Friends, Colleagues, and fellow BPLA members,

I am delighted to report on the recent activities and plans of the BPLA. We are continuing to further our mission of education, service, and community, both internally and externally.

We are privileged to be part of a rich scientific and entrepreneurial ecosystem, and we are continuing to leverage the strengths of our relationships and expertise to serve our community, through advocacy and outreach. As you may know, the BPLA plays a role in educating and influencing lawmakers in the judicial and administrative branches by filing briefs and by providing Comments on proposed rulemaking announced in the Federal Register. I am pleased to announce that the BPLA has formed a new Legislative Committee to provide insight into lawmaking in the legislative branch. The Committee held a kickoff Roundtable Breakfast on March 7th to discuss S.D. 1007 , a patent assertion bill recently introduced in the Massachusetts legislature. I encourage you to learn more about the BPLA’s advocacy at the “News & Advocacy” tab at .

At our recent annual BPLA Committee Chair meeting, we discussed plans for committee and membership-wide events for the coming year. This Spring alone, we have a number of terrific events planned with other organizations. In March, the Patent Office Practice Committee is holding a USPTO Panel Program featuring a Patent Examiner. In April, the BPLA is co-presenting an exciting program with the Federal Circuit Bar Association at Suffolk University on Local and Global Implications of Recent Changes in Patent Law. Of course, the BPLA is concerned with all forms of intellectual property, not just patents, and in May, we will be holding a Joint Trademark and Antitrust Committee Lunch.

Please save the date: the 2019 BPLA Annual Dinner in Honor of the Federal Judiciary will be held on June 5th at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse. We are pleased to announce that this year’s recipient of the Boston Patent Law Association Distinguished Public Service Award will be the Honorable George O'Toole, Jr.

We are going to shake things up this year and have the BPLA Summer outing be a fun rooftop event overlooking the city! Stay tuned for the announcement of the date. I encourage you to learn more about the BPLA’s great events at the “Meetings and Events” tab at .

On a personal note, I would like to express my gratitude to our Immediate Past President Rory Pheiffer for his excellence in leading the BPLA last year and for his generosity of time, advice and guidance, during our years together on the Board. I would also like to thank last year’s Board of Governors, Committee Chairs and staff for their exemplary service last year.

Fellow members, I call on you to get involved and make an impact! Let’s harness our strengths and relationships not only for the good of the BPLA but for our business and scientific community at large!

Join a Committee, become a Chair, and organize and participate in events and activities! Tweet photos and comments about BPLA events!

Have a voice: educate and influence policy makers on local and federal levels! Participate with your colleagues in our community in whatever way suits you best.

I look forward to a wonderful year working with you.

Deirdre E. Sanders

President, Boston Patent Law Association