Two exemplars of dedicated participation in myriad bar association initiatives will receive the ISBA Austin Fleming Award, the highest honor bestowed on newsletter editors.

Cook County Judge Edna Turkington-Viktora of Chicago and John T. Phipps of Champaign (see photos on page 5) will receive their awards during the ISBA Annual Meeting next month at The Abbey on Lake Geneva.

Co-editors for the past seven years of the General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section newsletter, they have produced a total of 54 issues containing 528 pages of timely, practical content.

The additional contributions of Turkington-Viktora and Phipps to the ISBA are re–markable.

“The section is very fortunate to have two newsletter co-editors who have superior reputations in the legal community,” said Michele M. Jochner, a member of the ISBA Board of Governors, who seconded the nomination by section council chair Dawn R.Hallsten.

Jochner noted that Turkington-Viktora, “in addition to her busy schedule hearing cases in the circuit court, has regularly volunteered her time to moderate continuing legal education programs presented by the General Practice Section.”

The judge also serves on the ISBA Bar Publications Board and the Committee on Legal Education, Admission and Com–petence, and is active in committees of the Illinois Judicial Council.

Phipps, “over the past three decades, has served the ISBA in many capacities and has frequently played important leadership roles,” Jochner said, in addition to chairing the section council and serving on the Assembly.

She pointed to his work for many years on the ISBA proposal for transfer of a law practice that was adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court on May 23, 2005, and was immediately effective.

Phipps currently serves on the Committee on the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, the Special Committee on Ancillary Services and the Special Committee on Electronic Research for Members.

Both Turkington-Viktora and Phipps were instrumental last year in planning and implementing the inaugural ISBA Solo and Small Firm Conference, which was so successful that it will be expanded for a second presentation Sept. 14 to 16 at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.

During the ISBA Annual Meeting award ceremony next month, nine newsletter editors will be recognized for benchmarks of service.

Paul E. Freehling will receive a plaque commemorating his 35 years as editor of the Administrative Law Section newsletter. He was inducted last month as a Laureate of the ISBA Academy of Illinois Lawyers.

Other long-term editors to be honored are William D. Brejcha, 15 years for the Public Utilities and Transportation Law Section, and Thomas D. Cavenagh, 10 years for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section.

Receiving five-year service plaques are Michele M. Jochner, Bench and Bar Section; Ross S. Levey, Family Law Section; Philip C. Milsk, Education Law Section; Jeffrey A. Mollet, Agricultural Laqw Section; Lynn E. Patton, Committee on Government Lawyers, and Raymond T. Reott, Environmental Law Section.