The North Central Region is composed of the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Those in attendance at the meeting included officers from the state defense organizations and some of their executive directors and DRI representatives and DRI national staff.

There are many observations that I had about this meeting which I believe are important to convey to our members. First, I was intrigued by the names of the various defense organizations. In Wisconsin, the organization is known as the Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin. In Indiana, the organization is known at the Defense Trial Counsel of Indiana. Other states have more traditional names such as the Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, the North Dakota Defense Lawyers Association and the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel. Names recognize the evolving roles recognized by our sister organizations from that of insurance counsel to an expanded role, such as ours, of defense lawyers involved in the civil trial system.

Some of the topics of the meeting one could anticipate at a DRI sponsored meeting such as efforts to increase DRI membership, professionalism and ethics. We meet DRI expectations as almost all of our South Dakota members are DRI members. I found most illuminating, however, the sharing of information from other organizations throughout the North Central Region. With diversity of the states, the resources, number of members and activities vary by each state. Illinois, for example, spends over $53,000 on its four quarterly publications. Illinois has a five person editorial board with five-year terms that produces a quarterly scholarly publication that is read by all judges and has been cited by appellate courts. Indiana and Minnesota have other publications that are good examples of scholarly works.

The large organizations, however, have their own unique problems. They have expanded their organizations to accommodate substantive areas of law within their organizations. They have difficulty assimilating the substantive areas with the larger membership group. They also have difficulty attracting larger firms as members because of their dues structure based on individual members.

Through the course of the meeting, certain issues surfaced that were being addressed by all organizations. Sponsorships and advertisers was an interesting issue that was discussed. Some organizations have attempted to "remain pure" and not have sponsorships and advertisements in their scholarly publications. For example, Illinois has gone to great lengths not to have any advertisers as has Minnesota. Other states have been careful in the selection of advisers in their newsletters. Most of the states, however, solicit sponsors and exhibitors for their annual meetings.

There was a very good dialogue with the DRI representatives. As you know, Bob Riter is the regional director for DRI for the North Central Region. In addition, Lloyd Millikin, past president of the DRI organization was in attendance. I asked the DRI representatives what specifically DRI did for the state organizations. I told them that from my perception the DRI afforded good examples of scholarship in publications and seminars but I was not sure what else. A good discussion ensued. It was pointed out to me that perhaps one of the most important things the DRI provides to the state organization is an opportunity to network with other lawyers.

I can assure you that the lawyers in attendance were exemplary leaders besides being good people. I also was convinced that lawyers in our organization from time to time need to participate in DRI by attending a seminar or participating in the regional meetings just to meet lawyers from other states.

I came away from the meeting with some ideas that I want to share with our Board of Directors as to a vision for our organization. I will be sharing these ideas with the Board of Directors and the members through the coming months.

An issue that was shared from DRI's perspective that is confronting the defense bar, as a whole, is the effort to curtail protective orders on a national and state level.

All of our members should know and appreciate the efforts of Bob Riter for our organization. He is respected by all of the organizations and DRI and has placed our organization in a very favorable light.

Although most of our time was taken in attendance at meetings, there were some social opportunities. At the end of the meetings, Bob Riter and I had an opportunity to attend an LPGA golf event and to support "Skinny Miller" by attending a Magic game. We were able to see some of the best women professional golfers on the tour. I was heartened to know, however, that these individuals, as good as they are, are human like the rest of us. We saw Karrie Webb, one of the LPGA's best professionals, "put one in the drink" on the 18^th hole. In regard to "Skinny Miller", he played a great floor game in a winning effort against a weak team (Golden State). He is very well liked in Orlando.