From the President: Looking Back on a Busy, Eventful and Productive Year
DBA President Denise Warner
In September I quoted United States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, “What each of us must come to realize is that our intent always comes through.” I am pleased to report that I realized my intention as the 2009-2010 DeKalb Bar Association president to maintain the legacy of commitment that the past presidents of the DeKalb Bar Association have exemplified over the past 45 (now 46!) years.
Our CLE programs were second to none. A crowded room of attorneys joined DBA Treasurer Jack Fishman and CPA William Zachery at Carpe Diem in October to learn “How to Start and Run a Business.” More than 100 DBA members and DeKalb County citizens attended the “A View from the Bench: Professionalism in the Courtroom” CLE and public forum in February to increase their understanding of and respect for the rule of law, the legal process and the role of the legal profession.
We promoted DBA members’ professional growth at Parker’s on Ponce through our esteemed panel of judges and attorneys who spent the afternoon lecturing the “In’s and Out’s of the DeKalb Criminal Justice System” in our panel discussion in October. And we now look forward to our civil panel discussion this month.
The newly formed Community Outreach Committee went to great lengths to inspire the DeKalb County community at the Education and Leadership Day in December. Professionals educated students and parents in the areas of Legal, Healthcare, Business, Education and Writing, while community leaders from DeKalb County agencies informed citizens of their services.
Earlier this year, the DeKalb County judicial system was threatened with severe budget cuts. The DeKalb Bar Association worked to assure meaningful access to justice for DeKalb citizens when we voiced our concerns at neighborhood gatherings sponsored by the DeKalb CEO, and individually lobbied our interests with DeKalb commissioners. Our efforts were successful in keeping funding in place so that our courts could remain effective and in compliance with the law.
We also took the time to socialize. Our annual holiday party and Bench and Bar Dinner were held at new and exciting venues, and we enjoyed ourselves at social events held throughout the county. Meeting new friends and networking were orders of business at our North DeKalb and South DeKalb Breakfast meetings.
President Denise Warner bids farewell to Aubrey Jones. Thank you Aubrey for four years of service. We will miss you!
The Family Law Section was formed to provide a bridge between the Bench and the Bar. The DeKalb County Superior Court judges took time out of their busy schedules to provide practice tips to assist attorneys in representing clients in their respective divisions at the monthly Family Law Section Breakfast meetings held in the Harrison Room of the Historic DeKalb County Courthouse.
Our DeKalb Bar news blog is a hit! Thanks to Editor Jody Peskin, our volunteer news committee, and DBA Executive Directors Aubrey Jones and Cindy Harris, DBA members (and the world!) were kept well informed and had an opportunity to provide comments to all of the articles.
The DeKalb Bar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was established a few years ago to operate as the charitable arm of the DeKalb Bar Association. I look forward to serving as the president of the foundation and continuing my work with the legal community and DeKalb County citizens.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as the DeKalb Bar Association president. In the words of Carol Burnett, “I am so glad we had this time together!”