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President's Message

Hon. Tom Altobelli

AFCC President's Message

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Bernard of Chartes was a 12th century French philosopher and teacher. He is credited with the metaphor that modern thinkers are but ‘dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants’. Isaac Newton adapted this metaphor in the 17th century when he wrote in a letter: ‘if I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.’

This metaphor applies not just to modern thinkers, but to modern leaders.

As your new President, at this very humbling highlight in my life as a family law professional, I too feel that I am standing on the shoulders of giants. I stand on the shoulders of the past presidents of this great organisation, foremost of whom is my colleague and friend, AFCC now past President, Hon. Dolores Bomrad. Her quiet wisdom, total selflessness, enormous insight and humility has steered AFCC into another successful year.

President's Message

Hon. Dolores A. Bomrad (Ret.), AFCC President

January 2026 President’s Message

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Happy New Year! I wish each of you a healthy, happy, and fulfilling one. For just a moment, please bear with me as I indulge in a bit of bully pulpit preaching. For over thirty years, I had the blessing and curse of telling people what to do (after considering the evidence and analyzing the law), and it’s a hard habit to break. In these challenging  and often angry times, I urge you to practice and model considerate behavior, patience, and compassionate kindness (especially while wearing your AFCC cap). Inevitably, at some time someone will act in a way that is less than kind toward each of us. When someone cuts in front of you in the grocery store, cuts you off on the road, or takes the parking space you were waiting for, please, instead of reacting  with anger, act with kindness borne out of patience and understanding. Perhaps the transgressor is not fully present in the moment for any number of reasons; they just came from the funeral of a loved one, are rushing to get to the hospital to visit a sick child or they just learned that they have a serious illness. Remember that everyone may be facing unseen challenges. Give the benefit of a doubt that their behavior is based not on selfishness or deliberate rudeness, but on human frailty. Wish them well. By responding with empathy instead of anger, we can help make the world a better place. Continue Reading.

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About

AFCC is the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts – the premier interdisciplinary international association of professionals dedicated to the resolution of family conflict. AFCC members include many of the leading practitioners, researchers, educators and policymakers in the family court arena. AFCC provides training and education, and does not license, certify, or regulate the practice of its members.

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