• Linnes Finney, Jr. - President
• V. Lynn Whitfield- Lawfax E-Bulletin Editor

• CAPERS OLDEST MEMBER TO ATTEND ANNUAL CONVENTION
• FINNEY SWORN IN AS 64TH PRESIDENT
• UPCOMING EVENTS
• CANADIAN MEMBERS ATTEND ANNUAL CONVENTION
• ELECTION RESULTS # INFORMATION NEEDED!!!
• FIRST TIME ATTENDEE VOWS TO RETURN
• SOUTH AFRICAN ATTORNEYS TRAVEL TO CONVENTION
• YLD HONORS STAR JONE REYNOLDS

Linnes Finney, Jr., challenged all the members of the National Bar Association to carry the torch and lead by example as he was sworn in as the 64th president of the association. President Finney, a native of Georgia, has practiced law in the same firm, Gary William Parenti Finney Lewis McManus Watson and Sperando, since graduating from law school. Accompanied by his wife, Sonya' and their two children, Chase and Clayton, President Finney took the oath of office which was administered by Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince.

Advancing his theme for the year, President Finney will focus on four components. He pledged to continue the work started by President Kim Keenan and President Reginald Turner. He will continue to encourage the members to be actively involved in Election Protection and Katrina Relief Efforts. He will also take the baton from Past President H.T. Smith and raise the remaining amounts necessary to make Endowment 2000 a reality. His new project will be working with middle school students to encourage them to remain in school and to highlight the benefits of law as a career choice. It is his intent to develop a model program which can be duplicated by all affiliate chapters.

What can you do to assist President Finney and his administration? If you have not given to Endowment 2000, do so now. If you made a pledge and have not fulfilled the pledge, do so now. If your company has matching funds available, encourage your company to match your pledge now. Once the model middle school program is announced, encourage your local affiliate to participate. Volunteer to assist with the Katrina Relief efforts and in November be a part of the Election Protection Team. Let's all help make this year the best year ever for the National Bar Association.

• September 9, 2006- Executive Committee Meeting, Washington, D.C.
• November 1-5, 2006 - Wiley Branton Symposium, Little Rock, Ar
• January 10-14, 2007 - NBA Judicial Council Mid- Winter Meeting and Board Meeting, St. Kitts
• February, 2007 - NBA Corporate Counsel Conference, Miami, Fl
• March 15-18, 2007 - Small Firms & Solo Practitioners, Puerto Rico
• May 9-13, 2007 - NBA Midyear Conference and Gertrude Rush Dinner, Hollywood, Fl
• June, 2007 - International Trip, South Africa
• July 8-20, 2007 - NBA Crump Law Camp, Washington, D.C.
• July 28-August 4, 2007 - NBA 82nd Annual Convention and Exhibits, Atlanta, GA.

With Canada being just across the Detroit River, it was not surprising to see a delegation of Canadian members of the NBA in attendance at the annual convention. Pictured above are attorneys Frank Walwyn, Marsha Henry and Linc A. Rogers. This was their first convention. When asked their opinion about the convention, they all replied that the convention presented a great opportunity for them to meet and network with other NBA members. Each of them complimented the CLE program which was presented and stated that is was unsurpassed. Each one promised that they would be back to other conventions in the future. Pictured with the Canadian delegation is Board Member Audrea Golding Bitler,(dressed in white), who encouraged them to attend.

The members in attendance at the annual convention had the opportunity to elect seven officers. The vacant positions included President-Elect; two Vice President positions for two-year terms; one Vice President position for a one-year term; and three Member at Large Positions.

The Vice President, two-year term positions and the Member at Large Positions were unopposed. Mavis Thompson and Marlon Primes were returned to the positions of Vice President. There are three new Members at Large V. Lynn Whitfield, Florida, Audrea Golding Bitler, California, and James Goodwille Pierre, Texas. John Page, California was elected to position of Vice President which is the unexpired term of Vanita Banks. Vanita Banks was elected President- Elect and will take office in Atlanta, Georgia in 2007. .

After fifteen years of practicing law, Linda Fegins of Detroit, Michigan, attended her first NBA Convention. She stated that she decided not to miss this opportunity to attend with the convention in her home state. She was unsure why she had not attended in the pass but quickly stated that she plans to attend next year in Atlanta.

Ms. Fegins found that the educational seminars were very enriching. She also enjoyed the political activities as the candidates vied for the different positions. She stated that it was all a good learning experience. s.

The Honorable Jean Capers will be 94 years old on January 11, 2007. The week of August 6th, she did what she has been doing since 1945, she attended the National Bar Association Convention. Now practicing elder law, Judge Capers, said she still attends the NBA Convention because she sees friends that she has not seen all year long. She is probably the oldest practicing member of the NBA and she is definitely the oldest that attends the annual convention.

Retired from the bench in Cleveland, Ohio, Judge Capers attended her first NBA convention in 1945 after graduating from Cleveland Law School. She says that her father taught her and her four brothers and sisters to think. Her father moved them to the Cleveland area to get the benefit of integrated education. Her favorite saying is from Harriet Tubman, "There's another way I can do the same thing and stay alive." Her love for the National Bar has not winged in the sixty-one years. .

SOUTH AFRICAN ATTORNEYS TRAVEL TO CONVENTION

South African lawyer Pictured above, Puleng Keetse, brought greeting at the Opening Session on behalf Black Lawyers of South Africa. Attending her second NBA convention, Attorney Keetse joined the delegation of South African attorneys who meet with Past President Evett Simmons to help plan the international trip to South Africa in June, 2007.

YLD HONORS STAR JONE REYNOLDS AKA

Star Star Jones Reynolds was awarded the A. Leon Higginbottom Award by the Young Lawyers Division during their annual luncheon. She is pictured here with Sonya' Finney, President Finney's wife and her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. sisters.