Annual Meeting Reminder
Hilton Gardens
Tuesday - MAY 12, 2009
Happy Hour - 4:30 P.M.
Speaker - 5:30 P.M.
Business Meeting - 6:30 P.M.
Speaker Subject: Proposed New Changes In The Rules Of Professional Responsibility
In The Process
SECURING 1 HR CLE CREDIT (ETHICS)
PLEASE BRING YOUR ARDC CARD WITH YOU FOR THE SIGN UP SHEET
May 2009 Update
Dear Colleague and Fellow Member:
In the past, I have devoted much space on this page advocating the need to get together socially and enjoy the company of other lawyers - away from the contentious “stuff” in which we daily engage to satisfy the needs of our clients, spouses and creditors.
In addition, I’m sure that at least a couple of trees were felled to furnish space for me to extol what we owe to our senior members, those who, in untold ways, have help make our practices what they are today.
Well, the best of being a lawyer and the best of collegiality came together on a truly magical evening when almost 170 lawyers and guests celebrated what the practice of law should be about and honored 4 senior lawyers, whose lives and professional careers should dispelled every lawyer joke ever uttered.
Forget the elegant setting, great food and attentive service.
Forget the lousy weather which made partying a welcome respite.
Forget setting aside every mundane thing everyone was able to put aside for a few hours.
What about our four new Pillar Inductee, Judge George Miller, Charles Palmer, Mike O’Byrne and John Phipps?
What about the return of four inaugural Pillars, Stan Balbach, Bud Hatch, Stu Mamer and Dick Thies?
What about the selection committee efforts in selecting the four new Pillars and the masterful presentation of them by John Thies - soon to be Third Vice President of the State Bar Association?
What about the smile on our Association’s First Lady, Mrs. Fred Green, Carolyn?
What about people staying after the ceremony, just because they didn’t want the evening to end?
What about just feeling good about being at the banquet instead of being some place else?
What about - come on, by now you get the point.
It was simply an evening that anyone present will not forget.
In the past, I’ve probably cost nature a few more trees in writing about the CCBA’s arrows pointing up. In fact, almost three years ago, I promised to stop using that metaphor.
Well, I kept my promise. That is, until now.
No, our local Association is not yet the finished product it should be. Even more trees could bite the dust with just those things that I think still need to be done without receiving anyone else’s input; however, looking back over the last four years, our gains have been enormous.
Attendance at our 2 anchor social events has increased by almost three-fold. A structure exists to, on a tri-annual basis, honor those among us whose time, talent and conscious effort has made our profession and this community better. Lawyers are actually attending the annual meeting - please be there Tuesday night.
Young lawyers are participating, as they should and are getting together once annually to try to cheat those whom they should be trying to emulate in a softball game.
Again, you get it.
I’m not going to try and put into words how much I’ve enjoyed being a participant in our growth. Let me just say it has been fun. More than that, it’s been rewarding.
Attached to the newsletter is a flyer on the annual Capel Cup. This is just one more opportunity to participate in what I’ve been harping about.
Again, thanks to John Thies on his superb presentation and the work of his selection committee. Again, congratulations to our new Pillars.
And, just in case you haven’t calendared May 12th, that is our annual meeting. Drinks and Hors d oeuvres start at 4:30 p.m. with the ARDC speaker taking the floor at 5:30 p.m. I’m now positive we will get a CLE credit in ethics for attending. Oh yes, it’s at the new Hilton Gardens located at the corner of Neil and Kirby. In addition to the ARDC speaker, we are actually going to have a contested election. Assuming they receive nominations, Jenny Park, Dan Jackson, Marvin Gerstein and John Gadau are willing to serve on the Board. All are either currently serving or, have previous service.
Assuming you are still awake, take a millisecond and pat yourself on the back. You are part of something that is getting better and better and, by the way, let me personally thank you for the last four (4) years.
April 2009 Update
Dear Colleague and Fellow Member:
As those of you who read this page know, the center piece of this year’s Law Day Banquet will be our second induction ceremony for new Pillars of the Bar. Those members are:
Mike O’Byrne
George Miller
Charlie Palmer
John Phipps
Our congratulations to all incoming Pillars. Each has distinguished himself in the practice of law, in his professional and community service and has set an example to which each of us
should aspire. A special thank you goes out to John Thies and his committee members for their service in the selection process. As you already know - or should know - the banquet at which the new Pillars will be inducted will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at the Champaign Country Club. The ceremony will follow our 5:30 p.m. Cocktail hour and 6:30 p.m. Dinner. The Country Club needs all reservations by Friday April 24, 2009.
For those of you who attended the inaugural Pillars induction ceremony, you know that it was a special evening. This year’s ceremony should be just as rewarding. No, absolutely no
member not in the hospital or, otherwise on life support, should miss this event.
Our annual meeting is set in stone for Tuesday, May 12th at Hilton Garden. Elbow bending commences at 4:30 p.m. with the meeting scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. We will have a speaker from the ARDC. We are processing the paperwork for those in attendance to receive 1 hour of CLE credit. While this credit cannot be guaranteed, I am confident we will be successful.
The primary business will be the election of Board members. The terms of Dan Jackson, Jenny Park and John Gadau expire this year. While each is willing to serve another term, no Board member is required to serve forever. Anyone interested in running should contact me prior to the meeting.
Please calendar this event now. There probably will not be another newsletter between this one and May 12th.
March 2009 Update
Dear Members:
As you are aware, the Board of Governors decided that the Champaign County Bar Association would induct Pillars of the Bar on a tri-annual bass. Because our initial - and only - induction was in 2006, this means we are scheduled to hold our second induction in 2009.
This year, the Law Day Banquet and Pillars’ Banquet/Induction Celebration will be combined. In fact, nothing could be more fitting than inducting new, and honoring current, Pillars than on the day we celebrate our legal system. Those of you who attended the Banquet in 2006 will recall that it was one of the great successes ever of the Champaign County Bar Association. There is no reason that this ceremony will be any less memorable; therefore, please mark your calendars for Thursday, April 30th at the Champaign Country Club. Cocktails will begin at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.
The Induction Ceremony will follow. Reservations will accompany your next newsletter. The particulars for our annual meeting have not yet been finalized. It will be held in May. The announcement of time and place will appear in your next newsletter.
Anyone interested in running for the Board should notify any Board Member of their interest. If there is something you do not like, get on the Board and advocate for change.
Our sincere sympathies go to the family of Rick Kirby and his colleagues in the practice of law. While Rick’s practice was not one that took him to the Courthouse on a regular basis, he will be missed by those who interacted with him as an office practitioner.
Again, if you have not done so already, please reserve the evening of April 30th on your calendars.
2009 Pillars of the Bar Announced
George Miller, J. Michael O’Byrne, Charles Palmer, and John Phipps were recently named 2009 Pillars of the Bar by the Champaign County Bar Association. The full story is in The News Gazette.
18th Annual Capel Cup Set For June 22 at Stone Creek
CCBA Golf Outing Invitation
Please join your fellow CCBA members for our 18th annual day of golf at Stone Creek Golf Club followed by dinner from Kennedy’s. Who will take home the traveling Capel Cup this year? Set your team of Champaign County Bar members against the defending champs Craig Causeman, Bill Brinkmann, Colin Haley, and Jim Green.
There will be plenty of other flights and individual course competitions for those who want to put together teams with guest players, too. There will be a fine collection of prizes for the event.
Tee times will be assigned starting at 1:00 p.m. Refreshments are provided during and after play as part of the package. The reception starts at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. If you cannot play golf, please join us for the dinner; dress is informal.
Golf and Dinner*: $95 (Golf Only: $75) | Dinner Only: $25
(*includes green fees, cart, driving range, refreshments, dinner, prizes)
Return the completed form below by June 15, 2009, with your check for the total due — made payable to Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. — to Jerry Gorman, Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 9136, Champaign, IL 61826-9136.
Questions?
Call Jerry at 217.403.0116.
February 2009 Update
Dear Members:
The CCBA is honored to be a co-sponsor of the reception for Bruce Smith, the new Dean at the College of Law to be held on February 23, 2009 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Urbana Country Club.
This announcement comes to you late because of my January Jury Trial, vacation and our February meeting having been held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. While you must RSVP immediately, if you are really interested in attending and you read this after February 16th, please call me. I’m sure your attendance can be accommodated.
Once again, this is an opportunity for the private bar to participate in a social function with the faculty. Any bridge between academia and the private practice of law is a good thing.
Plans are in the final stage for Law Day. The Board decided that since this is the year - once every three years - for the Pillars of the Bar induction banquet, that ceremony will be our Law Day program. All details will be furnished by the first week in March and will be provided to the membership shortly thereafter.
Please remember the first banquet and how rewarding it was. You can be assured that the new Pillars will be as deserving as those in the first class.
Please watch for your ISBA ballot for the upcoming election for State wide office. While John Thies appears to be running well, every vote is important. John is certainly deserving of our support and will be a credit to his office.
John Gadau, President