Greetings from the African-American Lawyers Section (AALS) of the State Bar of Texas.  My name is Bert Jennings and I am your President and Chairman of the Section for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.  Many exciting things are happening and will be happening in the Great State of Texas over the next few years.  Our visibility as African-Americans has increased within the leadership of the State Bar of Texas.  With the recent election of AALS Immediate Past President, James Goodwille Pierre to the Board of Director, the continued presence of AALS Past President Demetrius Bivins as a Director and AALS Past President Lisa Tatum as Section Representatives, we are prepared to ensure that the interests of African-Americans are heard and considered at all levels of the State Bar.  Indeed, as you can see, these Past Presidents as well as the rest of the leadership of AALS continue to be involved in making the State Bar the best that it can be for all practicing attorneys.

My goals this year are simple.  1) Continue the forward momentum set by our Past Presidents and Leadership; 2) Increase Membership and Funds; and 3) Foster relationships with other practice sections within the State Bar and other legal organizations to increase the value of membership.

Finally, as a National Bar Association Affiliate, members of our Section actively and successfully lobbied the leadership of the National Bar Association to bring a national convention to Texas.  We are pleased to announce that the 83^rd Annual Convention will be in Houston, Texas in 2008.  We have a lot to do before that time, and we will need the support of each and every one of our members.  If you are not a member, please consider joining immediately.  If you are not a lawyer or are not a member of the Texas Bar, please consider joining as an Associate Member.  We need everyone to make the Convention a success.

Please join me as we march onward and upward toward the light in accomplishing our dreams, our goals, and our aspirations.

Sincerely,

Bert Jennings III