SEE YOU AT THE ANNUAL MEETING!!!
The Lawrence Bar Association's 2004 Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2004 starting with hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar at 5:30 p.m. at the Lanam Club, 260 North Main Street, Andover. In addition to reports from the 2003 president, treasurer and scholarship committee, the nominating committee will present its slate of officers and Executive Committee for the new year. The nominating committee was chaired by Wendy Olinsky , and also included David Anderson, Fairlie Dalton, Angelo Fisichella, Melanie Olson , and Angela Steadman .
From time to time, the LBA has been contacted by individuals wishing to make a contribution to be distributed as a general scholarship by the Bar. At present, we do not have a mechanism to do this, outside of the already existing funds. How to handle such donations will be part of the new business part of the agenda. The meeting will end with the traditional round of drinks bought by the new president.
If you did not have your picture taken at the Fall Dinner and you would like to have one added to the photo page of the LBA website, please contact Fairlie Dalton (978/686-6900 or fdalton@nlsma.org ). If there is enough interest, we will try to have a photographer present.
Congratulations to our first new member to apply through the website - Lisa Cammarata !
LBA WEBSITE
Thank you to Barbara Finck of Squeaky Wheel Web Design for developing the Lawrence Bar Association web site. The site is online at www.lawrencebar.org . It contains pages on legal resources, contact and membership information, events, job opportunities and LBA newsletters. The photo pages contain a directory of members and candid shots from the Fall Dinner. The LBA website is linked to the Essex Bar, Lawyers Weekly and Social law Library websites with the Mass Bar Association to be added soon. Special time-sensitive announcements and general information are also listed on the home page. So, check out the site for the latest news!
Barbara reports that there have been 212 hits on the website since it came online on November 7, 2003.
As a special promotion for Lawrence Bar Association members, Squeaky Wheel Web Design is offering development of a 3 page web site for $400. This includes everything: web site hosting, site name selection, design, and development. Please contact Barbara Finck for details at bfinck@squeakywheelwebdesign.com or (978) 685-4189.
FALL DINNER
The 2003 Fall Dinner was held on Wednesday, November 12, 2003 at the North Andover Country Club. 106 members and guests gathered to honor some very special members. Bob Gilbert presented clock and pen sets to our fifty year members: Jason Rosenberg was introduced by his son-in-law, Jeffrey Kitaeff. Sarah Previte Hamilton introduced her father, Albert S. Previte, Jr. and her colleague, George W. Arvanitis. Robert L. Hermann, Jr. accepted the award and brought greetings on behalf of his father, Hon. Robert L. Hermann, Sr. who was in Florida. Ralph Stein was introduced by his fellow Salem NH attorney, Angelo R. Fisichella. Mark H. Tay introduced his father, Bernard J. Tay. Each of the honorees shared their reflections on the legal profession and the paths they have followed in the law.
The Bar Association also honored and thanked Matt Caffrey for his service as 2002 LBA president. Fairlie Dalton presented him with the gavel plaque awarded to all past presidents.
The LBA website was introduced during the dinner - website designer Barbara Finck was present with her husband, Ralph Finck. Members' photographs were taken for the directory page of the website by Michael Khachadoorian who also took many candid shots during the evening which are featured on the LBA website.
A big thank you to Bob Gilbert and Melissa West of Gilbert & Renton for another great job of arranging and coordinating the evening.
PROBATE COURT JOB OPENING
John C. Stevens, III, First Justice of the Essex Probate and Family Court, sent the following notice of a job opportunity for an attorney at the Essex Probate and Family Court: This Family Law Facilitator is a new position, made possible through funding by the Department of Revenue. Although it is described as a temporary position, due to reliance upon yearly funding through the Department of Revenue, Judge Stevens hopes that the funding will continue to be renewed.
“The Essex Probate and Family Court announces an opening for a Family Law Facilitator (temporary position).
The person chosen for this position will provide assistance to indigent and financially disadvantaged parents concerning the process of establishing parentage and establishing, modifying and enforcing child and spousal support and custody and visitation orders, and will perform related legal and administrative duties.
The salary shall begin at $46, 559.73 (Level 17) and is inclusive of benefits.
This posting shall be made from December 10, 2003 - January 9, 2004. All applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on January 9, 2004, to be considered.
Trial Court applications for Employment are available at all Court locations. Applications should be directed to:
John C. Stevens, III, First Justice
Essex Probate and Family Court
36 Federal Street
Salem MA 01970.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
This notice has been posted on the LBA website on the professional opportunities page. Check the website for a three-page Job Description and Qualifications for the position.
BROWN BAG LUNCHES
December proved to be a very busy month, so the second Brown Bag Lunch was put off until the new year. Watch the website for information from Jeff Renton about the date and topic.
LAWYERS CONCERNED FOR LAWYERS
Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Inc. (LCL) is a private non-profit Massachusetts corporation. Founded in 1978, it is the only lawyer assistance program in the state helping attorneys, judges, law students and other members of the legal profession overcome addiction, mental health and personal problems. Their confidential services include help for a broad range of issues, including: depression, stress and burnout, alcohol and drug abuse, marital and family relationships, financial problems, gambling, career concerns, eating disorders, balancing work and family, including elder and child care. LCL can be reached at 1-800-LCL-0210.
Our Condolences go to the family of Angelo C. Pappalardo , who passed away on November 9, 2003. Flowers were sent from the Bar Association at the time of the wake. Many members of the Bar gathered with family members at the Fenton Judicial Center on December 5th to honor Angelo 's memory. Judge Michael T. Stella presided, joined on the bench by Judges Allen J. Jarasitis and Thomas M. Brennan. A moving eulogy was offered by Arthur Khoury, a long-time friend of the Pappalardo's. Thank you to Judge Stella and Jane Meaney of his staff, for making this service possible.
The LBA has set up a working group to look at the much-publicized issue of car insurance fraud in this area. James M. Bowers has agreed to chair the group. Look for more information from the group by late winter 2004.
James Miragliotta was named the LBA representative to the Board of Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. for a term beginning November 1, 2003. He follows Keith Hughes who served in this capacity last year.
Don't be shy! The Bar is always in need of members to serve on various committees. No prior experience is required, and it is a great way to meet colleagues, to learn, and to be of service. If you would be interested, contact any member of the Executive Committee.
The Stevens Service Learning Center at Merrimack College conducts an intern program for students in the college's business and pre-law courses. Interns volunteer 20 hours per semester in offices doing public interest, community service or pro bono work. If you would be interested in having an intern work with you, contact Director Mary McHugh at 978/837-5123 or mmchugh@merrimack.edu.
Thought for the Day
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thank you to those who wrote to Register of Probate for the Essex Division of the Probate and Family Court, Pamela Casey O'Brien, and cc'ed the LBA copies of your letters in response to her September 2003 memo regarding the reductions in services at the Lawrence session of the Probate and Family Court due to the state budget crisis.
From Rhonda Lee : Rhonda Selwyn Lee , Esq., of 10 Main Street, Andover, MA began focusing her practice in immigration law several years ago. Her immigration practice has grown to the point that she now has a second office located in Lawrence - within the Office of Frederick Fairburn , Esq. at 234 Essex Street. If anyone has any immigration cases or questions, Rhonda invites you to give her a call (978) 474-6200 or visit her website: www.LeeLawOffices.com .
Greater Lawrence Habitat for Humanity is looking for pro bono attorneys to assist with real estate closings, condominium documents and loan and mortgage processes. Their mission is to eliminate poverty, housing and homelessness in the world by providing homeownership opportunities to economically disadvantaged families. To this end, they have built 45 homes in Lawrence, Methuen and Haverhill since 1985 and hope to build 10 per year. For more information, contact Stephanie Harrington at stephanie.harrington@verizon.net.
We received requests for letters of support for the Committee for Public Counsel Services after Governor Romney vetoed approximately $15 million dollars from the CPCS budget and then threatened to take action against attorneys who were declining new cases in an effort to draw attention to the problem.
Finally, from Fairlie Dalton as she ends her term as 2003 President of the LBA: I'm grateful to all of you for your support - your ideas and suggestions, your commitment, your willingness to follow through with our projects. I'll have more to say on January 21st , but for now let me say , It truly was a privilege to serve.