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Members of the Nashville Bar Association gathered for the Annual Banquet this year on December 8th at the Wildhorse Saloon. In the festive atmosphere, members thanked retiring officers and board members for their service, honored those among us who upheld the honor of our profession by their commitment to the community and the bar, and welcomed new leaders of the bar all while enjoying holiday cheer with fellow members.

Following a lively reception, Executive Director Gigi Woodruff welcomed all attendees and kicked off the evening’s program. Woodruff gave special thanks in the form of a poem (click to read) honoring NBA President Bob Mendes of MGLAW for his extraordinary leadership this past year.

President Mendes ascended to the podium to call the meeting to order and, after George Barrett called for the dispensing of the reading of the minutes and the membership approved, he asked NBA Treasurer Bob Pope to give the Treasurer’s report. Following the membership’s applause at the short, but positive, financial condition of the organization, President Mendes recognized those retiring their membership on the NBA Board and thanked them for their service to the bar, including John Griffin, Barbara Perutelli, Alisa Peters, Bob Pope, Tracy Shaw, Emily Shouse and Mike Sontag.

Mendes then handed the podium to this year’s NBA Young Lawyers Division immediate Past-President Mary Taylor Gallagher and current President Sara Reynolds who presented the YLD President’s awards to Claudia and Ryan Levy for their dedication to the YLD social events. Reynolds then presented Gallagher with a gift of appreciation, from the Young Lawyers Division, for her dedication as the 2011 President. Reynolds went on to report that the NBA YLD’s annual programs and events enjoyed great success during 2011, including a competitive Mock Trial, an active Race Judicata, and two highly attended charitable events – 14th Annual Carbolic Smoke Ball and 2nd Annual Arts Immersion co-hosted with the Arts & Business Council.

The 2011 Emeritus Members Lewis Hollabaugh, Lawrence Levine and Vincent Wehby were recognized by Lela Hollabaugh.

Nashville Bar Journal editor, Bill Ramsey, presented the Article of the Year award to Charles Grant for the September 2011 cover story, “The Freedom Rides: Making the Law Apply to All.” The article was co-authored by Natasha Campbell. Campbell also received this award, but was unable to attend.

Ed Lanquist presented the Honorable Joe Brown with the CLE Excellence Award, noting participation in more than 15 CLE programs last year for the local bar members.

Lewis G. “Buddy” Burnett was recognized by Thor Urness as The Joseph G. Cummings, Sr. Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year for his work in specifically taking on the representation of domestic relations cases involving potential physical abuse, while the Pro Bono Leadership Award was presented to Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis (for providing support for over 300 cases in the last two years).

Aubrey Harwell & Trey Harwell took the podium to recognize Bill Ramsey, this year’s recipient of the John C. Tune Public Service Award, the NBA’s highest honor. The Harwell’s noted that Bill’s involvement is not only in bar activities, but in community enrichment, including the willingness to open up his home for the annual Ode to Otha block party to raise funds for Second Harvest. In typical fashion, Bill humbly and humorously accepted the award, noting John Tune, the namesake of the award, for all of his contributions to the community. He recognized Mrs. Carolyn Tune and her son David and thanked them for joining us at the Banquet this year. Bill also mentioned a number of attorneys that had supported him throughout his career. But Bill’s main points addressed the growing needs in our community and the unique advantages each member of the Bar has to contribute. He noted the need for continued participation in pro Bono activities by all members of the bar, as well as general assistance to others in our community for whom life has been less forgiving.

President Mendes then concluded the awards portion of the evening by presenting his President’s Awards, which went to Ed Yarbrough, for his hard work and dedication to the NBA Capital Campaign this past year, and to the law firm of Sherrard & Roe, particularly for its assistance in negotiating the lease on the new Association office space. He then passed the gavel to President-Elect John Kitch.

Prior to introducing the new officers, President-Elect John Kitch remarked about the other attorneys early in his career that had provided inspiration and training. He noted the issues for the current class of law graduates released into a job market, some without the necessary practical skills for the practice of law. Referring back to the practical training he had graciously received from his own mentors, he introduced a new initiative for the association to act as a clearinghouse to match attorneys with more than 15 years of experience (mentors) with new attorneys with 7 years or less in practice (mentees). The purpose of the program is to encourage the type of mentoring necessary to maintain the high standards set by society and our local Bar while providing adequate resources from mentors to assist young attorneys making the transition into the real practice of law (click here to sign-up as a Mentor or Protégé).

The evening concluded with recognition of newly-elected Board members C. Dewey Branstetter, Jr., Edward D. Lanquist, Jr., John C. McLemore, Jeffrey Mobley, Maria M. Salas, and Overton Thompson, III and introduction of the 2012 Board’s officers: President-Elect, Tom Sherrard; First Vice President, Hon. Randy Kennedy; Second Vice President, Hon. Marietta Shipley; Treasurer, Bernadette Welch; Secretary, Rebekah Shulman; and General Counsel, Gareth Aden.

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Gigi Woodruff, NBA Executive Director, Opening Remarks:

T’was the night of the Banquet
And all through the crowd
Lawyers were mingling
And talking quite loud

They came to see friends
Both old and new
And to honor their colleagues
With an award or two

We welcomed new board members
And said goodbye to a few
With hearty appreciation
For all that they do

And the members and staff
Of our great Nashville Bar
Paid homage to you, Bob
For all that you are

For month after month
Bob’s resolve never waned
As he helped us relocate
He never complained!
He spent hours and hours
Talking with you
And because of your generosity
The NBA has a new view

Well, the Banquet continued
On into the night
The gavel was passed
And we all said goodnight

Bob bid his farewells
Said goodbye to the board
Turned on his heal
And headed out of the door

But I heard him exclaim
As he walked out of sight
“Boy, am I glad this year is over!”

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