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Week of February 8, 2010

Happy Presidents' Day, Feb. 15

The Austin Bar will be closed next Monday, Feb. 15 in observance of Presidents' Day. Next week's Bar Code will be sent Tuesday, Feb. 16. Hope you are all able to enjoy a little time away from your office or desk.

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Members Social Networking Lunch, Feb. 11

Date: Thursday, Feb. 11
Time: noon
Location: Green Pastures Restaurant, 811 W. Live Oak
Cost: $21
RSVP to Michelle McFadyen at 472-0279 or Michelle@austinbar.org.

Looking to get more involved in the Austin Bar? Would you like to meet some new Austin Bar members? As the latest Austin Bar member benefit program, this monthly social lunch hour is the perfect place for new and seasoned members to come together and make the most of their membership.

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Legislative Update Luncheon, Feb. 12

Date: Friday, Feb. 12
Time: 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: Free. You may purchase lunch for $10 or bring a brown bag.
CLE: 1.5 hours of CLE
RSVP to Marissa Lara-Arebalo at 472-0279, x0 and indicate if you are purchasing lunch.

Join the Austin Bar Legislative Committee Meeting at the Austin Bar this Friday. A panel of David Courreges, Jay Harvey, Mark Kincaid, and David Chamberlain will discuss the legislative process and key issues impacting the profession and the civil justice system. Local senators and representatives have also been invited to participate in the discussion.

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Phones for Haiti, Deadline Feb. 12

There are an estimated 130 million phones retired in the United States every year. If even a small percentage of them are donated to Phones for Haiti, it would contribute millions of dollars towards relief from the devastating earthquake. ReCellular will give 100 percent of the phone value as a contribution to the American Red Cross.

The Austin Bar has partnered with American Red Cross to help with this effort. Drop your old phones off at the Austin Bar office by Friday, Feb. 12 to make a difference.

Your gift to the American Red Cross will support emergency relief efforts to help those affected by this earthquake. Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers, and providing financial resources. In addition, qualifying phones will be refurbished and supplied to aid groups working in Haiti. All phones are accepted, though newer phones will provide the most value to the charity, in some cases $100 or more. Don't wait. Donate your used cell phones today.

The local Red Cross has also suggested the following actions:
1. Make a Gift to the International Response Fund through local chapter: here. Be sure to designate on check/credit card with "International Response Fund.
2. Text "HAITI" to 90999 to make a $10 donation to Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti
3. Hold a Fund Red Fundraiser for Haiti Relief. For information on how to do that, please click here.

The Austin legal community has shown great generosity during past disasters. Please help us make a difference in the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people affected by this tragedy.

With tax season upon us, you might also want to keep in mind that cash donations are tax deductible. A new piece of legislation enacted on Jan. 22 grants special tax relief to people who give to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti.

Taxpayers who make a cash contribution between Jan. 11 and March 1 are eligible for an itemized deduction on either their 2009 or their 2010 tax returns. This includes contributions made by text message, check, credit card, or debit card. More details about the new law can be found here.

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Austin Bar Association's Fit Bar Challenge, Deadline, Feb. 15

The Austin Bar's Fitness Committee wants to help you run, bike, walk, or swim your way to a new and healthier you in 2010. The Fit Bar Challenge is a personal challenge geared toward helping you be the best you can be this year.

Through July 30, participants will log their points after participating in different activities. And if you are one of the many who haven't worked out since resolution time last January, don't fret! You may pick a challenge level that best suits your lifestyle and fitness needs: Competitive, Fit, Health, or Miscellaneous.

So grab a colleague or even your boss because it's time to jumpstart the new year with a new you! Click here for more information on the challenge and to register. You may also join the Fit Bar Challenge list serve by e-mailing fitbarchallenge@yahoogroups.com. The groups home page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/fitbarchallenge.

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Breakfast with the Judiciary, Feb. 18

Date: Thursday, Feb. 18
Time: 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: $10
Speaker: Judge Jeff Rose, 353rd District Court
RSVP to Michelle McFadyen at Michelle@austinbar.org or 472-0279, x.111.

Join Judge Jeff Rose next Thursday for the Austin Bar's monthly Breakfast with the Judiciary. Enjoy a hot breakfast on what is sure to be another cool morning. RSVP today and we'll see you here bright and early.

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Civil Appellate Section Evening with the Supreme Court, Feb. 18

Date: Thursday, Feb. 18
Time: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Intercontinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel, 701 Congress Ave.
Cost: $25 if paid in advance and $30 if paid at the door
Speakers: Justice Wallace B. Jefferson, Justice Nathan L. Hecht, Justice Dale Wainwright, and Justice Paul W. Green
CLE: 1.2 hours of CLE including .25 hours of Ethics
RSVP to D. Todd Smith at 439-3230 or todd@appealsplus.com

The Civil Appellate Section invites you to rub elbows with members of the Supreme Court of Texas while earning CLE. RSVP and pay in advance to avoid a $5 late fee.

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Austin Black Lawyers Association's 2010 Legacy Luncheon, Feb. 23

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 23
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Green Pastures Restaurant, 811 W. Live Oak St.
Cost: $50
RSVP to attorney@martinezjoneslaw.com or by calling Aurora Jones at 452-1555.

In honor of Judges Wilford Flowers, Richard Scott, and Harriet Murphy, the Austin Black Lawyers Association would like to invite you to their 2010 Legacy Luncheon at Green Pastures. Join them in celebrating African-American judicial leaders. Seating is limited so RSVP today!

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Spring Settlement Week, March 15 to 19

The Dispute Resolution Center, in collaboration with the Austin Bar Association, the Travis County district judges, and the County Court at Law judges, is holding Settlement Week from March 15 to 19. During two weeks each year, Settlement Week provides an opportunity for parties to settle their cases in a cost-effective manner with the aid of a trained, neutral mediator.

If you would like to submit a case, please fill out and submit the case submission sheet to the DRC no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26.

A $25 administrative fee is required for participation in Settlement Week. Checks should be made payable to the DRC and delivered to the DRC with the case submission sheet.

You may obtain a settlement week package at the following locations:

  • DRC Web site at www.austindrc.org;
  • DRC, 5407 North IH-35, Suite 410 ;
  • Austin Bar Association Web site;
  • Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700;
  • Information desk on the first floor of the Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe; and
  • Jason Snell, The Snell Law Firm, 818 W. 10th St.
The Austin Bar is looking for attorney mediators to volunteer in this public service project. Please visit our Web site at www.austinbar.org or the DRC Web site at www.austindrc.org to sign up for this important project. Mediator forms are due to the DRC no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19.

For specific questions regarding Settlement Week, please call Kris Donley, Executive Director of the DRC, at 279-1901 or Jason Snell at 477-5291.

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Smile and Say Cheese! Photos from A Night Under the Texas Stars Gala

Were you too busy mixing, mingling, and dancing the night away to remember to take pictures with your own camera? Not to worry! Matt Lemke had you covered, and you can view snapshots from the evening here.

Once in the Web site, click on "Proofs" from the links along the bottom. You will be transferred to the proofing site. The title of the gallery is 2010 Austin Bar Gala and the password is gala. You may purchase photos from the Web site.

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Featured Corporate Sponsor: Primus Networks

As a proud sponsor of Austin Bar, Primus Networks, a technology provider managing I.T. infrastructure for Texas law firms, invites you to take advantage of a free network assessment. Valued at $500.00, this network assessment is offered at no charge to ABA members!

The Primus Networks' assessment will help you:

  • Better understand your entire network system: security, data and data backup, e-mail, mobile devices, and more;
  • Learn how to leverage your network more effectively;
  • Address existing and potential technology challenges;
  • Set your technology goals to meet your business needs.
To schedule your free network assessment or to learn more about this offer, contact Brian Scandariato at brian@primusnetworks.com or call 225 5424.

About Primus Networks
Primus Networks specializes in providing managed IT services that improve the way legal community uses technology to build and grow a successful practice. Founded in 2000, privately owned, with offices in Austin and Houston, Primus Networks focuses on serving Texas law firms of all sizes.

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Upcoming Meetings

SECTIONS:
Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Real Estate Law Section CLE

Wednesday, Feb. 10 - Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section CLE

Thursday, Feb. 11 - Financial Institutions Section CLE

COMMITTEES:
The following Austin Bar Committees are meeting at the Austin Bar office, 816 Congress, Suite 700. Parking is available in the adjacent garage, accessible from 9th Street. Please feel free to attend any that interest you. Since lunch is provided, please RSVP by noon the previous day to Marissa@austinbar.org or call 472-0279 with your name and the name of the committee.

Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Women's Resource Fair Committee Meeting

Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Law Day Committee Meeting

Wednesday, Feb. 10 - Pick Me! A Jury of My Peers Committee Meeting

Thursday, Feb. 11 - Diversity Committee Breakfast

Tuesday, Feb. 16 - Publications Committee Meeting

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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association