Compliments of Hurricane Fabian

ONE speaker’s topic perfectly describes this year’s Fall Meeting – “plus ça change, plus c’est la meme chose.” Over recent years, certain changes have taken place, mostly planned and some accidental, such as Hurricane Fabian. The result, however, has been all positive and is a credit to the MLA leadership. As a long-time attendee to the meetings, and one with no axe to grind, I want to comment on just two points – separation of the sporting events from the lectures and the commendable emphasis on family involvement and special programmes.

By rearranging the programme, the MLA ensured that the high calibre of papers and speakers received the proper attention they deserved. This was highlighted on Friday morning when the speaker’s podium was taken by Joe Hughes from the American Club, Thomas Miller from ABS, Nigel Carden from the UK Club and Paul Hinton from the London Club, addressing the roles of the clubs, classification societies, and the current hot topics of pollution and the Prestige. The session was concluded with a presentation by Jeff Raborn of Brown & Williamson Tobacco on service contracts, and Kim Jeffries from Gard on salvage and wreck removal. In total, nineteen papers were published as part of the CLE programme. (www.mlaus.org or k...@freehill.com).

The social programme provided for a number of special events – some for families and others just for the kids. It is a commendable approach to attract the attendance of younger lawyers and guests to ensure the future of the MLA meetings. Golf, tennis, sailing and fishing went off in the usual great fashion, while the walk/run event produced tee-shirts for the participants with the message, “Biennial Run XII Bermuda to Boca Raton – Compliments of Hurricane Fabian.”

Even though everyone likes a challenge, I am certain that president Ray Hayden and Bob Parrish could well have done without Fabian. In the end, however, they and the various committees did a marvellous job of making this Florida convention a memorable one.

Note for your diary: As many readers may know, the MLA holds its spring meetings in New York, and the fall meetings alternate between New York and other locations every other year. The association is experimenting with a change in this long-established pattern, and has planned the Fall 2004 business/dinner for New Orleans (November 11-14) and the more expansive meeting at the Fairmount Scottsdale Princess, November 1-5, 2005.