Recognition of the dramatic shifts in social, political and regulatory forces, accompanied by formidable technological progress and their impact on the changing roles of the energy industry, encouraged the Association to initiate a comprehensive strategic planning effort.  In an extensive year long process, the Association reassessed its role in the changing energy industry in order to better serve its members.

The fruits of our year long effort are reflected in a plan entitled, "Building on Our Success - FEBA Strategic Plan 2005."  This is a three-year plan and a work in progress.  Among other things, we have a new mission and a new name.

As a result of the Strategic Plan, you will see enhancements and additions as you browse through this web site.  A few additions include a job bank directory, a complete and updated membership directory and committee activities to name just a few.

A sampling of new initiatives will also include: consideration of how best to manage our resources to maximize benefits and minimize costs to our members, evaluation of our relationship with other bar associations and other outreach efforts, and inquiry into what other offerings would be most valuable to our members. We will also continuing to attract new members to the Association and broaden our membership by actively recruiting through network opportunities.

In addition, the Association will continue to provide timely educational programs for our members featuring first-rate speakers at a cost far lower than private, for-profit programs. In addition to our mid-year meeting in November and our annual meeting in May, we will sponsor several special one-day meetings and cosponsor programs with the American Bar Association's Section of Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law, the Southern Gas Association, and others. These include innovative live satellite broadcasts as well as the more traditional live programs. The high quality of these programs is made possible by the tireless efforts of our Programs and Meetings Committee, especially its co-chairs, as well as our other committees.

The membership of our 18 other committees mirrors the changing trends in our energy practice. For example, membership of the Antitrust, International Energy Transactions, and Legislation and Regulatory Reform Committees has grown, and the Electric Utility Regulation Committee is now twice as large as the Natural Gas Regulation Committee. In addition, we recently created a Finance and Transaction Committee, an Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and a Young Lawyers Committee that serves as an outreach to entry-level attorneys and others new to the field.

The Association continues to take great pride in the Energy Law Journal, and to be especially indebted to its Editor-in-Chief, Bill Mogel, as well as our other members who devote their time to working with the student editors and staff to produce it.

Now, more than ever, is the time to step forward and lend your leadership and wisdom to an EBA committee, activity or publication.  Your experience and knowledge are infinitely valuable, not only to fellow members and students, but to the future of the energy field.

If you are interested in reading more about our new initiatives and our findings please take a look at the full Strategic Plan which is posted on this web site.

Please explore our website and tell us what you think!