This month the Peoria Bar Association turns another page at the Annual Meeting to be held on July 15, 2021 at Obed & Isaac’s Bocce Garden starting at 5 p.m. This is a free event so please register on the PCBA website at your earliest convenience. Please know that this is an informal event. Allow yourself to ease back into talking to fellow PCBA members and the PCBA Officers and Board members that serve on your behalf. This event will help with whatever transition you have underway. We all understand that we have had similar and different experiences since March 2020. As the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccines are becoming clearer, we can see that we are getting closer to the light at the end of the tunnel. In accord with the phased re-opening of the State of Illinois, the PCBA will hold its Annual Golf Outing on September 10, 2021. Your PCBA website provides the details and ability to register for that event starting this month.
Over the past year, the PCBA has embraced technology and used video software platforms for it CLE classes. But the PCBA will not solely rely on Zoom as its only tool. Instead, the PCBA intends to also plan for and hold various in-person social and CLE events as the calendar and members allow. Please contact your PCBA committee of interest and share your ideas and thoughts. We are a member-driven organization so continue to call, email, and write the PCBA so that it continues to hear and read about what its members may prefer or seek. This has always been a dynamic relationship. The PCBA takes what has worked well, and based on member input, adjusts its annual events to better serve its members. But also keep in mind to share your ideas about new benefits or events that PCBA members may enjoy. More so than ever, this is the time for you to join a PCBA committee so that you may share your insights and views. This process fuels the growth and adaptation of the PCBA over time so that it best serves all PCBA members and provides member benefits that are helpful, practical, and even fun. The Canadian author Margaret Atwood well summed up a view to consider when reengaging with the world on new terms. “After everything that’s happened, how can the world still be so beautiful? Because it is.” (Oryx and Crake). So yes, we are still here and ready to engage with you and to serve you.
As this is my last column, I would like to thank everyone who took their time and energy to contribute to the continued success of the PCBA. At the top of my list is the PCBA Executive Director Stephanie Bitner. The PCBA has benefited from her work on its behalf that made all of our accomplishments possible. Sharing equal billing is our PCBA Board and Officers who stood up to take part during a challenging year. As a soon to be regular member again, I am also looking forward to the next President Emily Wilburn applying her deep and quick mental acumen, for the next President-Elect Mike Fleming using his patience and seasoned wisdom, for the next Second-Vice President Aliesha Graves bringing her judgment and wit to bear, and for the next Secretary-Treasurer Joshua Herman to use his drive and focus all to improve the PCBA. Equal billing is also shared with all PCBA Committee members who made the past year a winner under abnormal circumstances. As of right now, the best days are ahead for the PCBA so make sure to be part of it. Join and participate!
PCBA President,
Ambrose V. McCall