I am very proud of the significant contributions that Arizona lawyers make to the communities in which we live, and I hope you share in that pride.

Our daily function as lawyers is to provide a voice for Arizonans, be it in court, before governmental entities, during negotiations, in meetings or in countless other ways.

But many attorneys also volunteer their time and talents outside of their practices to provide a voice to ohers, to further the cause of justice and to make tangible improvements to the communities in which they live.

For example, a voluntary survey conducted on the 1997 State Bar dues statement revealed that Arizona lawyers contributed more than 361,800 hours of free pro bono legal work last year, an average of 62 pro bono hours per attorney reporting. That is an extraordinary contribution to the public good by the members of this profession.

Supporting every community organization and volunteer effort is a core group of dedicated individuals who unselfishly donate their time and skills. Many are lawyers. The State Bar wishes to acknowledge those lawyers and judges who have made special efforts, above and beyond their professional responsibilities, to improve our communities and the lives of others. Here are four fine examples:

Steven R. Rodgers currently volunteers with Homeward Bound by assisting with fund raisers, donating furniture and clothing and helping to repair cars. Tracey B. Smith of Homeward Bound wrote that, "Mr. Rodgers is always willing to help. He doesn’t judge our clients. He’s someone that anyone at Homeward Bound can call if they don’t know what to do next." For his dedication, Rodgers was also honored as "The 1996-97 Volunteer of the Year" by Homeward Bound.

Julie Nelson of Lewis & Roca is being recognized for her contributions to the Wesley Community Center. Betty Mathis, suggested we recognize her daughter for her contributions to the Center. Mathis wrote, "Julie is a caring, concerned leader. She is aware of urban, inner-city and minority needs and provides what leadership she can in recruiting volunteers, contributions and donations. Not only has Julie supported WCC through pro-bono work, she has also organized volunteer "reader/tutors" for the reading program at the Herrera School, an inner city magnet school. Both Julie and her husband, Tim Nelson, of Brown & Bain, have volunteered time and organized efforts for the programs at WCC — especially for the children."

James F. "Jim" Byrne, an attorney with Byrne, Beaugureau, Shaw, Zukowski and Hancock, is also being recognized by David B. Cutty, president and CEO of The Center for Habilitation. Cutty wrote, "Jim has served as a volunteer on our Board of Directors and offered his services on a pro bono basis to TCH. Jim has devoted the past 10 years to coaching Little League in Tempe, including coaching All-Star teams. In addition, he has been very involved in the Cub Scouts and Boys Scouts for the past 10 to 12 years, serving as den and troop leaders as well as other offices with the Boy Scouts of America. Jim has been extremely dedicated and faithful in his volunteer service and he has given unselfishly of his time and financial resources in support of these two organizations."

Steven Rodgers, Julie and Tim Nelson and Jim Byrne are excellent examples of "Lawyers Who Make a Difference." You may know other colleagues who stand out as community leaders or active members of charitable groups, or there may be someone you consider an "unsung hero," a role model who has personally helped enrich the lives of others. To recognize these volunteers, Arizona Attorney will publish a column in its new People section highlighting "Lawyers Who Make a Difference." Their stories will be circulated to the general media as well.

If you know an attorney or judge who has gone the extra mile to better their community, please take a moment to fill out the questionnaire in this issue and share their story with us. Feel free to bring more than one person to our attention. We’ll take it from there.

Thank you for your help in bringing well-deserved recognition to those lawyers and judges who make a real difference to our communities.