Federal Bar Association Elections 2016 - Vote Ray Dowd For Treasurer On June 15




 

 
 
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
 

 
 
Twitter  @raydowd
 
 
 

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