Inside the Florida Bar Tax Section’s 2026 Organizational Meeting

The Florida Bar Tax Section is kicking off its 2026-2027 year with its annual Organizational Meeting, set for the Fourth of July weekend at the Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa. Under the leadership of incoming Section Chair Mike Wilson, the weekend combines substantive CLE programming with the kind of relaxed, oceanfront networking that has made this event a fixture on the Section’s calendar.

Registration and the hotel room block for this year’s meeting are now closed, but members can still review the full agenda through the official event brochure.

A Weekend Built Around Substance and Connection

The Organizational Meeting serves two purposes for the Tax Section. It is the formal kickoff to the new bar year, when committees and divisions set priorities, leadership transitions take hold, and the Executive Council convenes to handle the Section’s business. It is also one of the few events on the calendar designed to bring members and their families together, with fireworks on the beach, family dinners, and activities geared specifically toward New Tax Lawyers.

Thursday: Leadership Sets the Tone

The weekend opens Thursday afternoon with the Directors’ Meeting, where Section leadership reviews the year ahead. That evening, Directors gather for dinner at Bob’s Steak & Chop House, sponsored by MPI, setting a collegial tone before the broader membership arrives Friday.

Friday: CLE, Mentorship, and Networking

Friday is the heart of the substantive programming. The day begins with the Women in Tax Networking Event, followed by a Putt Putt outing sponsored by FigTree Group Insurance Services, a lighter-touch networking format that has become a popular addition to recent meetings.

From 1 to 2 PM, the Section hosts its Professionalism and Insights Session, led by Past Chairs. This session is particularly valuable for members newer to Section leadership, walking through how the Tax Section operates, what is expected of Assistant Directors and Directors, and how members can move up the leadership ladder over time. For attorneys looking to get more involved in Section governance, this is the session to prioritize.

The afternoon shifts into the Ullman Year in Review CLE, a four-hour block from 2 to 6 PM that anchors the weekend’s continuing legal education credit. This program traditionally covers the past year’s significant developments across state and federal tax practice, giving members a comprehensive update in a single sitting.

Friday closes with the Chair’s Welcome Reception, sponsored by Glenmede, officially welcoming Mike Wilson as the incoming Section Chair and setting the social tone for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday: Business Meetings and Family Time

Saturday morning is dedicated to the operational side of the Section. The Tax Section Member Breakfast runs from 7:30 to 9 AM, followed by Division and Committee Meetings from 8 AM to 12:30 PM, where the Section’s substantive groups, ranging from state and local tax to estate planning, set their agendas for the year. The Executive Council Meeting and Luncheon from 12:30 to 2 PM closes out the Section’s formal business for the weekend.

The remainder of Saturday is reserved for families, with a Family Reception from 6 to 7 PM followed by Family Dinner and Entertainment from 7 to 10 PM, capped off with fireworks on the beach in celebration of the Fourth of July.

Why This Meeting Matters

For Florida tax attorneys, the Organizational Meeting is more than a kickoff event. It is where committee priorities for the year take shape, where new leadership is introduced to the membership, and where relationships across the state’s tax bar are built or strengthened. The combination of CLE credit, leadership development programming, and family-friendly events makes it a meeting that serves the full range of the Section’s membership, from longtime Directors to attorneys just beginning to get involved.

Members interested in future Tax Section events, sponsorship opportunities, or getting involved in committee work are encouraged to stay connected through the Section’s regular updates and the SALTy Orange newsletter.