The Florida Bar and several North Florida voluntary bar associations will host the 2004 Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference, today and Saturday at the Doubletree Hotel in Tallahassee. Voluntary bar association officers from around the state will take part in this year’s conference theme, “Raising the Bar — A Capital Idea.”
“The Voluntary Bar Leaders Conference is an essential tool to all new and rising leaders within their voluntary bar associations to learn about topics ranging from effective leadership, taxation and accounting do’s and don’ts, communication within and between various bar associations, successful Law Week activities, and conducting excellent programs for your members,” says Kathy Maus, planning committee chair and a partner in the Tallahassee office of Butler Pappas.
This year’s conference is hosted by the Tallahassee Bar Association, Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, Tallahassee Women Lawyers, Tallahassee Barristers Association, Florida Government Bar Association, The Florida Bar Voluntary Bar Liaison Committee, Florida Council of Bar Association Presidents, and Florida Council of Bar Executives.
Among the highlights are a session on “Membership Recruitment, Benefits, and Retention” by Elizabeth Ricci and Neil Rambana of Rambana & Ricci, P.A., Tallahassee. Panelists will share tips on retaining members, recruiting new ones and offering member benefits to current members. Also featured is 2nd Circuit Chief Judge Charles Francis who will be speaking on State court funding and the effect of this year’s legislative changes. Fiction author and 2nd Circuit Judge Terry P. Lewis will share his experience writing legal thrillers. In addition, Nina Ashenafi, President, Tallahassee Bar Association, will be educating attendees on Pro Bono Outreach, how it affects the community and how the local bar can instill the spirit of service in its members.
The Florida Bar will also be presenting the Spotlight Award to two of the voluntary bars for extraordinary service to their communities, the Palm Beach County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section for their “Adopt-A-School” program and the St. Petersburg Bar Association for their exhibit “ A Legacy of Courage, Vision & Hope,” highlighting the history of African-Americans in the legal profession.
The conference is at the Doubletree Hotel from 1-5 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.