In the northern hemisphere, the autumnal equinox takes place around September 22 each year when the sun crosses the celestial equator in a southerly direction. That used to be the time of year when attorneys from across the state would gather together in Detroit, Grand Rapids or Lansing for the Annual Meeting of the State Bar of Michigan (SBM). The Labor and Employment Law Section (LELS) would hold its own Annual Meeting at the same time, elect new officers and conduct a seminar followed by a reception.

Despite efforts to rebrand the SBM Annual Meeting as the “NEXT Conference,” attendance continued to decline and the 2018 Annual Meeting of the State Bar in Grand Rapids was its last. Shortly thereafter, the Council of LELS decided to hold its Annual Meeting in connection with its signature event, the Midwinter Meeting held each January. That left the Fall open for what we hope will become another signature networking event—OCTOBERFEST—to be held this year at Bell’s Brewery’s Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo, adjoining its original brewery and general store (see attached photo).

Thanks to our Vice-Chair Keith Brodie’s relationship with Bell’s, the Eccentric Café will be ours alone from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 22, 2021. The registration fee includes a barbecue dinner (vegetarian option on request) and if all goes well, a tour of the original brewery as well the new brewery a short distance away in Comstock. Spouses and children are welcome. Accommodations are available at a number of nearby hotels (see attached list)

OCTOBERFEST will provide us all an opportunity to get away from our computers for a while and reengage the conversational and networking skills which atrophied during the long pandemic. We will also be fulfilling one of the goals of the strategic plan which the Section adopted back in 2015 by hosting an event outside the Detroit metropolitan area. Please make every effort to join us on October 22.

If your eyes are open, you've been paying attention, or you have any sense of self-awareness, you recognize whatever success you've had in your legal career has probably been the result of being mentored, trained, nurtured, supported, and advanced by kindness, generosity, and professionalism of many lawyers and teachers who came before you. I have had such good fortune. More than my share perhaps. As a result, an enormous debt or duty to give back has grown within me: an individual debt to those who helped along the way, a general debt we all owe to this profession that means so much to all of us, and a loftier public debt we owe to the public to ensure the next generation of lawyers who will serve them ethically and well.

Sheldon J. Stark

Mediator and Arbitrator

Elizabeth K. Abdnour

Elizabeth Abdnour Law, PLLC

Date: Friday, October 22 2021

Location: Bell's Brewery's Eccentric Cafe

Date: Thursday, December 9 2021

Location: Birmingham Country Club

Date: Friday, January 21 2022

Location: Detroit Athletic Club