LET US HEAR FROM YOU!
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Cheers for Community
Kudos to the December/January issue of Bar News for reinforcing our need for community. And, most importantly, encouraging us to reach out and become involved, for our own well-being, in addition to benefiting others. Aside from combatting loneliness, the rewards of connecting with people to collaborate, commiserate, provide help, share activities, joy, frustration, ideas, and even fears—can’t be understated. Our executive director, Terra Nevitt, does it brilliantly by referencing her own experience at a Whatcom Women Lawyers lunch, when transitioning from Bangkok to Bellingham, as a young mom and attorney.
Tyler Goldberg-Hoss performed a mitzvah (good deed) when he connected two of his clients whose little boys both independently suffered profound brain injuries during labor and delivery. It took guts, but his gut told him that no one could understand or help them better than a peer who was going through the same nightmare of an experience at that time. When he confided that he’s only got two voicemails saved on his phone, one from his dad, and the other from one of those clients, I confess I grabbed a tissue.
And while us oldsters may roll our eyes or be quick to judge, Rachel Hay taught me that through TikTok law, students and young lawyers are cultivating peer-based communities and forging relationships with the general public by expertly melding legal material with “lifestyle” content. Yes, they are creating communities and networks that assist them in myriad areas of their lives.
And I’m kicking myself for missing the September Law Rocks gathering at Seattle’s The Crocodile. What a wonderful way to connect with fellow lawyers, as human beings, with music and dance as the glue. Another example of an opportunity to bond with others in an upbeat recreational setting. With the right nudge I might have even jumped on stage to recreate my a capella doo wop days with a one-off cameo.
So, thanks Terra and Bar News authors for that kick in our derriere to be intentional, reach out, and get involved with our community. Beats listening to the old Bobby Vinton tune “Mr. Lonely” (which of course I’m playing in the background as I write this for inspiration). Happy New Year indeed.
Michael B. Goldenkranz
Seattle
Letters to the editor published in Bar News must respond to content presented in the magazine and also comply with Washington General Rule 12.2 and Keller v. State Bar of California, 496 U.S. 1 (1990). Bar News may limit the number of letters published based on available space in a particular issue and, if many letters are received in response to a specific piece in the magazine, may select letters that provide differing viewpoints to publish. Bar News does not publish anonymous letters or more than one letter from the same contributor per issue. All letters are subject to editing for length and grammatical accuracy.