June 17, 2024
President's Message—June 2024
BY: Craig Ellis
It was great to see so many YLC members over two weeks ago at the VSB Annual Meeting! Scroll to see photos from events hosted by the YLC.
The YLC is an integral engine within the VSB. If you are looking for leadership opportunities, networking, or to learn and better your practice, make sure to mark your calendars for next year’s events.
On June 30, the VSB year ends and Benjamin A. Shute will become your new YLC President. He will lead the Conference with an eager Board of Governors, including new members: Brittany S. Johnson (D4), Aaron L. Foster (D10), Dylan D. Bishop (At-Large), Etahjayne J. Harris (At-Large), Mary Margaret Thacker (At-Large), and Xijia Yuan (At-Large). I congratulate them and wish them all good luck.
I want to thank all of our members, volunteers, and our Board of Governors for your amazing work this past year. Specifically, Kristopher R. McClellan, Breanna N. West, Maricris L. Predingue, Benjamin C. Charlton, James L. Crandall, and Jasmine R. McKinney, who will be leaving the YLC Board and will be greatly missed. Their contributions over the past few years have been invaluable, each putting their own mark on our impactful path.
During the past year, the YLC launched new programs such as the Fore Everyone Golf Tournament, revived others like Wills for Heroes, built on past successes such as the annual Bench-Bar Dinner, Minority Pre-Law Conferences, and the Hill/Tucker Institute, and solidified the YLC's 3-Year Plan which will guide volunteers' actions to improve the profession and help members achieve their professional goals more readily. More recently, the YLC hosted its annual Professional Development Conference which will be made available as individual on-demand CLE courses in the coming weeks. Finally, the YLC is closing out this VSB year with another new program: Bridging the Generational Gap for Women in the Law with Lauren Stiller Rikleen. Read program information below, and register to attend in person in Harrisonburg or remotely on June 28.