The Straight Word Vol. 53, No. 1
Burlington County Bar Association
Mark Your Diary
September 12 Opening of Courts & Memorial Service – 9 a.m. Olde Courthouse, Mt. Holly 17 2018 Guardianship Update – 4:30 p.m. County Office Building, Mt. Holly 20 Networking Happy Hour – 5:30 p.m. Investors Bank, Mt. Laurel 24 BCBA Board of Trustees Meeting – 4:30 p.m. O’Connor’s Restaurant, Westampton
State Bar Night – 6 p.m. O’Connor’s Restaurant, Westampton
25 DNA for Dummies – 4:30 p.m. County Office Building, Mt. Holly 26 Alimony & The Tax Cut & Jobs Act – 4:30 p.m. County Office Building, Mt. Holly
BCBF Board of Trustees Meeting – 5:30 p.m. Bar Headquarters, Mt. Holly
October 11 Hot Topics in Real Estate – 4:30 p.m. County Office Building, Mt. Holly 17 BCBA Board of Trustees Meeting – 4:30 p.m. Bar Headquarters, Mt. Holly 18 Professionalism Day Seminar – 3 p.m. Burlington County Library, Westampton 19 Wine, Beer & Bourbon Tasting – 6 p.m. Laurel Creek Country Club, Mt. Laurel 23 Meet the Judges – 6 p.m. Doubletree, Mt. Laurel 30 Family Law Bench/Bar Meeting – 4 p.m. County Office Building, Mt. Holly
Municipal Court Seminar – 4:30 p.m. County Office Building, Mt. Holly
Inside This Issue President’s Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Wine Pick of the Month. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Planning for Individuals with Special Needs—Part 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Member Spotlight—Joanne Ventura. . . . . . . . . . . 9 Immunoassay Drug Screens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
August/September 2018
Opening Of Courts & Memorial Service Join members of the Bench and Bar on Wednesday, September 12, for the annual Opening of Courts & Memorial Service. The event begins at 9 a.m. at the Old Courthouse, 120 High Street in Mt. Holly. The ceremony is a longstanding tradition in Burlington County dating back to 1972, when courts would close for July and August and resume after Labor Day. At the ceremony we honor and pay tribute to the attorneys and judges we have lost over the past year with eulogies by colleagues who knew them. Being honored are: John L. Laskey, James Logan, Jr. and Kenneth E. Smith. All Superior Court judges will sit en banc for the ceremony. Light refreshments will be served immediately following the ceremony. All members, friends and family are invited to attend as we pay tribute to some of Burlington County's finest!
I’ll Remember... Goodbyes are hard. As I left the Camden County Bar in 2006 to begin my position as executive director with the Burlington County Bar Association, I was anxious to commence a new chapter yet sad to leave my friends and colleagues in Camden County. Now, almost 12 years later, I find myself in that same position but in reverse. I’ve discovered that just because I am embarking on a new chapter in my career doesn’t mean that I won’t continue the relationships I have built over the last 11+ years. I am pleased to say that I have developed more friendships than I could have ever hoped for during my time here. While I am sad that I will not see you all on a regular basis, you will always hold a special place in my heart. I am overwhelmed by the many people who have reached out to me over the last few weeks to wish me well and ask me to keep in touch. I have learned so much during my time here and for that I am so grateful to each and every one of the terrific members I have had the pleasure of working with. I have been truly changed, both professionally and personally, by this fantastic organization. It has been a highlight of my career to help the Burlington County Bar Association grow into the active, vibrant organization it is today. I am so proud of what we have done here, and the Burlington County Bar is poised for continued growth. I look forward to seeing what more you will do. There are more people to thank than I could possibly list here but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a few people: Joe Pinto and Ken Roth for taking a chance on me and bringing me aboard at the BCBA, and for Joe’s assistance throughout my first year (and always having a joke for me); Judge Ronald Bookbinder for his unwavering support of the Burlington County Bar; Judge Edward Hoffman for his humor and friendship; Tim Farrow for being one of my first friends at the BCBA; Janice Heinold for her warmth, friendship, and for providing great advice every time I sought it (and her incomparable wine knowledge); Doug Heinold for always being so relaxed and pleasant to be around and treating me like an old friend from the very beginning; Liz Garcia for her wicked smarts and unfailing ability to make me feel stronger and smarter than I sometimes give myself credit for; Katie Hartman for our dinners and beach days and making my entire family feel like her family; Brett Gorman for our lunches and conversations; Erika Attanasio for being a better right hand than my own; and finally to Jen Stonerod for her support and understanding during this process. If your name did not make this list, please know that I have been touched by so many people in this organization and I carry you all with me as I embark on this new journey. Yes, goodbyes are hard. So I won’t say goodbye. I’ll say, “see you soon!”—because I truly hope and believe that I will. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your executive director and for the faith you placed in me these last 12 years. I will miss you all.