With the start of the New year, Magistrate Greg Clifford of the Cleveland Municipal Court took the helm as the new President of the OAM, succeeding Franklin County Municipal Court Magistrate David Jump who completed 2 two-year terms. In a statement published on the Ohio Supreme Court Website, Clifford said he's excited to begin his term as president and "help our fellow magistrates and enhance the courts in which we serve." He added that "Our organization has been working hard over the past several years to assist the judicial branch of this state with our collective wisdom, energy and experience, and to provide meaningful membership benefits to the magistrates accross the state of Ohio. During my tenure as President, I hope to maintain and grow all of the professional relationships that we have developed over time with the Supreme Court of Ohio and the various judicial organizations, increase our membership roster of full and part-time magistrates, and develop more value for the benefit of our members and those who visit our website."

Joining Greg as part of the 2012 leadership team are New Executive Committee Members Nancy McMillen of the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court who takes over as First Vice-President; Pam Herringhaus of the Wood County Domestic Relations Court who becomes Second Vice-President; James Lyle of the Franklin County Domestic Relations/Juvenile Court continues as Treasurer; and Ken Roll of the Lake County Common Pleas Court continues as Secretary. Magistrate David Jump will serve as Immediate Past-President.

Four years ago, I was honored and humbled to write my first message as president of the OAM.  Today, I am equally honored and humbled to write my last.  In my first message, I wrote about the importance of the OAM continuing to grow in membership and stature.  Today, I am happy to report that the OAM is not just a bright star; it outshines my expectations.

OAM members continue to provide excellent judicial service to courts and to the citizens of Ohio.  Our members continue to serve on important Supreme Court and Judicial Conference committees.  OAM conferences continue to grow.  We had a record attendance of 247 members (nearly one half of our entire membership) at the most recent OAM Fall Conference.  Our partnership with the Ohio Judicial College is stronger than ever.  The OAM now sponsors all three days of all conferences.  Online registration is fast and easy and only one check is required for payment. 

In addition, OAM members have expanded their service beyond the courtroom to include volunteer service in the community.  Under the leadership of Magistrate Ann Weatherhead, the volunteer efforts of OAM members have helped a Cleveland agency provide needed medical supplies to third world countries, helped fight hunger in 20 central Ohio counties, assisted developmentally disabled children and adults in the Toledo area, and supported the efforts to care for cancer patients in the Columbus area.  I applaud the commitment the OAM and our members have made to continue providing these volunteer services at all OAM conferences in the future.

The OAM Newsletter continues to be a shining example of the benefits of OAM membership.  Under the direction of Newsletter Editor, Magistrate Bill Byrne, and Design Editor, Lindsey Schmitz, the OAM Newsletter has grown in the past three years from just a few pages in a newspaper format to the booklet it is today.  The OAM Newsletter is now filled with substantive articles of interest to magistrates in every practice area.  I am sorry to report that Bill is retiring as a magistrate at the Lucas County Domestic Relations Court and is leaving his position as Vice President of the OAM and Newsletter Editor.  However, Bill leaves behind a tremendous legacy with the work he has done with the OAM Newsletter.  We will miss Bill and we wish him the best in retirement.  We hope he will continue to be active in OAM activities as a retired member.

Many OAM members are stepping up to take leadership roles in our Association.  Our two new vice presidents, Nancy McMillen and Pam Heringhaus, are poised to help lead the OAM into the future.  In addition, an increasing number of our retired members are using their experience to help the OAM better serve our members.  These new leaders provide the OAM an influx of new ideas, new spark and new energy.

I am especially excited that Greg Clifford is taking over as the new OAM President.  Greg has long been one of our leaders and has quietly helped shape the image of the OAM.  He has been the First Vice President for the past four years and was the Municipal Practice Area Chair for six years.  He is the OAM representative on the Ohio Judicial Conference Criminal Law & Procedure Committee and he serves as a member of the Ohio Judicial College Planning Committee.  As a member of the OAM Board of Trustees since 2005, Greg has always provided a clear voice of reason and given sound analysis of issues confronting the Board.  He has helped guide the OAM on a steady course of growth and accomplishments.

Greg’s commitment to civic causes is as impressive as his professional accomplishments.  He is chair of the Minority Outreach Committee of the Cleveland Marshall Law Alumni Association, President of the East Cleveland Public Library Board of Trustees, and Chairman Emeritus and Mentor for 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc., in addition to his involvement in many other civic and charitable causes too numerous to include in this article.  His recent awards include Ohio Library Council 2009 Trustee of Achievement Award; YMCA of Greater Cleveland, 2006 Black/Hispanic Achievers Award; Knights of St. Peter Claver, 1999 African American Male Image Award; and Cleveland State University, 1995 Distinguished Alumni Civic Achievement Award.  Greg’s most recent award is the 2011 Norman S. Minor Bar Association Trailblazer Award for his contributions to the legal profession and the community at large.

We could not ask for a better person to lead the OAM the next two years.  The future is very bright for the OAM with President Clifford at the helm.  I know that Greg shares my optimism and enthusiasm for the OAM.  We encourage all OAM members to become more involved in the Association, to become the next generation of leaders and to help the OAM be the best it can be.

I cannot conclude my last president’s message without thanking all OAM members for your support during the past four years.  You have been wonderful about taking on new projects and helping our Association grow.  Please give our new president just as much help and support as you have given me.  Thank you and I look forward to seeing all of you at future OAM events.