Executive Director’s Perspective: Rusty Duncan and Summer Fun – By Joseph A. Martinez

Special thanks to Betty Blackwell (Austin), Kerri Anderson-Donica (Corsicana), Brent Cahill (Navasota), Leslie Starr Barrows (Colleyville), Warren Wolf (San Antonio), and Ray Rodriguez (Laredo), our course directors for this year’s 26th Annual Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course. Thanks to all our 26 speakers, our board member’s support, and staff, we had over 870 attendees. This year 31 exhibitors participated in our Exhibit Hall.

We raised $9,145 from the 54 items donated by board members, hotels, and various other sponsors. These funds will be used for scholarships for lawyers in the coming year.

Thanks to Rick Wardroup (Lubbock), course director for our Capital Update held on June 13 in San Antonio. Thanks to Jody Lynee Madeira, our speaker, we had 33 attendees.

Bill Trantham (Denton) organized a group of lawyers to take the Amtrak train to and from San Antonio. It was inexpensive, hassle-free, and no driving was required. The Amtrak train station is less than a mile from all the hotels in downtown San Antonio. We are going to arrange for a Rusty Flyer from the Metroplex and possibly Houston for next year’s 27th Annual Rusty Duncan Advanced Criminal Law Course, scheduled for June 2013. More information to follow.

The TCDLA Board and Members met for the 43rd Annual Members Meeting in San Antonio on Saturday, June 15, 2013. The following motions were passed:*

MOTION: Minutes

Approve minutes from March 9, 2013, TCDLA Board Meeting in Dallas. Motion made by Mark Snodgrass, seconded by Sam Bassett—motion carries.

MOTION: Bylaws Changes

Adopt proposed challenges as published to the general membership listed below. Mo­tion made by Adam Kobs, seconded by Gary Trichter—motion carries (2 opposed).

MOTION: Williamson County Affiliate

A motion to accept Williamson County as an affiliate of TCDLA made by Vincent Perini, seconded by Gerry Goldstein—motion carries.

MOTION to approve the 2013–2014 officers, new and reappointed Board Members

Motion made by Coby Waddill, seconded by Gerry Gold­stein—motion carries.

MOTION: Voice for the Defense Magazine Editor and Assistant Editor

A motion was made to have Michael Gross as the editor and Grant Scheiner as assistant editor. Motion made by Bobby Mims, seconded by Danny Easterling—motion carries.

Special thanks to our course directors, Carlos Garcia (Austin) and Rick Wardroup (Lubbock), for our second annual Training the Trainers seminar held in South Padre Island. We are putting special emphasis on preparing speakers for our CDLP CLE for the coming year. Presentations included adult learning principles and effective PowerPoint presentations. We had 25 current and future speakers.

Special thanks to our course directors, Sarah Roland (Den­ton), Bobby Lerma (Brownsville), and Sheldon Weisfeld (Brownsville). Thanks to their efforts we had 62 attendees.

Thanks to Bill Trantham (Denton), Bobby Lerma (Brownsville), and Mel Bruder (Denton)—plus TCDLA staff and Pepe Flores, staff spouse—for putting together the 8th Annual Beach Bar-B-Que. Thanks to everyone’s help, we had close to 100 persons enjoy the barbecue, shrimp, and beach and sun.

We held our annual TCDLA/CDLP/TCDLEI board orientation at South Padre Island. Board members were oriented to their duties and responsibilities and given an overview of TCDLA/CDLP/TCDLEI. We also had a Sunset Bay Cruise and a Hawaiian Luau. A good time was had by all.

Bobby Mims, TCDLA President (Tyler), discussed his challenging goals for the coming year

We want to thank the TCDLA members who were the local organizers of the July 4, 2013, Readings of the Declaration of Independence in 51 cities in Texas. Robb Fickman, TCDLA board member (Houston), started the readings in Houston with the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA) in 2011 and expanded throughout Texas. This year there were readings in 12 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a reading in London.

Thank you Robb for your dedication and patriotism and for helping us remember why we are so fortunate to be Americans.

Summer is upon us. Please join us for CLE throughout the coming months.

Please go to our website for more information and to register online.

TCDLA appreciates its members’ support. We know you have a choice in whose CLE you attend. Thank you for supporting and attending TCDLA CLE.

Are you interested in forming a local criminal defense bar? Need help getting organized? Please contact Susan Anderson (Dallas), , or Ray Rodriguez (Laredo), , co-chairs of the TCDLA Affiliate Committee.

Good verdicts to all.

TCDLA

Joseph A. Martinez

Joseph A. Martinez is the former long-time Executive Director of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.