Pro Bono Notes, May 2010
PRO BONO NOTES
The Champaign office of Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance would like to recognize the following attorneys who have accepted a referral in the months of March and
April 2010:
Derek Conrad, Thomas Eaton, Marjorie Harris,
Paul Hendren, Matthew Kuenning, and Michael O’Byrne
We would also like to recognize the attorneys who have closed a case in the months of March and April 2010:
Jason Barickman, Chad Beckett, Thomas Bruno,
Robert Kirchner, Stephen LeSueur, Mary Manning,
Roger Marsh, and Brian Sides
On behalf of our clients we THANK YOU! For your courtesy, patience and continued participation in the CCBA Pro Bono Program.
For more information on the CCBA Pro Bono Program, please contact:
Kathy Burk
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance
Phone: (217) 356-1351
E-Mail: kburk@lollaf.org
President’s Message, May 2010
Dear Colleague and Fellow Member:
In countless speeches and voluminous writings, Carrie Nation adamantly maintained that all she and her movement wanted was the right to vote. Although history does not record whether or not she was believed, discussions with such local stalwarts as Bud Hatch, Stu Mamer, Dick Thies, Don Tennant, Charlie Palmer, Mike O’Bryan and Roger Haughey maintained that they always knew all Carrie Nation really wanted was to get her foot in the door. Well, maybe only her toe.
After a considerable passage of time, we now take Carrie Nation’s purported goal - Suffrage for Women - for granted. We also assume, as well we should, that women should be allowed to practice law. In fact, they practice our profession with great skill and expertise.
However, there is the problem of women having their foot in the door. You see, their feet include their toes and, of course, there are many male lawyers, male court personnel and male litigants who find these protrusions titillating. Now titillating starts with “T,” that rhymes with “D” and “D” stands for distracting.
When it is considered that the exposure of toes can be added to the immodestly expanding mountain of cleavage thrust upon our Courtrooms by women lawyers, court personnel and litigants - - - well, you get the picture and that picture is X-rated.
We have a problem that must be nipped. Nipped right in the bud. We simply cannot have happen to us what occurred in a West coast Courtroom when a voluptuous female lawyer wearing a provocative top and toeless shoes dropped her pen during cross examination. When this attorney leaned over to pick up her pen which dropped in the proximity of her toeless shoe, an all male jury was so confounded that it remained hung, resulting in a mis-trial.
To accommodate any member of our judiciary who wants to cut this problem off at the pass, the CCBA will be appointing a Blue Ribbon Committee to cooperate with the Courts in seeking a solution to an insidious problem. It will be called the “Turtleneck and Sneaker” Committee. You see, it must be a turtleneck because tunics can sometimes also be a problem. This Committee will be chaired by anyone who is approaching his, or her, 49th birthday and has served as President of this organization for at least 5 consecutive terms. Although the Committee, or at least its Chair, will not have Subpoena power, it will have the right of inspection. So that this Committee will enjoy the prestige it deserves, former Judge Art Nickle and Roman Pulanski will serve as moral advisors to the Committee and its Chair.
We must assure that decency and decorum prevail!
Parenthetically, we also held a successful Law Day banquet. It was attended by 130 lawyers, judges and guests. The setting was elegant, the food great and those present enjoyed themselves. But for several unnamed individuals, such as Dick, David and John Thies, Charlie Palmer, Judges George Miller and Mike McCuskey and Nancy Cantor-thinly disguised as Kip Pope, the evening was a success. My thanks to everyone who participated.
Our Board lost a valuable member when veteran Andy Hatch chose to retire. Andy’s hard work and good judgment will be missed. Replacing Andy will be Amber Drew of Webber and Thies. Amber has been one of our more active younger members and I am convinced she will be a valuable addition to the Board if she can tolerate its slavish adherence to everyone being politically correct.
On a personal note, I am concluding my 5th year as President. It has been fun, rewarding and only rarely a pain in something other than my big toe and cleavage. Thank you all for your support and cooperation. I assure you the pleasure has been all mine.
John Gadau, President
President’s Message, April 2010
While I enjoy “getting out” a President’s Page each month, after doing almost 60 of them, not repeating myself can sometimes be difficult.
While this one is difficult, it certainly will not be repetitious.
As previously mentioned on this page, our featured speaker at this year’s Law Day Dinner, Dick Thies, has been rather coy and secretive about the specifics of his speech. Knowing Dick, his lawyer sons, David and John, and other company he keeps, I have been somewhat uneasy. But, for crying out loud, Dick is the distinguished Past President of the Illinois State Bar Association. What could go wrong?
Here’s what. While Dick’s topic will be “Memories of more than 50 years in the Champaign County Bar” - a great topic - I also have learned that he will be joined by Charlie Palmer, George Miller and “The Thies Brothers” in a roast of President John Gadau. While you may not want to miss this, perhaps I should.
As you know, recent polling indicates people do not trust lawyers. Guess what. Neither do I. Notwithstanding the hard core mendacity occurring behind our backs, I still urge each of you and a guest to attend this year’s dinner. Forgetting the roast, we can still have a great time before dinner, a great dinner and a great dinner after listening to a few minutes of lies.
Needing all the friends I can muster, I hope each of you will promptly return your reservation form which is attached hereto. The earlier you register the better. The Country Club has set April 23, 2010 as a deadline for reserving the dinner of your choice.
CCBA Law Day Dinner
Please don’t forget to return your RSVP for this year’s CCBA Law Day Dinner!
This eyent is next Wednesday, April 28 at the Champaign Country Club. Cocktails at 5:30 p.m.; Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Our speaker will be Dick Thies, Past President of the Illinois State Bar Association and a member of the CCBA for more than 50 years.
Dick will be joined by Charlie Palmer, George Miller and “the Thies Brothers” in a special tribute to (okay, roast of) CCBA President, John Gadau (pictured below in his glory days!). We
will also haye a surprise special guest, who you won’t want to miss!
CHAMPAIGN COUNTRY CLUB
1211 South Prospect Avenue
Champaign, Illinois
Cocktail Hour: 5:30 p.m.
Dinner: 6:30 p.m.
Pro Bono Notes, March 2010
PRO BONO NOTES
The Champaign office of Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance would like to recognize the following attorneys who have accepted a referral in the months of January and
February 2010:
S. Byron Balbach, Jr., Jason Barickman, Justine Becker,
John H. Elder, Deborah Frank Feinen, Karla Fischer,
S. Sue Jones, Barbara Slanker, David Thies, and Lott Thomas
We would also like to recognize the attorneys who have closed a case in the months of January and February 2010:
Jason Barickman, Thomas Bruno, Derek Conrad, Morton Dorothy,
Amber Drew, John Flodstrom, Marvin Gerstein, Roger Haughey,
S. Sue Jones, LaRufus Mitchell, Ian Murphy, William Scott,
Barbara Slanker, and Lott Thomas
On behalf of our clients we THANK YOU! For your courtesy, patience and continued participation in the CCBA Pro Bono Program.
For more information on the CCBA Pro Bono Program, please contact:
Kathy Burk
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance
Phone: (217) 356-1351
E-Mail: kburk@lollaf.org
President’s Message, March 2010
Dear Colleague and Fellow Member:
Law Day Banquet: April 28th at Champaign Country Club.
Annual Meeting: May 11th at Hilton Garden
As most of you are aware, prior to Law Day Banquets and Holiday Dinner/Dances, I spent a lot of time on the phone reminding likely attendees to make their reservations. Why? Well, when the calls go out, the deadline for signing up is approaching and many of you simply haven’t let me know if you plan on attending. The number of members who do not calendar these 2 major events is astounding. Okay, so you don’t miss the Banquet and the Annual Meeting, here we go again.
Law Day Banquet: April 28th at Champaign Country Club.
Annual Meeting: May 11th at Hilton Garden
As you should be aware, Dick Thies will be our speaker for the Law Day Banquet. Not only is Dick a past president of the ISBA and one of our original Pillars of the Bar, he’s been one of us - at least some of us - for over 50 years. Although Dick is keeping what he is going to talk about close to the vest, I’m assured by others in his office that his comments are going to keep all of us entertained. I will be happy if the check for those who attend from Webber and Thies doesn’t bounce.
Although I can’t imagine every member not devouring the CCBA Board minutes, surprisingly, some of you don’t. In case you aren’t going to study them, this is for you. We do have a speaker for the Annual Meeting from the ARDC. We’ve got the big guy, the one you are all afraid of, Jerry Larkin, the Commission’s Administrator. He will bring us up to date on current trends and developments in professional obligations applicable to each of us. Yes. You will get 1 hour CLE credit.
One thing you don’t have to calendar is the somewhat annual Cards/Cubs excursion. The logistics and pricing simply weren’t a good fit. By mid summer, you are all going to be following Atlanta anyway.
He wasn’t a lawyer; but, he was a friend. Joe Broderick passed away on March 19, 2010 in Abilene, Texas. I’m advised that a memorial service is being planned for the Champaign/Urbana area. Because so many of you were close to Joe and Donna, even though not technically a Bar function, we will be emailing all members the details of any local tribute to Joe.
Third time is a charm.
Law Day Banquet: April 28th at Champaign Country Club.
Annual Meeting: May 11th at Hilton Garden
John Gadau, President
Winter Mixer
Friday, February 26
Crain Alley
4:30 to 7:00 PM
Bring your friends for good food, drink and conversation.
Commercializing Technology Through the Power of IP Licensing
The Licensing Executives Society (LES) is coming to campus to offer an introductory course on the basics of intellectual property and licensing. The class, Commercializing Technology Through the Power of IP Licensing, is part of the LES Professional Development Series. The course will cover: IP basics; strategies for creating, organizing, managing and securing IP assets; commercialization; royalties and ideas for maximizing IP value and making money; and a licensing game with an interactive deal negotiation. This is a skill-building opportunity for those new to IP licensing or for those looking for a quick IP refresher course.
Date: Feb 13, 2010
Time: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Location: I Hotel & Conference Center, 1900 South First Street
Cost: Students: $35 (& includes 1 year LES membership); University Faculty $125; LES Member & Non Member: $195
Sponsor: The Office of the Vice President for Technology and Economic Development
Registration link here
Pro Bono Notes, November 2009
PRO BONO NOTES
The Champaign office of Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance would like to recognize the following attorneys who have accepted a referral in the month of October 2009:
Harold Adams, Roaa Al-Heeti, Derek Conrad, Morton Dorothy,
Amber Drew, Richard Harden, Roger Haughey, Robert Jacobson,
Robert Kirchner, Matthew Kuenning, Ron Langacker, Stephen LeSueur,
Barbara Mann, and James Mullady
We would also like to recognize the attorneys who have closed a case in the month of October 2009:
Derek Conrad, Scott Dempsey, Thomas Eaton,
Helen Grandone, Kevin Hays, David Sholem, and Michael Tague
On behalf of our clients we THANK YOU! For your courtesy, patience and continued participation in the CCBA Pro Bono Program.
For more information on the CCBA Pro Bono Program, please contact:
Kathy Burk
Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance
Phone: (217) 356-1351
E-Mail: kburk@lollaf.org
President’s Message, November 2009
Dear Colleague and Fellow Member:
The CLE approved ARDC presentation on the new Rules of Professional Conduct was very well attended. It really could have been a 2 or 3 hour course. While the new Rules are somewhat lengthy and verbose, we all need to review them because there are changes and their implementation is eminent.
There was a glitch. Because the entire SRO crowd arrived at the door at the same time, apparently a couple attendees missed signing up. If, for any reason, you did not sign the registration sheet, please go to Wendy’s office to complete your registration. The form will be at the front desk at her office.
The CCBA Board of Governors’ wishes to thank the ISBA, it’s President, John O’Brien and Third Vice President, John Thies for dinner and conversation at Biaggi’s on November 10th. Because John O’Brien’s official duties-moderation of a News Gazette Panel Discussion - brought him to this Community, it gave the Board a chance for an enjoyable and informative evening with both Johns. (Not in a street sense) For any of you who are not ISBA members, you really should join.
For those of you who have been on another planet or, otherwise have ignored the last several issues of this profound epistle, yes, the Holiday Dinner/Dance is right around the corner, i.e. December 16, 2009. Reservation forms are part of this newsletter. Register early. Register often. Please note that the Country Club wants our final tally by December 11th.
Following the last newsletter, I did receive an inquiry questioning my guarantee of a good time for those who attend. The person who inquired asked if there was a liquidated damage provision for anyone who did not enjoy the evening. That person was obviously Jim Kearns. Jim and everyone else should know that the guarantee is solid.
Finally, please keep in mind that this Dinner/Dance is subsidized by your dues, Chicago Title Company and Attorney’s Title Guarantee.
Remember, December 16, 2009, 5:30 p.m., Champaign Country Club. Each of you should attend. The guarantee for a good time still stands.
John Gadau, President