Dear Member:

I started this news letter on May 4th, 2004 after spending the morning on the First, Annual Stuart Agins Day of Service.  In the words of Joanne Fishman, Esq., “Eleven Brandesians and members of the Agins family participated in the Stuart Agins Day of Service at the People Emergency Center/Rowan House, a United Way member agency.  PEC provides comprehensive social services to homeless women and children including emergency shelter, food, clothing, transitional housing, parenting workshops, and job skills training and placement assistance.  Participants toured the Center and had an opportunity to conduct mock job interviews, assist in resume writing and help with art projects with the pre-school children.  This was a fitting tribute to Stu and his dedication to the United Way and to community service.” 

The event was attended by Todd Berk, Steven Berk, Adam Laver, Joanne Fishman, Wendy and Jamie Agins, Hon. Marlene Lachman, Hon. Anne Lazarus, Mitchell Klevan, Jeffrey Dashevsky, and Hon. Sandra Moss.  I want to thank each of the members who attended and participated in this event. 

I have taken the weekend and to think about all that we have accomplished so far.  In the first 5 months of being the Louis D. Brandeis Law Society, we have participated in 3 CLE classes, scheduled others for the fall, helped Judge Morton Krase celebrate his Senior Judge Status,  participated in a meaningful day of community service, planned future trips and social events and created a great transition team.  We are active sponsors of Jewish Law Day.  We have a functioning e-mail list (Most of our members have e-mail) and are in the process of creating our own web site.  We have looked at our mission statement and our membership application and made changes to each as necessary.  We are reviewing our by-laws.  In short, we are carrying out our mission statement.

As your chancellor, I owe great thanks to the following people:  Michael Berkowitz, Vice Chancellor, Todd Berk, program coordinator, Adam Laver, for working so diligently on the day of service, along with Hon. Marlene Lachman, Ed Chacker for instituting our luncheon series,  Lou Podell who is organizing our trip to New York this Fall, Sayde Ladov who is an active liaison with the Bar Association and will be chairing a meet your appellate judges event in the fall, Mitchell Klevan and John Rothschild who keep our finances and membership in an organized manner.  Albert Dragon has become our de facto parliamentarian.  One of our new members, Lisa Washington, working with Larry Beaser, has undertaken to help us with our by-laws and other legal entity issues.  I am especially grateful to Sam Adenbaum for all of our tech support. 

In short, we are an emerging vibrant organization.  We have lots of ideas and inspiration but we need YOU and your participation to keep the balls rolling.  Please consider becoming more involved.  Please participate in the CLE classes and special events.

By this newsletter I am asking each member to volunteer for one committee which I am listing.  Please e-mail your response to Todd Berk, at the following address:  Toddmberk@aol.com.

The committees are:

In addition, we need some feedback about the programs we do plan.  Please do not hesitate to let me know if you liked or disliked a particular program or if there is a program that you want us to consider.  Thanks to all of you for helping us to get so far so quickly. 

Our membership application is now posted on our website.  For a copy click here.   If you know someone who would be a good addition, download the application and sponsor them.  We always have room for one more.