CBA Celebrates at 2003 Annual Meeting

CBA Celebrates at 2003 Annual Meeting

The Lincoln gavel passed to newly installed CBA president Michael K. Demetrio from the outgoing president, Jennifer Nijman, at the 130^th CBA Annual Meeting luncheon held June 25^th at the Standard Club.

Newly installed officers and board members were welcomed by Election Committee Chair Phillip Corboy, including First Vice President Michael B. Hyman, Secretary Dan Reidy, Treasurer Kevin Durkin, and new board members elected for two-year terms: Anita Alvarex,, James Carey, Tuben Chapa, Robert Clifford, Daniel Cotter, Loretto Kennedy, Langdon Neal, Richard Neville, and Brian Redding. Continuing with another year of service on the board are Hon. Wayne Andersen, Cynthia Besecker, Terri Mascherin, James Montana, Jr., Kathleen Dillon Narko, Timothy Nickels, Hon. E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., and E. Steven Yonover.

Nijman thanked her family, friends, and colleagues for their support and highlighted many of the major accomplishments of the CBA during her term as president, including: the Access to Justice Program whereby Chancery Court judges may appoint volunteer attorneys to certain Chancery Court cases to represent low income litigants in a variety of matters; the "Statement of Principles" and "Guidelines for General Counsels" developed by the Special Commissions On Diversity in Law Firms; and the continued stellar efforts of the Judicial Evaluation Committee. Nijman also introduced the CBA’s new free personalized "Web portal" powered by FindLaw and developed in conjunction with Thompson West at www.mychicagobar.org. The portal will give CBA members convenient access to key Internet resources and CBA-specific content and information.

Demetrio relished the opportunity to "show off" the CBA and its accomplishments by welcoming a visiting delegation of the judiciary of St. Petersburg, Russia, one of Chicago’s "sister"cities. He described what he viewed as the four "C’s" of the CBA: Commitment, Civility, Collegiality, and Charity and encouraged everyone to attend the new open houses he will host at the CBA on the third Thursday of every month. Demetrio also highlighted the newly renamed Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Lend a Hand Program, which will continue to support exceptional mentoring programs that serve young people in disadvantaged Chicago area communities. Demetrio encouraged everyone to participate in the Program by volunteering their time as mentors, providing financial support, and/or donating tickets to cultural, educational and athletic events to be distributed to worthy mentoring programs for children. The Program will also continue to award the Thomas A. Demetrio Award of Excellence, given annually to what is judged to be the most exemplary youth mentoring program in Chicago. The Award, which includes a large cash prize, is named for Demetrio’s brother, a past CBA president.

Demetrio, thrilled to have the privilege to serve as the CBA’s 130^th president, told the capacity crowd to look forward to another great year at the CBA.