Whew….another annual FLA workshop under the belt (our 23rd). Again this year, it was hectic, exciting, beautiful on the Gulf, and truly educational. I think our presenters were top-notch, and the dinner speaker (with the dinner sponsored by the Pinkert Law Firm), Wayne S., had almost 200 people mesmerized with his story of adversity, recovery, and rehabilitation leading to his being the loving and ethical father, partner, and lawyer he is today. For the 13th year in a row at the Naples Beach Resort, the rain stayed over the Gulf for the Saturday morning breakfast, and we had a gorgeous setting for our coffee, eggs, muffins, and fruit. This year we had the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (who also sponsored the Saturday breakfast) and InTheRooms.com as exhibitors.
The only thing I regret (and this is true every year) is that I don’t get enough time one-on-one with FLA participants. Often, this is the time of year I get to put a face to a voice I’ve talked to on the phone or emailed many times, and I really do wish I could sit down with each of you and get to know you better. Problem is….there’s just too much going on at any one time, and often a quick hello and hug is all I’m able to squeeze in. There’s not a whole lot I can do about it, but I do want you to know it does bother me.
So this week, we’ll all be wandering around the office in the “post conference crash” mode. It takes a great deal of effort of all the FLA staff to put the conference together, and there is a sort of shell-shock each year after it’s all over. I probably won’t have much of a chance to sit back and enjoy the memory….the Tuesday after the workshop, I’m off to the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago to address the National Association of Bar Executives, then home Wednesday, and over to Naples (what is it with me and west coast these days) on Thursday to speak to the 5th Circuit PD’s conference. After that, it’s time to start thinking of packing up my son’s stuff and getting him over to Sarasota (see…west coast again) to start his first year at New College, then Dawn and I get to pack up for ourselves and head to Maine, where we get to prepare for her daughter’s wedding on the beach in September. I thought summer was supposed to be quiet time!
More to come…………..