Welcome one, welcome
all YLS members. If you are a member of the Arkansas
Bar Association and below the age of 36 or have practiced
law for less than five years, you are a member of the
YLS. Now is the time to become active.
The YLS serves several
purposes, including acting as the community service
arm of the Bar Association, helping to develop the practices
of its members, providing service to the profession,
and cultivating civility and professionalism in the
practice of law. The only way these purposes can be
accomplished is for more members to become involved.
Your ideas, suggestions, and involvement are needed
and will be appreciated.
As you know, our profession
is made up of hard-working, dedicated individuals. Across
our state and nation lawyers use their talents (both
professionally and otherwise) for the benefit of the
community, perhaps more than any other profession. Whether
it comes through providing pro bono legal representation,
serving on non-profit boards and committees, or rolling
up your sleeves and investing sweat equity in a worthy
project, we are an able bunch that should not be afraid
to get involved and make a difference.
The YLS leadership knows
that many of you already do this on a regular basis.
The YLS wants to recognize its members that heed the
challenge to give back. For many of you, this will require
only that you complete a form and let us know how you
already contribute to your community. For others, it
will require a few more hours of community service over
the course of the next Bar year.
The YLS is challenging
all its members to contribute 40 hours of service to
their communities from June 2004 through May 2005 (40
Hours for the Future). The service you provide is at
your discretion, and the YLS wants to know about it
and recognize it. Please let us know what service you
provide to community projects, non-profit boards, or
other organizations. The YLS will coordinate a few weekend
projects over the course of the next year that will
be available for us to work together to reach this goal.
But, please do not wait to get involved.
To be recognized for contributing
40 Hours for the Future, simply complete and return
the form which will be provided in the Summer issue
of YLS In Brief by May 15, 2005.
This provides a natural
segway to discuss a few projects of the YLS that you
might be interested in. For the past few years, the
YLS has partnered with the public schools in Little
Rock to read with elementary students. This program
calls for volunteers to read with a child about 30 minutes
a week, or to join with a partner and go once every
two weeks. Programs have also been organized in Texarkana
(please contact Amy Freedman), Pine Bluff, and Fayetteville.
The YLS is always interested in taking this program
to other parts of the state. Please contact me if you
want to get involved in one of the established programs
or if you want to volunteer in your hometown.
Another project that needs
your assistance is the "Parent Wars" video
and handbook. "Parent Wars" is an excellent
production of the Family Law Section that emphasizes
the importance of parents remaining civil toward each
other when divorce proceedings involve children. Hopefully,
you saw the program when it recently aired statewide
on AETN. The video and accompanying handbook (published
by the YLS) provide assistance and resources to prevent
the animosity that may exist between divorcing adults.
Some circuit court judges are requiring contentious
litigants to watch the video, and all lawyers practicing
in the area of domestic relations should have this resource
available to clients. Michelle Cauley has worked diligently
in drafting the handbook and coordinating the YLS's
involvement in this project, and she would appreciate
your help in promoting and distributing this program.
The YLS, in conjunction
with Arkansas Children's Hospital and the Attorney General's
Office, recently completed the handbook "You Have
the Right if You Know It: Rights and Responsibilities
for Arkansas Teenagers." Cindy Thyer and Ray Schlegel
devoted their time and effort to this project, and it
now needs to be spread to the teenagers throughout our
state.
The YLS has several other
projects and activities that you can get involved with,
including Bridging the Gap, Bench & Bar receptions,
Law Day, Moot Court competitions, handbook revisions,
disaster relief assistance, and several others. We are
looking forward to a productive and exciting year. Please
choose now as your time to get involved.
The Executive Council
of the YLS is elected to conduct the business of the
Section on your behalf. To get involved or if you have
any questions, please contact the 2004-05 YLS Executive
Council: Chair, Mark Hodge, mhodge@cnjlaw.com;
Chair-Elect, Patrick Wilson, pwilson@wlj.com;
Secretary Treasurer, Michelle Cauley, mcauley@mwsgw.com;
Immediate Past Chair, Paul Dumas, pdumas@ipa.net;
Central District Representatives: Shannon Short Smith,
sssmith@mwsgw.com;
JaNan Davis, jadavis@catlaw.com;
and Amy Dunn, adunn@mwsgw.com;
South & East District Representatives Amy Freedman,
afreedm71860@yahoo.com;
Stephanie Potter, steppotter@msn.com;
and Eddie Doman, edoman@arklaw.com;
Northwest District Representatives Wayne Young, younglaw@justice.com;
Ray Schlegel, rschlegel@joneslawfirm.com;
and T.R. Brixey, tbrixey@alltel.net.
Look for the 40 Hours for the Future form provided
in the Summer issue of YLS In Brief. |
