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Boston’s Board of Directors- The Voice of the Members

 

By Trina Goodale
Goldberg & Weigand LLP

Our elected Board of Directors is the voice of our Chapter for our members. With every educational program, vendor event, newsletter and email, there are Board and committee members that spend countless hours to make it all happen.   

 

As we move further into 2006, the new Board of Directors for 2006-2007 has stepped into place. We would like to take this opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of the outgoing Board and committees and explore what it means to be a member of the Board of Directors. In addition to new members serving their first term, several members of the outgoing board have been elected to serve a second, and in some case even third term, to continue to help build our Chapter.

 

The Boston Chapter continues to grow, and with every progressing year, the hard work and dedication of the Board and all who have volunteered to serve on a committee is more evident. For anyone who has attended one of the last few National Conferences, it is an honor to stand and applaud the Board and committee members that have earned the Boston Chapter National recognition.   

 

There are many different reasons why a member might choose to serve on the Board of Directors or volunteer for a committee. Karen Glowacki from Sherin and Lodgen LLP has served several positions on the Board, including program chair, membership chair, Vice President, President and most recently Past President.  

 

“When I joined the ALA, I knew right away how much the education and networking would help me in my job and my career.  I was eager to get involved and meet new people so I volunteered for one of the committees.  One position led to another, and all along the way I was able to work with a wonderful group of people and found the work very rewarding,”.  Her advice to new members is “Volunteer for a committee!  This organization is the only one where you are able to surround yourself with your peers, learn from them, and share your own expertise with others.”  Since my current position of Past President is generally the last position one serves on the board, I will offer a quote from Robert Frost:  "Ends and beginnings, there are no such things.  There are only middles."

 

Kimberly Coture of Adler, Cohen, Harvey, and Wakeman & Guekguezian LLP is beginning her second term as VP of Membership.  When asked why she chose to serve a second term, Kim said “I am a true believer in what the ALA has to offer to the legal administrator profession.  I have experienced the rewards of being an active participant and now I hope to give back to others through my experience on the board.”  

 

Chris O’Sullivan from Gesmer Updegrove leaves us as president, but remains on the board as the Past President.  “I look forward to helping Paul and other board members keep the momentum going that our Chapter has developed over the past years.” 

 

Chris felt that the most challenging task he had to deal in his various positions was time.  “You have to commit the time to do a great job for the position that you accept.  Once you accept the position, you have to give everything you have to making it successful.”  

 

Ian P. Breslin of Littler Mendelson PC is the VP of the Communications and Web Committee.  Ian works hard to remind everyone of upcoming events with his weekly emails and played an intricate part of improving the functionality of the web site.   As Ian begins his second term in this position, he said in his upcoming year he hopes to “increase the number of members visiting and using ALABoston.org by improving upon it's already impressive functionality and content.”

 

Our newly elected board brings in fresh faces, some having experience with other state chapters.  Matthew Cote of Fletcher, Tilton & Whipple, and PC is starting his first term with the Boston Chapter as Secretary.  Matthew previously served on the Board of Directors for the New Hampshire chapter as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, and President for two terms.  In addition, Matthew served as Regional Representative for the Granite State Chapter to the National ALA and sat on the National Nominating Committee for Region 1.   When asked about his goals for his upcoming year on the board, Matthew responded,  “I would like to see if there is any ability for our chapter to pool our purchasing power and create advantageous relationships with vendors.” 

 

Joshua Stuckart of Cornell & Gollub is beginning his second term as VP of Vendor Relations.  It is because the strong vendor support that our chapter is able to have so many educational programs and events.  As he looks towards his next year, Joshua said, “I would like to focus on the retention and recruitment of sponsors as well as recruit members to serve on the vendor relations committee.”    

Everyone on the Board encourages each member to get involved to make our chapter even stronger and more effective.  Don’t be shy- VOLUNTEER.  You won’t regret it.    

 

2006 – 2007 Board
Paul Masuret- President
Marybeth Flynn- President Elect
Christopher O’Sullivan- Past President
Daniel McCormack- Treasurer
Matthew Cote- Secretary
Kimberly Coture- VP Membership
Janice Hayes- VP Programs
Joshua Stuckart- VP Vendor Relations
Ian Breslin- VP Communications / Web
Susan Kinnear- VP Community
Kevin Costello- VP Alternate