Technology Improves TCWLA Member Services
In connection with the launch of our new website, we have modernized our membership policies. In- stead of the traditional system where we could only keep track of enrollment once a year in January, now we can accept new and renewing memberships any day of the year– when it is convenient for you! Now, when- ever you register and pay your $40 dues, your registration will be current for 365 days, and you will automatically be notified when it is time to renew. Your participation is key to our success. Membership dues provide the financial support our organization needs to host events and provide membership services. Maintaining your status as a TCWLA member is incredibly important to us, and we hope you will enjoy the user- friendly benefits provided by our new website!
From Your President Amanda Taylor
Welcome Back! I hope that you had a great summer and that you are enjoying the transition back to ―fall‖ (what Austinites call the ―cooler‖ 95 degree weather). I am excited to get started with all of TCWLA’s fall events, and I encourage you to join us. Your TCWLA Board has been very busy over the summer, and we have some exciting news to share with you.
TCWLA has launched a new and improved website! You should have received an email with detailed information this week. Please use this letter to finalize your user registration on our new site so that you can take advantage of all its benefits. Some of the best features about the new site are that it makes our upcoming events much easier to find and register. It makes your personal profile much easier to view and edit, and the overall layout is designed to be much more user- friendly. In addition to our website, we will also be post- ing updates and pictures on Facebook. If you have not joined our page, please do so today.
Our new website has al- lowed TCWLA to make an important change to a ―rolling membership style. Now, your $40 annual dues will provide you an active membership for 365- days, regardless of when you renew or join, and you will automatically be notified when it is time to renew for the following year (rather than collecting $40 dues in January of each year).
TCWLA will also be bring- ing you several new events this year. We will be hosting some of our membership CLE meetings after work (instead of at lunch only) to provide an opportunity for attendance by our members who cannot break away during a hectic afternoon. We are also in the process of planning other evening events to let our members socialize, network, and have some fun! This fall, TCWLA plans to put on a half-day CLE program, which we hope will provide you with an informative, interesting, and affordable way to obtain your credit hours. TCWLA is also get- ting involved with Austin’s public schools to educate all grades of school children about internet safety issues and the legal ramifications of misconduct committed through today’s technology. Finally, this Veteran’s Day weekend we will be joining the wonderful ―Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans‖ program established by our State Bar and headed up locally by JoAnn Merica. There will be a one- day clinic where attorneys can volunteer to help veterans with basic legal is- sues. This is one of the best ways to truly thank our men and women of service. Volunteers with experience in bankruptcy, family law, wills/estates and probate are especially needed, but all attorney volunteers will be valued. We sincerely hope that you will participate with us in these great new fall programs, and we’ll have more activities for you in the spring.
Of course, I would never want to overlook our traditions, and TCWLA has some great ―regularly-scheduled‖ events that are also starting up this month! We begin with our monthly CLE/ membership luncheon on September 15, at which Robyn Hargrove will teach us how to avoid legal malpractice—something that is of critical importance for all practitioners! In December, we look forward to seeing you all at our annual Holiday Party downtown, so make sure to watch for the date and place to be announced soon.
Of course, I would never want to overlook our traditions, and TCWLA has some great ―regularly-scheduled‖ events that are also starting up this month! We begin with our monthly CLE/ membership luncheon on September 15, at which Robyn Hargrove will teach us how to avoid legal malpractice—something that is of critical importance for all practitioners! In December, we look forward to seeing you all at our annual Holiday Party downtown, so make sure to watch for the date and place to be announced soon.
Austin Lawyers Support Group
As the topic of the last State of Texas Bar Journal suggests, taking care of ourselves is key to being able to provide the highest quality services to our clients. Consider attending these meetings or contact Cameron Vann if you want to support the groups in other ways.
What: A confidential monthly education and support group for lawyers, judges and law students seeking help or support while healing from depression, addiction, job stress, anxiety and other mental health issues.
When: Every last Thursday of the month from 12:00 to 1:00 PM Where: 816 Congress, in the “Longhorn Room”, Room 320.
Free Parking under the building. Enter the parking area from 9th street.
Format: 30 minute speaker – an expert from the mental health field. 30 minute peer support – lawyers supporting lawyers
Contact: TLAP support is from Cameron Vann, J.D. Cameron.vann@texasbar.com , (512) 427-1453 or (800) 343-8527.
Please pass this information on to other lawyers who may be interested.
Meet Your Board Member Cindy Connolly, President-Elect
Practice Area: Civil Liti- gation
Employer: Scott, Douglass & McConnico, LLP Education: Although Cindy received her law de- gree from the University of Texas, her blood bleeds blue. Cindy graduated from Duke University in 1993 and is an avid Duke basket- ball fan. Cindy returned to Cameron Indoor Stadium to watch the Blue Devils in action last season for the first time since graduation. Cindy is proud to report that she is still a Cameron Crazy.
Employment: Cindy has been with Scott, Douglass & McConnico since she clerked with the firm in law school 14 years ago. She
became a partner of the firm in 2001. Grateful to be with the greatest group of litiga- tors in Austin, Texas, Cindy has no plans to ever leave sd&m.
Organizations: As a young lawyer, Cindy was Chair of the Athletics Committee for the Austin Young Lawyers Association and organized an annual charity auction to benefit Texas Special Olym- pics. Cindy is currently the Past Chair of the Civil Liti- gation Section of the Austin Bar Association and now serves as President Elect of TCWLA.
Interests: Cindy loves to run. She logs most of her miles before the sun comes up when her mommy and lawyer jobs begin. She enjoys competing in races of all distances from 5k’s to marathons. She will be running her 30th marathon on December 5th in Sacramento, California. For Cindy, running is a source of stress release, meditation and girl time.
Family: Cindy is blessed with happy healthy kids and a super supportive husband. Mac (8) and Jessie (6) keep their parents busy with soccer, football, basketball, running, art, music and gymnastics. Cindy and her family love to travel to the mountains for skiing, to the beach for relaxing and to her family’s island in Can- ada for family time with the cousins.
Food FROM THE BAR” FOOD DONATION DRIVE Need for Continued Support
AUSTIN, TEXAS (July, 2010) – ―FOOD FROM THE BAR‖ is a proven anti- hunger program supported by Texas Women Lawyers (TWL) along with the Travis County Women Lawyers Association (TCWLA) to benefit the Capital Area Food Bank. Throughout the summer, women lawyers in Austin coordinated this second annual ―FOOD FROM THE BAR‖ food drive to fill the bank while school is out. This campaign helps ensure that children have enough to eat during summer months when there are no subsidized school lunches.
According to campaign coordinator and past president of both organizations, Susan Morrison, ―Our goal was to raise $5,000 in donations of cash or food, with boxes to be filled at area law firms, and we are close to achieving it.‖ She said, ―The economy hit the Capital Area Food Bank extra hard this year, so we are challenging other bar associations statewide to work with their local food bank to raise money.
The participating law firms are The Fowler Law Firm (Susan Morrison); Brown McCarroll (Mary Evelyn McNamara); Vinson & Elkins (Lisa Hobbs); Scott, Douglass & McConnico (Cindy Connolly); Jackson & Walker (Marilyn Montano); Graves Daugherty (Susan Burton); Gillman & Associates (Holly Gillman); Ogletree Deakins (Courtney Smith); Winstead (Zeena Angadicheril), and K&L Gates. Also, the Austin Bar Association and Castle Hill Fitness agreed to host donation boxes again this year. We encourage donations on-line to the Capital Area Food Bank at http://cafbtx.convio.net/TWL.
With every $1 donated, the Food Bank can provide 5 nutritious meals. Financial donations made to the Capital Area Food Bank are tax-deductible. The most needed nonperishable items are canned tuna, stew, and chili in pop-top containers; canned green beans and corn; pasta and pasta sauce; pinto beans and rice; healthy cereal; peanut butter; ready-to-eat baby formula and baby food.
Texas Women Lawyers Assoc. is committed to the empowerment of women lawyers to achieve full rights, privileges and responsibilities in the legal profession. Membership in both TWL and TCWLA is open to men and women. For more information visit www.texaswomenlawyers.org and www.tcwla.org.
In Memory of Lori Tullos Barta: 1971-2010
Lori Tullos Barta, a former Board member of the Austin Young Lawyers Association, passed away Thursday, August 19 from complications following heart surgery. She was a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and has worked as assistant general counsel at the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
A passionate and energetic woman, Barta was very active with AYLA’s mock trial program. She also served as president of the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas in 2008 and 2009. She was involved with the association for six years after the birth of her middle daughter Hannah, who has Down syndrome. Barta developed an Educator Manual and training program – currently in use in local school districts – for teachers of individuals with Down syndrome.
The family held services on August 24 at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 3201 Windsor Road. She is survived by her husband, Adam, and three beautiful daughters, Emma, Hannah, and Sarah.
Lori will be greatly missed by friends and family. Contributions may be made in the following ways:
Donate to a trust fund being set up for the family, to support Lori’s daughters’ needs now and into the future. Make checks payable to ―Family of Lori Barta‖ and send to DSACT at 3710 Cedar Street, Box 3, Austin, Texas 78705.
Donate to DSACT in honor of Lori Barta. Go to http:// lori.dsact.com/ or make checks payable to DSACT, with a note that the gift is in honor of Lori Barta. These gifts will go first to sustain the education programs and services that Lori created and about which she cared so deeply, and then to other DSACT initiatives of greatest need. Checks may be sent to DSACT at 3710 Cedar Street, Box 3, Austin, Texas 78705.
TCWLA & TWL are currently considering how to help take Lori’s training program statewide to ensure her legacy of contributions
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