|
FELLOWS of the Indiana Bar
Foundation
History
In
October, 1979, the Fellows of the Indiana Bar Foundation was
established as an entity within the Foundation responding to the
need to revitalize and redirect efforts of the Foundation toward
increased support of programs which promise broad public impact and
benefit and offer added professional honor and evidence of
professional distinction.
The
charter period ending December 31, 1979, realized excellent
support by Indiana lawyers as more than 400 individuals pledged in
excess of $400,000. With membership offered on a limited basis since
that charter period, the Fellows have grown to number more than 800.
The organization has provided integral support for the development
of the Indiana Bar Foundation.
Membership
The
Bylaws of the Fellows allow for limited membership providing for one
new Fellow annually per ISBA district, and not more than three
non-resident members, in addition to replacements for vacancies
created by death or resignation and additional members equal to 100%
of the number of Fellows who became Life Fellows by completing their
pledges on or before the previous December 31. A nominating
committee appointed by the president of the IBF represents each of
the 11 ISBA Districts and submits nominations for approval by the
IBF Board of Directors at its midyear meeting, usually in October.
-Fellows contribute $2,000 -
$3,000.
-Master Fellows
contribute $4,000 - $5,000.
-Patron Fellows contribute
$7,500.
-Payment of pledge is made in
a lump sum; over a five-year period with 1/5 of the pledge paid per
year; or over a 10-year period with 1/10 of the pledge paid per
year.
-Upon fulfillment of pledges
in any category, an individual is designated a Life Fellow, Life
Master Fellow, or Life Patron Fellow.
-Life Fellows who continue to
make donations are designated Sustaining Life members
-A wood-mounted plaque bearing
a certificate is presented to each new Fellow upon induction at the
annual black-tie dinner meeting.
Activities
The
Fellows Annual Dinner Meeting may be held in conjunction with the
Indiana State Bar Association Spring Meeting. Induction of new
members is conducted as a part of this activity. Presentation of the
50-Year Award is made to a Fellow who has been in practice for 50
years and has demonstrated conspicuous contributions to the legal
profession and the community. Also highlighted at the black-tie
affair is the election of Fellows officers.
Two
appointees represent the Fellows on the Indiana Bar Foundation Board
of Directors.
Fellows contributions are used in support of the professional and
public service programs deemed worthy by the IBF Board of Directors.
Accomplishments
The programs of public service and professional enhancement
supported and developed by the Indiana Bar Foundation have benefited
significantly from support by the Fellows. A program established in
1981 to provide legal advice to the elderly is a prime example of
the broadening of efforts toward achieving public understanding of
the law and the legal system. The Legal Reference for Older
Hoosiers, a
212-page handbook addressing the legal concerns of older adults, has
been distributed at no charge to more than 500,000 Indiana citizens.
Fellows donations have also
promoted the funding ability of the IBF, assisting grant awards for
projects including:
-Providing law student
scholarships;
- Law-related education
designed to teach children their rights and responsibilities
within the legal system including the We the People and Mock Trial
competitions and the Teen Law Project;
- Center for Non-violence
project for professionals rehabilitating men and women who have been
battered;
-Sponsoring Legal Services
Organization projects such as publication of a handbook enumerating
the rights of HIV/AIDS victims, a citizenship awareness program for
Hispanics, the publication “You and the Law,” the HAND-UP program
and a legal information line;
-Support
of the Community Organizations Legal Assistance Project;
- Statewide
librarian workshop to improve legal research skills;
-Indiana’s celebration of the
Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, including support for the
Indiana Finals for the National Bicentennial Competition on the
Constitution and Bill of Rights; and,
-
Professional education through support of
Res Gestae.
The Fellows have helped to make possible a permanent home in the
Indiana Bar Center for the Indiana Bar Foundation, Indiana
Continuing Legal Education Forum and Indiana State Bar Association,
fulfilling a major goal of the IBF. In 1983 the Bar Center was
purchased with $175,000 of accumulated Fellows funds contributing
toward the down payment. Necessary renovation costs and other
expenses of ownership have been eased by generous Fellows support.
The
Fellows is composed of only 8% of the ISBA membership, yet provides
the Indiana Bar Foundation with 60% of the financial support
received from the state’s lawyers.
|
.JPG)
