Legal Services of North Dakota: A look back at 2017
By Adele Hedley Page, Deputy Director, Legal Services of North Dakota
As we enter 2018, Legal Services of North Dakota( LSND) looks back on 2017 as an eventful and inspiring year. Not only was our client work fulfilling and interesting, LSND engaged in exciting transformational activities. The organization engaged consultants to create a comprehensive strategic plan and train our board on significant board governance issues. Springing from these endeavors was an exciting opportunity. The president of the Legal Services Corporation( LSC), James“ Jim” J. Sandman, visited Bismarck to inspire our staff, board, and invited guests about the mission of legal aid. The invited guests included Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle, President of the North Dakota Bar Foundation Jack McDonald, and Executive Director of the State Bar Association Tony Weiler.
It all happened suddenly. Our comprehensive strategic planning session was set months in advance to take place on Friday, Sept. 29. We knew in advance our contacts at LSC, most of whom we knew well, were going to join our board training session on Saturday, Sept. 30. LSC, our federal funder, provides extensive support to its grantees, including LSND. Grayce Wiggins, our LSC program counsel, William Sulik, our LSC compliance officer, and Janice Fontall, LSC fiscal compliance analyst, were all slated in advance to join us.
But then, about a week before our meetings, Grayce called. She met with Jim Sandman to see if she could get him to videotape an inspiring message for our board and staff, but he had another idea. Jim flew from the District of Columbia to Bismarck, arriving in the early morning hours of Saturday, Sept. 30, and spoke to our staff, board, and honored guests.
Jim Sandman, LSC president, traveled to North Dakota for the LSND board training session.
A visit from the president of the LSC is a big deal for a number of reasons. Primarily, Jim got his job for a good reason: he is a talented advocate for the promotion of equal access to justice. Also, Jim’ s organization provides support and grants to 133 independent nonprofit legal aid programs with more than 800 offices. Despite LSND being statewide in a geographically large state, we are one of the smallest of those 133.
Jim Sandman, center, with the LSND board of directors.
Left to right, Grayce Wiggins, LSC program counsel; Rich LeMay, LSND executive director; Chief Justice Gerald W. VandeWalle; Janice Fontell, LSC fiscal compliance analyst; Jim Sandman, LSC president; William Sulik, LSC Office of Compliance and Enforcement program counsel.
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