TYLA eNews, September 2006

These were some of the last words spoken by Samuel Brooks, President of Baylor University at the turn of the last century. They were part of a death bed message in 1931 that recapped all that he and prior generations had done, and all that was still left to be done. This simple sentence embodies the transfer of leadership at eNEWS.

No, our predecessors did not give us a death bed plea. (Sounds dramatic enough though.) In fact last year's editor, Kendyl, is not only alive and well, but she remains a vital part of our editorial board. But the torch is being passed as our new editorial board improves your eNEWS .

And eNEWS is your online newsletter – it belongs to the entire Texas Young Lawyers Association. We have limited space and time, so the newsletter cannot be all things to all people at all times. (Cont.)

Feature TYLA Affiliate

Dallas Association of Young Lawyers' Freedom Run

Each month we will highlight the projects and leaders of the TYLA affiliates. This month, take note of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers' Freedom Run (www.thefreedomrun.com) and Festival which will take place on September 9, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. in the West End of downtown Dallas . DAYL's sixth annual 5k run will be bigger and better than ever— DAYL has combined its efforts this year with

The Million Dollar Ride for Children, http://www.milliondollarride.org . This large motorcycle rally will have tons of entertainment and vendors. The family-friendly Festival will feature a Kid's Zone and live entertainment. So get motivated to get out of bed early on a Saturday morning! Fringe benefits and proceeds of the event will be donated to assist the Officer Foundation, which helps injured police officers and the families of slain police officers. For more information or to register contact DAYL President Chad Ruback at chad@ruback.com , or visit the Freedom Run website at http://www.thefreedomrun.com.

Texarkana Young Lawyers Association Literacy Project

In Texarkana, the young lawyers will continue their fantastic Literacy Project for a fourth year. Through this project, the Texarkana Young Lawyers Association purchases books, the first chapter of which young lawyers read with 4th grade students. The students then read the books on their own during the semester and take a test. The young lawyers reward the students passing the test with a pizza party and a movie based on the book. Jennifer Jordan reports that this project has real impact—for example some of the children have never before owned their own book. For more information about this program or to get involved, please contact Jennifer at jennifer@jordanlawfirm.com.

Meet the Affiliates

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 Kendyl Hanks or Brad Allen.

As we kick off the new eNews year, we also want to introduce the leaders of the TYLA affiliates so that you can contact an affiliate leader if you have questions or would like information regarding any of the programs featured in future articles. (Cont.)

Feature TYLA Project

They Had A Dream Too: Young Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement

Every once in a while you get to be part of something that changes the life of one person. The participants interviewed for They Had a Dream Too: Young Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement were part of something that changed a nation. They Had a Dream Too, TYLA's newest high school curriculum project, is designed to inspire and educate 11th and 12th graders about the important and often little-known role of students, teenagers and children in the Civil Rights Movement. (Cont.)

Tips for Young Lawyers

Your Voice: Professional Asset or Liability?
Shoes shined. Shirt ironed. Nails cleaned. Breath mint.

You wouldn't think of meeting with a partner, a client, or going to court without paying attention to these and countless other details. Do you pay equal attention to your voice? Is the sound of your voice inspiring, persuasive, encouraging, confident? Or, is it irritating, annoying, or inaudible? Whether your voice is an asset or a liability, your voice can be improved greatly with just a bit of attention every day. (Cont.)

Article of Interest

Riding the Wave of Change in the Practice of Law!

Mark Whitaker

When pondering issues relevant to the practice of law, no topic may ultimately prove more important to today's lawyer than that of change within the legal industry. The practice of law is undergoing a tremendous transformation. While changes in the law [Tort Reform] have clearly had a dramatic affect on the practices of many attorneys, the changes that truly affect the industry as a whole and its future come from sources such as technology, client service expectations, attorney productivity, global commerce and outsourcing, to name a few. (Cont.)

Take Note

ABA/YLD Update

ALOHA!

HONOLULU, HAWAII

On August 3-6, the ABA Young Lawyers Division held its annual meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. In the land of leis, hula, surfing and the origin of the mai tai, TYLA leaders joined young lawyers from around the country to plan public and member service projects for the year and catch up with friends old and new. (Cont.)

Texas Paralegal Day - October 23, 2006

The State Bar of Texas was the first bar association in the United States to create a separate division for paralegals. The Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas (the “Division”) was created on October 23, 1981. The Division has been in existence for 25 years, and is celebrating its 25th Anniversary.

In light of the exclusive use of the paralegal title, the Division obtained a Texas House Resolution to promote the adoption of Texas Paralegal Day. Please join us in recognizing and celebrating Texas Paralegal Day on October 23, 2006, and the Division's 25 th Anniversary.

Contact: Javan Johnson, ACP, President, Paralegal Division
Board Certified Legal Assistant-Civil Trial Law-Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Professional Paralegal Services, P. O. Box 4395, Longview, TX 75606, (903) 738-1024 (cell), (903) 238-8276 (fax), javan@texramp.net

Upcoming Events

The Houston Young Lawyers Foundation will hold its 13th annual charity
golf tournament on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at Timber Creek Golf Club
in Friendswood, Texas. Last year over $18,000.00 was donated to the
foundation as a result of the tournament. Please visit HYLA's
website for more information.

Future TYLA/ProBAR Unaccompanied Children's Project Trainings:

Sept. 15 • 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
CAMINO REAL EL PASO
101 S. El Paso St., El Paso
(co-sponsored by the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section)

Oct. 20 • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
RODRIGUEZ, COLVIN, CHANEY & SAENZ, L.L.P.
1201 E. Van Buren, Brownsville
(co-sponsored by the Cameron County Young Lawyers Association)

Nov. 10 • 8 a.m. – noon
HERMES SARGENT BATES, L.L.P.
901 Main St., Ste. 5200, Dallas
(co-sponsored by the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers)

Dec. 1 • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW
1303 San Jacinto St., Houston
(co-sponsored by the Houston Association of Young Lawyers)

For more information about the TYLA/ProBAR Unaccompanied Children's Project, please contact Sylvia Cardona.

AYLA's Connecting Lawyers Event
Thursday, September 7, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Austin Bar Association Seminar Room
816 Congress Ave., Suite 700, Austin

This event is a great way to interact with nonprofit organizations and find out how you can donate your time and legal expertise to worthwhile Austin programs.

Greatest Secret to Attorney Success:

On Thursday, September 14, the DAYL will present "Greatest Secret to Attorney Success," a mentoring and professionalism program featuring the following panel members: Jim Coleman (Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal), Nina Cortell (Haynes and Boone), Justice Liz Lang-Miers (5th District Court of Appeals), and Ralph "Red Dog" Jones (Jones Geisler). The program will be moderated by Michael K. Hurst (Gruber Hurst Johansen & Hail).

The one-hour program will begin at 12:30 p.m in the Walsh Classroom at SMU Dedman School of Law. The distinguished panel will offer ideas and suggestions on how to find a mentor, the different types of mentoring, and the importance of professionalism.

Lunch will be available, and CLE credit is pending. RSVP to Cherie Harris.

TYLA Board of Director's Meeting
Dallas, Texas on November 10-11th at the Adolphus Hotel.

TYLA Annual Report 2006

Want to know how TYLA is serving its members and the community? Then be sure to read the 2006 annual report, which details the activities of TYLA during the 2005-2006 Bar year. Click here for a copy or call 800-204-2222 x 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 2006, you will need to sign up for your committees again. Committee memberships are reset
each year on June 1.