by The JBA Young Lawyers Section Board of Governors President-elect Elizabeth Howard
This has been a busy year for the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) under the steady and efficient guidance of our outgoing president, Lee Wedekind. Lee has been a rock-solid member of the YLS Board for many years and gracefully guided the YLS through a plethora of successful events. I know I speak for the entire board in expressing our gratitude to Lee for all of his hard work and dedication throughout the years.
A job well done, Lee.
In just the last few months, the YLS hosted its first chili cook-off benefitting the Sanctuary on 8th Street, the annual “Run for Cover” 5K with proceeds going to the Florida Skin Cancer Foundation, and “Rendezvous on the River,” which raised money for Dreams Come True. Other recent YLS events included a breakfast with the judiciary for both the Circuit Civil and Criminal Divisions and the celebration of Cinco de Mayo in a joint happy hour with the Hispanic Bar Association.
The YLS also has many great upcoming events, beginning with softball! The YLS Softball League will begin the week of June 6. For more information, or to register your team, please contact Sports Commissioners Tricia Rado ([email protected]) and Gabe Crafton ([email protected]). This is sure to be a great season! (Plus, I have it on good authority that Slow Your Roll’s softball team will be much better than its kickball team).
In addition, the YLS is busily preparing for our upcoming “Noon in June” program, as well as our annual meeting and election, all to be held June 16. “Noon in June” is designed for law students clerking or interning in Jacksonville for the summer, and is focused on introducing the students to the Jacksonville legal community, as well as each other. The day includes visits to the federal courthouse, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, speeches from the State Attorneys’ and Public Defenders’ Offices, and the presentation of the James F. Bailey Jr. Scholarship. For more information, or to register, please contact Michael Fox Orr ([email protected] or (904) 358-8300)).
If you are interested in getting more involved with the YLS, or if your resume needs a little building, or maybe your appearances in the Daily Record have dwindled, now is the time to turn things around! Following Noon in June, the YLS will host its annual meeting at The Carling, and at that time will also induct its 2011-12 Board. The YLS is open to all members of The Jacksonville Bar Association who are under the age of 35, or those who have been practicing for less than 5 years. The YLS Board of Governors is made up of 10 members, including a president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer, and six board members. There are also ex-officio members who serve as liaisons to the state and the judicial clerks. The officers to be installed for the 2011-12 year include: President Elizabeth Howard of Boyd & Jenerette; President-elect Michael Fox Orr of Dawson Orr; Secretary Michelle Bedoya Barnett of Alexander DeGance Barnett; and Treasurer Patrick Kilbane of Gray Robinson.
This year there are four open Board seats for election:
Seat 1 (2 year term) – Incumbent / Christian George;
Seat 3 (2 year term) – Incumbent / Lindsay Tygart;
Seat 5 (2 year term) – Incumbent / Eric Roberson; and
Seat 6 (1 year term) – no incumbent.
All candidates must contact Michael Fox Orr (for those of you counting, this is his third mention in one article) to be slated on the ballot. All candidates must officially declare their intent to run and choose their seat by 5 p.m. May 26. Candidates must declare which seat they are running for and will be required to submit a candidate profile.
Voting will begin Monday, June 13, 2011 in The JBA office and run through 4 p.m. June 16. Members will also be able to vote from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at the annual meeting and election results will be announced immediately thereafter (and there will be free drinks!). So, please come out to help celebrate a successful year and to congratulate the new 2011-12 YLS board of governors.