Top (from left): MBA President-elect Robert W. Harnais; MBA Secretary Christopher P. Sullivan; MBA Volunteer Recognition Committee Chair Grace Garcia; MBA Volunteer Award Honorees Melissa A. Conner, Peter T. Elikann, Lisa M. Rico and Damian J. Turco; and MBA Vice President Christopher A. Kenney.
Middle: (from left): MBA Young Lawyers Division Chair Courtney Shea, Outstanding Young Lawyer Awardee Mina S. Makarious and Harnais.
Bottom (from left): Harnais, Sullivan and Kenney present awards to MBA members in recognition of their 50 years of service to the Massachusetts bar.
Photos by Eric Haynes.
The Massachusetts Bar Association recognized many of the
volunteers who made this year's MBA programs and events possible at
a Volunteer Recognition Dinner on July 22, which also honored some
of the MBA's longest-serving members. More than 100 people attended
the reception and dinner, which was held at Lombardo's in
Randolph.
Following a reception, President-elect Robert W. Harnais
welcomed attendees to the dinner on behalf of his fellow officers.
"I want to let all of you know we realize it takes careful
coordination to carve out hours for bar involvement," said Harnais.
"We realize time spent on MBA initiatives competes with time with
family and friends, and professional and personal commitments. We
appreciate you keeping your MBA volunteerism high on your list of
priorities."
As described in the July Lawyers Journal, four members
received the MBA's Volunteer Recognition Award in honor of their
outstanding service over the past MBA year: Melissa A. Conner,
Peter T. Elikann, Lisa M. Rico and Damian J. Turco. In addition,
Mina S. Makarious received the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award,
which is given to a young lawyer who has demonstrated outstanding
character, leadership and legal achievement, and has contributed
service to the community.
Keeping with the MBA's annual tradition, MBA Vice President
Christopher A. Kenney and MBA Secretary Christopher P. Sullivan
also recognized members who are celebrating 50 years of service to
the Massachusetts bar, including:
- Herbert Pitta Jr.
- George M. Ford
- Charles W. Long
- Philip H. Macchi
- James W. Gilden
- Ira M. Shoolman
- Donald H. Katz
- Thomas J. Carey
Harnais thanked Volunteer Recognition Committee Chair Grace
Garcia and the other members of her committee, including MBA
Treasurer Jeff Catalano, Kevin Diamond and Edward Pikula, for their
efforts in preparation for this annual dinner. "I was also a member
of this committee this year, and I can tell you that we had a very
difficult task in selecting our volunteer honorees for this
evening," Harnais said. "There are so many of you who do
outstanding work on behalf of the MBA."