VC Barristers in association with the VCBA/VLSP, Inc.
Presents
The Annual Wine and Cheese Mixer
A Special Event to Promote the Mentor Program*

Thursday, August 18, 2011
5:30 p.m.

Location:
Ferguson Case Orr Paterson LLP
1050 South Kimball Road, Ventura

Please RSVP by calling or e-mailing the VCBA office (805 650-7599; bar@vcba.org)
by August 15, 2011.

*The Mentor Program pairs Barristers with experienced attorneys in requested fields. This event is open to anyone already involved with the program, or interested in participating as a mentor or a mentee. We urge all Barristers and interested attorneys to join us. There is absolutely no MCLE associated with this event. Come for the delicious wine and cheese, a chance to network with other attorneys and to find out about our program.

Sound like fun? We think so!

The Wine Rack, formerly Weaver Wines, will be pouring small production boutique wines that are organic or sustainably farmed. This is a complimentary tasting for all to enjoy. They are also raffling off a private party in the C-Street Cellar… so make sure to drop your card to win a private wine party for 4 people.

Anacapa Brewing Co. will be providing complimentary beer for your enjoyment.

Q: What did one bowling pin say to the other bowling pin?   
A: Hey, you’re a knock out!

Barristers’ Bowling Night is July 19 and the competition is heating up. Rumor has it that bowlers from AKWB have been practicing for months to take on the 2010 winner, the A to Z law firm, for the coveted bowling ball trophy. This year Barristers are asking everyone for a $5 donation to Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Tri-Counties. Want more competition? The 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament is set for Oct. 8. Don’t worry, lawyers have their own division. See ciymca.org/ventura for all the information.

By Kathryn Pietrolungo is an associate at Anderson Kill Wood & Bender in Ventura and the unofficial historian of the Barristers.

Salvation Army Self-Help Night

The Salvation Army’s Transitional Living Center provides housing for homeless families and services to help them become economically self-sufficient and get into permanent housing. Five Barristers participated in assisting about fifteen residents with completing forms and providing information about various issues, including family law, probate and criminal law. The people we helped were very, very happy, and so grateful for the assistance.

Kudos to Matt Purcell. This was his brainchild and he coordinated the entire thing. Special thanks to Caron Smith, who runs the family law self-help center at the Court. She has provided guidance and also worked with Matt to create the intake form, which not only made the evening run efficiently but also provides statistical information that can be used to make the program as successful as possible going forward. Lisa Lopez, the Clinical Director of the Transitional Living Center, was thrilled with the evening’s success. She offered to put the Barristers in touch with other local nonprofit agencies serving people who may benefit from Barristers Self-Help Nights.

Barristers Logo Design Contest

The Ventura County Barristers are awesome, but we have no easily usable logo that we can use on our flyers, banners and so on. We thought it was about time we had one. So we are launching a contest. The winning design is likely to appear all over the Internet, and all over the County; maybe even on someone as a tattoo. Send your submission to vcba.barristers@gmail.com by June 3. Winner will get a free year membership to the VCBA!  Anyone can enter!

The Ventura County Barristers is looking for mentors and mentees to participate in its County-wide Mentorship Program.  We are looking for attorneys and judges, active or retired, to be mentors.  We are also looking for attorneys in practice less than seven years to be mentees.

You Too Can Make A Difference!  Become a Mentor Today!

Download the applications below and return to Rennee R. Dehesa at 1000 Town Center Drive, 6th Floor, Oxnard California, 93036. Fax: (805) 988-7724. Email: rdehesa@nchc.com.

Mentee Application        Mentor Questionnaire

On March 12, 2011, twelve Barristers participated in a Build Day for Habitat for Humanity. The build site was located in Piru, where the volunteers assisted in the construction of two homes that will soon be occupied by local low-income families. The future homeowners were there as well, helping to build their homes. (Pictured in the April issue of CITATONS page 16) The Barristers wish to thank Habitat for Humanity for their efforts in giving back to our community in such a meaningful way. The Habitat crew leaders were wonderful and everyone had a great time.

Turkeys, dunks, balls and competitions! Now that March Madness is over, start practicing bowling strikes for the Barristers Bowling Night on July 19 and shooting hoops for the Barristers/YMCA basketball tournament in October. Stay up to date on the activities of the Barristers by joining the facebook page or email list at Christina@pachowicz.com.

Barristers’ Darts Night
The Barristers’ 2011 Darts Night was February 17 at the Bench Warmer. This was the group’s fourth annual Darts Night, and the first ever sponsored by the Ventura County Dart Association. Several members of the Dart Association were present for the Darts Tournament to observe the competition, in which fifteen members of our bar and bench participated. The Barristers would like to thank the Dart Association for their generous support at the event, including the donation of the raffle prizes.  In addition, the Barristers were honored to have Judge Walsh and Presiding Judge O’Neill in attendance. Judge O’Neill competed in the tournament but was eliminated in the second round after being defeated by Doug Goldwater, who went on to win three more matches and be crowned Champion.  Katie Pietrolungo won two of the three raffle prizes: a beautiful dartboard and an attractive dart case. John Hribar took home the third raffle prize, a fine-looking set of professional darts. Special thanks go to Taylor Waters and Melissa Waters, who coordinated the entire successful event.

Build a House With Barristers
Barristers are helping build a house with Habitat for Humanity on March 12 in  Piru. Interested in volunteering? Email Christina@pachowicz.com. And it’s not too late to sign up as a Mentor or Mentee.  Email: rdehesa@nchc.com

Congratulations to Katie Pietrolungo newly appointed Vice Chair of the California State Bar Young Lawyers Association, starting September 26.