by Paula S. Caplinger*
Friendship
is the source of the greatest pleasures, and without friends even the most agreeable
pursuits become tedious.
~ St. Thomas Aquinas ~
The Commonwealth of Virginia
and many of our Mid-Atlantic neighbors had an unwelcome visitor in mid-September.
Hurricane Isabel arrived on September 18, 2003 with her full fury. The impact
of this storm was dramatically felt throughout the Commonwealth. More than 1.6
million people in Virginia were immediately without electricity. Downed power
lines, uprooted trees, and flooding closed hundreds of highways and secondary
roads. Schools were shuttered for more than a week, and lines began to form
for the "necessities' of daily life. News of a source for a hot shower,
groceries, ice, or gasoline was passed from subdivision to subdivision like
an urban legend. While there were isolated incidents of price gouging or "pre-storm"
hoarding, these practices proved to be the exception rather than the rule.
I was personally fortunate to be without electricity, telephone or cable service, and potable water for only four days. I cooked on a camp stove and ate fried foods that had long since been banned from my diet. I was blessed to have only minimal damage to my property from the storm. Neighbors helped neighbors as we all began the process of cleaning up, and I was especially impressed with the resilience and friendliness of people. As soon as the telephone service was restored, I began to get calls from friends and acquaintances from throughout Virginia and neighboring states offering help or advice. Others have related similar experiences to me. While most of us have returned to the normal hustle and bustle of our daily lives, many still grapple with loss.
As of mid-October, available statistics indicate that the total assistance funds paid by the federal government due to Hurricane Isabel will exceed $65.9 million dollars. More than $30 million has been approved for the Federal Individuals and Households Program and more than $20.9 million has been allocated for approved housing needs. More than 72,000 individuals have registered for disaster assistance. FEMA, in conjunction with the State, has delivered more than 6.3 million pounds of ice and 1.4 million gallons of water. The American Red Cross has served more than 843,000 meals and snacks, and the Salvation Army has served more than 87,800 meals.
Truly, this was the worst natural disaster many of us have ever encountered.
The experience caused me to reflect upon and fully realize that while my home
and possessions are important to me, my real assets are my family and the personal
and professional friendships I have formed with my colleagues and others over
the years. Participation in the Real Property Section has afforded me many opportunities
for long-lasting friendships, and the same option is available for you.
Presently there are over twenty-four thousand active members of the Virginia State Bar, and a little over eighteen hundred belong to the Real Property Section. If you are not currently a Section member, I urge you to join. If you are currently a Section member, please become involved in the Section's work. We are only as strong as our members.
The Section has many options available for our members to participate in continuing education, enhancing their practice specialties and mentoring or being mentored. The FEE SIMPLE is an excellent resource for any real estate practitioner. In this edition and every printing, you will find articles written at all practice levels that address a wide range of topics. The Section sponsors or co-sponsors three different real estate related seminars annually. The Advanced Real Estate Seminar will be held in April of 2004, and nationally known speakers will present a variety of topics. The 22nd Annual Real Estate Practice seminar will be held in May of 2004 in four different locations throughout the State, and the Section is considering a program to be presented at the Virginia State Bar June 2004 Annual Meeting.
In addition to continuing education, the Section has numerous subcommittees that focus on different practice specialties. When I was a younger attorney, having a more experienced practitioner as a resource, via the subcommittee process, was invaluable. Many of those practitioners became my friends as well as colleagues. Please consider joining or becoming more involved in the activities of the Section. You may make friends to help you "weather" the storms we all undoubtedly encounter throughout our lives.
It is my honor to serve as the Section's chair for 2003-2004. Our Board of Directors, area representatives, and I are receptive to your questions and concerns. Please let us have your feedback and grow your circle of friends by joining or becoming more involved with the Real Property Section this year.
* Paula S. Caplinger is a resident of Newport News and Assistant Vice President and Counsel with the Newport News, Virginia office of Chicago Title Insurance Company. She is Chair of the Board of Governors of the Real Property Section of the Virginia State Bar and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Virginia Bar Association, and the Newport News Bar Association.