The Wednesday after Hurricane Florence left the state, Smith Debnam partners gathered for their monthly lunch meeting, normally chaired by the law firm’s managing partner, Jerry Myers. Many learned then that Myers’ absence resulted from his accepting a higher calling — delivering supplies in his small airplane to Eastern North Carolina charities.
In this day of drones and helicopters, small planes landing on short runways provided a much needed service to the hurricane survivors. With hundreds of roads, including I-40 and I-95, flooded and closed to delivery trucks, the federal, state and local governments set up shelters, conducted rescues, and assessed damage on a larger scale. But, for the day-to-day lives of most of the population, thankfulness for survival melted into desperation to return to normalcy. Cash does no good when there are no stores open, or no stock on the shelves.
Want to help Hurricane Florence survivors? The North Carolina Disaster Legal Services pro bono program needs volunteers. Find details at ncbar.org/florence.
Smith Debnam Managing Partner Jerry Myers, an NCBA member, stuffed his personal airplane with supplies for Hurricane Florence survivors and flew them into isolated areas after the storm.
Yet there were able-bodied locals who could help deliver bottled water and supplies to people in need. Help with the “who-needs-what.” Recognizing the missing link, Operation Airdrop flew into action after Florence. Connecting the donors, and the donated goods, to charities with volunteers to deliver the donations had been done before in Houston, after the similar disaster from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. A Texas non-profit, volunteer led group, Operation Airdrop is a loose organization of pilots and small airplanes which sought and coordinated volunteers through the internet. Call it a “pop up,” with no true existence until the need arises, Operation Airdrop denotes itself as a “week one disaster response organization.” And, after Florence, the need arose in North Carolina.
This week is Duke Law Tech Week, and we’d like to invite members of this committee to take part in some of our events. Here are three that may be of interest. The first two require pre-registration. The last is online only and does not require registration.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00NCBARBLOGhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngNCBARBLOG2018-10-03 14:44:142018-10-03 15:01:34Duke Law Tech Week Events of Interest
The Lawyer Referral Service is one of many benefits available to NCBA members. Renew your membership before Oct. 31 to stay with the NCBA.
By M’Lea Peak
NCBA Lawyer Referral Service Program Coordinator
Not every attorney on his way to pay a $20,000 bill would have a spring in his step and smile on his face. But when Steve Paul stopped by the North Carolina Bar Center on a sunny afternoon last fall, not only was he smiling, he was also carrying an armload of Godiva chocolates for the NCBA Lawyer Referral Service staff.
Paul was dropping off a remittance fee check representing 10 percent of his share of a medical negligence case that originated with a referral from LRS. Standard operating procedure does not require attorneys to deliver their remittance fee checks in person – or for them to bring chocolates – but the LRS staff is happy to accommodate both practices.
https://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.png00NCBARBLOGhttps://ncbarblogprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Blog-Header-1-1030x530.pngNCBARBLOG2018-09-26 08:00:482018-09-25 18:26:52NCBA LRS Benefit So Sweet, a Member Just Had To Bring Us Chocolates
A Higher Calling: Hurricane Florence Relief From Above
Featured PostsHave a Hurricane Florence story to share on NCBarBlog or in NC Lawyer magazine? Email Amber Nimocks.
The Wednesday after Hurricane Florence left the state, Smith Debnam partners gathered for their monthly lunch meeting, normally chaired by the law firm’s managing partner, Jerry Myers. Many learned then that Myers’ absence resulted from his accepting a higher calling — delivering supplies in his small airplane to Eastern North Carolina charities.
In this day of drones and helicopters, small planes landing on short runways provided a much needed service to the hurricane survivors. With hundreds of roads, including I-40 and I-95, flooded and closed to delivery trucks, the federal, state and local governments set up shelters, conducted rescues, and assessed damage on a larger scale. But, for the day-to-day lives of most of the population, thankfulness for survival melted into desperation to return to normalcy. Cash does no good when there are no stores open, or no stock on the shelves.
Smith Debnam Managing Partner Jerry Myers, an NCBA member, stuffed his personal airplane with supplies for Hurricane Florence survivors and flew them into isolated areas after the storm.
Yet there were able-bodied locals who could help deliver bottled water and supplies to people in need. Help with the “who-needs-what.” Recognizing the missing link, Operation Airdrop flew into action after Florence. Connecting the donors, and the donated goods, to charities with volunteers to deliver the donations had been done before in Houston, after the similar disaster from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. A Texas non-profit, volunteer led group, Operation Airdrop is a loose organization of pilots and small airplanes which sought and coordinated volunteers through the internet. Call it a “pop up,” with no true existence until the need arises, Operation Airdrop denotes itself as a “week one disaster response organization.” And, after Florence, the need arose in North Carolina.
Read more
Duke Law Tech Week Events of Interest
Featured PostsDear Future of Law Committee Members,
This week is Duke Law Tech Week, and we’d like to invite members of this committee to take part in some of our events. Here are three that may be of interest. The first two require pre-registration. The last is online only and does not require registration.
Duke Law Tech Lab Demo Day & Celebration – 6:00 to 9:00 pm on Friday 10/5 at 215 Morris St. Durham – Register: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_51GnDbBZ7GXcz7D (More information at http://www.dukelawtechlab.com/demo-day)
Big Ideas: Designing Creative Legal Solutions for a Better Tomorrow – 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Friday 10/5 at 215 Morris St. Durham – Register: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1S2kpUbqAKWz5fT – (More information: https://law.duke.edu/events/big-ideas-designing-creative-legal-solutions-better-tomorrow/ )
International Legal Tech Summit – 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday 10/3, livestreamed online at https://tinyurl.com/intllegaltech – (More information at https://law.duke.edu/events/international-legal-tech-summit/ )
NCBA LRS Benefit So Sweet, a Member Just Had To Bring Us Chocolates
Featured PostsThe Lawyer Referral Service is one of many benefits available to NCBA members.
Renew your membership before Oct. 31 to stay with the NCBA.
By M’Lea Peak
NCBA Lawyer Referral Service Program Coordinator
Not every attorney on his way to pay a $20,000 bill would have a spring in his step and smile on his face. But when Steve Paul stopped by the North Carolina Bar Center on a sunny afternoon last fall, not only was he smiling, he was also carrying an armload of Godiva chocolates for the NCBA Lawyer Referral Service staff.
Paul was dropping off a remittance fee check representing 10 percent of his share of a medical negligence case that originated with a referral from LRS. Standard operating procedure does not require attorneys to deliver their remittance fee checks in person – or for them to bring chocolates – but the LRS staff is happy to accommodate both practices.
Read more