TheBuzz

• Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America Announces New CEO, Karen Mathis »
• Passing of Senior Judge Robinson O. Everett, USCAAF »
• 2009 ABA GP|Solo Annual Meeting »
• 2009 Fall Meeting & National Solo and Small Firm Conference »
• Call for 08/09 Annual Council Agenda Items »

• PHILADELPHIA, PA (May 15, 2009) – The Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is pleased to announce the appointment of Karen Mathis as president and chief executive officer effective September 15, 2009. Mathis comes to Big Brothers Big Sisters with a demonstrated commitment to children and their families. She is a former Big Sister; she created the Youth at Risk program for the American Bar Association; she is a former president of the ABA and a former chair of the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division; she serves as a director on the Board of Volunteers of America; and she is a past board leader for the Mile High Girl Scout Council.

The Honorable Robinson O. Everett, senior judge and former chief judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, died at home on June 12, according to information from William K. Suter, clerk, U.S. Supreme Court. He had been in and out of the hospital recently. The funeral was on Tuesday, June 16, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Durham, North Carolina.

Chief Judge Andrew Effron of the court held an informal memorial gathering at the court on Monday, June 15, and a formal memorial tribute will be held in the near future. His office provided obituary, funeral arrangements, and memorial tributes from the Raleigh News and Observer and Duke University School of Law.

Judge Everett was a long-time supporter of the General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division and its Military Law Committee. He conducted the first Division-hosted swearing-in session for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces at an ABA Annual Meeting some 16 years ago for local judge advocates and civilian attorneys unable to travel to his court in Washington, D.C. These sessions have continued ever since during each ABA Annual and Midyear Meeting. He sat for each of those sessions, including sessions in which the present and past five ABA presidents were also sworn in.

Last year at the ABA Annual Meeting in New York, Keith McLennan, who was then Chair of our Division, presented Judge Everett with the Division’s “Grateful Appreciation” plaque in recognition of his lifetime service to the law, this country, and especially the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States military, in addition to his support of our Division.

He is certainly the most distinguished military law jurist of our time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Join us in Chicago for the Association’s premier event, the 2009 ABA Annual Meeting! Whether you have been in practice for three months or 30 years, are in solo practice or employed by a small firm, the ABA Annual Meeting is the place to be. The ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division will be putting on some excellent CLE programming and hosting networking opportunities. See below for more information about the Annual Meeting and how to register to take part in the best educational and networking event of the year.

Don’t miss these ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm activities!
For more information visit http://new.abanet.org/calendar/gp-solo-2009-annual-meeting-chicago-il/Pages/default.aspx

• 14 GP|Solo CLE programs held at the Presidential CLE Center—Hyatt Regency Chicago
• Committee business meetings
• Keithe E. Nelson Memorial Military Law Luncheon
• Swearing in ceremony for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
• Solo and Small Firm Lawyers Caucus Breakfast – Free!
• Networking with your colleagues at the Hospitality Suite

Advance Registration Deadline: July 7, 2009 5:00 p.m. CST

GP|Solo Headquarter Hotel information
Swissotel Chicago
323 East Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 565-0565

Room Rates:
Classic S/D $199, Swiss Executive Corner Rooms S/D $250, One-Bedroom Executive Suite $400
For your convenience, go to www.abanet.org/annual/2009 to register online, purchase event tickets, and secure your hotel reservation.

You must register for the ABA 2009 Annual Meeting to receive housing. A list of official ABA hotels, rates, amenities and locations can be found at www.abanet.org/annual/2009. Reservation requests should be directed only to Travel Planners abanet@xpressreg.net, by registering online at www.abanet.org/annual/2009 or by using the registration form posted on the site.

CDS/Travel Planners will acknowledge your reservation request in writing within 72 hours (three business days) of receipt of your ABA registration. Hotels will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. Choice of accommodations will become more limited as the deadline for registration approaches. For housing and hotel specific questions, please call Travel Planners at 800-221-3531 or send an email to abanet@xpressreg.net.

A credit card with a valid expiration date (August 31, 2009, or later) is required to guarantee your hotel reservation. A customary one night’s deposit may be charged to your credit card days before your arrival (depending on hotel policies). Please consult your housing confirmation, which you will receive from CDS/Travel Planners, the official ABA Registration and Housing Bureau, for your hotel’s specific policy.

The deadline for advance registration and housing is Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. CST.

ABA Headquarter Hotel
Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601

SAVE THE DATE
October 15–17, 2009
Millennium Biltmore Hotel
Los Angeles, California

• The National Solo and Small Firm Conference, offering more than 20 CLE sessions and four plenary sessions
• Young Lawyers Institute offering six CLE programs for law students and new lawyers
• Committee business meetings
• Welcome reception
• Difference Makers Awards Dinner cosponsored by West, a Thomson Reuters business

Council agenda items, committee reports, action items, and informational items for the 2009 Annual Meeting in Chicago are due by July 15, 2009. A council report form is available for your use.

The GP|Solo Division’s council agenda book will be available online the week of July 27, 2009 at www.abanet.org/genpractice in the Leadership Portal. Please print the agenda book for your review and bring with you to the meeting. The Division Council will meet during the Annual Meeting on August 1, 2009, at the Swissotel Hotel in Chicago, IL.