We thought readers of LUELR might enjoy an update on a relatively new initiative of the FSU College of Law, our creation of an Environmental and Land Use Alumni Group. The Alumni Group was formed in 2002 and has two main purposes: 1) to strengthen ties between the law school and its alumni in ways that will benefit our current generation of law students; and 2) to support the FSU College of Law’s alumni through networking and other opportunities. The Group has hit the ground running and is making a real contribution on both fronts.

     Three of the College of Law’s prominent alumni, Vivian Garfein, Director of the Central District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Tom Pelham, of Fowler White Boggs and Banker and former Secretary of Florida’s Department of Community Affairs, and Mary Smallwood, partner with Ruden McCloskey and former General Counsel of Florida’s Department of Environmental Regulation, are serving as co-chairs of the Group.

     To date, the Alumni Group has created three ways for interested alumni to become involved in activities at the law school. The Group has created a Mentoring Directory for alumni interested in talking with students about careers in environmental and land use law. Alumni interested in guest lecturing in a class at the law school or in participating in one of the law school’s programs are encouraged to join the law school’s Speaker’s Bureau. And, third, alumni who would like to explore co-authoring an article with a student are welcome to participate in the Articles Collaboration Directory. We think each of these initiatives is a terrific way to enhance ties between the law school and the broader legal community. We hope that readers of the LUELR who have not yet signed up to participate in one of these programs will do so. For further information on these opportunities or to offer your suggestions for other activities, please feel free to contact any of the co-chairs, or Associate Dean Stephanie Williams (swilliams@law.fsu.edu).

     In addition to these initiatives, the Alumni Group has co-sponsored some of the public interest programs held at the law school, such as its Environmental Forum series. The most recent Forum, held in April 2004, focused on the Future of the Florida Panhandle, and featured leading members of the Section, including Janet Bowman, of 1000 Friends of Florida, Inc., Shaw P. Stiller, Assistant General Counsel for the State of Florida, Department of Community Affairs, and Tom Pelham.

      As you can see, the Environmental and Land Use Alumni Group already has made an important contribution to life at the College of Law. We plan to participate in this August’s ELUL annual meeting and look forward to talking there with Section members about ways that, together, we can continue to strengthen the College of Law’s Environmental and Land Use Alumni Group and the Group’s support for our current students and alumni.