JOURNAL JOURNAL JOURNAL FROM THE PRESIDENT Final Countdown | Joycelyn A. Stevenson Journal Do you remember the song “The Final Countdown” by Journal Europe? It has been on my mind lately because it is fi-
JOYCELYN A. STEVENSON, Publisher WILLIAM T. RAMSEY, Editor-in-Chief
ramseywt@nealharwell.com
ELEANOR WETZEL, Managing Editor
eleanorwetzel@jis.nashville.org
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE NOEL BAGWELL KIMBERLY FAYE CAROLINE HUDSON TIM ISHII TRACY KANE EVERETTE PARRISH BART PICKETT MATTHEW PIERCE BILL RAMSEY MIKE SANDLER KRISTEN THOMAS JONATHAN WARDLE VICTORIA WEBB ELEANOR WETZEL DAVID WINTERS
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nally sinking in I am in the final months of my presidency, and this is my last official “President’s Message.” “The Final Countdown” is relevant to many aspects of our lives. Many of you have children in their final school year or are in your own final stages of working, health treatments, completing projects, etc. We are all in the home stretch of the year 2016, which poses its own stresses and opportunities. I would be remiss if I did not mention and highlight one of the most important final countdowns that affects each one of us—the upcoming Presidential Election. Some of my best childhood memories revolved around elections, including watching my parents debate issues, talk about the history of voting rights in this country for African-Americans and for women, and instilling in me an obligation to get involved. My parents were more excited about my getting a voter registration card than my driver’s license. They remembered what is was like to not have that right, so they were clear that I couldn’t be a passive participant in America’s promise. They considered voting not only a right but also a responsibility. My definition of “getting involved” included staying informed, being able to debate issues of the day, and going to the polls to vote. Now that I am a little older, I understand that being involved can mean different things to different people. As a practicing attorney, not only do I have a role and responsibility to stay informed and educate myself on issues, I also have an obligation to educate others, and when necessary, advocate to protect the rights of those without a voice. I served as an NBA board member when we debated how the NBA could play an effective role in the 2014 retention election of our Supreme Court Justices. Several bar associations worked together to educate the community on critical issues which greatly increased turnout. Regardless how a person voted, they at least knew what they were voting for, why they were voting for it, and its ultimate impact on the community. Even now, my non-attorney friends ask me about proposed amendments and the legal implications of policy proposals prior to Election Day to help them make informed decisions. Some have even signed up to volunteer with non-partisan groups like Election Protection to assist with questions and potential civil rights issues on Election Day. Sadly, I have met many people who are disillusioned with our local, state, and federal government who do not think that voting makes a difference. I explain to them the history of voting, how meaningful it is to those that were denied the right to do so for so many years, and the responsibility that we all have to at least participate in the process as an educator, volunteer, or frankly even a candidate. While NBA is a non-partisan organization, our members are involved politically and have made strides in this city, state, and country on critical issues of our time. As a member of the bar, I challenge you to engage in the political process. Educate those not familiar with the electoral process, proposed legislation, and positions of candidates so that we have an informed and engaged electorate. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your president this year. I am eternally grateful for your support and look forward to celebrating with you at our annual meeting, December 8.
NASHVILLE BAR JOURNAL | OCT/NOV 2016
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