Message from the President, December 2020

GBA Members,

The time since our last newsletter publication has been particularly challenging.  More COVID cases, courthouse closures, and now most recently a shooting outside of the courthouse. The year 2020 has tested all of us in various ways. In reflecting on the month of November, I challenge all of us to remain grateful for the opportunity we have to practice law in a supportive community, for the judges who are working tirelessly to figure out the best course of action in these uncharted times, and for the members of this Greensboro Bar Association community. It has been a tough year, friends, but I am thankful that we have each other.

This month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Barbara Christy, president of the North Carolina State Bar, to address the membership. We also awarded Manisha Patel with the Pro Bono Award. Manisha reported 651.5 hours of pro bono service in 2019, and has continued to serve the Greensboro community as the Pro Bono Committee Chair for the GBA. In her role as committee chair, she is working with Legal Aid to create a summary ejectment pro bono project to help with the backlog of cases due to COVID. She is a true public servant, a great asset to our GBA family, and we congratulate her on receiving the Pro Bono Award!

In December, we will take a break from our membership meetings and celebrate the holiday season together with a virtual holiday party on Wednesday, December 9^th. Information is included in this newsletter for how to register. The first 100 to register will receive a free gift. We hope you will join us! Also included in this newsletter is information for how to donate to our Elementary School Book Project and support Jones Elementary. I challenge everyone to consider a donation of $20.20 and give these kids something positive from a year that has been so challenging.

Principal Luciano from Jones Elementary will be our featured speaker for our January membership meeting and will provide an update on how our contributions to Jones Elementary are being used to further their mission.

Please stay tuned to all of our membership updates via the newsletter and our GBA emails. Happy Holidays to all!!

Lisa Arthur

GBA President, 2020-2021