President's Report - November 21, 2008:

October 11, 2008 B GSBA President accepted an invitation from the Jack and Jill of America, Delaware Valley Cluster, to judge an Oratorical Competition for middle and high school students at the Marriott in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The theme of the Oratorical Competition was ADream in Color.@ The competition was part of a Youth Conference designed to teach young people public speaking skills. The program supports the belief that the best time to learn public speaking skills is while you are young.

October 15, 2008 B GSBA President attended the First Annual Bar Association Open House held by Seton Hall University School of Law, Office of Career Services. The event was designed to allow students to meet and socialize with bar association representatives who can offer students guidance as to both future involvement in a bar association as well as overall success in their legal careers. The open house lasted from 5:50pm to 7:30pm.

October 16, 2008 B GSBA joined other bar associations and community organizations in supporting the Governor's Economic Stimulus Plan which was introduced by the Governor before a joint meeting of the Legislature. GSBA issued a press release stating that the Governor's comprehensive plan recognizes the need for immediate action to assist those hardest hit by the recent economic downturn and to stimulate the economy to spur its recovery. The plan addresses the alarming increase in mortgage foreclosures, job and business losses, energy costs and requests for food assistance. The plan offers protection to homeowners, assistance to struggling families, job creation and job retention, business attraction and retention, and investment in our future.

October 27, 2008 B GSBA and other specialty bars joined Governor Corzine, Secretary of State Wells, Public Advocate Chen and Rev. Reginald Jackson of the Black Ministers Council on the Mercer County Courthouse steps to hold a press conference to discuss voters' rights during the 2008 election process. Speakers discussed actions being taken to protect the rights of New Jersey voters. Representing GSBA at the press conference were the GSBA President as well as GSBA Trustees Akinyemi Akiwowo, Jennifer Watson and C. Regan Almonor, who delivered GSBA's statement on new identification requirements which was prepared by GSBA Trustee Thomas Jackson.

November 6, 2008 - GSBA supported ABLS' 18th Annual Jazz for Justice Program entitled ASeeing Our Future Through Our Past@ by placing a full page advertisement in the program journal and purchasing one ticket to the event. Jazz for Justice is ABLS' flagship event which provides a forum for the legal community to celebrate together with law students, alumni, faculty and staff while raising money for the ABLS Wanda Green Endowed Scholarship which benefits a deserving Rutgers Law School student who was affected by the events of September 11th or Hurricane Katrina. The event honored Rutgers University - Newark Vice-Chancellor Marcia Brown, a distinguished Rutgers Law School Alumna, and featured a keynote address by Vaughn McKoy, former Director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice. Marisa Slaten attended the event on GSBA=s behalf.

November 8, 2008 - GSBA co-sponsored ABWL's 6th Annual Bench and Bar Meeting at Rutgers Law School in Newark. Several GSBA members attended the meeting which included a presentation by Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow on mandatory minimum prison sentences for weapons offenses and a keynote address by the Honorable Frances Antonin, J.S.C.

November 14, 2008 - GSBA issued a letter of recommendation and support of GSBA member Desha Lang Jackson, Esq., to the NJSBA in her quest to be appointed to a second two year term as At-Large Trustee of the NJSBA representing African-American membership. Ms. Jackson is currently the President of the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association and was previously the President of ABWL, Her numerous awards include the 2002 NJSBA Young Lawyer of the Year and the 2007 Professional Lawyer of the Year, as well as being recognized in 2006 and 2007 by the Super Lawyers Magazine for New Jersey as a ARising Star - Under 40."