As my term nears its conclusion June 17 — tick tick tick … tick tick tick … approximately 21/2 months away, but who’s counting — I sat back and reflected upon many years of Bar service, beginning with the Young Lawyers Section in early 2000.
Without a doubt, I can say that none of the previous 15 years held a candle to this year. This year has been the greatest by far in terms of time devoted to the Bar, understanding every single facet of how The Jacksonville Bar Association functions and personal growth.
One year, however, stands out as a close second. That was exactly 10 years ago in 2005.
Taking a journey in the “way back,” I reflected on that year. I was the president of the Young Lawyers Section. During this term, I gained a slight understanding of what it might be like to be the president of the Bar association.
My year as president of the Young Lawyers Section was extremely busy and time-consuming and, just like my current position, it was also very rewarding.
One of those “rewarding moments” I recall was an article in a former periodical devoted to Jacksonville lawyers, which publication shall not be named in this article published in The Daily Record.
Our good friend, Billy Catlin, was the driving force behind this magazine and approached my Young Lawyer’s board with a novel idea.
As it turns out, Billy wanted to take a photo (see Exhibit 1 at right) of the gentlemen of my Young Lawyer’s board in front of the newly constructed federal courthouse.
Billy told us that it would be the cover to an article focusing on up-and-coming “young guns” in the legal profession. Billy also thought it would be a great idea if each of us would hold a shotgun while standing in front of the federal courthouse in suits from Hayden’s Haberdashery. My board members were very excited about this idea and they all wanted dearly to pose with shotguns.
Luckily, I was able to talk sense into them and the shotguns were scrapped from the photo shoot. This would have been a horrible idea for their careers had it resurfaced 10 years later. Had it not been for the personal growth and maturity I developed as the president of the Young Lawyers Section, we may have all been standing in a photo in front of the federal courthouse in suits holding shotguns, or more likely, in a holding cell under the federal courthouse.
I also recall that 10 years ago I was not married, though I had met my wife. A short time later I have a lot less hair, a larger waist line, my beautiful wife, four children, a smaller bank account, but I have a much more beautiful and richer life.
Speaking of rich, by the time you read this article April showers may have brought “Cinco.” Cinco is baby number five and will certainly bring a new meaning to Cinco de Mayo in our family.
OK, on to the catchy April showers and May flowers bit.
While we have a few events in April, namely the seventh annual Rendezvous on the River at Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, and the Edwards & Ragatz Law Day Party from 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 30, we are preparing for a very busy May.
Alas, the cliché April showers, standing for hard work behind the scenes in April, results in May flowers such as multiple JBA activities for the benefit of our members in May.
The first member benefit in May is the TPC of TPC. As previously discussed, this is a novel event that should provide great CLE credit in ethics, which we all need, followed by a lunch and open bar at Dyes Valley Pavilion where you can watch golfers complete their Wednesday rounds. The CLE portion of the event ends at noon and is followed by an open bar and chalet seating until the end of play.
Next, we have the 2015 Law Day Luncheon and Annual Meeting on May 13. Thanks to JBA board member Lee Wedekind, we have secured William Hubbard, current ABA president, as our keynote speaker.
This luncheon, beginning at noon at the Omni, is expected to be heavily attended and I highly recommend that you RSVP ASAP if you want to ensure your ability to attend the meeting. This meeting also serves as the voting cut-off for the candidates for the open seats on the JBA Board of Governors. I officially become a lame-duck president at the conclusion of the meeting.
A third event in May is the Happy Hour & Wiffle Golf on the Backyard Nine on May 15 from 4 p.m. until late. The JBA sponsors this event together with Pajcic & Pajcic for the benefit of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. This outing will be at the home of Steve and Anne Pajcic, 1917 Montgomery Place. Don’t forget a hole-in-one on the dock holes nets you $6,000. Register online at jaxlegalaid.org/special-events.
Finally, we conclude the month of May with our JBA Annual Golf Tournament, always a big-ticket draw. This year, we have decided to move back to the familiar and comfortable confines of Deerwood Country Club.
The tournament will be May 21 beginning with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Be sure to save the date on your calendar and start organizing your foursome.
Although my team has won the last few years, there is no reason for the rest of the Bar to give up. Besides, we need your entry fees to pay for my team’s first-place winnings.
Be sure to pack your umbrella, watch those April Showers and get ready for our May flowers. And if you have a great baby name, please shoot an email. I’m running out of those faster than interesting topics for these articles.