This will be my last “President’s Message” to the TCBA. As many of you know, I will be leaving the City of Olympia City Attorney’s Office and joining the judiciary in the position of Thurston County District Court Judge. I have enjoyed my six years with the Board immensely.
With my resignation, President-Elect Toni Hood will become the President of the TCBA. There will be a vacancy on the Board beginning January 2011. If you are interested in serving, please contact a Board member.
2011 looks to be a banner year for TCBA. The Thurston County Bar has the resources in people, funds, and creative ideas to continue to build on the successes we have experienced. In the New Year, you can expect your Board to continue to offer WSBA sanctioned CLE opportunities right here at home at low cost to our members, to unveil a new and improved TCBA website, and to improve the TCBA newsletter, “The Legal Brief,” by including more articles of interest to our members.
Let me take a moment to review some of the recent work of the Board:
The Board coordinated the collection of donations for and the creation of the portrait of Judge Richard Hicks, which I was honored to present to him at his retirement celebration in September. The portrait will remain in the Thurston County Superior Courthouse in recognition of Judge Hicks’s years of service.
The Elections Committee, chaired by Board member Janet McClanahan Moody, coordinated the Judicial Preference Poll designed to tally the TCBA members’ preference for appointment to the Superior Court seat vacated by the Honorable Judge Hicks. The results were provided to the appointing authority, Governor Gregoire.
Secretary, John Skinder, was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the TCBA newsletter, “The Legal Brief”.
The 2011 Budget Committee was formed and includes: Treasurer Leslie Owen, Immediate Past President Allen Miller, Secretary John Skinder, and Board Member Larry Jefferson.
The Young Lawyers Section and Land Use Section are meeting regularly due to the combined efforts of the Board and Bar members, Julie Kamerrer and Carmen Rowe. The Family Law Section, Bench/Bar Committee, Pro Bono Section, Criminal Defense Section, and CLE Committee are all actively responding to members needs through the efforts of your Board members Bill Pope, Leslie Owen, Larry Jefferson, Lenny Lucenko, Brent Normoyle, and Elissa Kokis.
The Annual Holiday Luncheon is December 3rd at 11:30. Please join your fellow Bar members at the Olympia Country and Golf Club for lunch, holiday music, and the Salvation Army Adopt-a-Family drive. RSVP by Friday, November 26th.
Thank you for allowing me to serve the members of the TCBA as a Board member and as President. I look forward to continuing my involvement with the TCBA as an honorary member. Save me a seat at the luncheons!