Like the strike of a judge’s gavel, the 114th annual meeting of the Chattanooga Bar Association dealt with the business at hand in a quick and efficient manner. The Bar celebrated its annual meeting at the elegant Sheraton Read House, and concluded its gathering with the swearing in Robin Miller of Gearhiser, Peters, Cavett, Elliott & Cannon as its 115th president.
In addition to the election of officers and Board members, the Bar presented its annual awards, including the Young Lawyer’s Division Volunteer Award, the Albert L. Hodge Volunteer Award, the Harry Weill Zealous Practice of Law Award, the President’s Award, the Jac Chambliss Lifetime Achievement Award and the Ralph H. Kelley Humanitarian Award.
YLD Volunteer Award
Barret Albritton, out-going president of the YLD, presented the YLD Volunteer Award to Elizabeth “Ellie” Hill of Patrick, Beard, Schulman & Jacoway.
“This past year, I had the pleasure of working with a fantastic group of executive officers, one of whom has served tirelessly as both the vice-president and social chair of the Young Lawyer’s Division. Without her, I’m not sure we’d have social gatherings, because while I’m all for impromptu gatherings, I’m not much for planning them. Ellie ... has been fantastic. When Lynda (Hood, executive director of the Bar) approached us about nominating someone for the Volunteer of the Year award, the Board unanimously selected Ellie for her tireless service,” Albritton said.
Hill was slated to become the president of the YLD this year, but has chosen to remain social chair and vice-president.
Financial report
Rosemarie Hill, 2011 treasurer, presented the Bar’s financial report. She summed up her comments with, “We’ve had a good year.” Those present approved her report.
Albert L. Hodge Volunteer Award
Ira Long, out-going Bar president, presented the Albert L. Hodge Volunteer Award. Established in 1997, the award is given to an attorney with exemplary volunteer service to the Bar and the legal community.
This year, the Bar presented the award to Cathy Allshouse, executive director of Southeast Tennessee Legal Services, for her contributions to PATH to General Sessions Court, a volunteer program through which attorneys make themselves available to answer questions outside of General Sessions Court on Mondays.
“In 2011, the Bar Association wanted to make an effort to reach out to those in the community who find themselves without the means to hire counsel and need help navigating the justice system. There is a large need, and it wasn’t clear where to begin,” Long said. “The pro bono group lead by Sheri Fox and ... Cathy Allshouse created a program called PATH to General Sessions Court, which stands for Partnering With Attorneys to Help.
“Beginning in April, Cathy and a CBA member made themselves available every Monday to answer questions about General Sessions Court procedures, including everything from how to subpoena a witness to tips on how to handle themselves during a trial.
“Some of the things we suggested are things we could be reminded of as litigators, such as ‘Stay calm and polite, even if the other side becomes hostile,’ and ‘If you think a witness is lying, don’t argue with him, ask him questions that expose his lies.’”
Harry Weill Zealous Practice of Law Award
The Harry Weill Zealous Practice of Law Award, established in 2006, is presented annually to a member of the Bar whose “energetic and enthusiastic service to clients is worthy of praise, and whose polite and dignified manner, even in the most contentious situations, provides a model of civility that is worthy of emulation,” said Long.
Weill’s daughter Flossie, an attorney, presented the award to Paul Leitner, who has practiced law in the Chattanooga community for over 57 years.
“No one I know better epitomizes the qualities of advocacy and civility this award represents. It therefore gives me great pleasure to present the 2011 Harry Weill Zealous Practice of Law Award to Paul,” Weill said.
President’s Award
Long presented the President’s Award to Craig Smith, 2011 secretary of the Bar and attorney at Miller & Martin. The president gives the award to the person he or she deems was the most helpful to him or her over the past year.
“One of the Board’s tasks in 2011 was to review and revise our bylaws. Craig generously offered to take the lead on drafting the changes. It’s one thing to draft bylaws for a client, but it’s another ball of wax to prepare serial drafts of this lengthy document and consolidate the opinions of the 11 attorneys on the Board. Craig did an outstanding job, and I truly appreciate it,” Long said.
Jac Chambliss Lifetime Achievement Award
The Jac Chambliss Lifetime Achievement Award, presented for the first time in 2010 to attorney Richard Ruth, is given to a member who has: demonstrated the highest standards of excellence for the legal profession; facilitated access to the justice system; served and supported the community; stimulated a feeling of respect, esteem and good fellowship among the members of the profession; maintained high ethical standards; represented the tradition of personal and professional excellence in Hamilton County; and has devoted significant amounts of time, effort and money to activities that have benefitted the community and enhanced the image of attorneys in Hamilton County, said Long.
The Board of Governors chose attorney Max Bahner as this year’s recipient. Bahner has practiced law in Chattanooga since 1960.
Bahner’s contributions to the legal profession include serving as president of the Chattanooga and Tennessee Bar Associations, as a member of the Board of Governors and an executive committee member of the American Bar Association, and as a founding fellow of the Tennessee and Chattanooga Bar Foundations.
Also, Bahner is a past recipient of the Harry Weill Zealous Practice of Law Award and Ralph H. Kelley Humanitarian Award.
Bahner has served his community as Chattanooga Rotary Club president and as a board member of Orange Grove Center, the Community Foundation of Chattanooga, the United Way and the Chattanooga Symphony.
Ralph H. Kelley Humanitarian Award
The Ralph H. Kelley Humanitarian Award is given to a member of the legal profession or a judicial officer who has displayed exemplary service to the community of Chattanooga through civic, professional and other activities directed toward the improvement and preservation of the lives, property and dignity of its citizens. The recipient must be a member in good standing of the Bar or a judicial officer, have a minimum of 15 years tenure in the Chattanooga legal community, and be recognized as someone who provided community service that places an emphasis on social service, Long said before presenting the award to Hugh Moore of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel.
Moore is a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School, and has practiced in Chattanooga for four decades in the areas of business litigation, trade regulation and white-collar crime. For ten years, he chaired the Tennessee Supreme Court commission on the rules of practice and procedure, and last year he was the subject of a resolution of the Court praising him for his long service.
Moore’s contributions to the Chattanooga community are legion, Long said. He’s served as: a Board member of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga: as a board member, chairman and president of Orange Grove Center; as a board member of the Arts & Education Council of Chattanooga; and as a member of the Board of Directors and as president of Friends of the Festival.
“Chattanooga is deeply indebted to attorney Hugh Moore for his multitude of contributions to our city. He is most deserving of the 2011 Ralph H. Kelley Humanitarian Award,” Long said.
Happy Anniversary
Long recognized two notable anniversaries, including that of Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, which celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2011, and Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan, which will mark its 130th anniversary in 2012.
Approval of the Bylaws
In 2011, the Board spent “a substantial amount of time” revising the bylaws, Long said.
The changes modified election procedures, succession provisions and the manner in which the Bar fills vacancies on the Board. In addition, the Board removed some provisions that were no longer relevant, such as the mock trial provisions and the provisions related to monetary contributions to judicial elections.
Those present approved the new bylaws, which Long said everyone had undoubtedly “pored through with great care.”
Voting for new officers and board members
Those present also voted in new officers and board members, including Smith as president elect, Tim Mickel of Husch Blackwell as secretary, Paul Hatcher of Duncan, Hatcher, Hixson & Fleenor as treasurer, Criminal Court Judge Christie Sell to a three-year term on the Board, Albritton to a one-year term on the Board, and Hal Baxley of Baxley Tax Law to a one-year term on the Board.
“Congratulations to all of you. We look forward to a wonderful year of you serving this great organization,” Long said.
Goodbye Long...
Long concluded his time as president by thanking the Board of Governors for its service, attendance and sense of humor at its early morning meetings. He then extended special thanks to Dean Clements of Spears, Moore, Rebman & Williams and Hill, who rolled off the Board in 2011.
“I have appreciated the opportunity to serve this organization. It has been rewarding, and I’ve gotten to know many more of you as a result,” he said.
Long also said he appreciated Hood’s “infectious cheerfulness and optimism.”
“If you find come in to the office one day and find you’re in a so-so mood, pick up your phone, call Lynda and have a one-minute conversation with her, and you’ll feel better,” he said as Hood displayed an attractive shade of rouge on her cheeks.
Long ended by paraphrasing a poster that suggests how people can live their lives:
“Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must.”
...hello Miller
Long then turned the reins over to Miller.
Miller graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree, earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of New Hampshire in 1982, and obtained a law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1992. Miller practices primarily in the area of estate and trust litigation. She serves on the Board of the Tennessee Justice Center, as a hearing panel member for the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, and is the current president of the Board of Directors of Chattanooga Kids on the Block.
The Honorable L. Marie Williams swore Miller in.
Miller spoke momentarily about how the members of the Bar are “mentors unaware” to each other.
“Many of you work at a firm that has a mentoring program for new lawyers. I still find myself seeking out my mentor, Sam Elliott, who probably thought that job ended a long time ago. But the truth is we learn some of our best skills from each other, in and outside of our respective forms, by being mentors unaware to each other. I learned how to handle trial exhibits from one of you with whom I had a 14-year estate battle,” she said.
“Our mentors are not limited to lawyers. How many times can we recall a courtroom being completely devoid of whispers as one of our judges was engaged with counsel, discussing his or her understanding of the nuance of summary judgment law? Many times, when judges press us for the reason for our objection, they already know the ruling, but they’re being mentors unaware,” she said.
“We’re all mentors unaware to each other, whether we’re engaged in the practice of litigation, business transactions, mediation, or in the judiciary. In this next year, let us endeavor to be exceptional mentors to each other, both apparent and unaware,” she said.
Miller then closed the meeting, beginning a new year of the zealous practice of law in Chattanooga.