SALSA’s Inaugural Justice Luncheon

By Sara Dysart, Honorary Chair of SALSA’s Inaugural Justice Luncheon

On Thursday, April 14th, while I listened to festive mariachi music, I walked into the Mays Family Event Center at the Witte Museum and saw a sea of lightblue covered tables, with beautiful floral arrangements. Before too long, the room filled with members from our legal and business community. Significant was the roar of conversation as colleagues greeted colleagues and introduced colleagues to others. It was a little unnerving to cut off the continued dialogue, as the video featuring Broadway Bank as the title sponsor began to play.

What followed was a sixty-minute program led by President of the Board of Directors Robert Soza, Jr., and Executive Director Sarah Dingivan, that RECOGNIZED the many volunteers and contributors who make SALSA’s pro bono services possible, RAISED FUNDS to support these efforts, ENLISTED the support of future VOLUNTEERS, and, most importantly, asked everyone to seriously consider what “JUSTICE IS…” and how they can contribute and support this fundamental constitutional right. As part of the program, guests were asked to fill in cards stating what “Justice is…” to them. Please consider your answer to this question!

Robert Soza, President of the SALSA Board of Directors, leads the applause.

Sara Dysart, Beth Eby, Mary Brennan Stich, and Former Chief Justice Sandee Bryan Marion celebrate!

Broadway Bank CEO David Bohne accepts the Lee Cusenbary Community Impact Award from President Soza and Executive Director Dingivan.

Sara Dysart, Honorary Chair of SALSA’s Inaugural Justice Luncheon.

Susan Wilen, SALSA Board Member and San Antonio Paralegal Association Representative, posts her “Justice is . . .” card.

Many thanks to Terry Tottenham for his testimonial about Allan DuBois’ life of service, and to Sister Grace Walle for her lively presentation focused on her thirty years of service work with St. Mary’s University law students. Thanks, too, to the many law firms and businesses that sponsored this event, especially our top-level sponsors Broadway Bank, Valero, and Dykema.

Sister Grace Walle, St. Mary’s University School of Law Chaplain, talks about public service.

Retired District Judge Larry Noll supports SALSA.

Particularly important to me was the creation of SALSA’s Allan K. DuBois Volunteer of the Year Award, in honor of our dear friend and colleague, who left us way too soon. Congratulations to: Broadway Bank, which received the Lee Cusenbary Community Impact Award; United States Bankruptcy Judge Michael Parker, who was given the SALSA President’s Award; and Bill Asher, who was honored as the Allan K. DuBois Volunteer of the Year. Congratulations, also, to Cameron Redding and Beth Eby, Co-Chairs of SALSA’s Inaugural Justice Luncheon, and to the SALSA Board of Directors. It was a success!

SALSA Board President Robert Soza and United States Bankruptcy Judge Michael Parker, recipient of the President’s Award.

Past State Bar President Terry Tottenham pays tribute to SABA’s favorite son, Allan DuBois.