Contributed bythe SC Bar

The South Carolina Bar has been named to the 2006 Associations Advance America Honor Roll, a national awards competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in Washington, DC.

The Bar received the award for its Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. With the help of lawyer volunteers, the Bar was able to staff pro bono hotlines for hurricane victims; establish legal services help desks at evacuee relief centers in Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville; offer donations, housing and office space through the Bar Web site; and replenish school libraries on the Gulf Coast through book drives organized by the Bar's Young Lawyers Division.

Now in its 16th year, the Associations Advance America competition recognizes associations that propel America forward with innovative projects in education, skills training, standards setting, business and social innovation, knowledge creation, citizenship, and community service.

"The South Carolina Bar's hurricane relief efforts truly embody the spirit of the Associations Advance America campaign. It is an honor and an inspiration to showcase this activity as an example of the many contributions associations are making to advance American society," Associations Advance America Committee Chair Bill Bergman said.

South Carolina Bar President Danny White said, "The Bar is proud of its members who donated their time to relief efforts. We are pleased to have been able to provide much-needed legal assistance to victims of this tragedy and are honored to have our efforts recognized by an esteemed organization such as ASAE."

The South Carolina Bar, which has a membership of more than 11,500 lawyers, is dedicated to advancing justice, professionalism and understanding of the law.

www.scbar.org