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Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference set for July 16-17

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'The silver lining of the pandemic has been seeing voluntary bars come together across to state to collaborate on CLE webinars and create innovative virtual opportunities to connect'

2021 Vol Bar Leaders Conference LogoVoluntary Bar Leaders attending the Bar Leaders Conference on July 16-17 at Margaritaville Resort Orlando can start getting excited about being together for the first time since July 2019.

The last conference was held in Tampa in 2019 and they had to postpone their 2020 event like many other groups.

With many voluntary bars impacted by the challenges of operating an organization during a pandemic, the program will give leaders helpful information on bouncing back and the chance to learn from other bars. A highlight of the conference will be President-elect Mike Tanner’s townhall-style special session with Bar leaders.

A session is also being planned with current Florida Bar president Dori Foster-Morales and Voluntary Bar Liaison Committee Chair Vivian Hodz. Another session will bring together bar leaders for a dialogue on weathering the pandemic, followed by split sessions for large and small/mid-sized bars on how they plan to use lessons learned to enhance the voluntary bar experience for their members.

Planners of the conference agree that the goal for the conference is for bar leaders to rally together on the path forward.

“The silver lining of the pandemic has been seeing voluntary bars come together across to state to collaborate on CLE webinars and create innovative virtual opportunities to connect,” said Conference Chair Kimberly Lopez. “We want to see that spirit of collaboration and support continue in the year ahead. Getting together again in-person will give leaders a chance to rekindle much of that same collegial flame that keeps our voluntary bar community, the heart and soul of The Florida Bar.”

During the one-and-a-half-day program, participants can choose from 14 different breakout sessions, all designed to enhance association programs. CLE credits are available on topics ranging from cybersecurity, fundraising, communication, health and wellness and effective membership recruitment and retention. Many of the presenters will be voluntary bar officers from unstaffed and staffed organizations.

The conference is also known for its social time, and this year’s main social event, scheduled for Friday night, will be “FLIP FLOPS and POP TOPS” to further enhance everyone’s Margaritaville experience.

Mental health is vitally important to a lawyer’s well-being, and the conference kicks off with Mark Eiglarsh, an attorney and motivating speaker, who will share how bar leaders can lead happy, healthy, and successful lives in spite of the unique demands of their law practice and other challenging circumstances they may face.

The full program, hotel and registration information may be viewed at https://www.floridabar.org/about/volbars/vblc/

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