areas of law in educational webinars .
Trivia Mondays continued to be popular , with forty members submitting correct answers and winning gift cards to Fifth Group Restaurants , Painting With a Twist , Vino Venue , and Southern Belle ( Board Member Emily Ward ’ s restaurant located in The Plaza on Ponce ). Questions highlighted little known facts about the Bar and its leaders . For example , one question provided details about the career of Randolph William Thrower , Atlanta Bar President from 1958- 59 . He served under President Richard Nixon as IRS Commissioner and won the American Bar Association ’ s Medal , its highest honor for public , professional and government service .
Tech Tuesdays included a Privacy & Cybersecurity Section event featuring a panel discussion about technology and privacy relevant to all attorneys . Panelists included Nikole Davenport , Vice President of Privacy & CPO of HITRUST , Mae-Beth Magno , Senior Privacy and Information Manager at Northrup Grumman , and Heather Kuhn , Privacy and Governance Consultant with Cox Communications . Section Chair Stephen Bush wanted to provide a substantive and enjoyable presentation geared to attorneys who do not specialize in privacy or cybersecurity . “ These topics can be esoteric and dry . The general purpose was to bring the topics down to a conversational level that most attorneys could understand and appreciate ,” he explained . Bush notes that roughly one-half of the audience were not Section members . He hopes that more attorneys in other practice areas will join the
Wellness Wednesdays focused on four interesting programs , addressing Medicare , aging , yoga , and self care . The ABCDs of Medicare for Busy Attorneys featured Presenter Erica Dumpel , CLU , Founder of CDA , Inc . Topics included when and how to sign up for Medicare , and various Medicare options . A second presentation , Long Term Care Preparation : Conversations for Clients and Family , focused on difficult transitions of physical and cognitive changes related to the aging process . Attorney attendees were taught how to address these issues with clients , business associates , and family . Other wellness events focused on small actions that yield big results . Committee Chair Minerva Steele urged Atlanta Bar members to “ refocus on ourselves , not in a selfish way , but in a way that keeps us healthy and motivated to keep going .” A Bend it With Beverly yoga class , hosted by Beverly Fratto , was designed to calm minds and destress bodies . Fratto , a 500 HR RYT Certified Yoga Instructor and current student at John Marshall Law School , showed attendees simple stretches that led to immediate relief for attorneys who were often glued to their laptop screens for longer than usual periods of time in the pandemic . Another Wellness event featured Board member Abbey Morrow leading panelists in a program titled Thirty Minutes to Feeling Better . Presenters Tara Craighead , a Barre3 studio owner , and Shelley Senterfitt , an attorney turned therapist , reminded attendees of the importance of putting the oxygen mask on yourself before you try to help others . Speakers lauded the Georgia Bar ’ s Attorney Wellness page ( https :// www . gabar . org / wellness /), and told attendees that they can schedule six pre-paid therapy appointments per year . Senterfitt pointed out the importance of “ micro moments of self care ,” including noticing your breath , getting out in nature , and having a gratitude practice to elevate your mood . Meditation apps such as Calm and Insight Timer may also be useful , too . Craighead noted that “ movement can be anything ” and you do not have to engage in a complicated or lengthy exercise session to feel better . A short walk can be beneficial for your body and mind .
Theater Thursdays focused on the arts . Given the limitations of the pandemic , rather than a live program , members were able to access recordings of musical numbers from the popular and beloved Bard Shows , written by and starring a cast made up entirely of talented lawyers and judges . Beginning with the first A Courthouse Line production in 1999 , the Bard Shows have raised more than $ 350,000 to support the charitable activities of the Atlanta Bar Foundation .
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Replays of the classic Bard Show performances from years past included A Courthouse Line IX Show : Law School Musical , A Courthouse Line XII Show : Mock the Vote , A Courthouse Line VIII Show : Saving Private Practice , and A Courthouse Line Tribute Show : One Singular Sensation . The latter show honored the creator and long-time Bard Show director , Cathy O ’ Neil . It highlighted some of the most memorable moments from O ’ Neil ’ s eight shows . Former Bar President , Bard Show Producer and Georgia State University College of Law Professor Maggie Vath hopes that the showings will spur members to try out for the next live show , anticipated hopefully in 2022 .
Theater Thursdays also included a virtual Oscar party where attendees glammed up and discussed their predictions . Registrations received an Oscars Predictions sheet to fill out . The challenge was to accurately predict the major races , and a few upsets may have prevented a winner this year .
Additional presentations during the month were planned to provide members with helpful information that could inspire immediate action or educate them about a specific area of law . In Law School Debt Relief Basics : How to Repay Your Loans and Earn Public Service Loan Forgiveness , Equal Justice Works helped attendees understand their loans , unpack the income driven repayment plans that are available , and how to earn Public Service Loan Forgiveness . Speaker Aoife Delargy Lowe is Vice President of Law School Engagement & Advocacy , Equal Justice Works . Former Governor Roy Barnes was featured in a Thought Leader Series : Zooms at Noon – Mass Tort and MDL . Former Governor Roy Barnes , who practices widely in the area , joined Professor Elizabeth Chamblee Burch in conversation about the current state of mass tort cases and their future .
If you have ideas for other in person or virtual events , email jcoleman @ atlantabar .
www . atlantabar . org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 27