Message from the President, February 2018

2018 is certainly off to a wintry start!  My appreciation to all of our members for rearranging their schedules to attend our rescheduled January members meeting.  Those who attended witnessed inspirational presentations from representatives of Tiny Houses Greensboro, the Human Race, and the Jones Elementary School Food Pantry, our new community service partners.  Many attendees were surprised to learn that 3,000 students in Guilford County Schools experience ongoing homelessness, and that the Jones Food Pantry provides some children with their only meals of the day.  Links to sign up to volunteer with these organizations were recently sent out to the membership.  Let’s all do our part to address homelessness and hunger in our city.

February is Black History Month, a time to learn about and celebrate the accomplishments of African-Americans throughout our nation’s history.  As our Nominating Committee meets in the coming weeks to consider candidates for our next slate of Officers and Board of Directors, we will endeavor to include individuals of diverse backgrounds.  If you have someone in mind who you think would make a great officer or director, please contact me at sarahroane@gmail.com.

Please join the GBA, in conjunction with Smith Moore Leatherwood, for our Annual CLE on Thursday, February 15, 2018, at Starmount Forest Country Club.  Registration begins at 12:30 p.m. with the first program starting at 1:00 p.m.  Topics include Compassion Fatigue: The Price We Pay as Professional Problem Solvers (1 CLE Hour – Substance Abuse/Mental Health), a State Court Appeal Crash Course (2 CLE Hours – General), and Maintaining Professional Ethics in the Internet Age (1 CLE Hour – Ethics).  The cost for GBA members is just $75.  You can register using the link on the GBA’s website or you can complete the 2018 Annual CLE Registration Form on the GBA’s website and mail the form with your check payable to GBA Foundation (by February 12th) to: GBA Foundation, P.O. Box 1825, Greensboro, NC 27402.

Our next members meeting will take place on Thursday, February 15, 2018, at Starmount Forest Country Club following the annual CLE, with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and call to order at 6:15 p.m.  The meeting will feature Matt Martin, the new United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, sworn in on January 3, 2018.

Our annual Legal Aid Fundraiser at the Greensboro Science Center’s Aquarium will take place on Saturday, February 17, 2018, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., featuring beer and wine tasting, raffle prizes, and an incredible buffet of dinner and dessert.   You can donate and purchase event and raffle tickets to this great cause by using the link on the GBA’s website.

Hope to mingle with many of you at these upcoming events!