SIDEBAR Summer/Fall 2020 - 4

MONTGOMERYBAR.ORG

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

W

Patrick J. Kurtas, Esq.
Montgomery Bar Association
2020 President

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MONTGOMERY BAR ASSOCIATION
BUSINESS HOURS:
Monday thru Friday
8:45 AM - 4:45 PM
ADDRESS:
100 West Airy Street
P.O. Box 268,
Norristown, PA 19404-0268
PHONE AND FAX:
Phone: 610-279-9660
Fax: 610-279-4321 & 610-279-4846
4 SIDEBAR

hen I enthusiastically accepted the honorary gavel as it was passed to me
by our Immediate Past President, the ever-smiling and positive Gregory
Gifford, on January 10th of this year, signifying the beginning of my year as
President of the Montgomery Bar Association, I had such grand plans and expectations
for the year ahead - lively and fun-filled in-person events, engaging and top-notch
programming and continuing legal education, a deliberate and calculated approach
to drawing the most out of my board of directors, and some peaceful and restful days
wondering how I was so fortunate to be granted such a fulfilling, yet easy and nonstressful leadership position. Well, perhaps I was just a bit too optimistic, even careless,
in failing to recognize the impact of the forces of luck and chance as they relate to the
unraveling of even the best laid plans. Indeed, as stated to me by my friend and now
President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, David Schwager, "there is the year that
you plan for, and there is the year that you get." And suffice it to say that the year
that has unfolded since January has certainly been quite a bit different than I had ever
envisioned.
I recently attended a virtual meeting at which 44 Pennsylvania county bar presidents
shared tales and updates as to the happenings in each of their counties throughout
their terms as President. The stories were spectacularly varied, as were the challenges
presented and overcome in each county. As I listened to those accounts and anecdotes,
what resonated most with me was how each president recognized the necessity of
empowering and relying upon many other people in tackling the seemingly neverending onslaught of new obstacles and challenges. As I think back on what these first
nine months have brought me, I can definitively say that the greatest joy of my tenure
has been working with so many other talented, driven, and caring individuals for the
greater good. Quite simply, without the support of so many others, I would be but a
tiny boat struggling to stay afloat against a series of cascading tidal waves.
For this SIDEBAR piece, I thought that I would briefly look back at how we as an
organization maneuvered to weather three of the greatest waves that came our way, and
to provide recognition for those that took primary responsibility in guiding our ship.

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SIDEBAR Summer/Fall 2020

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