Community Law Program's (CLP) Board of Trustees recently hosted its Annual Meeting and Awards Reception at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.   This event is one of our signature events where we express our sincere appreciation to our many volunteers and supporters. This event was made possible by the following generous sponsors:

• Fisher & Sauls, P.A.
• Martin E. Rice, Esq.
• The Law Offices of Carin M. Constantine
• The Law and Mediation Offices of Murray B. Silverstein, P.A.
• Stetson University College of Law
• Synovus Securities, Inc.

During this reception, Judge Peter Ramsberger and Linda Perrigoue, President of CLP’s Board of Trustees, presented plaques to the following attorneys and supporters whose contributions on behalf of Community Law were extraordinary in 2008.

• Therese Kane – David L. Stout Award (CLP’s highest pro bono award), in recognition of over 150 hours of pro bono work on behalf of a Spanish-speaking young woman with two children involved in a bitterly contested divorce
• Watson R. Sinden – Christina Ippolito Award for outstanding contribution in the area of Family Law, in recognition of pro bono work on behalf of a single father raising 4 children retain custody
• Patricia Lee – Larry Hyman Volunteer Clinic Award, for many years of faithful participation in our Courthouse Legal Assistance Clinic
• Peter Rivellini of Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP – The Newcomer Award, in recognition of transactional pro bono work on behalf of a transitional housing non-profit organization
• Nawal Batteh of Fisher & Sauls, P.A. – The Young Lawyers Award, in recognition of participation in Elder Law and Courthouse Legal Assistance Clinic, and preparation of over a dozen wills & advance directives for seniors
• Abbey Adams – Law Firm Award, in recognition of firm-wide participation in Sanderlin Civil Legal Clinic
• Sixth Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program– The Outreach Award, in recognition for collaboration with CLP in provision of legal assistance to teenagers in the foster care system

We also welcomed new board member, Charles Minnis, Manager of the Pinellas County Self Help Center, and bid a fond farewell to departing member, Kelly Feeley. Kelly Feeley faithfully served on CLP’s board for over four years as the representative from Stetson University College of Law, including serving as Secretary.

CLP operates 21 advice and self help clinic sessions per month. The staff solicits volunteers for these clinics for six months at a time. The following attorneys were recognized for extraordinary participation in our clinic program in 2008:
• Patricia Hastings – Elder Law
• Nyjola Grybauskas – Representing Yourself Clinic
• Barry Salzman – Gulfcoast Wednesday Evening Clinic
• Lois Sears – Family Law Forms Review Clinic
• James Runyon – Divorce Forms Class
• Britny Bacon – Housing Clinic
• W.G. Bostick, Jr. – Courthouse Legal Assistance Clinic (Wednesday walk-in)
• William Slicker– Sanderlin Clinic
• Christine Allamanno – Bankruptcy Clinic
• Scot Simkins – St. Pete Free Legal Clinic

In addition, every attorney who donated twenty (20) or more hours of time during 2008 either participating in clinics and/or providing extended representation was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation, a letter of commendation signed by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Peggy Quince, and a lapel pin. This pro bono recognition project is part of a statewide effort of the Florida Supreme Court, the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar, and the Florida Pro Bono Coordinators’ Association. The following attorneys were recipients of this special recognition:

Gold Pin (100 or more hours)

Therese Kane
Donna Lonsberry
Charles Ehrlich
Bradley Bole
Garth Goodman

Silver Pin (99 – 50 hours)
William Bostick, Jr.
Russell Cheatham III
Starlett Miller
Kimberly Gustafson
William Penrose
Jon Kieffer
Thomas Rezanka

Bronze Pin (49 – 20 hours)
William Walker
Richard Weinman
David Blum
Bryan Albers
Nawal Batteh
Jeannine Williams
Watson Sinden
Linda Gruszynski
Jack Helinger
Susan Helms
Joanne Killeen
Nyjola Grybauskas
Carin Constantine
Patricia Hastings
William Slicker
Michael Stuckey
Patricia Lee
P.J. Bradley
Matthew McCurdy
Kathryn Obrien
Mary Selter
Sheldon Davis
Karen McHugh

Finally, during our annual meeting, we debuted our new 2008 Annual Report and a new program brochure, which was generously designed for CLP pro bono by Pinstripe Marketing, a local marketing firm located in downtown St. Petersburg!! This color brochure succinctly describes all of the programs and services provided by CLP and can be used by us for multiple purposes, including client outreach. I personally am so thrilled we were able to secure the in-kind assistance with this project from Pinstripe, which came about as the result of their annual pro bono marketing solicitation of assistance to local non-profits. I would like to thank Sara VanWyk and Jeff Zampino, who worked with me personally on this “labor of love!”

Once again, on behalf of Community Law Program’s board of trustees and staff, I would like to thank all of our dedicated volunteers and supporters for a job well done in 2008! For a copy of our 2008 Annual Report, please contact us at (727) 582 – 7480, or at clp@lawprogram.org.

http://www.lawprogram.org/