Note from the President Ladies and Gentleman cover your ears, I am about to use the F word. A word I scarcely use because I find it disgusting and unladylike. A word so offensive I can barely even think it. A word so reviled I only use it when life depends on it. That’s right Dear Reader, I’m talking about Football. The mere mention of that F word makes me want to use a different F word. Why? Because football is a big fat interruption of life. How? Simple. Imagine a family of three, out for a morning ride to the local flea market to nose around and buy cheap sunglasses. It’s a lazy Saturday morning and everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves, UNTIL…my husband says, “let’s go, I need to get home.” “But why?” I ask with sincerity. “Because I want to see the kick-off!” Ah. Before I have a chance to process that a stupid football game is ruining my day, he says: “Get it and let’s go.” Words cannot express what happens to my blood pressure when I hear that phrase. And, this time, he used my most hated phrase in conjunction with my most-hated sport. Not a good career move. I wanted to show him a kickoff. I don’t just hate football because it has ruined so many of my weekends, I also hate it because it turns husbands into zombie nutjobs. As soon as the kicker kicks that stupid little ball my husband’s ability to hear (nevermind actually listen) disappears. *poof* I’m an invisible mute. (Ah, what my husband wouldn’t give to REALLY be able to mute me…but…I digress.) On top of sudden hearing loss, my intelligent, relatively calm husband turns into a raving lunatic - jumping out of his chair, screaming game-winning advice at the television. NEWSFLASH: THEY CAN’T HEAR YOU. As much as I think football is stupid, I will watch a game to be social with everybody. I love to entertain friends and family in our home and I enjoy preparing food for our guests. I could care less about the score (assuming Dallas is losing, that is) as long as my guests are enjoying themselves. In fact, my favorite part of the job as President of the Bar Association is the opportunity to socialize with my colleagues. I truly believe that if we get to know each other on a social level, we will be more effective and professional on a business level. Think about it, isn’t it easier to tell a colleague with whom you are friends, or friendly, that you don’t agree with her position? Yep, it is. It’s kind of funny, who knew the greatest reason to be active in the Bar Association would be the F word? RG
Mary C. Evans, Esq. mary@maryevanslawyer.com | (239) 226-1062 6
RES GESTAE | October 2013
LEE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Nanci G. DuBois EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Lisa Poulin LAWYER REFERRAL & PRO BONO COORDINATOR Ghaylene Reyes
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PRESIDENT Mary C. Evans, Esq. VICE-PRESIDENT John D. Agnew, Esq. SECRETARY Anne Dalton, Esq. TREASURER Scott Atwood, Esq. MEMBER-AT-LARGE Kelly Fayer, Esq.
YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION PRESIDENT John Miller, Esq.
COMMITTEES HISTORY E. Bruce Strayhorn, Esq. & Jenna Persons, Esq. LAW RELATED EDUCATION Jaime Maurer, Esq. & Scott Atwood, Esq. LAW WEEK Hon. John S. Carlin LIBRARY Robert L. Donald, Esq. MOCK TRIAL Mary C. Evans, Esq. PAST PRESIDENT Karla Y. Campos-Andersen, Esq. PRO BONO Audrey Singelton, Esq. & Katie Berkey, Esq. MEMBERSHIP Carlos Kelly, Esq. SOCIAL EVENTS Amanda Mitteer-Bartley, Esq. & Theresa Daniels, Esq. TECHNOLOGY Michael E. Chionopoulos, Esq.
PRACTICE SECTION CHAIRS ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION Anne Dalton, Esq. APPELLATE LAW Margaret White-Small, Esq. CRIMINAL LAW Keith Upson, Esq. REAL PROPERTY, PROBATE & TRUST LAW Kenneth Kemp, Esq. GENERAL CIVIL & BUSINESS LITIGATION J. Jeffrey Rice, Esq. TORT LITIGATION Preston John (PJ) Scheiner, Esq. FAMILY LAW Rana Holz, Esq. & Jo Ellen Kane, Esq. LAND USE & GOVERNMENTAL LAW Russell Schropp, Esq.