E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R ’ S M E S S A G E J o h n F . K y n e s –
H i l l s b o r o u g h C o u n t y B a r A s s o c i a t i o n
Continuedfrompage10
Youmans were among the many HCBA members who were involved in MVAC ’ s early development .
He said MVAC has also benefitted from the longtime support of the many local judges who have served in the military , including Steve Berlin , Richard Weis , Michael Scionti and Daryl Manning .
One major MVAC project involved the establishment of a Veterans Legal Assistance Registry ( VLAR ), which helps connect MVAC members and local veterans and active-duty military personnel who are in need of legal assistance .
HCBA Board member Matt Hall , a U . S . Army veteran himself , said the registry has become a valuable resource for local veterans .
“ With the support of HCBA members , the legal registry has gone from concept to reality ,” Hall told me .
He said more than 100 attorneys are now involved in the registry and that it is a model for legal groups in Florida and around the country interested in developing their own veterans ’ assistance program .
Hall emphasized that HCBA members do not have to be veterans themselves to be involved in the registry .
MVAC has scheduled a reception in April at the Ferguson Law Center to celebrate the work of all the VLAR participants .
MVAC also provides mentors and support to the 13th Judicial Circuit ’ s Veterans Treatment Court ( VTC ), which is a specialized court established to serve veterans currently in or about to enter the criminal justice system .
Judge Scionti , a Judge Advocate General ( JAG ) in the U . S . Army Reserve , currently presides over the VTC .
This year , Robert Barton and Janae Thomas are the co-chairs of MVAC .
“ We worked to help MVAC successfully navigate through the pandemic ,” Barton told me . “ This year , we have been focused on bringing MVAC members back together to provide camaraderie and support through various education and social programs .”
Barton said MVAC has benefitted from the strong support of some HCBA members over the years , including HCBA Immediate Past President Cory Person , DJ Reyes , David Veenstra , Alex Srsic and Colleen O ’ Brien .
Thomas highlighted some of MVAC ’ s veterans ’ outreach efforts and unique educational programs .
One recent event at the Ferguson Law Center featured Brig . Gen . Ronald Sullivan , who is the Chief Judge for the U . S . Army Court of Appeals .
Brig . Gen . Sullivan spent time talking to HCBA members and local law students about opportunities available with the Judge Advocate General ( JAG ) corps .
This past November , MVAC hosted an event where 13th Judicial Circuit Judge Daryl Manning , a U . S . Army veteran , was honored in a virtual statewide ceremony as the local recipient of the 2nd Annual Florida Patriot Award .
In addition , MVAC , in collaboration with the George Edgecomb Bar Association ( GEBA ), hosted an inspirational luncheon in February featuring Roy Caldwood , who , at 100 , is the oldest living member of the Buffalo Soldiers , the all-Black infantry division that served during World War II ( photos from the luncheon on page 59 ).
MVAC members continue to support and serve veterans and our local military community in many ways .
And for that sense of duty , we should all be grateful . n
SAVE
the DATE
Wednesday , April 26 , 2023 “ BridgingtheDEIGapinLaw ” DocumentaryPremiere ChesterFergusonLawCenter
Thursday , May 9 , 2023
LawDayMembershipLuncheon HiltonDowntown hcba events
Thursday , May 18 , 2023 Law & LibertyDinner HiltonTampaDowntown
STAYCONNECTED .
Learn more about HCBA events at www . hillsbar . com . m a r - a p r 2 0 2 3 | H C B a L a W Y E r
1 1