Message from the Chair
Section Chair:
Kevin G. Desharnais
Mayer Brown LLP
Chicago, IL
I am honored to serve as the 2011-2012 Chair of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources of the FBA. On behalf of the EENR Board, I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to all of our section members. We extend a heartfelt thank you to John Harms, our 2010 – 2011 Chair, for his leadership during a very successful year, in which our programming covered a broad spectrum of timely topics, ranging from a panel on hydraulic fracturing at Tulane University, to sponsoring a speaker on forest planning at the University of Montana’s Forestry Conference, to co-sponsoring the California Bar Association’s Environmental Law Conference. In addition, we had the opportunity to collaborate with the Federal Judicial Center in developing a handbook on international environmental law for its members, through the considerable efforts of past – Chair Warren Burke. Our year ended on a high note at the 2011 Annual Meeting, held right in my hometown of Chicago, where we hosted a welcome reception, and presented panel on Renewable Energy that included EENR Board Member and Deputy Chair Sheila Slocum Hollis, and which I had the pleasure of moderating.
In the coming year, we intend to build on these successes by continuing the tradition of offering timely programming and information to our members. Our membership reaches from Braintree, Massachusetts to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and from Maui, Hawaii to Anchorage, Alaska, and we intend to extend the reach of our programming to all of our membership by adding webinars on timely topics. We also welcome the opportunity to work with local chapters and other Sections and Divisions on co-sponsoring presentations on timely and relevant topics in your area. If you are interested in having the EENR section co-sponsor a program with your local chapter, do not hesitate – give us a call!
I also note that the July issue of the Federal Lawyer will focus on environmental issues, and we are looking for interesting content. This is a great opportunity to reach an audience of 15,000 federal practitioners. Please see the writer’s guidelines on the Federal Lawyer section of the FBA website, or contact Managing Editor Stacy King at (571) 481-9100 for more information.
I welcome your input, ideas, and energy and encourage you to
reach out to me or our Programs Committee Chair,
Ken Gelburd, with any questions, suggestions or programming ideas. We look forward to an exciting year.
Kevin Desharnias