President's Message Do You Have Your Reservations Yet? Why Not?
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FEDERATION A publication of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel FLYER Volume 39, No. 2 | Spring 2012 | Editor, Gregory A. Witke DO YOU HAVE YOUR RESERVATIONS YET? President’s MESSAGE WHY NOT? Mike Neil, President “At The Summit, A Clear View Ahead” FDCC AT WHISTLER The Winter Meeting at the Walforf-As- July 28 - August 4, 2012 toria Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix was a smashing success. Deb Varner, We are excited to be returning to a Federation Convention Chair, and Don Myles, favorite, The Fairmont Chateau Whistler in gor- Program Chair, did an outstanding job. geous Whistler, British Columbia, for our 2012 Annual The CLE presentation was the best. In- Meeting. It is a magnificent property with plenty of rooms to cluded in the CLE was an outstanding allow all of us to be in one location. Since our last visit there in 1999, it presentation by our own Ed Hochuli, has had a top-to-bottom restoration and is lovelier than ever. an NFL referee as well as a Phoenix Located at an elevation of only 2200 feet, lawyer, and Jeff Pash, the Executive VP Contents Whistler’s average temperature should be 80° and General Counsel for the National (click on titles below) in the daytime with cool evenings. In the area, Football League talking about “Nego- Annual Meeting CLE you can go fishing, river rafting, horseback tiation NFL Style.” Who will ever forget riding, mountain biking through the hills or the inspiring talk by Roger Crawford Board Candidates down the ski runs, and zip-lining through the who was born with major disabilities Report from Sec.-Treasurer forests. The Fairmont’s golf course is a world- which he overcame to become a NCAA renowned, 18 hole, par 72 course designed Division 1 college athlete in tennis? Tech Talk by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. which has over 400 No one will ever forget his description Winter Meeting 2012 feet of elevation changes. You can visit the of playing football in high school and venues of the 2010 Winter Olympics, and being tackled by an opposing player Ethics Hotline even experience first hand the luge runs. New when he happened to recover a fumble Corporate Counsel since our last visit is the Peak 2 Peak Gondola and the opposing player ripping off his for moving between Whistler and Blackcomb artificial leg as he neared the five yard Report from President Elect mountains at the top. It holds records for the line to score a touchdown! George Will Report from Board Chair highest and longest unsupported cable car gave a scintillating and incisive com- span in the world. mentary on the present state of politics FDCC Foundation Somewhat less physically challenging, but in the United States, taking careful nonetheless lots of fun, will be history and LCJ News aim at both sides in his own satirical photography hikes guided by local experts, a way. The evening events, including the Litigation Management local garden tour, and our more traditional Theme Party and the Black Tie event, bridge and knitting events. For our culinary were most memorable. Everyone had a Winter Meeting 2013 devotees, we have planned a cooking demo chance to dress in their favorite base- ball team’s uniforms or colors, and the New Members Click to page 3 Black Tie event served as a precursor to DRI Report President’s Message St. Patrick’s Day with the theme be- Corporate Counsel was mentioned, group of former fighter pilots, will ing decidedly Irish including songs by along with others, as being active in present a workshop that will be both one of the original Irish Tenors from seeking changes that will help us all inspirational and motivational. They Ireland, Cieran Nagle. in our practices. Our past President, specialize in providing the tools nec- Visibility was again highlighted Wayne Mason, is the next President essary for long term success. In fact, both at the Board of Directors meet- of LCJ. the Afterburner group spoke to the ing, the P&O meeting, and our Busi- Pay careful attention to the By- New York Giants before they went on ness meeting. As you may recall, we law change that was enacted at the to win the Superbowl and in Sports have retained the marketing firm of Winter Meeting. This is important Illustrated members of the New York Ross Fishman and Howard Merten because we will be electing a new Giants gave credit to Afterburner has led his Visibility Committee in Secretary-Treasurer and Board of for their success! As the Presidential our efforts to make the name of the Director members at the upcom- elections will be right around the Federation better known in corpo- ing Annual Meeting in Whistler. In a corner after Whistler, we thought it rate, insurance, and judicial circles nutshell, the substantive changes are was appropriate to have a good old OVER C as well as among other attorneys. that everyone on the Board will now fashioned debate. Dana Perino, po- K TO K TO C The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel be called either a Senior Director or litical commentator and former White BA publication and Claims Magazine a Director and the old terminology House Press Secretary for President will soon contain promotional in- of “Vice President” is now gone. Ev- Bush, and Terry McAuliffe, former formation about the Federation and eryone will only serve one year terms Chairman of the Democratic Nation- make it known that “it is not easy” to whether you are a Senior Director al Committee and former Chairman become a member of the Federation or a Director (essentially if you are a of Hillary Clinton for President, will because we are a select group of Director, you are a Junior Director). square off and give their perspectives private attorneys, corporate counsel, No one can serve longer than three on the coming elections and share and insurance industry members. The years as a Director, and then the insider information. Whistler will be intent is not only to make the Federa- Director must run for Senior Director. a great venue not only for our mem- tion better known, but also to attract, There is a six year total term rule now bers but for families and there will be initially, new members from the cor- in place. Read over the amendment plenty to do for old and young alike. porate and insurance world. This is carefully as I have just hit some of I had never zip-lined before I took a an ongoing project that will require the highlights. trip to Whistler a few months ago to continued effort to make sure that the The Annual Meeting in Whistler inspect the site and I can only tell you Federation brand becomes known. It is just around the corner. The hotel that this old Marine found it a most will require the ongoing cooperation is starting to fill up and if you have exciting and exhilarating experience of all FDCC members in our efforts not already made your reservations and I challenge you to do it! So like to “get our name out there!” and registered, you should do so James Brown said in his song “Get The Officers have been active in now. This is one meeting you will not Off of That Thing,” get off of what- the Lawyers for Civil Justice and re- want to miss. Under the leadership ever you’re on and register now for cently, we attended a meeting of LCJ, of Convention Chair Vicki Roberts Whistler!! See you there! as Board Members, in Washington, and Program Chair Scott Kramer, the D.C. LCJ is an important group and Whistler Convention will be another has been active in many areas and memorable event in Canada! Since in attempting to change the Federal our last meeting in Whistler, there E-discovery rules. In fact, the FDCC have been decided improvements was given visibility recently in an which were occasioned by the Winter article in the Law Technology News Olympics that were held in Canada wherein it was discussed that the most recently. Of course, you cannot Federal Judicial Advisory Commit- change the beauty of the mountains, tee was pondering new E-discovery the streams and the wildlife which are rules. The Federation of Defense & abundant. “Afterburner,” a famous 2 | Federation Flyer | Spring 2012 FDCC AT WHISTLER REGISTER NOW Scott Kreamer has planned a superb program. Highlights include an entire plenary session presented by Afterburner, an internationally renowned group of former fighter pilots who will present an interactive workshop on Rapid Planning. by Chef James Walt at the Araxi, as hands on crafts activities and live well as wine and beer tasting op- demonstrations of arts and culture. portunities to take advantage of the The dine on your own evening local British Columbia vineyards and will present you with the wonder- OVER brews. ful problem of where to go among OVER C C Law firm and corporate execu- a plethora of first class restaurants K TO K TO K TO K TO C tives will find immediate business in the Whistler Village and the sur- C BA relevance. Our keynote speakers will rounding area. This will be followed BA be Dana Perino, political commenta- by our traditional dessert party and a tor and former White House Press very special treat – a private concert Secretary and Terry McAuliffe, former by Canada’s premier country western Chairman of the Democratic Nation- singer, Jessie Farrell! al Committee and former chairman And we haven’t forgotten the of Hillary Clinton for President. Get Federation kids! The older groups ready for the National Conventions will have their own very special and the Presidential race by hearing evenings, including an eco scaven- these two insiders debate and share ger hunt through Whistler and an with us their expert perspective.