By Colette M. Bruggman (CA)
When I gave remarks to the members assembled at the closing of the 53rd Annual Meeting and Education Conference, setting a vision for the next year, I told you my plan was simple: “To preserve the traditions that ground us, blending time‑honored practices with innovative approaches so our work remains meaningful, forward‑looking, and connected to our roots.” But during our time together, that vision evolved to “Remembering Traditions While Maintaining Momentum.” Simple, right?
As I sat down to work on committee assignments, I wasn’t so sure it was that simple after all. But, what’s so wonderful about the NCACC is that no one has to go it alone. One of the finest traditions of the NCACC is the committee structure, and I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who volunteered for a committee, without whose work the organization would not thrive. With that in mind, I would like to spotlight some of the work the committees are doing to ensure that the NCACC, an organization built on decades of professional collaboration and traditions, remains resilient and relevant.
To maintain momentum, I made specific charges to select committees. To name a few, I asked the Educational Fund Committee to apply for a second Curriculum Adaptation & Training (CAT) Grant from the State Justice Institute (SJI) for the 54th Annual Meeting and Education Conference to be held in Tampa, Florida in July 2027, which will help us build on the achievements made in Austin like more expert speakers and availability of scholarships. In addition, the Past Presidents’ Committee is looking at the language of the NCACC Code of Conduct to see if its language needs to be modernized or if updates are needed to reflect current times. Further, I asked the Technology Committee to work on a job aid, quick guide, or Tips and Tricks on things to consider when using AI—one request of many to the Technology Committee aimed to helping members keep up with trends using AI.
For continuity of operations, I asked the Bylaws Committee to consider any substantive changes to the Bylaws that have been identified but deferred pending the plain-language rewrite. I also asked the Finance and Investment Committee to prepare an operating budget for the NCACC for 2026-2027 and to work with the Florida hosts in preparing a budget for the 2027 Annual Meeting and Education Conference in Tampa. I asked the Membership and Pictorial Directory Committee to work on making the online directory more robust by getting more member bios and pictures added. The directory is instrumental in helping us stay connected. Moreover, the Strategic Planning Committee is collaborating with the Finance and Investment Committee to review the viability of certain aspects of the Annual Meeting and Education Conference.
Some committee charges are self-evident, like Convention Assistance, Nominating, or Program, while others get specific charges based on the challenges the organization is facing at the time. It really makes no difference: every committee has an important role to play, and every member is vital to the committee structure and the success of the NCACC.
To quote the landing page of the NCACC website, “Since 1973, the National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks has sought to improve the administration of appellate courts. Through outstanding educational conferences, committee activities, publications, and exchanges between members, the NCACC promotes best practices in appellate court administration.” [Italics added.] Participation in committee work is what connects us, builds trust, provides stability, and gives us forward momentum as an organization. We are all NCACC. What would we do without you?