TYLA Officers

   

Rebekah Steely Brooker, President

   

Dustin M. Howell, Chair

   

Sam Houston, Vice President

   

Baili B. Rhodes, Secretary

   

John W. Shaw, Treasurer

   

C. Barrett Thomas, President-elect

   

Priscilla D. Camacho, Chair-elect

   

Kristy Blanchard, Immediate Past President

TYLA Directors

   

Amanda A. Abraham, District 1

   

Sharesa Y. Alexander, Minority At-Large Director

   

Raymond J. Baeza, District 14

    Aaron J. Burke, District 5, Place 1
   

Aaron T. Capps, District 5, Place 2

   

D. Lance Currie, District 5, Place 3

   

Laura W. Docker, District 10, Place 1

    Andrew Dornburg, District 21
    John W. Ellis, District 8, Place 2
    Zeke Fortenberry, District 4
   

Bill Gardner, District 5, Place 4

   

Morgan L. Gaskin, District 6, Place 5

    Nick Guinn, District 18, Place 1
   

Adam C. Harden, District 6, Place 6

   

Amber L. James, District 17

   

Curtis W. Lucas, District 9

    Rudolph K. Metayer, District 8, Palce 1
   

Laura Pratt, District 3

    Sally Pretorius, District 8, Place 2
   

Baili B. Rhodes, District 2

   

Alex B. Roberts, District 6, Place 3

    Eduardo Romero, District 19
    Michelle P. Scheffler, District 6, Place 2
   

John W. Shaw, District 10, Place 2

    Nicole Soussan, District 6, Place 4
    L. Brook Stuntebeck, District 11
   

C. Barrett Thomas, District 15

    Judge Amanda N. Torres, Minority At-Large Director
   

Shannon Steel White, District 12

    Brandy Wingate Voss, District 13
    Veronica S. Wolfe, District 18, Place 2
   

Baylor Wortham, District 7

    Alex Yarbrough, District 16

   

Justice Paul W. Green, Supreme Court Liaison

   

Jenny Smith, Access To Justice Liaison

   

Brandon Crisp, ABA YLD District 25 Representative

   

Travis Patterson, ABA/YLD District 26 Representative

   

Assistant Dean Jill Nikirk, Law School Liaison

   

Belashia Wallace, Law Student Liaison

 

 
TYLA Office

Tracy Brown, Director of Administration
Bree Trevino, Project Coordinator

Michelle Palacios, Office Manager
General Questions: tyla@texasbar.com

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 12487, Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711-2487
(800) 204-2222 ext. 1529
FAX: (512) 427-4117

Street Address

1414 Colorado, 4th Floor
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 427-1529

 

Views and opinions expressed in eNews are those of their authors and not necessarily those of the Texas Young Lawyers Association or the State Bar of Texas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editor's Column

Editor's Column

Starting the New Year off on the Right and Left Foot
By:  Cameron J. Cox

On New Year’s Eve of every year, almost everyone makes some sort of resolution to make one or more changes in their lives for the betterment of themselves. (Editor’s note: I used to think resolutions were pointless and we should spend every day to better ourselves, but I have recently adapted to and now enjoy the New Year’s resolution as work and life take up more of my free time). So, I personally made a resolution to run my first marathon in Washington, D.C. in October, and even started off on the right foot early at 6:00 a.m. on the morning of New Year’s Day with a 10k run. Many people share the same kind of resolution and seek to work out more, train for some endurance event, eat better, drink less, be a better spouse/parent, or achieve some other personal or professional goal. Let’s hope we all stick to these… at least until October or until its swimsuit weather (pictures not to follow).

These types of resolutions to start off the New Year on the right foot are great, but I rarely hear people making resolutions to help others. I think we all need to take the time to make a resolution for 2012 to help and serve others. I call this starting off the New Year on the left foot. We put our right foot forward to serve ourselves and our left foot forward to serve others. You can’t move forward on your right foot alone unless you hop and the world record for hopping is 16 days 13 hours and 27 minutes. So hopping aside, you also need to put your left foot forward at some point or you will fall over (on the 17th day, according to Guinness Book of World Records).

How can we attorneys make such a resolution to serve others? It’s actually quite easy. Each and every one of us can serve in a myriad of capacities in our communities. It can be as simple as volunteering at a fundraising event in the evening or on a weekend. We can serve on a board for a non-profit organization. Every non-profit board is in need of a good attorney to either serve on their board or help in their organization in some capacity.  We can also attend and/or sponsor a fundraising event in our areas. Every town, city and school in your area this time of year and throughout the year will have a list of non-profit organizations and groups that are in need of money, volunteers, as well as attendees and sponsors to their local Galas, Balls, and other events. In short, there are greater opportunities to serve our communities than there are pieces of workout equipment at your local gym (even a “Mega Gym”), and the rewards are much greater than the elliptical machine or that spin class you’ve been putting off.

Make your involvement known and promote others to get involved. Most of us are connected in some form or fashion to the internet. Once you get involved make your involvement known and invite others to get involved with you. It can be as simple as a “status update” on your Facebook page, or an email to your colleagues (if you wish to be discreet about your left foot activities). But, make your decision to serve contagious and make it spread like the flu (which can spread rather quickly at a gym- just saying).
Make that resolution today! It’s time to stop hopping to work and to the gym, and it’s time to move forward with both feet. It’s time to be a balanced citizen of our communities, stand on both feet, and serve ourselves and our communities. I challenge you in 2012 to do just one simple act of service to others in need. You will feel better, and just like hitting the pavement in your running shoes you will put one foot in front of the other and see the results over time.