Dear Federal Bar Association
Member:
I
am writing to introduce myself as a candidate for Treasurer of the
Federal Bar Association and to ask for your vote on June
15. If I am elected and move forward on the ladder,
I would become FBA President at the 2018 Convention in New York
City. As a native New Yorker, this would be a particular honor
for me. Since its founding in 1920, the FBA has never had a
convention in or a President from the Second Circuit.
On
or around June 15, 2016 you should receive an email from the FBA
containing a link to a ballot. Historically, FBA elections
garner low voter turnout. Electronic voting has not
helped. Please help me reach the goal of having the highest
voter turnout in FBA history by clicking the FBA
June 15 Voting Reminder to put a reminder in your
calendar.
The
FBA is the nation’s premier bar association serving the federal
practitioner and the federal judiciary. To continue the
tradition of excellence, we need leaders who strive constantly to
improve. I have worked constantly to improve the
FBA. My track record shows the
governance, financial and fiduciary experience necessary
to safeguard the FBA moving forward. Some highlights:
- As General Counsel of the Federal Bar
Association from 2010-2011, I drafted the rules for
National Council meetings and successfully sought consensus in
the wake of fractious and divisive meetings. Today
our National Council meetings are models of constructive debate
and decorum;
- As Chair of the Circuit Vice Presidents
(2011-2013) I was elected and re-elected by my peers – Circuit
Vice Presidents from around the nation. In that role I
served ex officio as a member of the FBA Board of
Directors, reporting on activities around the country and
working with every federal circuit’s leaders to successfully
stimulate chapter growth, assist struggling chapters, and launch
new chapters;
- As an FBA Board member, I drafted or helped
draft numerous policies related to fiscal prudence and
transparency including a requirement that FBA Chapters certify
elections to receive chapter reimbursement funds;
- As CVP Chair, I worked closely with the
Chairs of Membership, the Younger Lawyers Division and Sections
and Divisions to successfully reverse an FBA membership decline;
- As CVP Chair I fostered successful
collaborations between FBA Chapters and FBA Sections and
Divisions;
- I have presented lectures at over 20 FBA
Chapters nationwide;
- I helped launch FBA Capitol Hill Day to bring
the FBA Issues Agenda directly to Capitol Hill;
- I am a Sustaining Life Fellow of the
Foundation of the FBA and I helped organize ceremonies at the
U.S. Supreme Court inducting Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena
Kagan and Clarence Thomas as Honorary Fellows of the Foundation
of the FBA;
- I served on the first planning committee for
the FBA Women in the Law Conference and helped launch other FBA
conferences;
- I served as President of the FBA Southern
District of New York Chapter and still serve on its Board;
- During sequestration I organized events at
the SDNY and EDNY honoring our federal defenders;
- I owned and operated a small law practice in
lower Manhattan from 1994-2006. On September 11, 2001, I
faced and overcame extraordinary challenges;
- When Hurricane Sandy hit, I helped an FBA
Taskforce bring New Orleans lawyers to train New York attorneys
in post-hurricane legal issues;
- I am a partner in Dunnington Bartholow & Miller
LLP, a firm founded in 1921. I authored and update
annually the critically-acclaimed Copyright Litigation
Handbook (Thomson Reuters West 2015-2016);
- From 2013-2014, I served as President of
Network of Bar Leaders, comprised of over fifty bar associations
in the New York metropolitan area, instituting the annual “Meet
the Chiefs” event at the Second Circuit to welcome minority and
specialty bar leaders to the federal courts;
- I have served on the Board of Directors of
the New York County Lawyers’ Association and serve on the Board
of Governors of the National Arts Club, where I also serve on
the Audit Committee and act as parliamentarian.
In sum,
I have substantial governance and fiduciary experience together with
a track record of bringing people together for constructive action in
the service of the FBA mission. I am deeply indebted to the
FBA’s past leaders for the mentoring that I have received and for
many professional and personal opportunities over the years. If
elected Treasurer, I would like to make good on that debt by helping
the next generation in the same way. I will roll up my sleeves
and work to keep the FBA vibrant, relevant, responsive and
ever-improving.
Please
let me know how the FBA could serve you better. I will do
my best to help.
Please
remember to vote! Using the FBA
June 15 Voting Reminder will help us get out the
vote. I would be grateful if you would forward it to a
colleague.
Let us
know if you plan on voting by filling out this one question survey!
Respectfully yours,
Raymond J. Dowd
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