Young Lawyers Division 2000-2001

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1999

The Affiliate Assistance Team: Who We Are and What We Do

By Palmer G. Vance II

The success of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division is directly tied to having successful affiliate organizations throughout the country develop ideas that can be implemented nationally and implement ideas developed elsewhere. Similarly, the Division plays an important role in the continuing success of its affiliates. One mechanism for assisting affiliates is, aptly named, the Affiliate Assistance Team. The Affiliate Assistance Team functions as the management consulting arm of the Young Lawyers Division and is composed of current and former affiliate leaders from around the country with specific and varied bar leadership experiences. The team members are available to provide guidance to young lawyer organizations on management and leadership topics. More importantly, this assistance is provided at no cost to the affiliate requesting help - IT IS A FREE SERVICE OF THE YLD!

During the 1999-2000 bar year, the Affiliate Assistance Team will concentrate on providing educational programs at the YLD's national conferences, assisting with the scheduling and conducting of regional affiliate outreach conferences, supplying educational materials to affiliates, and, of course, delivering onsite assistance to those affiliates who request it.

Team members are assigned regionally as follows:

Northeast - Doug Brown

Southeast - Burnadette Norris Weeks, Joe Dent

Midwest - Kathy Eftimoff, Sonia Miller-Van Oort

South Central - Rick Lambert

Rocky Mountain - Laura Embleton, Beth Nedrow

West - Sherri Jefferson

These outstanding individuals will assist Vice-Chair Steve Curley and me in operating the Affiliate Assistance program this year. Feel free to contact any of the team members if you have questions about the services the Affiliate Assistance Team can provide.

I strongly encourage affiliate leaders to take advantage of this tremendous service from the YLD. Affiliate Assistance is initiated by submitting a Request-for-Assistance form. I would be pleased to forward a form to any affiliate in need of aid. The team and I look forward to working with affiliate leaders for the betterment of state and local affiliates, as well as the entire Division.

Contact me at Palmer G. Vance II, Stoll, Keenon & Park, LLP, Suite 1000, 201 East Main Street, Lexington, KY 40507, 606/231-3000, fax 606/253-1093, e-mail vance@skp.com.

Palmer G. Vance II is chair of the AOP Affiliate Assistance Team and practices law with Stoll, Keenon & Park, LLP in Lexington, Kentucky.