of the organization, working to improve the administration of justice, and bringing members with common interests together for mutual benefit.

Over the years the combined efforts of MSBA members have given us an enviable reputation. MSBA programs and initiatives have been nationally recognized for leadership in areas such as access to justice, diversity, elimination of bias, and gender equity. For these and other contributions, members can justifiably take pride in their Association. But individual members nevertheless deserve mention.

Through these President's Page columns, this year we are showcasing some of the many unique and interesting attorneys who make up the MSBA and whose stories might otherwise go unsung. We've made a particular effort to seek out attorneys in greater Minnesota for special mention, as these individuals often go unnoticed outside the glare of city lights.

Nevertheless, we would be remiss if we neglected to acknowledge the contributions of some of our metro-area attorneys. MSBA has been blessed with many metro-area lawyers who have donated enormous amounts of time and energy to our Association and profession.

These Twin City lawyers include Brian Melendez (Hennepin County Bar President 2001-2002) who generously contributed many hours of his own time to revitalize new lawyers' participation in the MSBA and the ABA. Melendez has served on our Board, a number of key committees, and the Section Council of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section. He is a first-class parliamentarian, and continues to serve our Court Rules and Administration Committee.

Another such metro lawyer is Fred Finch (Hennepin County Bar President 1988-89) who has tirelessly served as chairperson on many important, time-consuming MSBA committees. Finch currently serves as msba's chief delegate to the aba and makes further substantial contributions through his membership on the Rules of Professional Conduct Committee and the Task Force on the aba Model Rules.

A third Twin Cities lawyer deserving particular mention is Barbara F.L. Penn (Ramsey County Bar President 1996-97) who has served faithfully over many years on a variety of MSBA committees, including the Executive Committee, while continuing her demanding work with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (smrls). Now officially retired, she continues to donate countless hours helping the cause of legal services for the disadvantaged.

The list of remarkable MSBA members goes on, but we cannot mention all of them in one article -- or in a year's worth of articles. Each member is a valuable part of this Association and each has special gifts to contribute, special concerns to be addressed through the MSBA. If you doubt it, just step forward. We'll be waiting.

MSBA Membership December 2002

JON DUCKSTAD is president of the Minnesota State Bar Association.