The 2024 Mid-Year Meeting of the Vermont Bar Association took place at the Hilton Lake Champlain in Burlington on Friday, March 29. An important part of the business meeting was, as ever, elections to the VBA Board of Managers. Those elected on Friday will begin their terms after the VBA Annual Meeting on Sept. 29, 2024.
There were four uncontested races. All those nominated for these positions were confirmed: President-Elect is Richard Cassidy, a longtime VBA Board Member. Matthew Valerio, the current treasurer, was returned as treasurer. Likewise, current and long-serving Board secretary, Edward “Ted” J. Tyler, was re-elected to that position. Each one of these offices has a one-year term. Former VBA President Elizabeth Kruska was re-elected as ABA Delegate. Kruska will start a new two-year term in that role at the close of the ABA Annual Meeting in August.
There were also three contested races for seats as two-year members-at-large. The candidates in each of these competitive races addressed the meeting on Friday prior to the vote. Lisa Campion, who was challenged by Linda Coloumbe, won that contest. Campion will begin her term in October. Kate Lamson, a current Board member, prevailed in her race against another current Board member James Rodgers. She and Rodgers will finish their terms and her new term will commence in October. Alfonso Villegas, another current Board member, won the election against Keith Roberts. Villegas will likewise complete his current term and start a new two-year term on the Board in October.
Young Lawyers Division
The VBA Young Lawyers Division also held their meeting on Friday, March 29th and elected their officers and board members. Ryan Long was chosen to be chair elect. Current YLD chair Pam Eaton becomes past chair and Justin Brown moves to Chair from Chair-Elect. Kathy Zhou was elected treasurer and Zach Cayno, treasurer. Members-at-large on the YLD Board are Margaret Shugart, Collette Schmidt, and Alexander Cyr.
The YLD has three members who also serve on the VBA board – the past chair, the current chair, and the chair elect. Long, Eaton, and Brown are the three who will represent the YLD on the Board, effective immediately. VBA President Judith Dillon presented Kevin Lumpkin, the past chair of the Division who is now moving off the Board of Managers, with a certificate at the meeting on Friday in thanks for his service.
Women’s Division
The Women’s Division also met on Friday and chose Caryn Connolly as their new Chair, replacing Erin Gallivan. The Women’s Division chose Breanna Weaver to serve as their representative to the Board of Managers and she will be stepping in at the next Board meeting in the spot previously held by Gallivan.
