Message from the President

  It is now halfway through my term as President of your Tuscaloosa Bar Association.  It appears to be an excellent time to let all members know what we have done during the first six months and what we expect to do in the next six.

   We’ve had several very successful CLE programs.  The Juvenile Law committee, Gar Blume, Tommy Hinote, Scott Hickman, Victoria Farr, Shelly Standridge and Stuart Albea has presented two 3 hour seminars on all aspects of juvenile law.  Chris McIlwain and Bill Donald, III once again presented a six hour seminar on a wide variety of subjects in December.

   We have had two Breakfast with the Judges meetings.  Over the holidays the Bar Association in conjunction with the Federal Judges of the Northern District of Alabama and the Tuscaloosa County Judges presented a Christmas luncheon at the Federal Courthouse.  We also hosted a Christmas cocktail party at Brown’s Corner.

   Identification badges, identifying dues paying members of the Bar, have been produced.  These badges allow Bar members to have expedited security at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse.

  The Bar Association has made many charitable contributions in the past six months.  The West Alabama Food Bank, the Tuscaloosa Police Athletic League, E’Huskeeters and the Suicide prevention walk all received contributions from us.

   During Pro Bono week, the Association presented two seminars to the public, free of charge.  Beth Crutchfield, Jaime Conger and Nicole Diaz led a seminar on child support and Steve Wiggins taught a basic elder care/estate planning seminar.

   In the next six months we will be having several other activities, especially around Law Day.  We will be having a movie night on the Monday night of the week that includes Law Day.  We are working with the schools to have Law Day activities at local schools.  We will have our traditional quarterly meeting on Law Day which includes another excellent six hour Continuing Legal Education program.

   I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the members of my Executive Committee and my fellow officers for all the help they have provided to me so far this year.  Also, our excellent Executive Director, Melanie Burgett, without whom I could not possibly do this job, a big THANK YOU.

          Sincerely,

          Nettie Cohen Blume