LADC TRIAL ACADEMY: The twenty-sixth annual LADC Trial Academy is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 5-Saturday, Aug. 7 at Loyola Law School. Outstanding lawyers and judges provide excellent training in all phases of litigation for young lawyers, and it is an incredible bargain. Registration materials are available at www.ladc.org.

LADC SIZZLIN’ SUMMER SEMINAR, FRIDAY THE 13TH: One of the LADC’s most popular seminars is the seminar formerly known as the Attorney-Client Seminar. This year the second annual Sizzlin’ Summer Seminar will be at the Windsor Court Hotel on Friday, Aug. 13. Don’t take a chance by working on Friday the 13th. Come get 8 hours of CLE credit and enjoy good luck at the seminar. We have a reserved block of rooms and suites at the Windsor Court Hotel at a special rate. Additionally, if the hotel offers summer specials better than our rate, we will get the better rate. Make your hotel reservation by calling 1-800-262-2662. The CLE agenda includes the following as well as more to be announced: Insurance Law Update (Shelby McKenzie); Privileges, Liens, Subrogations & Other Snags (Shane Craighead); Ethics (Prof. Dane Ciolino and Phelps Gay); Professionalism; and Recent Developments in Louisiana Law. Registration materials are available at www.ladc.org.

STRATEGIC PLANNING, THURSDAY, AUG. 12: The LADC officers and board of directors will engage in a day-long strategic planning session the before the Sizzlin’ Summer Seminar. The session will be held in conjunction with the board meeting usually held on that day. The purpose of the session is to assess the state of the organization and plan for the future. A key topic will be member services. Everything is on the table, including the following: newsletter; website; online CLE; email blast notices; CLE seminars and training programs; young lawyers’ services; expert witness services; participation in government (legislature, courts, and agencies); dues; travel; opportunities for member involvement and participation; and interaction with other national, state, and local organizations. We encourage all members who have ideas to communicate with us by contacting your district director, an officer, or the LADC office (Ladefensecounsel@aol.com or 225-928-7599). This is your organization, and we ask that you help us make it better.

ANNUAL MEETING 2011: Start planning now to attend the 2011 Annual Meeting. After conducting a survey of the membership, President Ron Sholes has announced that the trip will be to southern France. Stay tuned

BEAVER CREEK WINTER MEETING 2011: The winter meeting and ski trip to the Charter at Beaver Creek will be during Mardi Gras week, Wednesday, March 9-Sunday, March 13. Because flights book early during Mardi Gras week, you may want to make flight arrangements soon.

Incoming Officers

The new secretary-treasurer, from District 1, is Marta-Ann Schnabel (O’Bryon & Schnabel).  The other officers move up as follows: Ron Sholes, president; Ben Mayeaux, president-elect; Tom Buck, first vice president; Skip Philips, second vice president; and Drake Lee, immediate past president.

Incoming Directors

The new directors are as follows:

District 1 (New Orleans and Surrounding Area): Michael S. Sepcich (Bradley Murchison); Tara Mason (Lobman Carnahan); Dan Dorsey (Porteous Hainkel).

Dist. 2 (Baton Rouge and surrounding area): Victor Gregoire (Kean Miller);  Gracella Simmons (Keogh, Cox & Wilson)

Dist. 3 (Lafayette and surrounding area): Mike Juneau (Juneau David)

Dist. 4 (Lake Charles and surrounding area): John Simpson (Stockwell Sievert)

Dist. 5 (Alexandria and surrounding area): None. (Two were elected in 2009 after a director resigned in 2008 after being elected to the bench.)

Dist. 6 (Shreveport and surrounding area): Tim Allen (Blanchard Walker); Michael Lowe (Cook Yancey); Sarah Kirkpatrick (Bradley Murchison)

Dist. 7 (Monroe and surrounding area): John B. Hoychick (Cotton Bolton)

Outgoing Directors

We also thank our directors who just completed their two-year terms:

Dist. 1: Peter Donovan, Jim Nieset, Trey Paulsen

Dist. 2: Darrell Loup and Dan Reed

Dist. 3: Tim Basden

Dist. 4: Bill Swift

Dist. 5: None

Dist. 6: Edwin Byrd and Gregg Wilkes

Dist. 7: John Saye

Members may vote for any or all of the candidates nominated by the Nominating Committee or may write in candidates in the space provided. Members are not restricted to voting for their district.

To download a ballot in PDF format, click here: 2010 Ballot for LADC Board of Directors. Please e-mail, fax, or mail the completed ballot to Skip Philips, the Secretary-Treasurer of the LADC, no later than April 26, 2010.