Online voting will begin Friday, April 26, and run through Wednesday, May 15, at www.jaxbar.org.
• Membership dues must be current to participate in the voting process. Non-JBA members who wish to vote must submit their membership applications before April 26.
• Honorary and Student members are excluded from the voting process.
• Must vote for 6 (six) Board of Governor candidates or ballot will be rendered invalid.
• On-site voting will take place Thursday, May 16, at the Annual Meeting, Deerwood Country Club, from 5-6:30 p.m. Results will be announced after the polls have closed.
Running for President-Elect
Troy Smith
The JBA activities:
• JBA member, 1996-2013
• Board of Governors of JBA/YLS, 2001-06; president, 2005-06; president-elect, 2004-05; treasurer 2003-04; secretary, 2002-03
• Board of Governors of JBA, 2006-13; treasurer 2012-13; secretary 2011-12
The Florida Bar, other Bar association activities:
• American Bar Association Construction Forum
• Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer Section
Civic activities:
• Leadership Jacksonville
• American Heart Association
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation fundraising
• Florida Coastal School of Law adjunct professor in construction law
• Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser
• Chester Bedell Inn of Court
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid fundraising
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• Learn to Read Inc.
• Child Cancer Fund
• The Players volunteer services
• Rotary
Goals for The JBA:
Continue to increase Bar membership through a focused and personal relationship with local law firms and attorneys, both public and private.
Maintain and build upon the Bar's community involvement and improve public awareness and perception of the Bar and its members.
Oversee current, and implement new, revenue-generating programs allowing the Bar to provide greater community services.
Michael I. Bateh
The JBA activities:
• Board of Governors 2012-13
• Community Outreach Section
— Law Week Committee
— Holiday Project
• Practicing with Professionalism
Section
— Bench and Bar
Professionalism Committee
— Judicial Relations Committee
• Member Services Section
— Social Committee
— Vendor Benefits Committee
• Special Olympics volunteer
The Florida Bar, other Bar association activities:
• Criminal Law Section
• Florida Association Criminal Defense Lawyers
Civic activities:
• Sulzbacher Center Volunteer
— Prepare and serve meals to the center's residents and non-residents
— Pro bono legal services
• Teen Court judge
• Guest speaker/lecturer at Florida Coastal School of Law
• University of North Florida Prelaw Board of Advisors
• Junior Achievement JBA Bowling Challenge
Goals for The JBA:
My goal for The Jacksonville Bar Association is to positively affect our profession and community. By increasing membership and participation, we can improve upon the present activities the association has implemented. Through outreach to our legal and surrounding communities, we can develop new ideas, goals for the future and tackle community-related legal issues. Participation in the Association and its activities is essential to foster professionalism among our members and non-members, the judiciary and the community as a whole.
As a member of the board of governors, I will continuously strive to positively promote The JBA, its members, activities and our profession.
Blane McCarthy
The JBA activities:
• Litigation Section inaugural chair, 2012-13
• Chair of the Year, 2011-12
• ADR Practitioner's Section chair, 2003-12
• JBA member, since 1995
The Florida Bar, other Bar association activities:
• Florida Bar Board Certified in civil trial, 2010-present; member since 1995
• Christian Legal Society, Jacksonville chapter
— President, 2000-02, board of directors 2004-09, 2011-present
— Pro Bono Project director, 2001-present
• The Florida Academy of Professional Mediators, 2001-10
• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, since 2009
• Florida Justice Association, since 1996
• Jacksonville Justice Association, since 1997
Civic activities:
• City Rescue Mission
— Director of Christian Legal Society Pro Bono Project serving resident in the LifeBuilder's program, 2001-present
• San Jose Baptist Church
— Director of Adult Ministries since 2004; deacon, 1998-present; adult Bible study teacher, 1997-present
Goals for The JBA:
I want to keep our annual dues from being raised. It sounds like a classic "speak to your wallet" political platform, right?
It's not. The JBA can do two simple things to dramatically increase its CLE revenues — and avoid dues increases — without raising seminar prices: pursue certification hour approval and provide audio/video recording.
During my tenure as the Litigation Section chair, I ensured that the JBA's litigation CLEs not only provided general CLER credit, but also as much certification credit as possible in as many certification fields as possible.
This adds value to those of us who need certification hours to maintain or obtain Board Certification. More lawyers will attend certification-approved CLEs and the JBA will realize more seminar revenue.
Unfortunately, lawyer calendars often are in the way. This does not have to be an obstacle.
My goal is to have every JBA CLE event audio and video recorded so that that the seminars are not just available on the day of the live presentation, but also available (for purchase) via audio or video recording.
More lawyers will "attend" recorded CLEs and the JBA will realize more seminar revenue.
If I am elected to the board of governors, I will pursue a leadership role in the JBA's CLE activities to develop and implement these goals.
This is a wonderful association, filled with energetic leaders, active members, and highly competent staff.
The Jacksonville Bar Association has been a great blessing to my practice, and personal development. I have served my fellow lawyer colleagues, "in the trenches" of the JBA, for more than 10 years in leadership positions, including as the JBA's inaugural Litigation Section chair.
My interest in pursuing governorship is to bring a fresh set of eyes and a new perspective to the JBA's leadership circle, such as the CLE revenue focus.
Geddes D. Anderson, Jr.
The JBA activities:
• Board of Governors, 2006-present
• Board liaison to Practicing with Professionalism Section, 2012-13
• Board liaison to Member Services Section, 2012-13
• Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program Committee chairman, 2010-12
• Membership Committee chairman, 2008-09
• Young Lawyers Section 2002-07; president, 2006-07; president-elect 2005-06; secretary 2004-05; treasurer, 2003-04
• Teen Court judge for Juvenile Delinquency Pre-trial Diversion, 2001-02
• Law Week Committee, 2003-05
• Holiday in January Project Committee and participant, 2000-07, chair, 2004
• YLS Special Olympics Committee and participant, 2001-03
• YLS Pro Bono Service Competition Committee, 2005
• YLS Skin Cancer Association Charity 5K Run Committee and participant, 2005-06
• YLS Charity Golf Tournament Committee member and participant, 2004-06
• YLS Annual Luncheon Committee chair, 2005
The Florida Bar, other Bar association activities:
• The Florida Bar 4th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, 2009-present, chair 2011-12
• The Florida Bar Practicing with Professionalism co-presenter, 2007-09
• Jacksonville Federal Bar Association member
• The Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section
• Chester Bedell Inn of Court, 1997, 2005-07
• 4th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, 2002-04
• Commercial Litigation Section of The JBA
• The Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in business litigation law
Civic activities:
• San Jose Episcopal Church, Vestry, 2010-13
• San Jose Episcopal Church and Day School, Strategic Planning Committee, 2009
Goals for The JBA:
To help improve the practice of law in Northeast Florida by encouraging participation in Jacksonville Bar Association activities, enhancing Jacksonville Bar Association member benefits and serving the public.
Katie L. Dearing
The JBA activities:
• Board of Governors 2009-present
• Young Lawyers Section board of directors, 2003-09, president 2008-09, president-elect 2007-08, secretary and treasurer 2006-07
The Florida Bar, other Bar association activities:
• Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee, 4th Judicial Circuit, 2010-present; chair, 2012-present
• Florida Bar Committee on Judicial Independence 2005-07
• Florida Bar Committee on Professionalism 2006-08
Civic activities:
• Girls Inc. of Jacksonville, board of directors 2012-present
• City of Jacksonville Ethics Commission, 2003-07; vice chair, 2007
Goals for The JBA:
The Jacksonville Bar Association offers many opportunities for its members, including Continuing Legal Education and networking. I will continue to work with the other members of the board of governors to bring you these programs and opportunities, as well as speakers and events that will be of interest and assistance to you and will persuade you to give some of your valuable (and too limited!) time to the Bar.
I also will work to make the JBA more user-friendly and encourage all members to actively be involved. If more people become involved, other goals will be easier to achieve, like promoting professionalism and civility among our members, enhancing the image and reputation of the legal profession, providing a mentorship program to benefit our younger members and ensuring the public knows of all the community service and good works done by our area lawyers.
Finally, as a small firm practitioner, I will strive to ensure the voices of the solo and small firm lawyers are heard by the Bar, that their needs are met and that they, along with all members, continue to recognize the value of a JBA membership.
I thank you for your support and look forward to continuing to serve you on the board of governors.
Michael Fox Orr
The JBA activities:
• Current YLS president, past YLS vice president, secretary and treasurer
• YLS Special Olympics Committee chair
• YLS Afternoon in the Courthouse chair
• YLS Noon in June chair
• YLS Annual Meeting vice chair
• YLS Run for Cover vice chair
• YLS Tee it Up Charity Golf Tournament vice chair
The Florida Bar, other Bar association activities:
• Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division president-elect
• 4th Judicial Circuit representative, Florida Bar Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Division, 7 years
— Executive Committee member
— Technology Committee chair
— Florida Bar Moot Court Competition Committee chair
— Law Schools Committee chair
— Sponsorship Committee chair
— Bylaws Committee vice chair
— Budget Committee vice chair
— Communications Committee vice chair
— Long Range Planning Committee member
— Basic Appellate Practice CLE moderator
— Practicing with Professionalism moderator, panelist
• Raising the Bar, Florida's Legal Community Service Day
• Ethics & Professionalism Law Office Management CLE speaker
• Business Contracts A-Z CLE speaker
Civic activities:
• Clara White Mission board of directors member
• Special Olympics of Duval County volunteer
• Family Nurturing Center of Florida Inc. board of directors president
• Cummer Museum Up & Cummers of Jacksonville board of directors member
• Blueprint for Leadership, HandsOn Jacksonville member
Goals for The JBA:
For the past seven years I have been heavily involved in the local and statewide Bar associations.
Recently, I chaired the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division's first Technology Committee and plan to use that specific experience if elected to the JBA board of governors.
The most recent Florida Bar Membership Opinion Survey from a year ago showed technology was one of the most concerning topics for lawyers, along with maintaining an independent judiciary and the thought that the Bar has too many lawyers.
I plan to bring my experience and perspective to the JBA and look for ways we can increase outreach and streamline practices through use of technology
I also will work with the judiciary and Bar members to improve logistics and expand knowledge of available resources with our new courthouse.
We are very lucky to have a strong, collegial and dedicated Bar association. I only look to continue that tradition and work with board members and Bar staff to take advantage of ever-developing opportunities within the profession.
Lee D. Wedekind III
The JBA activities:
• Board of Governors, 2010-present, Transactional Law Section board liaison, 2012-13
• JBA Young Lawyers Section Board of Governors, 2005-11; president 2010-11, president elected 2009-10, secretary 2008-09, treasurer, 2007-08
The Florida Bar, other Bar association activities:
• The Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section
• The Florida Bar Eminent Domain Committee
• Chester Bedell Inn of Court, associate
Civic activities:
• Rotary Club of Jacksonville
• St. Mark's Episcopal Church
• Association of Eminent Domain Professionals
• Urban Land Institute
Goals for The JBA:
1. Continued focus on developing mentorship opportunities for young lawyers.
2. Support of appointment of Jacksonville-area judges to District Courts of Appeal and Florida Supreme Court
3. Location of permanent home for JBA offices in Downtown.