The New York State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting is a microcosm of the association, and of our profession. My first Annual Meeting, in 1993, revealed just that: thousands of people, all lawyers, but with very diverse practices, coming to New York City from all corners of our state and beyond with a common purpose, gathered together for a week of educating and learning, meeting and connecting.

After more than 25 years of Annual Meetings, I have observed a positive change among the attendees: more women and more people of color are there. And, since my first stint in association leadership in the late ’90s, I have noticed more women and more people of color involved in the leadership of the association as well. One need only compare photographs from our House of Delegates dinner in 2007 with pictures from our dinner in 2019 to appreciate the stark difference.