Thank you for the honor and privilege of being your National Bar Association President. My administration will stand by the goals set forth in my platform while campaigning for this position. We will strive to create a more engaging, active and structured organization. Setting the course for fiscal solvency of the NBA, as well as listening to and addressing the concerns of NBA members, are just two of the ways we plan to begin this process. Other goals for the NBA include implementing programs to address each of the strategic planning goals.

• Goal One: To increase the NBA's paid membership.

• Goal Two: To assure the long-term solvency of the NBA.

• Goal Three: To assure that there is a viable succession plan and that the NBA staff has the requisite skills, experience, technical assistance, and support required to consistently deliver high quality services.

• Goal Four: To provide a comprehensive and premier continuing legal education program focused on serving existing members and training the next generation of lawyers.

• Goal Five: To increase, enhance and expand outreach and institutional relationship with law schools, law students, and recent law school graduates.

• Goal Six: To increase readiness and visibility on legal issues that affect the practice of law, judicial appointments, as well as justice system.

• Goal Seven: To establish/strengthen national and state organizational partnerships, which will benefit the African-American community and are consistent with the mission of the NBA.

Additionally, several signature programs will be implemented that will address current legal issues and specific needs of the National Bar Association. Details of these programs will be unveiled in the near future.

We must always remember that the strength of this great organization is in the diversity of all of its members; and it is our commonly shared vision of access to justice and equality for all that unites us. It is only through collective unity that we will be able to maximize our impact to change the world. As we are living in a new era of national leadership and global influence, it is especially important for us as attorneys to be committed to leaving our legacy of leadership through service programs and successful partnerships with other professional and civic organizations.

The NBA needs you to become more involved on the national and local level. I challenge each of you to join a committee and provide creative solutions to further the goals and objectives of the NBA. Likewise, we need your service in your immediate community. It is the local affiliates that allow us to extend our reach into the homes and lives of millions of people, both domestically and internationally. The grassroots efforts and close ties of our local affiliates to the community enable the NBA to address the needs and concerns of society.

I pray that you are inspired and will find some way you can best serve the NBA and your affiliate. I look forward to serving and working with you!