If you only do one thing this year to catch up with colleagues and make new friends at an evening of honors and interesting speakers, then don't miss Annual Dinner 2005.
Set for Friday evening, March 4 from 7-10 p.m. at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel as part of Annual Conference 2005, this evening offers lively conversation and networking, fabulous food and musical entertainment, great prize giveaways, an address by a nationally recognized symbol of our mission to provide full access to justice for all citizens, and an award to an important leader. A reception precedes the dinner, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
This year's keynote speaker is Calvin C. Johnson, Jr., who spent 16 years behind bars in Georgia for a rape he did not commit. Johnson is author of the acclaimed book "Exit to Freedom," which recounts his 16-year imprisonment and struggle to clear his name with the aid of the Innocence Project. Johnson is a co-founder of the Georgia Innocence Project.
Receiving the MBA's prestigious Legislator of the Year Award this year is Massachusetts Speaker of the House Salvatore F. DiMasi. A defense attorney in practice in Boston, he will be honored for his commitment to the legal community as an attorney and for his 25-year service to the citizens of Massachusetts through the House of Representatives.
Annual Dinner 2005 is also about having fun - in the form of some great prizes! Among the prizes being offered this year are:
• "Phantom of the Opera" Package - Four tickets to "Phantom" at Boston's Opera House plus a dinner gift certificate. A fabulous night out to enjoy Andrew Lloyd Webber's award-winning score that has thrilled audiences for years and has become the second-longest-running production on Broadway! Dine out before or after the show!
• Ocean Edge Escape - A two-night stay with breakfast and golf for two at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster. The Cape Cod space where endless activities meet ultimate relaxation. Package valid through Dec. 3, 2006. Donated by Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club.
• Home Run Hit - Two tickets to the World Series Champions Boston Red Sox in the 2005 season. Help cheer on our hometown heroes at friendly Fenway Park. Donated by Beverly National Bank.
• Berkshires Break - A get-away package at Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club in Lenox. Enjoy a two-night stay plus golf for two at the premier all-season resort in the heart of the majestic Berkshires, where you'll enjoy the one of the largest new spas in the Northeast, luxury accommodations, fine dining, outstanding amenities and exceptional service. Donated by Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club.
(Prizewinners will be chosen at random from attendees at the Annual Dinner. You must be present in order to win.)
Tickets to Annual Dinner 2005 are priced at $125 each, or $1,000 for a table of 10. Table sponsorship opportunities, including priority seating, program book advertising and more, are available to show your support of the MBA and your leadership in the Massachusetts legal profession.