President’s Message

 

#OCBACares

Richard S. Dellinger, Esq. | The Briefs, March 2019 Vol. 87 No. 3

If you pick up The Briefs, read our weekly email newsletter, or attend OCBA functions, you see that OCBA members do more than legal work for our community. OCBA events are frequently focused around fundraisers, food drives, school supply drives, or benefits for charitable organizations, such as our own Legal Aid Society or the OCBA Foundation. OCBA members do more because we care about our community. We are involved in nearly every single charitable and community organization in Central Florida.

OCBA members contribute time and money to a variety of worthy causes. It would be impossible to list them all, but here are a few examples:

• The Heart of Florida United Way is Central Florida’s largest supporter of local health and human services agencies. OCBA members William B. Wilson and Eddie Francis serve on the board of the Heart of Florida United Way. Mr. Wilson is the current secretary.
• The Coalition for the Homeless provides crucial housing, emergency services, and diversion to the homeless population in Central Florida, and OCBA members Miranda Fitzgerald, Todd Pittenger, Brian Wilson, Ty Roofner, Meagan Martin, and Chris Brockman serve on the Coalition board. Mr. Pittenger is the chair.
• The Foundation for Foster Children provides support for children in foster care. Past OCBA president Woody Rodriguez and OCBA member Ahmad El-Gendi serve as board members for the organization. Mr. Rodriguez is the current chair.
• The Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida provides hope and opportunity to at-risk children in Central Florida. OCBA members Jay Brennan, Michael Ryan, Jennifer Tobin, Chris Carlyle, and Jim Etscorn serve on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida. Mr. Ryan is the current board chair.

OCBA members also contribute time and money to, and serve on the boards of, our local major arts organizations. For example:

• The Orlando Museum of Art inspires creativity, passion, and intellectual curiosity by connecting people with art and new ideas. OCBA members Patrick Christiansen and Ben Subin serve on the Orlando Museum of Art board.
• The Orlando Shakespeare Theater produces classic, contemporary, and children’s plays. OCBA members Suzanne Gilbert and Kim Ashby have long served on the Orlando Shakes board.
• Orlando Repertory Theatre provides quality theatre for young audiences that enlightens, enriches, and entertains. OCBA member Jennifer Dixon has served on the board of the Orlando Rep Theatre for many years.
• The Historical Society of Central Florida oversees the Orlando Regional History Center in downtown Orlando. OCBA member Thomas Cloud serves on the board.
• The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is Central Florida’s resident professional orchestra. OCBA member Melody Lynch serves on the Philharmonic board and is its vice president and president-elect.

In public service, many OCBA members serve as judges and in the House and Senate. Tiffany Moore Russell serves as the Clerk of Court. In City Hall, OCBA members Jared Brooks and Vivian Cocotas in the general counsel’s office. The Orange County Public Library System is a public service that adds to the quality of life in our community by creating a learning environment and experiences that foster personal growth and development. OCBA member Lisa Franchina serves as the president of the board of trustees. And when there is an election, you will see past OCBA president Nick Shannin working with the supervisor of elections to make sure all votes are counted. There are very few public service sectors in which an OCBA member is not involved.

In youth sports, OCBA members routinely serve as board leaders and team coaches. Without the support of OCBA members, it would be hard for any local baseball league, football team, soccer league, cheerleading group, or basketball league in Central Florida to thrive. If you come out to OCBA’s Law Day 5K or Great Oaks Village Fun Day, you know that OCBA members have varying degrees of athletic ability. Fortunately, athleticism is not a prerequisite to service; OCBA members recognize the value in giving back to their community sports organizations by serving in volunteer roles.

In local schools, OCBA members are highly visible and engaged. They are room parents, representatives in the Parent Teacher Association, and more. When children participate in scouting, OCBA members are there, guiding our Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Adventure Guides. OCBA members step up and volunteer because they understand the importance of sharing their experiences and serving as role models for future generations.

At our places of worship, OCBA members are deacons, elders, and teachers. You see OCBA members engaged in youth programs, participating in summer camp activities, or singing in the choir. OCBA members understand the value of being involved.

Just as we zealously represent our clients, we also zealously support our community. We donate, we advocate, we serve, we lead, we teach, we guide, we engage. And in doing so, we enrich the lives of others. Thank you for all you do. #OCBACares.

Richard S. Dellinger, Esq., a shareholder with Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A., practices in the litigation department in the areas of business litigation, trust and estate litigation, and significant dissolution of marriage. He has been a member of the OCBA since 1999.