SOUTH COUNTY
President’ s
COLUMN
Reflections and Recommendations
by Jacqulyn Mack-Majka, Esq. Mack-Majka Law Firm Chartered, Inc.
As I reflect on the start of the 2024 – 2025 term for the South County Division of the Sarasota County Bar Association, I must begin with the extraordinary resilience of our members. The first few months of our Bar year were marked by three historic weather events that deeply affected our community.
First, Hurricane Debby brought 11 – 20 inches of rain to Sarasota County between August 7 and 8, causing major flooding. On September 26, Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, delivered a devastating storm surge, followed by Hurricane Milton making landfall just north of Siesta Key on October 10. These storms disrupted daily life, damaged property, and tested our community’ s resolve.
Yet, in true South County spirit, we carried on with grace, determination, and a commitment to staying connected.
We officially launched our Bar year on September 12, 2024, with our Kickoff Dinner and Board Inauguration at the Plantation Golf & Country Club. Special thanks to the Honorable Hunter Carroll, who kindly administered the Oath of Office to our 2024 – 2025 Board of Directors. We also held a successful 50 / 50 raffle to support the creation of a lactation room at the South County Courthouse. Thank you to all board members and volunteers who helped make this event a warm and welcoming start to our year. We are also deeply grateful to our exclusive sponsor, Perinovic & Albrecht Electrical Service, for their support.
Our fall event calendar continued with the Wine, Beer & Tapas social on November 14 at the Historic Venice Train Station. Always a favorite among members. Attendance was smaller this year, undoubtedly due to the storm recovery efforts, but those who joined us enjoyed a lively evening. The following morning, the Second District Court of Appeal held oral arguments in Venice, preceded by“ Java with the Judges,” a casual meet-and-greet sponsored by Mack-Majka Law Firm Chartered, Inc. We thank the full board and member volunteers for their hard work organizing and promoting both events.
We wrapped up the year with our annual Courthouse Holiday Party, catered once again by Big Mike’ s Pizza and sponsored by our fabulous law firms. From decorating and setup to cleanup and refreshments, the entire board stepped up to make the event festive and fun for everyone.
Our first event of 2025, the February Sporting Clays Event at Knights Trail, was a hit, as always. It remains one of our most popular traditions, and it was wonderful to see strong participation and enthusiasm. A special thank you to Skip Berg for his tireless efforts and to Crews Bank for the exclusive sponsorship.
Spring brought our second annual“ Dueling Pianos” event, hosted at Capstan Financial Consulting Group in Wellen Park. Thanks to beautiful weather and a stunning sunset backdrop, the evening was a highlight of the season. We’ re grateful to our hosts and to the event committee for making it such a success.
14 | THE DOCKET- AUGUST SUMMER 2025 2024