Mission Statement Approved

What is the mission of the Lycoming Law Association?  To some members of the Association, the answer to that question may seem obvious, but for many years the ability to put that concept into words eluded the leaders of the organization.  The LLA has been operating without a clear, written statement of its mission.

That omission has been rectified.  By action of the Executive Committee at the March 14, 2011 meeting, the following mission statement of the LLA was approved:  "The mission of the Lycoming Law Association is to promote the practice of law using the highest ethical standards and to advance the public image of our profession. We accomplish this by communicating within our profession and throughout our community, providing continuing legal education, encouraging collegiality among attorneys and the Court, providing pro bono legal assistance, and through community involvement."

Approval was not easy.  While the LLA's role as local representative of members of the Lycoming County bar is longstanding and well accepted, the emphasis of the Association has changed in recent years.  The question of how the Association can serve it's members today is one that is open for continued development by the leadership, and of course, there are different views on the subject.  So, putting everyone's views into writing required considerable thought and effort.

The project moved forward after the Executive Committee retreat in January 2011.  Discussions led to the formation of a sub-committee, which met and formulated and refined the language.  A proposed mission statement was approved in February, but then revised again and finally approved at the March meeting. 

The mission statement now clearly sets forth the Association's role:  to serve the membership; to enhance the relationships among members; and to encourage community service.  This clear statement will assist in formulating projects, programs and activities of the Association for the future, as well as form a backbone for ongoing operations of the Association.