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Week of October 20, 2008
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Early Voting Starts Today
Early voting begins today for the Nov. 4 General Election. Record turnout is expected for this year's election, so vote early to avoid long lines on Election Day.
Travis County has numerous early voting locations throughout the county. During early voting (Monday, October 20 through Friday, October 31) Travis County registered voters can vote at any of the early voting locations. For a complete list, click here. In addition, Travis County is introducing two new "Mega Voting Sites" at the Travis County Airport Blvd. offices, 5501 Airport Blvd. and at the West Tower Village, 4534 West Gate Blvd., Suite 115. These two locations will have an extended number of voting machines and multiple check-in areas with the capacity to serve large crowds.
Williamson County also has several locations for early voting. Click here for a complete list.
Sample ballots and information on electronic voting are available on Travis County's Web site.
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Members Only Free Fourth Friday this Week
Date: Friday, Oct. 24
Time: noon to 1:00 p.m.
Topic: A Whole New World: Recent Developments in Texas Mandamus Practice
Speaker: D. Todd Smith
RSVP by contacting Mollie Gallagher at Mollie@austinbar.org
The Austin Bar wants to save you money! Members are invited to join us for free lunch and an hour of free CLE.
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Solo/Small Firm Networking and Business Development Luncheon, October 27
Date: Monday, Oct. 27
Time: noon to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: Free; lunch will be provided but parking in the 816 Congress parking garage will be $1
RSVP to Rebecca Whitehouse at Rebecca@rebeccawhitehouse.com
The Solo/Small Firm Section would like to invite all Austin Bar members to a luncheon to discuss how to pursue and retain clients. Join them for the chance to network and learn how to lengthen your own list of clients.
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Free Halloween Mediation CLE for AYLA Members, October 31
Date: Friday, Oct. 31
Time: noon to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
Cost: Free (please bring a brown bag lunch)
Topic: Mediation Advice For Young Lawyers - Including 25 Ways To Torpedo Your Mediation
AYLA members are invited to a free lunchtime CLE to learn how to keep their next mediation from becoming a Halloween horror story. The presenter is well-known local mediator Greg Bourgeois of Lakeside Mediation Center, who will provide an overview of the mediation process, share insights about how to achieve successful results for your clients, and discuss common mistakes that could torpedo your mediation.
Don't let yourself or your clients get spooked by mediation this Halloween - come join AYLA next Friday! RSVP to Julie Wright at 536-4580 or jwright@fulbright.com today.
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Federal Court Practice Seminar, November 14
Date: Friday, Nov. 14
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Location: Austin Bar Association, 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700
CLE: 7.0 hours and 1.0 hour of ethics credit
Cost: $150; add $15 for checks and applications postmarked after Friday, Oct. 31
Questions? Please contact Bradley Coburn at coburn@fr.com.
The Austin Chapter for the Federal Bar Association and Austin Bar Association invite you to attend the Federal Court Practice Seminar. Judges and Austin attorneys will conduct presentations covering an array of issues including Pretrial Matters/Injunctive Relief, Introduction to Bankruptcy Practice, and Electronic Discovery. A CD with rules, forms, and case discussion outlines will also be provided at the seminar.
Click here for a schedule of events and registration form. Registration may be available at the door, but seating is limited. Please send your registration materials no later than Friday, Oct. 31. Later registrations will incur a $15 administration fee.
Please contact the U.S. District Clerk's Office at 916-5896 with any questions relating to admission requirements for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
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Join AYLA in Supporting Capital Area Food Bank
On average, nearly one in five adults and one in four children in Texas are hungry. 41,000 children under the age of 18 in Travis County are confronted with food insecurity on a daily basis. In its 27th year of service, the Capital Area Food Bank provides food and grocery products to 350 partner agencies in 21 central Texas counties. In 2007 alone, the CAFB distributed more than 15 million pounds of food.
In the wake of Hurricane Ike, the CAFB needs your help more than ever. The Austin Young Lawyers Association has arranged exciting opportunities in October and November for you to donate time, money, and/or food to help the CAFB combat hunger. The CAFB needs 30 volunteers on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. to work in the product-recovery division and ensure that donations are safe for consumption. To sign up to volunteer and to receive additional information, please contact Kennon Peterson at
kennonpeterson@hotmail.com or 463-1353.
In addition or in the alternative, please participate in the AYLA Food & Fund Drive between Oct. 27 and Nov. 8. You can donate food or money at the Austin Bar office located at 816 Congress Ave., Suite 700. Please make all checks payable to the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas and indicate that it is for the AYLA Food & Fund Drive.
For more information about donating, please contact Kennon Peterson. For more information about the CAFB, please click here. Thank you!
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Make a Difference in Austin-area Schools with Pick Me! A Jury of My Peers
The award-winning project, Pick Me! A Jury of My Peers, is back this fall. The project continues to build momentum since it first began in 2004 and has garnered much enjoyment and praise from all of its participants - teachers, students, lawyers, and judges alike. Thank you to all of those who have participated in the past! It is your involvement that has made this project such a success.
The program involves a three-day curriculum which includes the history of the jury system on Day 1, a mock voir dire conducted by attorneys and judges on Day 2, and a video trial on Day 3.
We are looking for attorney and judge volunteers for the weeks of November 11 through December 12 for the Day 2 mock voir dire. A training and information session will be held for volunteers at 816 Congress Ave., 3rd Floor Conference Room on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Please contact Brooke Williams at 472-0279 x108 or Brooke@austinbar.org with questions or to RSVP for the training session. You may also contact the Committee Co-chairs Leslie Dippel Leslie.dippel@co.travis.tx.us and Robert Robinson robert.robinson@oag.state.tx.us.
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Support Your Fellow Attorneys as They Walk, Run, or Ride to Fight Cancer
Several Austin Bar members will be walking, running, or riding their bikes to find a cure for that terrible disease that killed almost 8 million people worldwide in 2007: cancer. You can support your colleagues as they participate in the Livestrong Challenge Oct. 24 - 26. You can even participate yourself!
Visit the Livestrong Challenge Web site to see how you can get involved and pick a fight with cancer.
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Donate and Help Celebrate Austin Adoption Day 2008
On Thursday, Nov. 20 approximately 50 children will find the Forever Families they have been wishing for and so deserve. You can help them celebrate through a monetary gift or by helping the committee to solicit donations.
Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center will be transformed into the mythical land of Oz complete with a yellow brick road in recognition of the theme "There's No Place Like Home." However, this cannot happen without the hard work of and donations from Austin Bar members.
Members can donate by themselves or participate in the One Billable Hour Program. The One Billable Hour Program asks that law firms donate the amount equal to one billable hour of a senior partner's rate. These donations will help provide decorations, food, and gifts that make the day all the more special.
The Austin Bar hopes that you will consider giving to this great cause, and that you will join us Thursday, Nov. 20 at Gardner Betts to celebrate the creation of more than 40 new families.
Contact Brooke Williams at Brooke@austinbar.org or 472-0279 x108 to donate or see how you can help solicit donations.
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Featured Member Corporate Sponsor: ABA Retirement Fund
ABA Retirement Fund CitiStreet is a premier global benefit provider, and one of the nation's largest retirement plan record keepers. They offer a broad range of products and services for defined contribution, defined benefit, and health and welfare plans of all sizes in all markets. Visit their Web site to learn more. For more information contact Michael Moniz at 800-826-8901.
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Upcoming Meetings
SECTIONS:
Thursday, October 23 - Solo/Small Firm Section Meeting
Monday, October 27 - Solo/Small Firm Section Networking Luncheon
Tuesday, October 28 - CAFA Section Meeting
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 Mollie@austinbar.org or call 472-0279 with your name and the name of the committee.
Tuesday, October 21 - Distinguished Lawyer Award Committee Meeting (open to all previous winners of the Distinguished Lawyer Award)
Wednesday, October 22 - Women's Resource Fair Committee Meeting
Monday, October 27 - Gala Auction Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 28 - Settlement Week Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 28 - Judicial Affairs Committee Meeting
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Proud corporate sponsors of the Austin Bar Association
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