TYLA eNews, September 2008

“Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly, even if they roll a few stones upon it.” -- Albert Schweitzer

Few people can appreciate the truth of these words as Albert Schweitzer himself. His road to winning the 1953 Noble Peace Prize was anything but easy. Even though he was already a pastor, doctor of theology, published author and world-renowned organist by his late twenties, Schweitzer decided in 1905 that he wanted to be a medical missionary to Africa and started medical school. In 1913, having obtained his medical degree, he founded a hospital at Lambaréné in what was then French Equatorial Africa. (Cont.)

Vote America Roll-Out
By Don Jones

In less than three months following its official release date, Vote America! Honor the Fight, Exercise Your Right, TYLA's newest video production directed toward both educating and inspiring young voters, has impacted over 10,000 high school students and teachers across the State of Texas. For those who are unfamiliar with the substance of this video, Vote America! is a documentary film targeted to exposing 11th and 12th grade students to the heroic and often unheralded efforts undertaken by generations of Americans forced to struggle against injustice and seemingly insurmountable odds in order to secure the simple privilege of casting their ballot during open and free elections. (Cont.)

Please email the TYLA office if there are any changes to your local affiliates contact information.

If your affiliate has an upcoming event that you would like featured in eNews, please forward the information to Bree Trevino or contact eNews Co-Chairs Brad Allen, Ken Riney or Rebecca Vela.

Feature TYLA Project

The TYLA Family Law Committee Releases Healing the Wounds: A Guide to Navigating the Legal System after Surviving Domestic Abuse
By Kristy Sims Piazza

Kristy Sims Piazza, Jan Langbein
and Natalie Cobb Koehler

The Texas Department of Public Safety reports that in 2006 there were 186,868 incidents of documented family violence statewide. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission estimates that as many as 982,916 Texas women were actually battered that year. To support the effort to reduce domestic violence and to familiarize victims with the legal steps to end domestic violence, the Family Law Committee of the TYLA has produced the video entitled Healing the Wounds: A Guide to Navigating the Legal System after Surviving Domestic Abuse. The 20-minute video will be distributed to county and state offices and to domestic violence shelters throughout the State of Texas so that the video can be presented to victims who are attempting to escape domestic violence. (Cont.)

As the largest division of the American Bar Association (ABA) with 147,000 members, the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is the home for young lawyers. We provide models to help young lawyers serve the communities where they live and work. We are committed to assuring that the future of the legal profession reflects the society it serves and aspires to the highest professional standards. And the YLD provides tools and opportunities that young lawyers need to succeed both professionally and personally.

If you have any questions about ABA YLD conferences or projects, please contact: Kirby D. Hopkins, ABA YLD District 25 Representative or Chris Rogers, ABA YLD District 26 Representative through these email links.

Hurricane Ike Response Continues
The storm may be gone, but the need for volunteers and donations to provide legal services to victims of Hurricane Ike continues. Please see the State Bar of Texas's 2008 Hurricane Response page for details on hurricane relief efforts and resources, including information on donations and volunteer opportunities. The State Bar of Texas has a disaster hotline, (800) 504-7030, to help assist with basic legal questions following a disaster. Hundreds of attorney volunteers are needed to help answer basic legal questions of those affected. Read more.

TYLA Annual Report 2007-2008
Want to know how TYLA is serving its members and the community? Then be sure to read the 2007-2008 annual report, which details the activities of TYLA during the 2007-2008 Bar year. Click here for a copy or call 800-204-2222, ext. 1529 and we'll send you a copy.

Get Involved and Sign Up Today!

If you want to be involved as an active volunteer in TYLA, now is the best time. The new Bar year is just getting underway, and you can get in on the ground floor and really help shape the work of our public or member service committees of your choice. Visit our website to find out more about TYLA committees and their focus ... then sign up online!

Please note: if you signed up for a committee prior to June 2008, you will need to sign up for your committees again. Committee memberships are reset each year on June 1.

The Texas Young Lawyer Association is adding new segments to the Ten Minute Mentor library. Ten Minute Mentor is a TYLA project that debuted in 2004 as a means for sharing concise and practical advice that is always accessible online. Since that time, it has proven its enduring appeal as one of TYLA's most successful projects. More than 50,000 people have visited the site, and we continue to average more than 2,000 segments viewed each month. You can visit the site at www.tenminutementor.com.

The Texas Young Lawyers Association needs your help to support and promote free legal services for indigent Texans by purchasing a specialty license plate. The license plate proudly states that you support "Justice for All" and can be purchased for only $30.00 per year.
$25.00 from the purchase of each plate will be deposited into an account
supporting legal services to the poor. If you would like that plate personalized, you can get your plate for $70.00 per year. To purchase your plate today, simply fill out an application and send your check, payable to the Texas Department of Transportation, to the following address:
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division (SPB)
Texas Department of Transportation
Austin, TX 78779-0001

2008-2009 YouTube Contest: Ideals that Unite Us
What are the ideals that unite us as citizens of this country? That's the theme of the State Bar's new YouTube video contest. To enter the contest, create a video no longer than three minutes that captures your vision of the ideals that unite us as Texans. You must be a Texas resident or an attorney licensed to practice in Texas.

Online entry forms will be available by October 1, 2008. The deadline for entries is March 16, 2009. You can enter the contest as an individual or as part of a group. We encourage local bar associations to submit their own video entry. The call for entries video and additional contest details can be found at www.texasbar.com/texansonjustice.

Make New Connections with Texas Bar Circle
Nearly 5,000 of your peers have joined Texas Bar Circle - our new social and professional network for Texas lawyers. Join today and reconnect with colleagues, find jobs, explore opportunities, and have fun. The power of Texas Bar Circle is in the connections you will make. Visit www.TexasBarCircle.com.

Member Benefits Program
Are you looking for ways to save this fall? Take advantage of exclusive money-saving offers from the State Bar of Texas Member Benefits Program. Bar members are eligible for discounts on products and services including car rental, clothing, computer hardware and software, office supplies, and more. For details on the State Bar Member Benefits Program, visit www.texasbar.com/benefits .

LIAISONS Justice Dale Wainwright, Texas Supreme Court Jeff Edwards, Access To Justice Kirby D. Hopkins, ABA YLD District 25 Christopher Rogers, ABA YLD District 26 Dean Charles E. Cantú, Law School Ian Pittman, Law Student

LIAISONS

Justice Dale Wainwright, Texas Supreme Court

Jeff Edwards, Access To Justice

Kirby D. Hopkins, ABA YLD District 25

Christopher Rogers, ABA YLD District 26

Dean Charles E. Cantú, Law School

Ian Pittman, Law Student