DCBA January Newsletter President’s Message Just One More… "I took off for a weekend last month, Board of Directors Just to try and recall the whole year. All of the faces and all of the places Brett M. Woodburn Wonderin' where they all disappeared..." President ~Jimmy Buffett, "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes Jonathan W. Kunkel This really is it. You have Just One More newsletter article from me. President Elect I took time to re-read several of the past newsletters, and so many wonderful memories came John D. Sheridan to mind. Memories of meetings and of volleyball and of committee work and of my one radio Vice President appearance and of the picnic and of the Strategic Planning Retreat. And of Irene's. And of the Young Lawyer's events. And of the Pro Bono Reception. And of the CAMP Program. And the Pamela C. Polacek list goes on… Secretary And what of this year's accomplishments? This year, the Association saw: a complete re-write James J. McCarthy Jr. of the bylaws; the formation of two new committees (auto law and a committee dedicated to Treasurer confronting issues of child abuse); the development of a three-year strategic plan; revised and updated mediation program; successful Law Day and Ask A Lawyer Events; another great Elizabeth S. “Liesl” Volleyball season (without a sleep-over!); the return of the Young Lawyers Wine Tasting; a Beckley Young Lawyers Meet-the-Judges event; Casino Night; the CAMP Program... the list goes on. Past President The Board has also approved the development of a pro bono program that will be devoted to helping our Veterans obtain benefits that they have been denied. We will be looking to Kimberly A. Selemba completely re-do the web site and become more technologically savvy. And this list also goes Young Lawyers Chair on. Jennifer M. Caron Our Association is strong; it is thriving; it is filled with Members who are eager and energetic YL Vice Chair and motivated to making us better. It was a remarkable year that allowed me to meet, work with, get to know so many of our Members; the success of this year is one that YOU own, as Directors a Member. An organization succeeds because of the efforts of its members. Our Members William L. Adler make the DCBA a great organization. I want to thank each person by name... but I won't. Harry M. Baturin (And I won't do that on February 9, either!). Queena Baumbach C. Grainger Bowman There are some people who do deserve to be mentioned by name. Robert E. Chernicoff Salvatore A. Darigo, Jr. Jonathan Kunkel, John Sheridan, Pam Polacek, Jim McCarthy, Liesl Beckley, my Executive Committee and Kim Selemba, Chair of the Young Lawyers. These six individuals carried the Jeffrey A. Ernico burdens of leadership, and allowed me to succeed where I could not have done so on my S. Barton Gephart own. My Executive Committee provided me with perspective, with wise counsel and with Kandice Hull support to achieve. Kim and her executive committee re-energized the Young Lawyers this Dianne I. Nichols year, and have set the stage for growth and greater involvement of Young Lawyers in the Pamela L. Purdy DCBA in the coming years. J. Michael Sheldon Adam M. Shienvold J. Michael Sheldon. Mike agreed to be my unofficial-official photographer this year. He helped Gail Guida Souders capture and memorialize many of the events, gatherings and meetings over the year. Mike Michael W. Winfield took hundreds of photographs for the Association, and came to virtually every event, no small task for a solo practitioner. I truly appreciate the time and effort Mike devoted to the Association, and to me this year. Thanks Mike, for your superb photographic skills. (Continued on next page) Caldwell & Kearns. My firm was a remarkable source of support to me this year. When you serve as president of an organization like the DCBA, it becomes your priority for the year you serve. With a membership approaching 1,500, the meetings, events, and dinners are legion. The time away from the office was greater than I anticipated, and the draw on my energy was significant. The attorneys at my firm, one and all, supported me without question. I did not worry about my clients and my work-responsibilities because of their unqualified support. Thank you, each and every one of you. Joyce and Bridgette. Until you serve as an officer of the DCBA, you cannot truly appreciate what Joyce and Bridgette do for the Association. We are the fourth-largest bar association in Pennsylvania but we have one of the smallest support staffs. You would never know it from the outside. Joyce and Bridgette bear the laboring oars on the day-to-day functions of the Association. It would do them a great disservice to say they do their jobs because they do far more than a 'job'. They are as dedicated to this Association as any dues paying member, and they enjoy our successes (and suffer our failures) right beside us. Thank you, Joyce. Thank you, Bridgette. The last person I am going to thank in this article is our Executive Director, Liz Simcox. It is remarkable to me that this was Liz's first year as the Executive Director, because she assumed the role and the responsibilities seamlessly. Following Al Levinthal and Don Morgan was no small feat; each of them brought much to the Association, and when a person has held a position for many years, it can be even more difficult to fill their shoes. Liz didn't. She brought her own shoes and made the job HER job. And we are a better, stronger Association for it. Whenever I had an idea (and I had many), Liz would counsel me on the strengths and challenges; would offer perspective; encourage or caution me as she saw fit. Her wisdom helped me succeed and steered me away from trouble. Most of the time. There are so many more people deserving of thanks and praise: Jennifer Archer, Fran Chardo, Melissa Van Eck, Lacy Hayes, Mike Winfield, Jessie Smith, Matt Crosby, Sal Darigo... Where I succeeded as President, I did so because of your guidance, your support and your efforts. Thank you. This is a bitter-sweet moment, as I conclude my last article. I had so much fun this past year; thank you for allowing me to serve as President of the Dauphin County Bar Association. Thank you for your support. It was a very busy year, and the Association accomplished so much! At times, it was overwhelming as I tried to make every meeting, every event, every dinner... and balance my law practice... and have a personal life. My efforts at balance were valiant... unsuccessful, but valiant. And I would not change a thing! I confess that my favorite article was the one that ran in March, because it focused on one of the most important things in life. Family. I am resolved to devote more time to mine this year; they were accommodating and supported me whole-heartedly in 2012. It's time for me to give myself back to them in 2013. Thank you, my Family. Your support carried me through the challenges of this past year. Please join us at the Civil War Museum on January 23 as we welcome Jonathan Kunkel as president, introduce our new officers and Board members, and find out who won the iPad! I hope to see you all on February 9 at the West Shore Country Club for the Annual Lawyers' Prom; the first round is on me! Even though my time is done, you still have time for Just One More!!! Young Lawyers & Government Law Section Holiday Party - Photos taken by J. Michael Sheldon Bar Brie fs Douglas H. Clifton has become associated with the Law Firm of Abom & Kutulakis. (No photo Available) Brian E. DePowell, Crisp & Associates has been appointed part-time Adult-Conflict Counsel for Dauphin County effective January 1, 2013. (No Photo Available) W. Creigh Martson has become associated with the Law Firm of Abom & Kutulakis. Jim Moyles has opened an office in Harrisburg located at 105 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101; 717-233-5400; [email protected] (No Photo Available) Adam Santucci, McNees Wallace & Nurick has been elected to the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area Board of Directors. Mark S. Silver has joined the law firm of Mette, Evans & Woodside located at 3401 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110; [email protected]. The following attorneys have been named Partners in the Harrisburg-based Rhoads & Sinon, LLP Cory A. Iannacone Stephen Moniak Claudia M. Williams Kenneth J. Rollins Kathryn D. Sallie In addition, the following DCBA members were named to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Central Pennsylvania Chapter 2012 Leadership Class at a reception at the Hershey Hotel on December 10, 2012. The entire class for 2012 raised over $63,000 for the Central PA Region. Thanks to our DCBA members for their efforts in this cause. Suzanne S. Friday, Nauman Smith Shissler & Hall Heidi Hamman Shakely, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellot Amanda Lavis, Rhoads and Sinon LLP Jeffrey B. Rettig, Johnson Duffie Stewart & Weidner Elizabeth G. Simcox, DCBA Kristen Sinisi, Angino & Rovner, PC Steven Williams, Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman, Pro Bono Recognition The following participants provided pro bono service during the month of December by accepting new clients, making a financial contribution to MidPenn Legal Services, participating in one of our pro bono programs, or conducting one of our family law clinics: Attorneys Elliot A.