November President’s Page
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all of the things we have to be thankful for. I am so grateful for the many blessings in my life. For those of you who are on Facebook, you have probably seen your friends list something they are thankful for each and every day this month. It is always interesting to see what ranks as important to others. As the mother of a 15 month old, I wasn’t able to commit to listing something I am thankful for each day but I do want to share with the bar my top five “professional” thanks. First, I am thankful for the opportunity to serve as the President of the Arlington Bar Association. I knew very early on in law school that I wanted to be an attorney in Arlington. There have been so many wonderful past Presidents of the Arlington Bar Association. Having the opportunity to serve as the President of the Arlington Bar Association is one of the biggest honors I have been given as an attorney. My husband will tell you that I said early on “one day I want to be President of the Arlington Bar Association.” I am grateful that that wish came true. Second, I am thankful for the sponsors, Judges, AYLA, Kimberly Fitzpatrick, and members who came to the Chili Cook-Off. This years cook-off was even better than last year and I think we are on to a great new tradition. Third, I am thankful for living in Arlington and growing-up in Arlington. As I have said before, Arlington is a big/small town and that is something that has been lost on other towns. I am so grateful to have received my education in Arlington and can truly say that Baylor was easier than high school for me. Fourth, I am grateful for my fellow Board of Directors (Charles Brady, Larry Gaydos, Ruth Lane, Wes Maness, Donna Smiedt, Rocky Walton, Carl Wilkerson, Letty Evans, Deborah Hinds) this year. We are all very diverse in our beliefs, backgrounds, and practice areas but that has allowed us to really brainstorm and come up with some great ideas/ways to make the Arlington Bar Association even better. Fifth, I am grateful for all of the members of the Arlington Bar Association. We vary in age, background, practice areas, likes, dislikes, etc. but at the end of the day, we are all committed to representing the City of Arlington with class, dignity and respect in our profession. I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a very blessed Thanksgiving.
- Lauren Gaydos Duffer
President, Arlington Bar Association
September President’s Page
Fall is in the air, which means that it is time for the annual Chili Cook-Off. We are still in need of more Chefs. The Chili Cook-Off is not limited only to law firms but organizations and groups who provide legal related services are invited to attend as well. If you know of an organization that might be interested in participating, please be sure to let Kimberly Fitzpatrick at kimberly@harriscooklaw.com or me know. Thank you to all our current Chili Cook-Off sponsors!!
I want to take a moment to update you on some of the changes that are taking place. As many of you know, the monthly luncheon fee was raised to $15.00 for members and $20.00 for non-members. I have received a few emails asking why this was done, The Board discussed and approved raising the luncheon fee at the August board meeting so that the Arlington Bar Association would have some money to cover our costs and allow us to offer more programs and activities for our members. We are also starting an online membership directory, which will include each member’s practice area so that when you receive a call from someone needing an attorney in an area you don’t practice, you will be able to refer the person to another bar member. Additional information about the online membership directory is included in the newsletter.
It is 5:00 Somewhere! We are looking to hold a “happy hour” at different member’s offices a couple times a year so that we can have another opportunity to network and recruit new members. Stephanie Foster has kindly offered to host our first happy hour on October 11, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. If you are interested in hosting a “happy hour” at your office, please contact Candace at candace@txfamilylwatty.com . If you have any suggestions or concerns about the Arlington Bar Association, please feel free to contact Candace at candace@txfamilylawatty.com or me at lauren@txfamilylawatty.com
- Lauren Gaydos Duffer
President, Arlington Bar Association
August President’s Page
Dear Arlington Bar Association Members:
The end of summer is always bitter sweet. I am always happy to see the 100 degree days go away but to me summer means family. The summer brings so many wonderful opportunities to be a family- vacations, cooking out, swimming, trips to Six Flags, and Rangers games. If you think about our bar association, we are really an extended family of attorneys. As a bar family, I think it is important that we take the time to get to know our other bar family members, so that we can support them. I encourage everyone to sit by someone they don’t know at the next member meeting and get to know them. Also, in order to continue to exist as a family, we need to grow our family. We have taken efforts to reach out to attorneys in Arlington who are not current members of the bar and we have had some new members join. I would like to encourage you to invite a non-member to the monthly luncheon so that they can see what a great family we are and what we have to offer.
Although summer is ending, the fall has some wonderful events in store for our bar association. I am excited to announce that the Second Annual Chili Cook-Off will be taking place at Mavericks on October 27, 2012 so please save the date and plan to participate. If you did not attend the Chili Cook-Off last year, it was a great event and a wonderful afternoon with our local Judges doing what they do best-Judging! Please be sure to remind your friends and our wonderful local Judges about the Chili Cook-Off.
- Lauren Gaydos Duffer
President, Arlington Bar Association
July President’s Page
Dear Arlington Bar Association Members:
I hope everyone is surviving the summer heat. I had the opportunity to attend the State Bar of Texas Local Bar Leaders Conference in Houston over the weekend of July 13-14, 2012. I can’t say enough good things about this conference. As a bar association, I think we should make a commitment to have a representative attend this conference every year. I attended a seminar at the conference about successful leadership and an interesting topic was discussed about being an ambassador for your bar association. As lawyers, we are ambassadors for our individual firms because our lively hood or making partner depends on us being an ambassador. However, how often are you an ambassador for our bar association? I would like to challenge everyone to think about what they do to be an ambassador for our bar association and to keep doing what you already do and start doing MORE! Although I enjoyed the entire conference, I must say, the highlight of the conference was the key note speaker, Nolan Richardson, the former UTEP and Arkansas basketball coach. Mr. Richardson shared his story about growing up in the 2nd ward of El Paso, losing his mom when he was 5 years old, losing his daughter, and recently losing his son. Mr. Richardson spoke about how attitude shapes you. One of the many great statements by Mr. Richards was, “Do your best work now and if we get up tomorrow, we will be better than we were the day before.” I would like to challenge each member of the Arlington Bar Association to 1) be an ambassador for our bar association; and 2) do your best work as an ambassador for our bar association today and if you get up tomorrow, be a better ambassador for our bar association than you were the day before.
- Lauren Gaydos Duffer
President, Arlington Bar Association
June President’s Page
Dear Arlington Bar Association Members:
I would like to start by saying that I am very honored to be the President of the Arlington Bar Association this year. For those of you who do not know me, I am a graduate of James Martin High School and was raised in Arlington. My husband and I both own businesses based in Arlington and we live in Arlington. I have always been very passionate about Arlington and all of the wonderful things that our city has to offer. My goal for this year is for our bar association to get to know each other better so that we can grow as an organization. In order to do that, we have decided to make some changes to the monthly newsletter that will allow us to learn more about our local Judges and our members. In addition, we are asking that members let us know about local events going on that they are participating in so that we can help support our members in their endeavors outside of the Arlington Bar Association. I want to challenge the members to help us get new members and to help spread the word throughout the community about our organization. My office has started contacting attorneys in Arlington who are not current members of the Arlington Bar Association, and we have found that lots of attorneys don’t even know that there is an Arlington Bar Association. My hope is that by the end of my term, we have increased our membership, increased knowledge in the community about our organization and improved relationships within our bar association. Arlington is a big little city, which is why I love it. We are all lucky to practice in and/or live in a city that is large but still maintains a small town feel.
If anyone has any ideas on ways to improve our organization, my door is always open and I would appreciate hearing yourinput. I am looking forward to a great year and hope to continue some of the wonderful events that Donna Smiedt started last year, like the Chili Cook-Off. Thank you to everyone for allowing me to have the opportunity to be the President of the Arlington Bar Association.
- Lauren Gaydos Duffer
President, Arlington Bar Association
May President’s Message
Dear Arlington Bar Association Members:
This is my last message to you as President of the Arlington Bar Association. It has been a pleasure to serve in this capacity for such a wonderful group of dedicated lawyers. We have been through some changes in the past year and I am so proud of how we not only survived the fluctuations, but prospered. We are better off financially than in years past and are forging new relationships with our vendors and other businesses in the community that support our profession. I am especially proud of the Arlington Young Lawyers Association for their tireless work and energy for their bar association as well as ours. I am very sad that Daniel Mathis has left Arlington to move to Houston. He shall be sorely missed as a dynamic leader of AYLA and I know I speak for all of us when I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
I would also like to thank my board who have been the backbone of this group and have had the courage to make tough leadership decisions to ensure that the Arlington bar Association can be as great as it is. Rocky Walton has worked extremely hard on both the Referral Service and bringing CLE to the Arlington Bar Association on a regular basis and I commend all of his efforts.
If the Board is the backbone of this organization, then I must say that the heart of this group for many years has been our Executive Secretary, Deanne Schmidt. It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Deanne has resigned and shall no longer be the steady heartbeat of the Arlington Bar Association. I am glad that she was there to help me in my year as President because I can assure you I could not have kept this organization together without her. Deanne has dedicated herself to the efficient and smooth management of every single activity that the Arlington Bar Association has been engaged in for many years. She is without doubt the most competent and organized executive staff member that we have ever had during the fifteen years that I have been a member of the Arlington Bar Association. Please make sure and reserve a seat at the Installation Dinner this month to welcome our incoming board of directors as
well as to say good-bye to Deanne and thank her for her service to the Bar.
Therefore, it is with mixed feelings that I end my term as president of the Arlington Bar Association. I am excited to turn over the gavel to Lauren Duffer who is an exceptional young lawyer and possesses great leadership skills. You shall be in excellent hands. I am sad that my year is over as I so enjoyed the privilege of serving as your President.
Best Regards,
Donna J. Smiedt
President,
Arlington Bar Association
April President’s Message
Dear Arlington Bar Association members:
Spring is here. Unfortunately with it comes tornado season. Arlington was hit harder than a lot of folks realize. There are many in our community displaced as a result of their homes being destroyed or without electricity. Another issue is that many have sustained damage to their homes and are now being bombarded with roof and other contractors who may be less
than honest. Charles Wear has volunteered to head up a team that shall review contracts to ensure that the residents who have suffered in the tornado do not get ravaged again by devious contractors looking to make a fast buck. Please call Charles at (817) 277-2229 if you have experience in construction contracts and wish to donate your time or know of any Arlington residents who need this legal help.
We look forward to the Fish Fry on April 19, 2012 at Ashworth Place. Invitations shall be going out shortly, but make sure that you talk up the event to the judiciary. We always enjoy having a big turnout at this fun event. As usual, Bruce Ashworth has generously provided the grounds of Ashworth Place so I look forward to seeing you all there. We shall announce the new Directors and Officers at that time although we shall be having a separate Installation Dinner this year.
Enjoy the good weather!
Best Regards,
Donna J. Smiedt
President,
Arlington Bar Association
2012 Membership Renewals Due
Please renew your Arlington Bar Association membership for 2012 before March 31, 2012 for the discount of $75.00. After March 31st, all returning members will have to pay $95.00.
Thank you, Deanne
January President’s Message
Dear Arlington Bar Association members:
Greetings to all and I wish you all a Happy New Year. 2011 was a year of change for the Arlington Bar Association. This was the first year we did not host the Annual Barbecue, and although this was a difficult choice for the Board of Directors, I am happy to say that the First Annual Chili Cook-off was a great success. The best news is that we actually made a profit from the event and shall be donating a considerable sum to Northwest Texas Legal Services to support them in providing the invaluable services to the underprivileged citizens of this region. I am also proud that we as a small bar continue to work for our community by providing Pro Bono services at the Arlington Legal Clinic. In addition, this year we conducted more of an informal Christmas party that we co-hosted with the Arlington Young Lawyers Association, and with their help we were also able to donate many toys to the children of Mission Arlington, who otherwise may not have had a Christmas.
I am proud to be a member of the Arlington Bar Association. I think we have proved this year that we can operate profitably and not only donate our time in free legal services to the community but also much needed finances in these economically challenging times. This was my vision when I took office and I am pleased that we have accomplished this goal.
On that note, I am concerned as are many other presidents of local bar associations as well as the Family Law Section of the Texas Bar Association that our Supreme Court has been sponsoring the development of forms and “form kits” for use by Pro Se litigants in the area of family law and other civil litigation as part of the Access to Justice Program that is funded by our state bar dues. They have set up a Uniform Forms Task Force and are moving forward at an alarming rate. I have attached a letter that the Family Law Section Chair, Thomas L. Ausley, has sent to State Bar President, Bob Black which outlines our concerns regarding the implementation of this plan and the disastrous effect it could have onTexasjurisprudence, let alone the livelihood of many solo practitioners, many of whom are members of the Arlington Bar Association.
The State Bar Board meets January 20th, 2012 at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort near Bastrop, Texas. The meeting starts at 9 a.m., but to speak against the plan, a person must be there and sign up by 8:30. Our members can attend to show support for our opposition even if they choose not to speak. I encourage those interested to attend the State Bar Board meeting on January 20th, even if you don’t want to speak. The Section believes the numbers in support of their position will be valuable as they believe other organizations in support of the forms, as is, are trying to bring large numbers.
Best Regards,
Donna J. Smiedt
President,
ArlingtonBar Association
