Houston Bar Association Contact: Kay Sim, Executive Director Houston Bar Association 713/759-1133 E-mail: hba-office@hba.org Activity Summary: The Houston Bar Association has a Law Day committee working year-round with other organizations to implement activities centering on the annual theme and touching a cross-section of the community. In 1999, with the focus on responsibility to the environment, the HBA launched "Lawyers Against Waste" or L.A.W., a volunteer project which picked up 1,200 pounds of trash in 90 vacant lots in downtown Houston. The bar association sponsored poster and essay contests for grades K-12, a cable access program, a luncheon, and a fun run. Volunteers also participated in Story Times for small children and legal information programs for adults at branch libraries, an information booth at the International Festival, and a nine-hour LegalLine program. A new program, Java with the Judges, was designed to increase awareness of Law Day among judges and court staff. Over 1,000 new citizens took the oath at an event co-sponsored by HBA. Houston City Council Member Orlando Sanchez, a naturalized citizen, told the story of his family's flight from Cuba and successful assimilation into American society. Sponsorship Entity: The Houston Bar Association with the City of Houston, Keep Houston Beautiful, Houston Public Library, Houston Young Lawyers Association, Harris County judiciary, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. People Benefiting: 8,775 children and youth and members of the community at large. Volunteers: Approximately 300 HBA members plus volunteers from the community and other groups. Best Things about This Program: Energized volunteers and staff - "We witnessed an increase in volunteer spirit and a renewed ezgy from both our lawyer volunteers and HBA staff because of the new initiatives like our 'Trash Bash' and Java with the Judges." Expanded outreach - "We were able to get our message out more effectively. We reached more people." The John J. Eikenburg Law Week Fun Run raised $45,100 for the Center for the Retarded, Inc. - "We have raised money for the Center every year, but this was a record amount. It was wonderful to be able to contribute at that level to an organization that does so much for people in need." Secrets of Success: Strong, committed leaders and a three-year rolling plan with lots of planning and review to ensure that every new initiative has a purpose and fills a community need. "We believe people should be able to count on us. When we start a project, we commit to it. Our priorities don't change with every new year." How-to Advice "Keep Houston Beautiful became our partner in setting up the clean-up. Each major city probably has a similar organization, which would make it easy for the local bar to duplicate our program." Cost:   $12,956 for all Law Week programs. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization