The DCBA is an Illinois MCLE approved accredited provider. On September 28, 2006, we learned that the DCBA was one of the first three organizations so approved. The DCBA status as an accredited CLE provider retroactively begins January 1, 2006. Our application payment has been made and our initial status lasts two years. If you attended any DCBA CLE events during 2006 and received a certificate of attendance at that event, we will be advancing your $1.00 per MCLE hour attendance fee and submitting your name with hours attended as part of our year end MCLE report of DCBA CLE 2006 activities. Congratulations to Executive Director, Glenda Sharp, the DCBA staff, Judge Rodney Equi, Judge John Demling, Judge William Ferguson, the entire CLE Committee, and our substantive law committees for their fine efforts in maintaining our high professional standards as a CLE provider which obviously impressed the MCLE Board of the Illinois Supreme Court. During my installation speech I said that we "Will" be an approved MCLE provider. As former Blackhawk hockey announcer, Lloyd Petit used to say, "a shot…and a goal!" You can put it on the board…Yes!

The DCBA, in conjunction with the ISBA, performed joint polling of our collective members on Chief Judge Ann B. Jorgensen. The results were unprecedented. In all eight categories including integrity, impartiality, legal ability, temperament and court management, Chief Judge Jorgensen received the positive "yes" vote from 98% to 99% of the respondents. Congratulations… Judge Jorgensen.

Recently, I had the following conversation with my seven year old son.

Keenan: "I know what I want to be when I grow up."

Dad: "What’s that?"

Keenan: "A basketball player like Kirk Hinrich or a lawyer like you and Justin," (Keenan’s much older brother).

The odds of his first choice are not good. Maybe he can play, just not at 75 inches tall. However, his statement got me going. What also came to mind was a recent discussion I had with my associate and Keenan’s older brother in which I said, "You’re thinking like the client, it is your job to think like a lawyer."

So what is it about our DNA, psychological make-up, family status or other factors that resulted in our becoming a Juris Doctor? I, for one, had no family heritage of lawyers. I come from a family of small business entrepreneurs. As far as I know within my family tree, our first college graduate was my oldest brother. My "think like a lawyer" learning may have had a genesis with talk radio. In the pre-Michael Jordan days, not all Chicago Bulls games were on television. But they were all on WIND, 560 AM. After the game, talk show host Dave Baum would start off with some post game analysis but quickly moved to the current event of the day. As a kid, even the not so brilliant callers seemed to make sense. But the host, Dave Baum, would rip into fallacious thinking or expound upon the "good points". In any event, words were used to express thoughts and feelings beyond "Da Bears" and "Da Bulls". For a kid from Chicago Heights, it was enlightening.

When my oldest son Justin was 5 years old he used to lie down on a sleeping bag in the kitchen while family was over so he could listen to everyone’s conversation. Now, when he talks, he sounds just like his uncle Steve. One trick I’m using with my youngest is when he watches his favorite movies (i.e. Star Wars), I activate the remote button for English subtitles and tell him to "read the words" as he watches and listens. If you have children, I’m sure you have your own stories and ways of teaching them to think like an adult, if not a lawyer. In my humble opinion and experience, lawyers are both great and proud parents.

We had a terrific turnout and a great evening at Emilio’s Tapas Restaurant at the Fall Networking Fiesta. Thanks go to Nancy Lehrer and Gloria Norton for organizing and Glenda Berg Sharp for her "MCLE Show". El toro corrio como loco. (The bull ran wild).

Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends! Judge’s Nite this year is February 23, 2007 and again at The Abbington. We are arranging some "theater seating" so everyone will see the show. However, it’s "first come, first seat", so get your money in early. All I can tell you about this year’s show is that it will be unique…unlike any other, terrific, hilarious and "best ever". I Guarantee It.

Have you been to Addison or Glendale Heights field courts lately? The minority population within DuPage County is on the rise. According to the most recent estimates of the U.S. Census Bureau, the minority population of Addison is 25%, Glendale Heights 36%, Naperville 15%, Wheaton and Glen Ellyn 11%. DuPage County has a population of approximately 930,000 people. Of that, 15% or approximately 140,000 people are of minority status. Also, approximately 15% are identified as "Foreign Born Persons". DuPage County has approximately 334 square miles so about 420 persons of minority status or foreign born status live within every square mile of this County.

Recently, I attended a "Diversity Luncheon" with ISBA President Irene Bahr, ISBA Executive Director, Robert Craghead and a table full of ISBA Governors. The purpose of the Peoria County Bar Association’s "Diversity Luncheon" is to initiate minority students to the legal profession. There were over 300 people in attendance. Tables full of representatives were there from local grade school districts, high school districts, local universities, law firms, NAACP and leaders of local industry. All this comes from a bar association with approximately 600 members and a county with a population of less than 200,000 people. The U.S. Census Bureau says that Peoria County’s minority population is 21% or approximately 38,000 people. We have nearly four times that number here in DuPage County.

Law Day is May 1, 2007. The 2007 Law Day Theme is "Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy". In the words of the ABA, "The future of our nation is in the hands of our young people. We all can and should play a role in assuring America’s future by addressing the needs of youth and by focusing on the issues affecting them today."

Can we put "Diversity in DuPage" and "Law Day Theme 2007" together? Irene Bahr and I say….Yes, we should. We jointly invite you to participate and seek your assistance.

Every member matters. If you have any "good ideas" or are looking for a way to contribute, call my cell and I’ll hook you up. (630) 202-4989.