In May 2002, the board of directors of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IDC) elected Schuyler Roche's Charles Cole to serve a three-year term as Illinois State Representative of the Defense Research Institute (DRI). Twenty-one thousand members strong, DRI is a national organization with international ties comprised of defense attorneys and corporate counsel who defend against civil actions. Cole, who recently completed his presidency of the equally prestigious IDC, said: "I'm honored my esteemed colleagues at IDC chose to recognize my commitment to our organization by propelling me to national leadership in DRI."

It was Cole's involvement in IDC for nearly two decades that propelled him to its presidency. Over the years he has served on various committees and chaired several well attended seminars. His election to the board of directors in 1992—beginning with a nomination initiated on the membership floor—launched his steady ascent through the organization, where he won respect for his public record as a winning litigator. Unanimously elected president by a committee of IDC's five immediate past presidents and five current officers, Cole began his one-year term in 2001 by promising to make IDC even more accountable to members. He succeeded in ways both quantifiable and qualitative.

On his initiative IDC sponsored four half-day seminars to augment the one-day spring program and two-day fall event it historically offers. When Cole was president-elect, a half-day topical seminar that drew 25 percent more participants than expected persuaded him IDC should focus more on individual issues. Thus, the new quarterly programs he introduced in 2001 explored such hot legal topics as employment law, business defense, ethics and toxic mold litigation, and they appealed to over-scheduled practitioners seeking to keep current on legal trends. "We had better-than-expected attendance," says Cole, "especially from people who had not participated in our full-day events, which confirms we were finally meeting a need too long unnoticed. Seeing new faces alongside familiar ones was gratifying."

Cole also introduced a series of specialty newsletters produced by a different committee each quarter and distributed to the entire membership. "Feedback was positive, reception excellent," says Cole, who considers the publications an extension of the half-day seminars, expanding on individual topics the goal for both. The first four issues addressed recent developments, respectively, in product liability, municipal law, employment matters and civil practices and procedures.

Despite production costs for the added seminars and literature, Cole was happy to report at his term's end that IDC had made a substantial profit. "Simple things like positive cash flow, better expense management and our ability to make money market investments contributed to a rewarding year as president," says Cole. At the helm when IDC's trial academy and biannual seminars were among the most profitable in the organization's history, Cole credits the good seamanship of many members for the successful programs. "Being president during a productive year for IDC," he adds, "made my many years of service all the more rewarding."

Cole will continue to write for IDC Quarterly, which he has done for years, while fulfilling his new responsibilities in DRI. As Illinois state rep he will facilitate the flow of information between state and national leadership, bringing issues important to IDC to the attention of DRI to ensure the national organization will well serve local membership. He also plans to recruit new applicants to DRI and to work with IDC to increase joint enrollment in both organizations.

"As president of IDC," says Cole, "I received invaluable input from new and old friends alike and found fulfillment in serving an organization at its highest level, one where I had been active nearly all my professional life. This was a rewarding year, no question." Looking toward the future, he says, "I'll take my responsibilities as state rep just as seriously. My colleagues are counting on me."

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