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Posted August 2026I am excited to begin the new CABA fiscal year, and appreciate the trust placed in me as President. We have already had a great start to the year at the June membership meeting, where we heard from Kelly Sessoms, who was on the verge of assuming the role of President of the Mississippi Bar. He detailed his hopes and plans for the upcoming Bar year, including a continued emphasis on growing and maintaining local bar associations throughout the state.
CABA is the largest local bar association in Mississippi, but we have room to grow. That is why a major focus of my presidency will be on growing membership. Post-COVID, membership associations across many fields have experienced significant declines in membership. This has been the case for CABA, which saw membership decreases even before the pandemic. CABA's peak membership over the past 10 years was in 2017 when we had just over 1,000 members. Our post-COVID low dipped below 600. Last year, we had 631 members. I have set a goal for 700 members this year. Simply put, membership associations like CABA need members to succeed and fulfill their purposes.
For attorneys to re-engage with CABA (or engage for the first time), membership must have value. The good news is that CABA membership already offers fantastic value. Many of our membership meetings offer CLE credit in addition to a wonderful meal. The lunches, Fall Social (October 1), and Holiday Social (December 8) offer outstanding opportunities for connections and networking. The lawyers you meet at CABA may not practice the same area of law as you. The right connection could lead to your next case or transaction or a piece of advice to handle a tricky situation. CABA also offers opportunities to serve the community, with pro bono events and programs to educate the public about the justice system and rule of law.
While CABA has great value, it is up to us to share that with others. The best membership recruitment tool for a membership association is the recommendation of a peer. That is why I will be spending the coming weeks making direct connections with former members who have not yet renewed as well as to lawyers who have never been a part of CABA. I encourage you to do the same. Speak to the lawyers in your firm, office space, or that you see in court about the value of CABA. Welcome them to join us as we seek to grow and expand our outreach.
Renewing or joining CABA is simple through our website or by reaching out via email.
I look forward to seeing and serving each of you in the coming year.
