A special initiative of AYLA, Lawyers As Leaders seeks to foster, increase, and recognize the volunteer service of young lawyers in the Austin Community by:

• Identifying and creating volunteer service opportunities for young lawyers, with particular emphasis on those in which lawyers can utilize their professional skills, such as nonprofit or community board service, pro bono legal assistance, and educational programs.
• Maintaining an on-line Volunteer Guide of available service opportunities.
• Providing young lawyers with networking and professional development opportunities with nonprofits and community service organizations.
• Presenting a series of CLE programs on legal issues impacting nonprofits and community service organizations.

Announcements
In November, the voters chose to build a new Central Library for the Austin Public Library. While the outside of the building will be built by the donors, what goes inside to make the building welcoming and useful to patrons is the responsibility of our Foundation. Therefore, we are in the preplanning stage of an aggressive Capital Campaign and we are seeking community leaders who would like to be part of this process. Obviously, the benefits of participation include a chance to make your imprint on the City of Austin for decades to come. Anyone interested in learning more about this opportunity, may contact me directly.

Mary Beth Harrington, Executive Director
Austin Public Library Foundation
P.O. Box 13201
Austin, TX 78711

Phone: 512-542-0076
Fax: 512-542-0086
mbharrington@austinlibrary.org

The Caporal Assistance Network (CAN) is currently a special project fund of the Austin Community Foundation. The goal of CAN is to directly assist young adults in the Central Texas Area diagnosed with cancer by reducing the out-of-pocket costs of fertility-preservation treatments and connecting them to resources in the community. CAN's main goals for 2007 include beginning the process of obtaining its own 501(c)(3) status and putting its financial assistance program into operation. CAN is also seeking additional board members.

Contact: Lesli Ginn, c/o CAN, P.O. Box 90963, Austin, TX 78709-0963
http://www.caporalassistance.org

FirstSurge Government Solutions is looking for an attorney to serve on their board and help formalize Helping Austin (www.helpingaustin.org), an organization whose sole purpose is to raise funds for charitable Austin groups via an annual gala.
Please contact Alyssa N. Eacono at (512) 762-0911.
www.firstsurge.com

The Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA) has launched a statewide “Lawyers as Leaders” program modeled on AYLA's efforts, including a fully interactive statewide “volunteer guide” website at www.tyla.org/leaders, which we encourage you to visit.

AYLA Lawyers as Leaders, the Center for Community-Based & Non-Profit Organizations at Austin Community College, and the Texas Association of Nonprofit Associations are proud to announce the launch of the NPOnline Legal Information website! NPOnline Legal Information offers free information on legal issues affecting Texas nonprofits. Submit your specific or general legal question by completing the online form. Click here for NPOnline!

Upcoming Events
No events scheduled at this time.

Contact
If you would like to sign up to participate in the "Lawyers as Leaders" program or if would like to receive more information, please contact David Whittlesey at dwhittlesey@akingump.com

If you are a nonprofit or community group who would like us to post information about your volunteer service opportunities, please email the following information to debbie@austinbar.org Including this information will help us help you recruit volunteers from the AYLA membership:

• The name of your organization
• The name, address, phone number, and/or email of a contact person
• A brief description of your organization (feel free to include your website address, if available)
• A brief description of the specific service need or opportunity for which you are seeking volunteers, including any relevant dates
• How long we should post your information (i.e., is there a "pull date"?)