February 26, 2002

Greetings CLS Member:

As we enter the new year, we reflect upon what was certainly one of the most tragic times in our Nation's history. From such tragedies emerge strength and renewal in faith. As lawyers, we practice a profession which can effect profound change; as members of the Catholic Lawyers Society, we should allow our faith to act as a guide post in the conduct of our professional affairs. I hope you will join me in moving our organization forward so to carry out our mission to promote the study and application of Christian principles to modern problems of personal, social, community and civic nature and to combat pernicious errors of moral law and civil administration, legislative enactments and judicial determinations.

I agreed to assume the presidency of the CLS after our dully appointed president, Marcia McBrien, was obliged to step down due to her accepting a position with the Michigan Supreme Court. I am honored by the Board's faith in me and will do my best to fulfill my obligation to the Society. Marcia has graciously agreed to act as Membership Vice President.

Enclosed you will find a Roster Information Form and Annual Membership Dues Notice. I would appreciate your prompt completion of this form and returning it, along with your dues, to Marcia McBrien at 74 Cambridge Road, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236. Please take a moment to review the committees and indicate those upon which you might consider working. We also encourage that you consider a Life Membership.

I also encourage you to periodically check our website which can be accessed via www.michbar.org, click on Member Resources and then go to Local and Special Purpose Bar Associations. We are going to do our best to keep this website updated as to upcoming events and issues of special interest. It is also important that on the roster form you provide a current e-mail address. We intend to communicate with you via e-mail as much as practical.

The immediate, upcoming events are:

Family Retreat
February 2002

Lenten Evening of Recollection
March 2002

Professional Women's Retreat at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills
March 22-24, 2002

McElroy Lecture
April 17, 2002

Annual Meeting
April 2002

Focus HOPE Project with Isial
May 2002

Family Picnic
July 2002

I look forward to receiving your completed roster card and dues. (Don't hesitate to share it with a friend or two). And I look forward to seeing you at many of the Society's functions.

Very truly yours,

Paul F. Doherty
President Catholic Lawyers Society

PFD/jmg

Enclosure(s)