Staff Writer
Record voter turnout
It wasn’t all fun and games at The Jacksonville Bar Association annual meeting and golf and tennis tournament Thursday at Deerwood Country Club on the City’s Southside.
Though its members enjoyed sunny skies, the JBA also held its annual meeting to conclude elections for its Board of Governors and a vote on amended by-laws, which can be viewed at www.jaxbar.org.
The meeting also serves as the second-to-last meeting during a president’s term.
“I want to take time to thank Dan for a wonderful year. He was always there for the (JBA),” said Courtney Grimm, incoming president. “As you Navy folks say, ‘He went above and beyond the call of duty.’”
Grimm will lead the JBA into its next year with the help of the Board of Governors, which will include Mike Freed of Brennan, Manna & Diamond, who ran unopposed for president-elect; Giselle Carson of Marks Gray; Tad Delegal of Delegal Law Offices; Braxton Gillam of Milam Howard; and Troy Smith of Rogers Towers, who retained their seats on the board.
Kirby Oberdorfer, a professor at Florida Coastal School of Law, was elected to the board for the first time. The JBA Board of Governors includes a seat for the Young Lawyers Section president, which Oberdorfer held during the current term. Her term as YLS president will finish at the end of June.
Lee Wedekind of Smith Hulsey will become president of the YLS when Oberdorfer steps down at the end of June.
The other members who remain on the board are Geddes Anderson of Murphy & Anderson; Tammy Butler of CSX, Katie Dearing of Liles Gavin; Ray Driver of Driver McAfee; and Christa Figgins, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
A record number of members, 566 of about 2,200, participated in the election.
JBA members also approved amended bylaws at the annual meeting. The changes included adding the positions of treasurer and secretary to the Board of Governors and requiring candidates for president-elect to have served on the Board of Governors for at least four years.
Before the meeting, about 120 members enjoyed a round of golf. Golf tournament Chair Tad Griffin recognized award winners.
Jason Campbell hit a drive 330 yards on No. 18 to earn longest drive honors. Joelle Dillard won the longest drive for the women. The straightest drive on No. 6 was Matt McAfee. Art Rubin won longest putt on No. 10. Closest to the pin on No. 2 was Johnny Sarber. No one claimed the lease of a new Volvo on No. 8 by hitting a hole-in-one, but Jim Graham was the closest.
Team awards were handed out for low gross and low net. First place in low gross went to the foursome of Tom Donahoo, Bill McMenamy, Braxton Gillam and Jason Campbell. Second place went to Rick Britton, Mark Caliel, Shawn Arnold and Jeff Moody. Low net winners were the team of Judge Emmet Ferguson, Kevin Hemphill, Brian Kelly and Scott Mitchell. Second place was awarded to the team of Tad Griffin, Curry Pajcic, Curt Pajcic and Steve Pajcic, and the third-place team was John DeVault, Brian Coughlin, Kevin Cook and Mike Lockamy.
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