YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION
Thanks to those behind our virtual bar year
As we bring this bar year to an end , I would like to thank the many members who have contributed to our organization over the past year . In the midst of a global crisis , these members continued to contribute and serve our members , making us one of the most active bar associations across the country this past year . You can be sure that when they signed up for service , they imagined something quite different , including the opportunity to interact in person . Instead , they were faced with reimagining our entire schedule of events . These members stepped up to the challenge with creativity and enthusiasm , creating many new and innovative events to ensure our members were not left without opportunities to gather and interact ( even if virtual ), educational programming , and mental and physical wellness ( more important than ever ).
Inaugural events this year included the media club , Beyond Lip Service , created by Jill Bowen to gather and discuss books and movies ; Health is the New Wealth , a lunch presentation organized by Yuliya Swaim , with a presentation by certified health nutrition coach Sandy King ; a Wednesday morning virtual yoga
YLD PRESIDENT ’ S COLUMN
Sara Castro Potts , Esq . Castro Potts Law Firm , PLLC
MEMBERSHIP
Welcome , new members ! session ( surprisingly well attended for 7:30 a . m .); a virtual wine and charcuterie tasting with Michael ’ s on East owner Michael Klauber ; a virtual candle making workshop ; and amazing charitable participation with Salvation Army Angel Tree and a mask drive to support Sarasota ’ s Multicultural Health Institute that was spotlighted as an event to steal by the National Association of Bar Executives ( reaching more than 250 bar associations throughout the country ).
In addition , traditional events continued as well , including support for Tanner ’ s Turkeys and the 12th Judicial Circuit High School Mock Trial held entirely virtually ( with Patrick McArdle and Jennifer Hicks doing an extraordinary amount of work to revamp the format and somehow coordinate that many Zoom breakout rooms ).
Please recognize and thank these members when you see them in person — they spent an entire year serving the membership and missed the social and networking opportunities that normally accompany the hard work . The Young Lawyers Division board consisted of Patrick McArdle , President-Elect ; Caroleen Brej , Secretary ; Natasha Selvaraj , Treasurer ; Brian
The following represents each new member ’ s name , law school , year of admission to The Florida Bar , and law firm association .
n James Clegg : Stetson University ; 2021 ; Gulfcoast Legal Services , Inc .
n Cathy LeBeau : Widener University School of Law ; 1994 ; Sarasota Memorial Hospital
n David Trevett : Barry University ; 2008 ; Law Offices of David H . Trevett , P . L .
Affiliate Member n Evelyn Galarza : Keane & Keane
Goodrich , Immediate Past President ; and Directors Warren Chin , Jade Davis , Alisa Heedy , Pamela Hernandez , Mallory Moretti , Robert Young , and Frank Malatesta , South County Representative . Committee chairs were Jill Bowen , Warren Chin , Jade Davis , Frank Malatesta , Yuliya Swaim , and Patrick McArdle . Committee members Alisa Heedy , Andrew Conaboy , Nicole Christie , Jamie Koepsel , Jennifer Hicks , Jenny Burns , Mallory Moretti , Michael Cowgill , Natasha Selvaraj , Jomayra Belmonte , Pamela Hernandez , Patrick Iyampillai , Rob Young , Tyler Stall , with many serving on multiple committees . Serving many , many roles , Jill Bowen and Pamela Hernandez also did the difficult and thankless job of editing The Docket this year — thank you for your massive contribution !
As always , a special thanks to Holly Lipps for keeping our organization running this past year , somehow keeping us all in line ( because we all know how easy attorneys are to work with ) and ensuring we provide robust programming to our members . Holly did all this without an assistant or any support staff due to COVID , so please continue to thank her for her wonderful work .
Thank you for staying with us this bar year and thank you for attending events . I have enjoyed beginning to see you all again in person and look forward to returning to many of our traditional annual events .
PRESIDENT
Continued from Page 5 Association , its leaders , and its members are . I look forward to watching it continue to grow under incoming President Dana
Keane ’ s leadership . Dana has a strong history of service and leadership , and I expect Dana to shine in the upcoming year , back in person and back in the spotlight .
THE DOCKET · AUGUST 2021 7