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Whereas, serving as President of the Illinois State Bar Association requires an extraordinary commitment of time, energy, knowledge, and dedication to the legal profession; and

Whereas, Irene F. Bahr, as President in 2006-07, has provided energetic and dynamic leadership to the Association and its members, and has compiled a remarkable record of achievements; and

Whereas, during her tenure she oversaw the advent of important new member services including Fastcase, the online legal research tool available to all ISBA members, and the Strategic Marketing advertising campaign to build public confidence in the legal profession, and expanded CLE programming to meet our members' needs under the Minimum Continuing Legal Education rules, and the creation of ISBA's new Senior Counselor Section to assist and involve lawyers nearing retirement and beyond; and

Whereas, Irene continued her pioneering work on behalf of children's waiting rooms in courthouses by appointing a task force to produce printed and video materials that will encourage additional locations in the state to establish such rooms; and

Whereas, she engaged the Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor not once, but twice, to participate in ISBA-sponsored events, including a highly successful conference at Loyola University Law School designed to raise awareness among the bar and public of current threats to an independent judiciary; and

Whereas, through her leadership, ISBA has aggressively supported federal legislative initiatives including efforts to preserve the Attorney-Client Privilege, to increase federal funding for civil legal services for the poor, and to provide law school loan forgiveness to public service attorneys as a way to retain their commitment to public service; and

Whereas, Irene took the lead in conducting a celebration of Women in the Profession and especially women who are leaders of the bar, with a luncheon in Chicago with American Bar Association president Karen Mathis as keynote speaker; and

Whereas, she was a tireless and effective ambassador of the Illinois State Bar Association at countless local bar association meetings in all parts of Illinois, and she strengthened ISBA's cooperative relationship with the Illinois Judges Association, improving the ties between bench and bar; and

Whereas, Irene Bahr represented the interests of the ISBA and its members with grace, but also with unmistakable decisiveness – a combination that served the Association well;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Board of Governors, on behalf of all members of the Illinois State Bar Association, applauds the many accomplishments of Irene F. Bahr in her service as President of the Association, and further that the Board expresses its appreciation and admiration to her husband, Judge Robert Anderson, for his support and many contributions