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Week of August 4, 2008
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Jack Jenkins Debate Opportunity Fund in Need of Basic, Internet-Ready Laptops
UPDATE: The Jack Jenkins Debate Opportunity Fund has grown to almost $200,000 thanks to the generosity of the Austin legal community, and Judge Scott and Sarah Jenkins who have donated $100,000. Your contributions helped send four Lanier and six Travis High School students to debate camp this summer. It was an amazing experience for them!
The Austin Bar asks you to join us again in contributing to the Jack Jenkins Debate Opportunity Fund to reduce the economic barriers for high school students who demonstrate an aptitude for debate but are financially disadvantaged. Your contributions to this fund will help memorialize Jack, who tragically died last summer at age 17.
As the debaters prepare for this season, they are in desperate need of laptop computers. The only requirement is that they be Internet capable. Many thanks to Graves Dougherty for their donation of laptops, which are now in use by Reagan and Lanier High Schools.
Also, most of the students lack the proper attire for debate competitions. Donations of ties, belts, dress shirts, and slacks will allow these students to pursue an opportunity that has, until now, been out of their reach.
Laptops and clothing donations can be dropped off at the Austin Bar Association office at 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700. You may make a tax-deductible contribution online by clicking here or you may mail a contribution to the Austin Community Foundation address above, noting that it is for the Jack Jenkins Debate Opportunity Fund. If you are willing to volunteer to be a mentor for an economically disadvantaged debater or debate team, please contact Jan Soifer at Jan@lasfirm.com or (512) 583-0451. You may drop laptops off at the Austin Bar office.
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Become a Mentor for a Child with Incarcerated Parents Tomorrow, August 5
Date: Tuesday, August 5
Time: noon
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Topic: Seedling Foundation Mentor Training
Thousands of children in Travis County are impacted by the incarceration of one or both of their parents. In response to the challenges facing these children, the Seedling
Foundation - a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting public schools by involving community members - has created a mentoring program called Seedling's Promise.
Seedling's Promise mentors visit their mentees each week at school for 45 minutes and provide them with supportive adults to listen, to play, to counsel, and to care. The Seedling's Promise program has been named by Austin Partners in Education as the Best New Program of the Year and has an impressive record of volunteer satisfaction. Please visit their Web site for more information.
Prospective mentors will hear a brief presentation tomorrow by Seedling Foundation Executive Director Sari Waxler. There is no obligation. Just come and hear about this very special volunteer opportunity and get answers to any questions you have. More than 215 community volunteers are currently serving as mentors for Seedling. With AYLA's help, even more children can write a different story for their futures. Please e-mail Debbie Kelly at Debbie@austinbar.org to sign up for tomorrow's introduction.
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An Hour of Magic to Make a Difference, August 13
Date: Wednesday, August 13
Location: Brown McCarroll, 111 Congress Ave., Suite 1400
Time: noon
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas and AYLA are currently recruiting attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants to be friends and mentors to Central Texas students throughout the upcoming school year. Mingle with past participants as they share their experiences as a Big Brother or Big Sister.
Volunteers typically meet with their mentee once a week for about an hour during the school year. These visits take place at the child's school, most often during the child's lunch hour. There are several participating schools located throughout Austin, most of which are only a few minutes from downtown.
For more information on how you can become a Big Brother or Big Sister, contact Tracie Guthrie at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, Partnership Coordinator, at 472-5437 x237 or Mike Johnson.
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Join the Austin Bar for the Second Annual ALS Fundraiser, August 14
Date: Thursday, August 14
Location: Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd St.
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Speaker: Justice Jan Patterson, Third Court of Appeals
Cost: Free; suggested donation of $20
Join the Austin Bar for its ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) Fundraiser on behalf of Nancy Matchus and the family of Austin attorney Michele Morgan. This year's event will feature keynote speaker Justice Jan Patterson and a variety of exciting sports memorabilia available in the live and silent auctions.
Visit the Austin Bar Web site for more information and a current list of items featured in the live and silent auctions or click here to view an invitation.
To participate as a sponsor of this event, contact Debbie Kelly at 472-0279 x105 or Debbie@austinbar.org
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Get to Know Waddell & Reed at Happy Hour, August 13
Date: Wednesday, August 13
Location: Saba, 208 W. 4th St.
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Free and light appetizers will be served
Start the weekend early with Waddell & Reed, a Corporate Sponsor of the Austin Bar Association. As a sponsor of the Austin Bar Association, an opportunity to meet with our members is greatly appreciated. This will be a purely social event, no CLE, no speeches, no sales pitch. Just a thank you from Waddell & Reed for their sponsorship with us!
For more information or to RSVP, contact Michelle McFadyen at 512/472-0279 x111 or Michelle@austinbar.org.
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AYLA's Toiletries Drive Benefitting Caritas through August 14
The time is once again nearing for AYLA's toiletries drive benefitting Caritas of Austin. As in prior years, AYLA will be collecting different kinds of toiletries over the summer at law firms throughout the city. The particular focus will be on small-sized bottles of toiletries such as shampoo (like the ones that you get in hotels). In fact, they are hoping that many members will bring back their hotel samples from summer vacations or business trips.
Throughout the drive, AYLA will be keeping track of each individual's donations and will be awarding prizes at the end of the drive to those who contributed the most. Last year, the toiletries drive raised over 1,000 lbs. of items and $1,300 in monetary donations! So start collecting toiletries now to drop off at a collection bin near you.
If you would like to coordinate your firm's participation in the drive, please contact Mari Robinson at Mari@alumni.utexas.net..
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Serve Someone that Served for You: Project SALUTE, August 18
Date: Monday, August 18
Location: Jackson Walker, 100 Congress Ave., Suite 1100
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
CLE: 7 hours including one hour of ethics
Project SALUTE, a program designed by the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law to assist veterans in federal disability and pension benefits matters, invites you to participate in a free attorney training seminar.
The seminar is designed to teach attorneys how to assist veterans with legal issues regarding disability and pension benefits. It will cover the process for obtaining veterans benefits, explain the reasons why claims are often denied, methods of obtaining evidence in support of the claim, and appealing a claim denial at the Board of Veterans Appeals and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Attorneys will also learn effective advocacy strategies for dealing with the Veterans Administration system, as well as information on recent developments in Veterans Law.
Attorneys attending the free training are asked to register here and take one case.
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Mark Your Calendar for a Roast of Claude Ducloux
Date: Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008
Time: 6:30pm
Location: The Renaissance Hotel
He's made us all laugh for years; let's return the favor. Join JoAnn Merica, as emcee and many special celebrity guests including Senator Kirk Watson, Tom Kite, Dicky Grigg, Former State Bar President Martha Dickie, Don Carnes, and other surprise guests as they roast the man who has had such a positive influence on the legal profession and the Central Texas community.
All proceeds designated for Family Eldercare's Capital Campaign & Endowment Fund. For more information, please contact, Amanda Lynch at 512/483-3561 or alynch@familyeldercare.org.
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ABA Women Rainmakers Mid-Career Workshop, October 17 - 19
Date: October 17 - 19
Location: Westin La Paloma; Tucson, Arizona
Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday, Aug. 1
The American Bar Association has developed an interactive forum to give valuable insight and enhance the performance of the mid-career woman lawyer. This workshop will allow participants to network with other successful attorneys, engage in focused topical discussions with knowledgeable legal professionals, and learn how to utilize tools to help assess the participant's career, client relationships, and personal lifestyle requirements to maximize rainmaking capabilities. This year the workshop will offer Solo/Small Firm and Large Firm Tracks.
Topics include:
- Rainmaking/business development
- Client relationship management
- Gender boundary issues
- Strategic planning/goal setting
- Negotiation skills and strategy
- Marketing your firm
Click here for price information and a schedule of events. Already interested? Register now!
This session is open to all legal professionals who are, support, and/or work with successful women attorneys.
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Featured Member Discount: Law Firm Merchant Account
Law Firm Merchant Account allows you to process credit cards correctly and receive special member pricing through the Austin Bar's credit card processing program. Designed for the attorney-client transaction, the program safeguards and separates client funds into trust and operating accounts. Visit their Web site or call Ryan Colpart at 512/366-6974 for more information.
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Tuesday, August 12 - CAFA DVD Viewing
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 to receptionist@austinbar.org or call 472-0279 with your name and the name of the committee.
Thursday, August 14 - Adoption Day Attorney Committee Meeting
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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