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    Highlights from the SLD Annual Meeting

    Emily C R Roy and Sophia Granger

    Aug 31, 2022

    4 min read

    Career Lessons Learned

    Summary

    • The ABA Senior Lawyers Division's Annual Meeting in August 2022 in Chicago marked the first in-person gathering since 2019 with much to celebrate.
    • Loren Kieve received the 16th annual John H. Pickering Award of Achievement during a luncheon for his outstanding contributions to pro bono and the access to justice.
    • A champagne reception acknowledged ingoing and outgoing SLD leaders, with SLD Chair Carole L. Worthington passing the gavel to incoming Chair James L. Schwartz.
    • John K. Uilkema received the Robert Meserve Award for outstanding commitment to the SLD.
    • Sally Balch Hurme was recognized as the SLD's best-selling author for her ABA/AARP Checklist series.
    • SLD celebrated its 35th Anniversary with a delicious cake.
    Highlights from the SLD Annual Meeting
    Kawee Wateesatogkij

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    The ABA Senior Lawyers Division’s August 2022 Annual Meeting in Chicago was our first in-person Annual Meeting in-person since 2019 and we had much to celebrate: the annual Pickering Award luncheon, a champagne toast to the incoming and outgoing SLD leaders, Robert Meserve Award ceremony, special recognition to SLD's best-selling author Sally Balch Hurme, and a belated celebration of SLD's 35th Anniversary. 

    During the Council meetings, the SLD reviewed the accomplishments of the 2021-2022 bar year and discussed the new reorganization of the leadership structure as well as upcoming publications, programs, and projects for the 2022-2023 bar year for the 50,000 SLD members.  

    Here’s a recap of a few of the events at the Annual Meeting.

    Loren Kieve Receives the John H. Pickering Award

    The SLD organized the 16th annual John H. Pickering Award Luncheon held on August 6th at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park. The Award is named in memory of John H. Pickering, the 1996-97 SLD Chair whose life and accomplishments demonstrated outstanding legal ability and dedication to the improvement of access to justice.

    This year’s Award recipient is Loren Kieve. He was warmly introduced by colleague and friend ABA Past President Patricia Lee Refo and presented the award  by 2021-2022 SLD Chair Carole L. Worthington. Mr. Kieve delivered an inspiring acceptance speech, encompassing 49 years of his oustanding work with the ABA, his groundbreaking work as a trustee of The Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development (the IAIA), one of 36 tribal colleges in the United States, finishing with a beautiful Navajo blessing. 

    The luncheon was generously sponsored by WilmerHale; University of New Mexico Law; Debevoise & Plimpton; Michael J. Van Zandt; Marvin S.C. Dang and The Law Offices of Marvin S.C. Dang LLLC; John K. Uilkema; Carole L. Worthington; Richard M. Leslie; Karen P. Campbell; and James L. Schwartz.

    Read the press release here.

    Loren Kieve receives the John H. Pickering Award from SLD Chair Carole L. Worthington (right) and ABA Past President Patricia Lee Refo (left).

    Sophia Granger

    Loren Kieve receives the John H. Pickering Award from SLD Chair Carole L. Worthington (right) and ABA Past President Patricia Lee Refo (left).

    Toast to SLD leaders and volunteers during Champagne Reception

    The SLD hosted a special Champagne Reception on Saturday, August 6th at the Hyatt Regency after the SLD Annual Business Meeting.  SLD members and other ABA members raised a toast to congratulate John K. Uilkema for winning the Robert Meserve Award for outstanding service to the SLD, and to thank and congratulate Carole L. Worthington for her exemplary year of service as outgoing 2021-2022 SLD Chair, James L. Schwartz (incoming SLD Chair), Richard M. Leslie (incoming Chair-Elect), Karren J. Pope-Onwukwe (incoming Vice-Chair), John K. Uilkema (outgoing Delegate), Wilson Adam Schooley (incoming Delegate), and other Division leaders.  We enjoyed a cake with chocolate covered strawberries in a belated celebration of SLD's 35th Anniversary.

    Champagne Toast

    Sophia Granger

    Champagne Toast

    John K. Uilkema Receives the Robert Meserve Award

    During the SLD’s Champagne Reception, John K. Uilkema received from 2021-22 SLD Chair Carole L. Worthington the Robert W. Meserve Award for outstanding service to the SLD.  (Robert Meserve was the first Chair of the SLD from 1985-1986.) John has served as SLD Delegate for six years and on numerous SLD committees over the years. He's also served as SLD liaison to the Section of Intellectual Property Law. John is being recognized for embodying the spirit of what it means to be in SLD: who we are, who we are as professionals, how we work together, how we help each other, how we recruit new people to come and join us, help people participate in our activities, and just like magic they want to be a part of us. John is a leader who's inspired others to join and engage in SLD.

    Champagne Toast

    Sophia Granger

    Champagne Toast

    Sally Balch Hurme Is Recognized as SLD's Best-Selling Author

    Sally Balch Hurme was recognized for her outstanding service to the ABA Senior Lawyers Division as its "Best-selling Author" (in the shape of a crystal book award) for writing many books in the ABA/AARP Checklist series which together have sold more than 100,000 copies!

    Former SLD Book Publishing Board Chair, Chuck Collier recognized Sally's impressive contributions:

    • Sally conceived the concept of a series of checklist books and wrote 4 initial books in that series:  “Checklist for Family Survivors,” “Checklist for Family Caregivers,” ”Checklist for Family Heirs,” and “Checklist for My Family.”  Each book contains dozens of checklists that can be filled out in the book in pencil to allow updating of information or the checklists can be printed out and kept in a separate binder.  The checklists include all pertinent information that may be needed.
    • Sally presented on several of these books in a Family Matters webinar series.
    • "Checklist for My Family" has been SLD's best-selling book every year since it was originally published and its second edition which came out four months ago is already a top seller. 
    • Sally has at all times been among the top 10 authors at ABA Publishing and has also been its top selling author at one time.
    • About 5 years ago, the SLD Council unanimously passed a resolution of commendation in Sally's honor when sales exceeded 30,000 books.  The Division now presents to Sally an award which recognizes your outstanding contributions as its leading author to the Senior Lawyers Division of the ABA.

    Sally was in great spirits and raised a glass of champagne to celebrate with the SLD Council.

    You can read a review of Sally's most recent book, "ABA/AARP Checklist for My Family: A Guide to My History, Financial Plans, and Final Wishes, Second Edition"  here. Learn more about the many checklists and guides Sally has written to help you and your family's finances, estates, health, insurance, and more on the ABA/AARP checklist series webpage.

    Sally Balch Hurme Receives SLD Best-Selling Author Award

    Sophia Granger

    Sally Balch Hurme Receives SLD Best-Selling Author Award

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