I am blessed and, well, just plain lucky to be able to serve the ABI as President at a time when ABI programs and services are performing beyond anyone's expectations, and at a time when major bankruptcy legislation is working its way through Congress. My excitement is tempered only by the difficult challenge of following in the footsteps of past presidents, Deborah Williamson, Bob Fishman and Bob Zinman, who have presided over a "Renaissance" period for the ABI. Fortunately these leaders, along with the ABI staff, the Board of Directors, and you, the members, have established a rock-solid foundation upon which to build.

I would like to share the goals I have for the ABI and ask your help this year in achieving them.

1. Managing Growth. ABI is growing at a record pace in every category: membership, attendance at programs, quantity and quality of ABI publications, web site activity and visibility on a national level. With so much growth, I believe we must be vigilant in ensuring that ABI still remains a grass-roots, user-friendly organization where every member feels he or she can make a meaningful contribution.
2. Public Service. We should build and strengthen ABI's commitment to public service, research and education. Thanks to the generosity of our members and solid financial management, the ABI Endowment Fund is in a better position than ever to assist research and education projects that will benefit both the "bankruptcy community" and the public at large. I have asked Gerry Buccino to lead the ABI Endowment Committee in an effort to seek out and support worthy projects.
3. Liaisons. We should continue to improve upon our great relationships with other bankruptcy organizations, such as the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ), National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (NABT), National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees (NACTT) and the American College of Bankruptcy.
4. Strategic Planning. During this year, I will be asking many of you to help ABI in strategic planning for the future.

While ABI is moving into the new millennium, it is worth pausing and recognizing the many dedicated board members whose officer terms expired this year. One person Ineed to single out is Prof. Bob Zinman, whose term as ABI Chairman ended in April.

Prof. Zinman's contributions to the ABI are nothing short of amazing. Starting from scratch, he has organized and supervised the editing and publication of the ABI Law Review. With the help of Judge Duberstein and many of our New York area members, Prof. Zinman and his students have made the Judge Conrad B. Duberstein Moot Court Competition one of the most prestigious events of its kind. Now, to complete a "hat trick," Bob is directing the creation of the first LL.M. program for bankruptcy studies at St. John's University. In that project, Bob has involved literally dozens of ABI members in creating a truly unique academic program. Fortunately, we know that Bob will stay as active in ABI as ever.

New International Initiative

ABI's Board of Directors approved a new international initiative designed to extend the breadth of the ABI's membership around the world. ABI is already the largest bankruptcy and insolvency organization in the world and has an active focus on international matters. Our International Committee has approximately 500 members, and ABI is represented in more than 20 countries worldwide.

At the suggestion of ABI Vice President-International Affairs James A. Goodman, the directors have approved a project to increase ABI's representation to between 50-75 countries. The countries in which ABI is currently represented include Argentina, Austria, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, China, Cyprus, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

With the expansion of our international membership, ABI will have a first-rate network of experienced insolvency professionals in a wide variety of countries. If anyone has a friend or a good contact in another country who would be interested in joining ABI, please encourage him or her to do so, or fax or e-mail their name and address to ABI Membership Coordinator Chris Thackston (703/739-1060, or [email protected]). We appreciate everyone's support for our new international initiative.

Medal Certificate Winners

ABI congratulates the winners of the 1999 ABI Medal of Excellence in Bankruptcy. Top law students from around the country are recognized through this program, coordinated by Christopher F. Graham (Thacher, Proffitt & Wood; New York). The program honors the achievements of law students selected by their deans and bankruptcy law faculty, and consists of engraved medals and certificates suitable for framing, as well as a one-year complimentary membership to ABI. Congratulations to the following winners:

Angela Batterson Loyola University Chicago Abner Ben-Gera New York University Amy Bertke University of Dayton Scott K. Brown Brigham Young University Pietro Canestrelli University of California, Davis School of Law David P. Carson Widener University Cynthia Chandler Washington University Karen Chapman Pepperdine University Jay A. Christofferson McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific Jesse Ward Conville The University of Mississippi Lori L. Cooney Nova Southeastern University Daniele M. Creager University of Maryland Michael S. Cusick Vermont Law School Michael B. Dailey Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Monica Dillon West Virginia University Raymond S. Elliott Texas Law School Josh W. Everdell Vermont Law School Melanie L. Farr University of Toledo Steven Matthew Goble Washington and Lee University Geoffrey Goodman University of Illinois Jennifer Grady Harvard Law School Charles T. Grimes The University of Alabama Adam Gropper George Washington University Cynthia Hageman Southern Methodist University Kathryn Ann Hanna Ohio Northern University Weldon E. Havins University of San Diego Catherine Hawks Seattle University Hanif Hirji Loyola Law School Charles R. Holladay The University of Tulsa Minevson Jhang University of Southern California Melanie L. Jump University of Toledo Vivieon Kelley The College of William & Mary Tara Burns Koch Stetson University College of Law Jeffrey Lashaway Texas Tech University Arnold S. Levine Southwestern University Beth L. Lewis Whittier Law School Natalie T. Maniaci University of San Diego

James R. Martin Wake Forest University Ronald C. Martin University of Iowa Kerrie S. Mattson The John Marshall Law School Ann Marie McCauley University of Toledo Timothy Cole Meals Drake University John O. Moore University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law Ralph Nardi University of Miami School of Law Jason Ward Neitzel Samford University Cumberland Law School Lawrence Nordling Washburn University Claudine Orloski Duquesne University Erica Phillips University of Idaho College of Law Carmen Pinkerton University of Nebraska Sylvianne Pizarro Harvard Law School Craig Price Cornell Law School Alfred Q. Ricotta Emory University School of Law Jennifer J. Ridley University of Detroit Mercy Brett W. Roubal Creighton University James Anthony Rynard, Jr. University of Missouri-Kansas City Glen V. Salyer Northern Illinois University Rena Samole Washington University Eraklis Savas Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University Christopher Seefer Golden Gate University Jeffrey M. Sklarz University of Connecticut Christopher B. Surran Syracuse University Michelle M. Teed Willamette University Ellen Theodorson University of Oregon Steven E. Thompson University of New Mexico Ivan Tjoe University of California, Hastings College of Law Claudia Tobler Boston College Law School Stacey Turley University of Missouri-Columbia Adam Joseph Tutaj Marquette University Sean W. Vollman The Ohio State University Kimberly Wassink University of South Dakota Jeffrey Waxman University of Pittsburgh Mark Wilder University of Cincinnati Melisa Suzette Yopp University of Arkansas Journal Date:  Tuesday, June 1, 1999 © American Bankruptcy Institute. All rights reserved. ABI is a (501)(c)(3) non-profit business (52-1295453)