PRESIDENT'S ARTICLE- A FOND FAREWELL

It has been my great pleasure to serve as your President this past year.  It truly is a highlight of my life and legal career, and I have been honored to follow so many great lawyers before me.  I began the year with an article on the Bar’s new pro bono effort and stood before the Bar at the February CLE explaining my vision for a “Justice League” in which we help one another fulfill our Lawyers Oath to “assist the defenseless or oppressed by ensuring that justice is available to all citizens.”  We formed a new Pro Bono Committee in which many of our Bar Members spent long hours developing strategies and implementing a pro bono program in the 13th Circuit.  The end result of this effort was the founding of the Greenville Bar Pro Bono Foundation and the commitment of a multitude of our members to participate in the new program.  I am particularly grateful to Jennifer Howe who spearheaded this effort and to Justice John Few who promoted the development of a software program to connect our lawyers to needs in the community.  There is much work left to do, and I hope you will join in as the program becomes functional in 2018.

In addition, the Bar had other firsts this year.  We enjoyed the rollout of our new website at the February CLE.  This website has helped get information to our members and allowed for a much more efficient method to sign up for our events.  It also has provided helpful information to the public concerning locating a lawyer or obtaining information about legal resources.  Chris Schoen was particularly instrumental in this effort, and we are grateful for his hard work and innovation.  We also upgraded the Gbar News in an improved format, and I am very thankful to Reid Sherard for making this happen and for all of his efforts as Public Relations Chair. 

And of course we have enjoyed the exceptional events, gatherings, and CLE opportunities that always have been a hallmark of our Bar.  These events promote the collegiality and professionalism that we are known for so well.  From the February CLE to the December Christmas Party, from the Tommy Thomason Award Luncheon (honoring Andy Goldsmith) to the Ham House Spring Luncheon (honoring Judge Pyle) to the Memorial Service (honoring eight of those we lost last year), from the July Pool Party to the October BBQ, and from Young Lawyer social hours to breakfasts for senior attorneys at the Ham House, we were able to spend quality time together and even learn a few things at our luncheons from guest speakers Justice John Few, Frank Eppes, and John Mauldin.  I am very grateful for the efforts of Lance Crick (CLE Chair), Dave Edwards (Social Chair), Courtney Atkinson (Memorial Chair), Nathan Farmer (Law Week Chair), Chris Schoen (Programs Chair), Katie Grove (Membership Chair), and Caroline Newton (Young Lawyers Chair) for making these events happen.

I also want to recognize other members of our Executive Committee for their hard work:  Frank Eppes as Judicial Relations Chair, Jeanne Howard as Nominating and Tommy Thomason Award Chair, Theresa Horton and Derrick Quattlebaum as Caring Co-Chairs, Chip Price as Client Relations Chair, and Paul Wickensimer as our Clerk of Court.  The entire Executive Committee has been fantastic and worked hard for our members.  In addition, I am so proud to serve with an amazing group of officers:  Jennifer Howe as President Elect, Kirby Mitchell as Secretary, and Powers Price as Treasurer.  The commitment from this group has been nothing short of amazing, particularly in their work to establish the pro bono program.  There has been no greater reward to me than working with these fine attorneys and friends. 

And next year we will all be fortunate to be led by our newly elected officers Jennifer Howe as President, Kirby Mitchell as President Elect, Powers Price as Secretary, and our newest officer, Lance Crick, as Treasurer.  Lance has worked so hard over many years to organize the February CLE, and his election as Treasurer is well deserved, as is the election of all of our officers.  And last but not least, thank you to our Executive Director, Melinda Davidson.  We all know Melinda as the one who checks us in at events and who hands out the gifts at the Christmas Party.  But behind the scenes, she keeps EVERYTHING running smoothly.  She is the heart and soul of the Bar, and I could not possibly say enough about how much she does for the Bar.  Thank you, Melinda.  We could not have done it without you.

Well, it is time to say farewell.  I am glad to pass the baton to Jennifer Howe, who I know for certain will do a fantastic job.  And finally, thank you to you, our Bar members, for your participation and commitment to the Greenville Bar, the profession, and our new Justice League.  It has been a wonderful 2017, and even better things are coming in 2018!