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Feature TYLA Affiliate

San Antonio Young Lawyers Association: Focusing on Family
By:  Ty Hunter Sheehan

Like many bar organizations, the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association (SAYLA) hosts a successful monthly CLE and networking luncheon, after-work happy hour social events, formal evening charity functions, service oriented events, and importantly, two kickball teams.  Instead of the usual suit and tie cocktail gathering, CLE function, pro bono events, or social happy hour, which result in the participation of only members, judges and other lawyers, SAYLA members have requested a family friendly event be hosted to which they could bring their spouses and children. SAYLA listened to its members and has hosted two new events oriented towards fostering personal relationships among its members and their families.

Last year at a local park on a Sunday afternoon, SAYLA hosted the Inaugural Annual Family Fun Day and Chili Cook-off, a family event benefiting the Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas. The event featured multiple moonwalks, cotton candy, sno-cones, and a face painter for the kids.  For the adults the event featured: free music, all you could eat snacks and dinner, beer, wine, and a chili cook-off in which nine teams enthusiastically competed for top-chili and a people's choice award. Approximately 130 members, spouses and children participated in this afternoon-long family event. The participation and response from the membership was excellent. SAYLA looks forward to hosting the Second Annual Family Fun Day and Chili Cook-off in March of this year and to seeing its members and their spouses and children mix and mingle again this spring.

Borrowing an idea from the Corpus Christi Young Lawyers Association, in November SAYLA hosted its inaugural UnWined membership mixer, at the home of Ms. Priscilla Camacho, the immediate past president of SAYLA.  The goal of UnWined was to encourage members to unwind with their own bottle of wine (or beverage of choice) and hors d’oeuvres in a members home.  The event provided a new and more relaxed setting for members to gather and socialize with one another as well as the member's significant others. The inaugural event in San Antonio was a great success and was enjoyed by all in attendance.  Future UnWined mixers are planned and will be hosted at other members' homes, likely on a quarterly basis.

Although SAYLA now hosts several family oriented events, it of course continues to host its traditional networking, service, and CLE events.  In fact SAYLA will host its Third Annual Trial Skills Tournament on April 28, 2012 at the Bexar County Courthouse.  Young lawyers who participate in this event will enhance their trial skills and meet local San Antonio judges and attorneys.