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Volunteer Recognition Dinner

Issue September 2012 By Tricia M. Oliver

MBA honors exemplary volunteers, 50-year members

The Massachusetts Bar Association celebrated the efforts of its volunteers at the Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner, held at Lombardo's in Randolph in July. Also recognized at the event were the MBA's 50-year members.

"We realize that it takes careful coordination to carve out time for bar involvement," said MBA past President Richard P. Campbell. "We appreciate you keeping service as an MBA volunteer high on your list of priorities."

The dinner audience comprised nearly 150 volunteers who had donated their time, energy and expertise to the MBA over the past year by serving on one of the association's section councils, committees or task forces.

The presentation of four Volunteer Recognition Awards highlighted the work of individuals chosen from a pool of nomination submissions. Grace Garcia, chair, Volunteer Recognition Committee, noted the difficult task her committee had in selecting the evening's awardees. Garcia explained that the awards "recognize members who volunteer substantial time and effort to the mission, program and/or publications of the MBA or otherwise enhance the MBA in a significant way." Garcia was joined by then MBA Vice President Jeffrey N. Catalano to present the honors to the four awardees, which included:

  • Edward Pikula, the vice chair of MBA's Public Law Section, for his work in aiding the public and the bar in the wake of last June's devastating tornadoes.
  • James E. Harvey Jr., long-time MBA volunteer, for his service as editor-in-chief of the sixth edition of Traps for the Unwary, distributed to membership earlier this year.
  • Mark Leahy and Janice Nigro, for their comprehensive efforts to educate fellow bar members and the greater legal community on the changes that came with the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code.

In addition to the Volunteer Recognition Awardees, the following 50-year honorees received their service plaques from Campbell and MBA President-elect Robert L. Holloway Jr.:

  • Jerry Cohen;
  • Gilbert W. Cox;
  • Herbert Epstein;
  • John P. Higgins;
  • Denis G. Regan;
  • Allan G. Rodgers;
  • Edward A. Roster;
  • Hrant H. Russian; and
  • Max Volterra.

"Congratulations on this professional milestone," said Holloway.