In an article I wrote for the December 2022 edition of The Docket to hype the NCACC’s 50th Anniversary conference in Detroit, I mentioned I had worked in the city on two separate occasions more than thirty years ago.
In the article, I said my memories of Detroit were not pleasant. That was, I now admit, an understatement. I really didn’t like it. There were only a few nice restaurants and entertainment venues, the streets were littered, many buildings sat vacant, and the traffic was terrible.
In the article, I also said “the city has changed dramatically for the better in the past three decades.” That statement, I now admit, was probably a little overstated, at least based on personal experience. In truth, it had been many years since I last visited Detroit. My positivity was based on what I read in the media or was told by friends and colleagues who worked downtown.
So, it was with some trepidation that I, along with my colleagues on the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, welcomed our NCACC counterparts from across the United States and several territories to the City of Detroit. By all accounts, Detroit really showed its best side during our visit.
The city was vibrant and welcoming—from the upscale dining at The Apparatus Room across the street from the hotel to the drinks and casual food at the nearby Grand Trunk Pub (which had the “where-everyone-knows-your-name” vibe), from the nightly heavy bass music and dancing at the Spirit of Detroit Plaza to the random Greek festival that a few members stumbled upon, and from the green spaces along the Detroit Riverwalk to the beautiful architectural features of many historical buildings that were pointed out to those of us who participated in the walking tour.
The conference social events were really outstanding.
On Sunday evening, we were treated to a wonderful 50th Anniversary slide show created by Deana Williamson (TX). The recorded remarks of long-time member Frans LaBranche are now even more poignant given his passing in early September. The silent and live auctions were huge successes thanks to the event coordinator, Sherry Williamson (TX, retired), and auctioneer-extraordinaire, Jim Hivner (TN).
Our Monday evening “field trip” to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation included several delicious food stations, a ticketed bar, and access to the entire museum. I heard many people comment, and I agree, that the few hours we had at the museum were simply not enough to see everything on display. Many thanks to Thomson-Reuters for sponsoring the event.
On Tuesday evening, we boarded the Detroit Princess Riverboat for dinner and drinks, entertainmentby a Motown cover band, The Prolifics, and a cruise of the Detroit River. The cityscape views of Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, from the riverboat were spectacular. We are extremely grateful to LexisNexis for sponsoring the dinner and cruise.
Theme nights in the hospitality suite were fun and sometimes raucous (but we were reported to hotel security only once). Our de facto social director, Doug Shima (KS), knows how to throw a party.
Finally, the conference concluded with the Awards Luncheon on Thursday after-noon where we recognized two very deserving individuals for the NCACC’s premier awards, Sirena Kestner (National Center for State Courts), the Morgan Thomas Award recipient, and Edward Hosken (US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, retired), the J.O. Sentell Award recipient.
To close, I want to thank all the members who spent countless hours planning, organizing, and implementing the educational sessions and social events for the conference. Thanks to your efforts, the conference was hugely successful. I also want to thank everyone who attended the conference. I know the work doesn’t stop just because you’re away from the office so your attendance likely meant longer work hours when you returned. For the retired members, you might not have had a backlog of work awaiting you, but you certainly had many other things you could have done instead. We are very fortunate that you chose to spend time with us to share your knowledge and friendship. Finally, to the City of Detroit, thank you for a truly wonderful time experiencing some of your attractions and activities. I will be back soon to see and do more. Your traffic still sucks, though.