The WCI 2023 opened Sunday with a series of events, well, Saturday I guess. A decade ago, this educational conference got into the public service arena with a "work day" event on the Saturday preceding. I know people that have made an annual visit to Give Kids the World as part of their WCI experience. There are other events, but this workday is so egalitarian. It is amazing to see 600 professionals don their work clothes and board buses.
I have written about the event several times, and am a bit chagrinned to not be in the "ten times" club as we mark the decade. This conference can be a big commitment, with the drive on each end it is a minimum of five days, and Saturday makes it longer. But the community. For some past perspectives, there is Not the Same and Yet (August 2020), Dr. James McClusky (April 2023), and Our Hope for Tomorrow (August 2022). But for humanity and community, 2018 will forever stick in my mind, see Give Kids the World - Our Community (August 2018).
It was palpable.
Sunday dawned on the Kids' Chance Golf Tournament (third annual). This event has been an outpouring of recognition for a simple truth. Work accidents impact workers and employers, but there is a significant additional impact on the workers' families. There are spouses and kids that see the effects of a work accident. Kids' Chance is among the groups that strive to provide scholarships for those kids. I have been proud to serve on its founding board since 2015. This summer we approved 14 scholarships for Florida students. Overall, Kids chance has touched almost 9,000 lives to the tune of over $30 million. Speachless.
That tournament is about golf. But it is about community. I am amazed at the faces I see from around the country, and around the state. They are engaging for the kids, but I believe they are driven by the community, camaraderie, and fellowship. I see hugging, handshakes, and brightened countenances. These people are glad to be together, to be catching up, to be engaging (engaged).
It was palpable.
The OJCC hosted a meet and greet with the judges and mediators Sunday evening. It was intended as a recognition of the remoteness that can come from virtual proceedings. I thought we might draw 30-40 folks. I was so wrong it was laughable. Somewhere near 200 people showed up. There were smiles, laughter, and recognition. Mediators have been exclusively Zoom for about a year. There is efficiency and effectiveness from that paradigm, but perhaps some loss of the casual interaction and humanity that is part of our humanity.
I heard someone greet a lawyer with "you have a body too," an obvious recognition that the world of Zoom is so limited to a small image of the face. Another commented that someone was "much taller than I remembered." It is unfortunate, but in the world of Zoom, we see each other less often. I noticed that there were many comments on how long it had been since someone had seen someone they were greeting, but with the recognition "you know, really seen you."
It was palpable.
I have been proud to participate since 2009 with the National Association of Workers' Compensation Judiciary. They gather for a college in conjunction with the WCI. It is amazing that it has been so well attended over the years. About 100 adjudicators gather to share their experiences, have exposure to new ideas, and strive for excellence. I have been amazed at the quality of the education they make available at a nominal price and at the geographic diversity of the attendees.
It is unfortunate that every workers' compensation judge in America cannot join this coterie each August. There is community in the gathering. It is an important opportunity that judges should relish. There is education, information, and collaboration. As in years past, I have been astounded at their interaction and effectiveness. As they arrived, one by one, there was recognition, interaction, and energy.
It was palpable.
Monday brought the WCI opening session. There were selfies and hugs. I see so many people engaging with their peers. It was different in 2023. There were more people in the opening. The format was different and more engaging. Gone was the head-table and the atmosphere was different. Speakers each took the stage solo from behind the curtain. They said their peace and introduced the next speaker. It had a pace and cadence that was refreshing. There were new faces, and that too was different.
Doug Clark was back though. He is the WCI chair for the Give Kids the World (GKTW) effort. He described the efforts and called Pam Landwirth to the stage. A "big check" was presented after he noted that $218,000 was raised this year. The WCI community has reportedly raised over $1 million in the last decade.
Ms. Landwirth is the CEO of GKTW. She related a story of a kid whose trip was repeatedly delayed. When he finally got his wish, she asked if the wait was worth it. He replied, "I'm smiling so much my teeth are tired." She noted to the crowd that lots of kids' teeth will get tired because of the efforts of this community. It was a touching and rewarding moment for all.
It was palpable.
The halls were filled with people. The sessions I visited were well-attended. There were some disappointments. I see a fair few who would rather wander the halls than learn something. Or maybe they are learning something by wandering the halls? It somewhat reminded me of high school. Remember that group that was rarely in class? Some things, perhaps, never change.
The Florida Bar Workers' Compensation Section is hard at work planning future events. In 2022-23, they produced meet and greets in Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa. This fall, it will bring us to Miami District for a meet and greet with local lawyers. There will be opportunities for the Section to speak with law students at various schools.
There is a sense of community that is building, a groundswell of interest in building a bridge to the youth that will lead tomorrow. A palpable desire to reconnect and communicate. It is gratifying. And, it is exemplified in the obvious sense of community, engagement, and interaction. It is rewarding to us all. I hope to see you at such an event. Perhaps next spring at the Forum if not before?
