April 30, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Back by Popular Demand!
Tuesday – April 24, 2012
5:30 – 7:00
Tap 42
1411 S. Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
1/2 Priced Drinks (excluding bourbon)
Complimentary Happy Hour Food
No RSVP Necessary
Call Traci Lewis at BCBA
(954)832-3618,or e-mail if you have any questions
Don’t Miss It!!!
Spring… a Time of Growth and Renewal
For many, Spring represents a time of renewal and re-growth. It is a season of change and a time when many of us make plans for the months ahead. Not surprisingly, at this time of year the Bar begins to make plans for the next fiscal year, which will lead to various changes and ultimately our continued growth as an organization. The first step in that process begins with our upcoming elections. By now you should have already received an email from the Bar advising you of the election process. In the event you have not received an email from us, please contact the Bar Center so they can send you the link to cast your vote. You may cast your vote for the 2012-2013 Board of Directors between Monday, April 2nd and Monday, April 16th. Any votes cast after 5:00p.m. on April 16th will not be considered. In our continued effort to “go green” and to reduce costs, there will not be any paper ballots mailed out this year and, therefore, you may only cast your vote electronically. We truly have an outstanding group of people running for the Board and I encourage you to review their bios to learn more about their backgrounds. There are several Board members who are not returning next year and I would like to recognize their accomplishments. Those Board members include: Winney Kessler, Todd McPharlin, Ed Holodak, Stuart House, Richard Sachs, and Bruce Weihe. These individuals are not only talented lawyers but they have dedicated hours of their time giving back to the Bar and they serve as an example of what it truly means to be an “active” Bar member. Their unwavering commitment and service to the Bar is truly commendable and I cannot thank them enough for their support during my term as President.
During the last few weeks we have also begun to develop the budget for next year and I can assure you that many programs and events are being planned for our members. Even our By-Laws are in the process of being revised. I want to thank Stuart House and the entire By-Laws Committee for all of their hard work. In the next few weeks, you will be afforded the opportunity to review the suggested revisions, and the By-Laws will then be voted on by the membership at the Annual Meeting and Installation Dinner scheduled for June 7th. The Publicity Committee is also busy working on developing a plan to change the format of the Barrister as well as the manner in which it will be disseminated to members in the coming year. These are just a few of the changes being made which will help our organization continue to grow and prosper.
I also want to take this time to congratulate Board members, Jeff Harris and Ken Hassett, who on behalf of the criminal law section arranged a fantastic CLE seminar during which attorney J. Cheney Mason discussed handling high profile cases. It was truly fascinating to learn about the Casey Anthony trial and some of the things that were not reported on by the media. The fact that he was so candid about his personal experience during and after the trial was unexpected and proved to be quite interesting. More importantly, it was wonderful to see so many assistant state attorneys and public defenders in attendance at this event. I sincerely want to thank Judges Martin Bidwell, Peter Weinstein, and Michael Robinson as well as the other judges on the criminal bench who agreed to close the criminal courts that day, which enabled many people to attend this event.
Finally, I want to remind you of several events that are taking place this month. On Thursday, April 5th, the 4th DCA has scheduled oral argument at the Broward County Courthouse in Courtroom 416 at 2:00p.m. A judicial reception will follow beginning at 4:30p.m. on the 7th Floor of the 110 Tower. Reservations are required to attend the reception. On Saturday, April 14th, the Bar is participating in the 2012 Autism Speaks Walk at Nova Southeastern University. To join our team, go to walknowforautismspeaks.org and follow the registration instructions. On April 13th, the Professionalism Committee has scheduled a CLE seminar titled “Putting Civility Back Into the Practice of Law.” Several Broward County Court Judges are scheduled to speak. For more information or to register for this event contact Traci Lewis at 954-832-3618 or traci@browardbar.org. On April 19th, the Employment Law Section has scheduled a CLE seminar titled “Recent Developments at the EEOC” beginning at noon at the Bar Center. On April 27th, the Family Law Section has scheduled their annual “Raising the Bar” Seminar from 8:30a.m.-4:30p.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel on 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale. You may contact Traci Lewis to register for these seminars as well. For a complete list of all of our upcoming events please visit our website at browardbar.org. Wishing you and your families a Happy Easter and Passover.
I recently was appointed chair of the BCBA Solo/Small Law Firm Networking Group of the Broward Bar but have been active in the group since its inception over ten years ago. I am a firm believer in the power of this group and can attest to the fact that this group works.
As the momentum and enthusiasm of our New Year’s Resolutions start wearing thin, it is important that we look at our practices and see where we are headed in 2012. Attorneys who are serious about growing their practices and profitability through referral marketing should look into opportunities provided by the Broward County Bar Solo/Small Law Firm Networking Group.
As a patent attorney, I have a very specialized practice and my client base consists primarily of referrals from other attorneys. My practice has grown steadily over the years and I attribute much of this growth to my participation in this group. It is wonderful to have potential clients that come to me not just because “they need a patent” but because another attorney told them they “need John Rizvi to get them a patent.”
Initial consultations with potential clients are much more productive and efficient when you are already viewed as the right person for the matter. The group also positions you as a valuable resource to your existing clients by making it easier for you to refer another attorney in your trusted network when they need help with an area of law that you are not familiar with.
As attorneys, it is impossible to build these types of referral networks from our offices or online (believe me, I have tried!). We need to get out there and develop referral relationships with other attorneys in non-competing practice groups. This is where the Broward Bar’s Solo/Small Firm Group works its magic by facilitating dinner and lunch meetings with like-minded attorneys in our area in practices of four (4) or fewer attorneys.
Next Dinner (Wednesday, May 16, 2012)
Please mark your calendar for the next Dinner Meeting on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at Dave & Busters at 3000 Oakwood Boulevard, Hollywood. Details and a link to register can be found on the Broward County Bar Association Website Events Calendar.
Become a Speaker
If you have not already spoken this year and have attended two prior dinner meetings, you are eligible to become one of the five speakers at the next dinner. The presentations should be short (five to six minutes) and are best received if they generally inform the attendees about you and your practice without overly detailed legal analysis. Remember that only a tiny subset of the group will be practicing within your area of law. Only the FIRST FIVE requests to speak can be honored and these are typically taken quickly so please sign up right away.
Attend one of the Lunches
One of the benefits of the BCBA Solo/Small Law Firm Networking Group is that we have bi-monthly lunches scattered throughout Broward County. You have to eat anyway, right? Why not network, share practice tips, and enjoy the company of other solo/small firm attorneys at the same time?
During the past year, most of the lunches have been sponsored so there has been absolutely no cost to attend for attendees. Even when we don’t have a sponsor, however, you pay only for your own order and there are no admin fees or bar costs on top of the tab.
Currently the lunches are held in the following locations:
Coconut Creek: Bru’s Room Sports Grill
5460 West Hillsboro Blvd, Suite B
Coconut Creek, Florida 33073
Events and Exhibits Focus on the National Theme: “Healthy Counties, Healthy Families”
MEDIA CONTACT: Kimberly Maroe,
Public Information Manager, Broward County Commission
PHONE: 954-357-8053
EMAIL: kmaroe@broward.org
Broward County Commissioners have officially proclaimed April as “National County Government Month” and encourage all County officials, employees, community partners and residents to participate in activities promoting “Healthy Counties, Healthy Families.”
National County Government Month, a National Association of Counties (NACo) program, is a time for residents to learn more about the programs and services of the Broward County Commission and the impact of those services on the community.
An educational display highlighting County programs that contribute to our community’s good health will be featured throughout the month at the Governmental Center Lobby, 115 South Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Government Center West, One University Drive in Plantation, will host an exhibit focusing on men’s health issues.
Broward County libraries will feature a book display at the Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, which includes books, DVDs, CDs and reference material available to residents to begin or maintain a healthy lifestyle.
A number of activities to celebrate National County Government Month are also planned at Broward County Parks and other County facilities. Highlights include a free chair yoga class and nature stroll at Anne Kolb Nature Center in Hollywood; a nutritional cooking class at the Governmental Center; and a gardening demonstration where participants will receive free seedlings for healthy vegetables such as okra, Asian long beans and eggplant. For dates, times and locations of these and other events, visit broward.org/healthycounty.
NACo encourages the thousands of counties across the country to participate in National County Government Month each year as a way to raise public awareness and understanding about the roles and responsibilities of county government.
[Photo Caption: Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief (far left) presents a proclamation designating April as National County Government Month to members of the Broward Regional Health Council.]
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