By Craig Shoup • JBA Executive Director
As the annual Bar awards season is over and we return to work after the Independence Day holiday, my mind keeps coming back to the word “service.”
The recipients of this year’s honors from The Florida Bar were selected for their service above and beyond what is required by their careers as a judge or attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit.
Of course, a special thank you to all of those who have served our country in the armed forces.
As a Navy town, so many of our stories are connected to service.
I am here because of the Navy.
My grandfather lived in a very small town outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and joined the Navy to see the world. He went to Naval Station Great Lakes for boot camp and then was sent to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and then to Green Cove Springs when the Mothball Fleet was there.
He fell in love with the area and he and my grandmother decided to live here in Jacksonville. He was the last person in our family to serve our country in military service.
My grandfather instilled in me that there are more ways to serve your community other than by joining the military.
Another way is through nonprofit service. Lending your time and talents to the community is important. I am fortunate to serve our community through two boards, the DePaul School of Northeast Florida and the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville.
On a membership note, the Jacksonville Bar Association has a board opening because of the departure of Lindsay Tygart, who was elected to the bench unopposed.
The application window is open until 5 p.m. July 8. The application form is available at jaxbar.org/page/JBABoardAppointment2223.
I hope you will consider serving our local legal community and apply for the open seat on the JBA board of governors.
Craig Shoup is Jacksonville Bar Association executive director and liaison to the 2022-23 Florida Bar board of governors.
