Familiar Faces, Familiar Places: Annual Meeting Returns to Amelia Island

• Citation: Vol. 30 No. 1 Pg. 0022
• Publication year: 2024
• Pages: 0022
• Year: 2024

Familiar Faces, Familiar Places: Annual Meeting Returns to Amelia Island Vol. 30 No. 1 Pg. 22 Georgia Bar Journal August 2024

PHOTO BY ASHLEY G. STOLLAR

Amelia Island, Florida, provided a superb backdrop complete with live oaks draped with Spanish moss, ample sunshine and pristine beaches for the 2024 Annual Meeting. The Omni Amelia Island Resort is a familiar place to both Board of Governors and Bar members. This is always a special time for members of the State Bar of Georgia to not only attend to the business of the Bar but also to spend time with colleagues, friends, family members and guests for an unforgettable weekend that is the perfect mixture of meetings and merriment.

Opening Night Festival

Premier event band 30Vice kept the dance floor packed with their up-tempo energy as guests enjoyed a fun-filled evening devoted to good food, great music and a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Younger guests were treated to a dedicated area with multiple entertainment options, including laser tag, a gaming truck, face painting, spin art and more.

(Left to right) Former Supreme Court of Georgia Chief Justice Harold Melton, 202223 Bar President Sarah B. "Sally" Akins and Judge Kenneth B. Hodges III, Court of Appeals of Georgia, who was the 2018-19 Bar president.

Weekend Bar Business

Bar members dutifully attended to the weekend's main objective, the business of the Bar, despite the siren call of sun, sand and surf. A number of sections and committees scheduled meetings in which they reviewed the business of the 202324 Bar year while they looked forward to the work and challenges of the next. CLE seminars on Thursday and Friday afforded all present the opportunity to explore topics like leadership, ethics or the annual installment of the war stories series. Balancing out the business of the day were the evening events that seamlessly incorporated networking and socializing in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Beginning with the Opening Night Festival on Thursday, members and their guests could choose to attend one, two or all of the events depending on their interest and affiliation. Receptions hosted by law school alumni groups, sections and other organizations afforded attendees the opportunity to enjoy time with friends and colleagues that they may not have seen in quite some time (or at least since the previous year's meeting). More formal events included the YLD Dinner and SwearingIn Ceremony on Friday and the Presidential Inaugural Gala on Saturday.

Board Meeting Highlights

The June 7 plenary session began with special recognition by President Hon. J. Antonio "Tony" DelCampo of members of the judiciary, past presidents of the Bar and other special guests, in addition to recognizing and honoring retiring Executive Committee members and Board of Governors members. Following a few business items, President DelCampo invited Jay Elmore, chair of the Military Legal Assistance Program Committee,

PHOTO BY JENNIFER R. MASON

(Left to right) Georgia Legal Services Program Executive Director Susan Coppedge holds the replica check presented by 2023-24 State Bar President Hon. J. Antonio "Tony" DelCampo in the amount of $509,537 representing the voluntary contributions made by Bar members to GLSP's 2023 "And Justice for All" campaign.

forward to present the Marshall-Tuttle Award, named in honor and memory of Army Cpl. Evan Andrew Marshall and U.S. Circuit Judge Elbert Parr Tuttle. This year's honoree was Major General Bobby Lee Christine, who was recognized for outstanding legal assistance to military service members and veterans. Next, Justice Charlie Bethel presented the Juvenile Law and Child Advocacy Awards. The Judge Willie Lovett Award for Advancing the Field of Juvenile Law was presented to Hon. Renata Deann Turner, presiding judge of the Fulton County Juvenile Court. The Chief Justice Harris Hines Award for Outstanding Advocacy for Children in Dependency Proceedings was presented to Amber Walden, for her work with Family Law Office of Training and Education Services, LLC, and Tara Brodhead, a case manager with the Cherokee County Division of Family &Children Services.

Then, President DelCampo welcomed Susan Coppedge, executive director, Georgia Legal Services Program, to present a replica check in the amount of $509,537 representing the voluntary contributions made by Bar members to GL-SP's 2023 "And Justice for All" campaign.

Next, Chief Justice Michael Boggs delivered the State of the Supreme Court of Georgia address followed by the State of the Court of Appeals of Georgia address by ChiefJudge Amanda Mercier, the State of the Office of Governor by Executive Counsel Kristyn Long on behalf of Gov. Brian Kemp, the State of the Georgia House Judiciary Committee by Rep. Stan Gunter (R-Blairsville) and the State of the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee by Sen. Brian Strickland (R-McDonough).

Outgoing YLD President Brittanie Browning reported on the activities of the Young Lawyers Division. She took time to highlight the extensive work of the YLD

PHOTO BY ASHLEY G. STOLLAR

(Left to right) 2024-25 YLD President Kenneth Mitchell Jr. and 2024-25 State Bar President Ivy N. Cadle don captain hats to enjoy the smooth sounds of Yacht Rock Schooner at Saturday's Presidential Inaugural Gala.

(Left to right) Riane N. Sharp, recipient of the YLD Ethics &Professionalism Award, and 2019-20 YLD President Will Davis, who was honored with...