Stated Meeting

JUNE 17 STATED MEETING By Ari Kodeck

The excitement was palpable among the crowd of attendees at the June State of the Bar. After 15 months with COVID in-person restrictions and countless virtual meetings, our meeting was held both virtually and in person in the ceremonial Courtroom 5. President Jay Miller called the meeting to order and commended the committees for their hard work during the pandemic. Committees stepped up and organized a slate of amazing programs, all virtual and extremely well attended! Other notable accomplishments this bar year included the addition of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee as one of the regular standing committees; the raising of $25,266 for CASA of Baltimore County, which is the second highest amount raised for a president’s chosen charity, again no small feat considering the pandemic; and the collaboration between Diversity and Inclusion and Professionalism Committees and the Maryland State Bar Association to present a twopart series, Courageous Conversations, that addressed implicit bias and led the way for the 21Week Challenge to address and educate ourselves about implicit bias. President Miller received the committee reports and provided the check to CASA. The President invited this author, as the outgoing chair of the Professionalism Committee, to present this year’s J. Earl Plumhoff Award to recipient, Michael Barranco. Attendees were treated to a life-size picture of Mr. Barranco as they entered the courtroom.

JUNE 17 STATED MEETING By Ari Kodeck

I gave a brief introduction and turned the lectern to Mr. Barranco. In his typical understated (though, not brief) fashion, he humbly accepted the award, not only on behalf of himself, but of all members of the Baltimore County Bar Association, whom he praised as exemplary members of the bar. Finally, President Miller presented the gavel to incoming president, Stanford “Stan the man” Gann, Jr. President-elect Gann thanked the outgoing committee chairs, expressed his gratitude with his upcoming work with the incoming committee chairs and stressed his initiative to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Baltimore County Bar Association. Additionally, he named the president’s charity, The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Publis Schools. President Gann noted that the Annual Banquet, affectionally known as “the Prom” will be making a comeback this year, along with some new and exciting in-person functions. President Gann invited the Honorable Philip Tirabassi to present the 2021-2022 executive committee slate, consisting of President Gann, President-Elect John Turnbull, III; Secretary Lisa Settles; Treasurer Sondra Douglas; Members-at-large Richard Grason VI, Robert Erdman, Jr., Tyler Nowicki, Michelle Siri, Alaina Storie and Mariela D’Alessio. Judge Tirabassi moved for the acceptance of the slate and the motion carried.

President Gann’s first official act was to adjourn the meeting and enjoy a face-to-face happy hour at Barley’s Backyard Bar and Grill. Here is to another successful bar year!