President’s Acceptance Speech – Steve Canty

Iam going to let you in on a little secret. In 1998, I ghost drafted a paper that was presented at the Chicago Regional Seminar. Why is that significant? Was it significant because of the outstanding legal content in the paper? I’m sure. For me personally, it was significant because it was my first exposure ever to the Transportation Lawyers Association. When I got home from the event, I told my wife a little bit about the organization and the seminar itself. In turn, she cocked her head and said, “People sitting around talking about transportation? What kind of organization is this?” I could tell by the look on her face that she had a firmly held belief that I spent the day playing cards.

So how do you explain the TLA to someone? I have heard a senior member of this organization describe the TLA as the “aristocracy of legal organizations.” Based on the outstanding legal minds that are in this group, this is probably an accurate statement. I also have heard another member of this organization describe the TLA as the closest thing to a fraternity/sorority a person will ever encounter in a professional group. Based on the lifetime relationships that TLA fosters, this is an accurate statement as well. I can certainly say from my mother’s perspective that she is glad I did not have to get a tattoo upon my initiation.

Nonetheless, I think there is more to the TLA than those two descriptions. Several years ago I was at a Continuing Legal Education event. During the afternoon break, I encountered another TLA member. We decided to grab lunch together. Initially there was two of us, and then there was three, and then five, and then eight of us getting together for lunch. How is it that eight TLA members who are at a non-TLA event, and who are all from different cities, end up having lunch together? How do you explain that? I can say one thing for certain, it was not because somebody was magnanimously picking up the lunch tab.

Additionally, how do you explain the reverence that TLA as an organization has for its members? Everyone is aware of TLA’s publication, The Transportation Lawyer. It has timely and relevant articles. Significantly, however, in the back of the journal, the TLA publishes a notice any time a member of the organization passes away. The note identifies the person’s contributions to the TLA as well as their successes in life. Does the TLA recognize longstanding members? It certainly does, but more importantly, every single member in this room will one day “sooner or later” be remembered in TTL. Actually, from the Membership Committee’s perspective it should be “later rather than sooner.” Regardless, how do you explain this? What other organization does this?

Also, how do you explain the opportunity for young and new members to get involved in the organization? I recall going to my second or third TLA event. As I was walking out the door, my wife asked me what I had going on that day. In response, I told her that I was going to a TLA event and that I was actually going to be speaking. She cocked her head and looked at me and said, “What kind of organization is this?” Unfortunately for me she was no longer concerned that I would be spending the day playing cards. In actuality, she had serious concerns about any organization that would allow me to speak at one of its functions. As such, I would like to give a shout-out to Michael Spurlock and his committee, who had more confidence in me as a young attorney than the woman whom I have known for 27 years.

Much of my involvement in the TLA has been related to cochairing and assisting with various seminars. I recall the first time that I was appointed as a Co-Chair to the Chicago Regional Seminar. Upon receiving the letter of notification, I was flattered to receive the position. Quite frankly, I was excited as well. Although this might be an old reference, for anyone who has seen the movie The Jerk with Steve Martin, there is the scene where Martin’s character finds out that he is published in the phone book for the first time. Yeah, that is probably a good way to describe my excitement. So I would like to give a special thanks to past President Pat McMonigle for that opportunity. I also would like to thank the other past Presidents who have given me the chance to participate in a small part during their respective terms, including Gordon Hearn, Mark Blubaugh, Steve Novy, Dick Westley, and Dirk Beckwith. They did not micromanage. Rather, they just had the expectation that the job would get done. Thank you for the confidence. Thank you for the opportunity.

I have been asked several times what my goals and ambitions are for the organization in taking on this position. I must acknowledge that my ambitions were tempered somewhat once I learned that the TLA does not have a military or the ability to print money. All teasing aside, the first goal is to do no harm. Is that a slogan taken from another industry? Perhaps. Nonetheless, it has application to the TLA. This is a beautiful organization, and its history and traditions should be respected. The second goal is to involve new and younger members within this group. Over the last year and a half, I was moved by the passing of several longtime members of this organization. Can they be replaced? No they can’t, but they can be complimented by cultivating a new group of members who are passionate about the TLA. In this regard, we do not have to look any further than our Young Lawyers Committee. In fact, based on the work of the two outgoing Chairs and the two incoming Chairs, we are going to hear a lot from that committee in the future. The third goal is to have active and engaged committees. We all know that TLA has outstanding seminars. What happens, however, when we do not have events? Additionally, what happens during the time between events? This is where our committees need to keep our membership active. With the help of the incoming President-elect, the goal is to have all committees and committee chairs active,

involved and engaged. Indeed, committees that are active, involved and engaged will serve as a member benefit and contribute to the strength of our organization.

You know, I have referenced my wife, Tricia, probably two or three times during this monologue. I would probably be remiss if I did not introduce her. I met her as a 20-year-old student going into nursing school. She is a Registered Nurse who has worked in Infectious Disease and Cardiac Monitored Care. She has taken care of people on the worst days and the last days of their lives. I have come to find out that through her assistance with the Chicago Regional Seminar, assistance with TTL, and from attending TLA events, she is Facebook friends, Twitter partners and text buddies with more than 50 people in this organization. I have to concede, I am not sure if I should be worried about that.

Tricia and I have three boys together. It might be more appropriate to say that we have three guys who live with us, consume a lot of food and have done some serious damage to drywall. All kidding aside, we are very proud of our boys. Our oldest son, Jake, just graduated from high school. He had an outstanding youth and high school athletic career. He has always been passionate about sports. When he was about 7 years old, I came home from work on a Friday night and caught him sneaking out of bed at about 11 o’clock to watch San Jose State play Hawaii in football. We thought we had a degenerate gambler on our hands. Jake is a good student and will be attending the University of Illinois in the fall. Our middle boy is Jackson. Engineering is his game. He took an engineering caseload during his freshman year in high school. Curiously, he recently said that he might be interested in becoming a police officer. Premed, prelaw, what’s the difference, right? Jack plays football and baseball, and he is truly a kid who has never had a bad day. Our youngest boy is J.D. If anybody is looking for an accountant, I think I have found your man. For a kid who just finished eighth grade, he’s got an outstanding sense of fiscal responsibility and a nose for business. He plays basketball, football and baseball, and he’s never met a box of cereal that he did not like.

Thank you for indulging me in this home movie. I also would like to thank the members of this organization who have taken these kids hunting and fishing, and to basketball games, football games and baseball games. I cannot explain why you did it. From my wife’s perspective, she cannot explain why you invited them back.

So how do you explain the TLA? It is an organization that is made up of some of the finest minds in the transportation industry. It is an organization that has a reverence for its longtime members and embraces its new and young members. It is an organization that fosters friendships and relationships that last a lifetime. How do you explain all of this to someone? Well, fortunately you are all here. You all know this. Accordingly, no explanation is needed. I thank you for this assignment and will work as TLA’s humble and unworthy servant.