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"ALA has benefited from Larry's dedication and his valuable contributions to our success during the past two years," said Ms. Griggs, who chairs ALA's board of directors. "We wish him success in his future endeavors." During his tenure there, ALA expanded member benefits, maintained high member retention levels, and strengthened the association's financial reserves.

"It has been a privilege to serve such a talented and committed group of professionals in our field," said Smith, whose career has spanned law and association management. "I look forward to seeing the association continue its growth in the future." He joined ALA in late 2009, after serving for seven years as a director at the American Bar Association.

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The ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have designed a program to encourage law offices to take simple, practical steps to become better environmental and energy stewards. Your law office (including law firms, government offices, citizens groups, courts, law schools and other law-related entities) can participate by implementing best practices for office paper management or by joining at least one of three EPA partnership (that is, voluntary) programs that encourage better office paper management, the use of renewable energy, and better energy management. The ABA Law Practice Management Section (LPM) is co-sponsoring this initiative.

Specifically, your office can enroll in the Climate Challenge by taking at least one of the following actions:

• Best practices for office paper management: Switch to double-sided printing and copying to reduce the amount of paper you use; buy paper with recycled content; and increase recycling.
• WasteWise: Join this EPA program, adopt best practices for office paper management, and quantify the benefits.
• Green Power Partnership: Join this EPA program and support the growing field of renewable energy. Buy some – or all – of the amount of electricity you use from renewable sources such as solar cells or wind farms.
• ENERGY STAR: Join this EPA program, adopt an energy management plan designed for law offices, and set a goal to reduce your electricity use by at least 10%.

Whether your organization is large or small; whether you own or lease; whether your office is in the city, the suburbs, or a rural area, this program will help you become a better environmental and energy steward and, depending on what you choose, save you costs in the bargain.

If you take any of these steps – which you’ll find quite reasonable – you’ll be recognized by the ABA as a Law Office Climate Challenge Partner and, if you join one of the EPA programs, you’ll be recognized by EPA as well. And if you can achieve certain identified goals – which you’ll continue to find quite reasonable – then the ABA will recognize you as a Law Office Climate Challenge Leader.

Now is the time for law offices to become leaders in the national movement towards sustainability and climate protection.

So, enroll today. We challenge you.

For more information about the Climate Challenge, please see: Climate Challenge Overview, Office paper and WasteWise, Green Power, and ENERGY STAR.

When you are ready to enroll, fill out the Climate Challenge Enrollment Form.