3:45 p.m. Estate Administration, with section council member Reynolds M. Everett Jr. of Barash & Everett, Galva. Post-mortem steps of opening procedures, interim procedures and closing procedures.
The schedule of speakers for the Bloomington program will be published in the Sept. 17 issue of the ISBA Bar News.
Juvenile law primer Oct. 4 in Chicago
"A More Advanced Primer for Juvenile Court Practitioners" is the title of an ISBA Law Ed Series seminar that will take place Friday, Oct. 4, in the ISBA Chicago Regional Office.
Program coordinator is Barbara L. Delanois of Davis & Delanois, Danville, vice chair of the Child Law Section Council. She will share moderator responsibilities with past chair Kathryn A. Bischoff of Rockford.
The first portion of the seminar will be devoted to delinquency issues. The schedule follows.
9 a.m. Welcoming remarks by section council chair Elizabeth E. Clarke of Evanston.
9:05 a.m. Balanced and Restorative Justice: How to do it and what it means for your practice, with assistant Cook County state's attorney Catherine M. Ryan, chief of the Juvenile Justice Bureau and member of the section council.
10:05 a.m. Mental Health Issues in Delinquency Proceedings: Use of expert witnesses, competency to stand trial and sentencing issues, with Elizabeth Clarke.
11 a.m. Cook Book Instruction on Expunging Juvenile Records, with section council member Terence M. Madsen of Princeton.
11:20 a.m. Case Law and Legislative Update on Delinquency Issues, with section council member Peter N. Ryan of Park Ridge.
The 12 noon luncheon period will be followed by discussion of issues relating to abuse and neglect, as follows.
1:15 p.m. DCFS Administrative Hearings, with Matthew E. Franklin, chief administrative law judge for administrative hearings of the Department of Children and Family Services, Springfield.
2:30 p.m. Mental Health Issues and the Use of Expert Witnesses in Abuse and Neglect Proceedings (speaker to be announced).
3:25 p.m. Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act: An Overview, with Meryl Daskal Paniak, special assistant general counsel for the Department of Children and Family Services, Chicago.
3:45 p.m. Case Law and Legislative Update on Abuse and Neglect Issues, with 16th Circuit Judge Thomas E. Mueller of St. Charles, a section council member.
Pennsylvania's Karen Darby is new IICLE exec
Karen S. Darby, associate director of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, will become executive director of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education on Oct. 1. The announcement was made Aug. 6 by IICLE board chair G. W. Howard III of Mt. Vernon.
She succeeds Charles C. Bingaman, the IICLE executive director for the past 20 years. He leaves Sept. 30 for New Hampshire to develop a legal education consulting practice that will include a role with IICLE. He also will be an adjunct consultant with Altman Weil Inc.
Darby, who headed the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's Philadelphia Bar Education Center, previously was associate director of the Ohio CLE Institute. A former school teacher, practicing attorney and human resource specialist for General Electric, she is admitted to the bar in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Section, committee chairs lead bar initiatives
The appointments of the following ISBA members as chairs of section councils and committees were announced recently by President Loren S. Golden.
Section Councils
Administrative Law Joann M. Fratianni of Lake Forest.
Agricultural Law Paul J. Evans of O'Fallon.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Roger W. Eichmeier of Galena.
Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Rebecca A. Nelson, Belleville.
Bench and Bar Michael S. Jordan of Glenview.
Business Advice and Financial Planning John J. Horeled of Crystal Lake.
Civil Practice and Procedure Justice Richard P. Goldenhersh of Belleville.
Commercial, Banking and Bankruptcy Law Lewis F. Matuszewich of Chicago.
Corporate Law Departments Dixie L. Peterson of Chicago.
Corporation, Securities and Business Law David E. Doyle of Chicago.
Criminal Justice Brian C. Silverman of Urbana.
Education Law Monica J. Conrad of Chesterton, Ind.
Elder Law Naomi H. Schuster of Palos Heights.
Employee Benefits James H. Schultz of Rock Island.
Environmental Law Frederick S. Mueller of Chicago.
Family Law Frank V. Ariano of Elgin.
Federal Civil Practice Judge Michael P. McCuskey of Urbana.
Federal Taxation Edward J. Hannon of Chicago.
General Practice, Solo and Small Firm James F. Dunneback of Orland Park.
Health Care Michael V. Favia of Chicago.
Human Rights James M. Stern, Belleville.
Insurance Law Mark L. Karno of Chicago.
Intellectual Property David J. Loundy of Chicago.
International and Immigration Law Michael J. Chmiel, Crystal Lake.
Juvenile Justice Elizabeth E. Clarke of Evanston.
Labor and Employment Law David E. Murray of Sterling.
Law Office Economics John W. Damisch of Chicago.
Local Government Law John H. Brechin of Addison.
Mineral Law James K. Weston of Warrenville.
Public Utilities and Transportation Law Lee Ann Conti, Glen Ellyn.
Real Estate Law Donald L. Shriver of Rockford.
State and Local Taxation James W. Chipman of Springfield.
Tort Law Frank A. Perrecone of Rockford.
Traffic Laws and Courts Michael W. Feeterer of McHenry.
Trusts and Estates Richard H. Teas of Joliet.
Workers' Compensation Law Gerald F. Cooper of Chicago.
Young Lawyers Division Franco A. Coladipietro of Chicago.
Standing Committees
Amicus Curiae Briefs Donald C. Schiller of Chicago.
Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Judge Stephen R. Pacey of Paxton.
Bar Publications Board John J. Johnston of Belleville.
Bar Services and Activities Richard M. Seligman of Chicago.
Continuing Legal Education Robert H. Alvine of Moline.
Corrections and Sentencing Judge Donald D. Bernardi of Bloomington.
Delivery of Legal Services Barbara O. Slanker of Champaign.
Government Lawyers Charles W. Gunnarson of Springfield.
Illinois Bar Journal Editorial Board Keith A. Hebeisen of Chicago.
Insurance Program and Services David B. Sosin of Palos Heights.
Judicial Advisory Polls Jeanne R. Cleveland of Evanston.
Judicial Evaluations in Cook County Leonard Murray of Chicago.
Judicial Evaluations Outside Cook County R. Michael Henderson of Peoria.
Law-related Education for the Public Colleen M. McLaughlin of Wheaton.
Legal Education, Admission and Competence Peter L. Rotzkoff of Springfield.
Legal Technology Richard L. Turner of Sycamore.
Legislation J. Timothy Eaton of Chicago.
Mental Health Law Lori G. Levin of Chicago.
Minority and Women Participation Letitia Spunar-Sheats of Chicago.
Professional Conduct Thomas M. Donnelly of Chicago.
Public Relations Mary R. Minella of Chicago.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity James L. Schwartz of Chicago.
Supreme Court Rules David H. Levy of Chicago.
Voluntary Fee Arbitration Michael C. Craven of Chicago.
Women and the Law Gilda Hudson-Winfield of Chicago.
Social Security programs on cable
Social Security benefits issues will be discussed by panelists during two ISBA cable television programs in September at 10 p.m. Tuesdays on Chicago Access channel 21.
"Social Security Benefits: Retirement and Survivors" may be seen Sept. 3 and Sept. 17. "Social Security Benefits: Disability" will be aired Sept. 10 and Sept. 24.
Participants are David R. Bryant of LaGrange; David A. Bryant of Daley, DeBofsky & Bryant, Chicago; Sharon A. Schaff of Oasis Benefit Consultants, Chicago; Gilda Hudson-Winfield of Chicago, and Administrative Law Judge Kenneth E. Stewart of the Social Security Administration, Oak Brook Terrace.
ISBA member on Peace Corps duty in Moldova
By Hillary Anderson
Former Illinois attorney Craig Riegler wanted to help others, so he put his career on hold and joined the Peace Corps. It wasn't a quick or rash decision. The idea was brewing for a while.
"I have been thinking of joining the Peace Corps since the middle of law school at Indiana University," said Riegler, who worked at Ballaro, Carton & Stone in Chicago after his second year.
"It began crossing my mind when one of my friend's girl friends went to Bolivia with the Peace Corps," he said. "I thought it was such a good thing. There is no better way to learn about another culture and grow as a person than by joining the Peace Corps.
"Its mission is so simple and good. I feel I can benefit others with my law degree while in the Peace Corps and beyond, and have a very interesting and satisfying job in the meantime."
The young attorney left the Helein Law Group, a telecom firm he was associated with in Tyson's Corner, Va., to fulfill his dream and serve in Eastern Europe. The Peace Corps assigned him to Moldova, an agricultural country that gained independence from the collapsed Soviet Union in 1991.
Riegler will not be practicing law in Moldova. "The Peace Corps doesn't have a branch for legal aid," he said. "Rather, I will use my background as a lawyer in an organizational development capacity. It does try to match us up according to each of our unique skills."
Riegler says he will apply his skills in the municipality to which he is assigned after three months of training. That will be a two-year commitment.
"I will be assigned to a Moldovan partner and assist him or her in any way possible," he said. "This person will be the head of an non-governmental organization in the town or village I will be working in after my training."
Riegler says the Peace Corps training in Moldova is intensive. There are four hours of language classes three times a week, plus technical training, and cultural lessons and exchanges.
"We have plenty of assignments that work on adjusting to Moldova and building team trust," he said. "I think it's important to have a strong commitment to serve and a strong will to stick out the tough times. Knowledge of what you will be facing is important. but the Peace Corps provides me with everything I need to have a productive two years."
Living conditions in Moldova vary from village to village and from house to house. "Let's just say that it takes time to adjust, but the people are very hospitable and have made me more than comfortable and welcome," Riegler said.
"I am living with a host family for the first three months. I then will have another host family for the first six months on site at my job and possibly longer. They have taken me in like one of their own, treating me like a son."
Riegler receives a monthly stipend for his work. "The Peace Corps gives us a monthly allowance that enables us to live as comfortably as our neighbors," he said. "It is not much in terms of U.S. dollars but it is enough."
He is learning the local language. "Some Moldovans say they speak Moldovan, while others call it Romanian. It's like us saying we speak American, although really it is English," he said. "This debate is connected with their history and is a long, confusing lesson in itself. Romanian is a romantic language."
Riegler is excited about being part of a cultural exchange that will take place between him and the Moldovans once he actually begins work in a village.
"The cultural exchange that occurs between Americans and Moldovans forms one of the three missions of the Peace Corps," he explained. "The other two are to assist developing countries and to bring knowledge of another culture back to America to share."
The cultural exchange occurs on a daily basis. Pascani, a village of 1,000 where Riegler lives, has never had American visitors. "The seven of us trainees living in this village are probably the first Americans these people have met," he said.
"Moldovans come with notions of what an American is, mostly from Hollywood. They have dozens of questions for all of us. Many Peace Corps volunteers say they learn much more from the Moldovans and from the experiences they have to offer."
Most recently, Riegler and his fellow trainees had to organize a community activity. He decided to show the children how to play baseball.
"None had played before," he said. "They all were so enthusiastic to learn. The kids picked up the skills fast and learned the rules even faster. It was a blast. I want to play with them again before my training ends."
When he returns from Moldova, Riegler plans to enter some type of international law. "I might work in the rule-of-law area in developing countries, but not with a law firm," he said. "I have two years to explore opportunities, though, so don't hold me to it."
* * *
Craig Riegler keeps in touch with freelance writer Hilary Anderson by e-mail from Moldova, which is a frustrating experience. Because there is no facility in the village where he is in training, he must travel to an Internet cafe in Chisinan or Orhei to communicate. Riegler intends to keep us posted on his Peace Corps activities for future updates.
Seven Lively Arts paintings returned to Chicago by patron Seymour Persky
By Stephen Anderson
A series of large paintings depicting the Seven Lively Arts has been acquired, reassembled and conserved by Chicago attorney and philanthropist Seymour H. Persky, who was honored July 19 as an ISBA Senior Counsellor.