If you know of a Family Law Section member who is really making a difference in the lives of the underserved or disadvantaged, the section wants to know so it can tell the world.

The “Making a Difference” Public Recognition Program seeks to recognize the efforts of section members (including affiliates) each month. They will be honored with feature articles in FAMSEG, the section’s monthly e-newsletter, accompanied by press releases, and plaques memorializing their service or activities.

Monthly selected nominees — lawyers or judicial officers — will become finalists in what will culminate in “Section Member of the Year” and “Affiliate Member of the Year,” to be honored at the section’s luncheon at the Bar’s Annual Convention in June 2011.

Family Law Section Chair Diane Kirigin formed an ad hoc committee and appointed Kim Rommel-Enright and Robin J. Scher as co-chairs.

“Public perception of marital and family law attorneys and those professionals and paraprofessionals who provide forensic and/or support services to us is at an all-time low,” the co-chairs wrote on the section’s website, .

“In keeping with this year’s section theme of ‘Building Better Relationships’ (as well as the Big Bar’s ONE pro bono program), it is the two-prong goal of this committee to educate the public at large about those section members who make a difference by providing outstanding pro bono services or by engaging in other types of outstanding volunteer community activities/pursuits that improve the lives of Florida’s children and families; and to encourage other section members to undertake new or continuing pro bono/volunteer services and activities.”

To be eligible, a nominee must be both a member of the Bar in good standing and of the Family Law Section. The nominee may be an employee or member of an organization providing free or low-cost legal services to the disadvantaged or underserved; however, the pro bono services or volunteer activities for which the person is nominated cannot arise from a work-related service or activity for which the nominee is paid. The nominee’s overall pro bono or volunteer record may be considered (for the inaugural year, consideration of that record is not limited to the immediate past year).

The pro bono and/or volunteer service/activities must be verifiable by the committee.

Nomination applications are available at www.familylawfla.org/pdfs/making_a_difference_nomination_application.pdf. For more information, contact Kimberly Rommel-Enright at (561) 655-8944, ext. 265, and kenright@legalaidpbc.org; or Robin J. Scher at (561) 626-5640 and rjs1990esq@bellsouth.net.

October’s Winners . . .
What do Winter Park psychologist Deborah O. Day and Miami lawyer Jacqueline M. Valdespino have in common? They’ve been selected as “Making a Difference” winners for October, as part of the Family Law Section’s public recognition program. Read feature stories about what makes this affiliate member and member of the section so deserving, by going to the Family Law Section website at www.familylawfla.org.