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The NSBA Leadership Academy Class of 2012 first assembled on September 29 and 30, 2011 as part of the retreat that begins the leadership voyage for every Leadership Class. Since the NSBA Leadership Academy’s inception, each class has had diverse backgrounds, and this class was no exception. The 2012 class consisted of 25 lawyers throughout Nebraska, spanning the state from Omaha to the east, Scottsbluff to the west, Madison to the north, and crossing all areas of practice from civil service to private practice and corporate in-house counsel.

After several meetings and a suggestion by Attorney Tom Maul of Columbus, Nebraska, the NSBA Legislation Committee Chair, the idea to assist in streamlining the changes for the enactment of LB157, the changes to guardianship and conservatorship law in Nebraska effective January 1, 2012, was born.

Members of the 2012 class devoted their time in communities across the state by volunteering at various courthouse and community self-help desks; teaching CLEs and other seminars regarding the changes; attending and contributing to the state-wide guardianship and conservatorship training sessions mandatory for new guardians and conservators; acting as liaisons between court officials and the public; representing individuals in guardianship and conservatorship cases, both privately and through court-appointments; acting as guardians and conservators; actively recruiting volunteer guardians and conservators; and participating in meetings with Judges Bazis and Hutton, the authors of the standard forms supplied on the Nebraska Supreme Court website, regarding the rules and the forms and how they could be best structured.

While the 2012 Leadership Academy Class officially graduated on June 23, 2012 during a reception held at the Scotts Bluff Country Club in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, the class’s devotion to serving the legal community and the general public in this time of transition in guardianship and conservatorship law is ongoing. Class members intend to continue to volunteer

and participate in numerous capacities as LB157 is integrated across the state and as additional legislative changes are proposed to further protect Nebraska’s incapacitated and protected population.

The members of the NSBA Leadership Academy Class of 2012 are Sophia alvarez, JoShua BarBer, angela Boyer, Micaela Brandt, nathan Bruner, Jonathan cannon, caSSidy chapMan, leonika charging, thalia downing carroll, daniel epStein, renee eveland, kellie harry, deMetria herMan, roBert (Matt) ingrahaM, douglaS kernS, JoSeph kiShiyaMa, JoSeph kuehl, andrea longoria, Michael Moyer, erin roBak, edith SiMpSon, Matthew Speiker, eric Stott, Sarah SuJith, and Steven twohig. The class is thankful to all of the NSBA Executive Council and members who have provided guidance and support throughout this process and a special thank you to Sam Clinch, Associate Executive Director of the NSBA for his encouragement and inspiration.

Information, the new guidelines and required forms for guardianships and conservatorships can be found at http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/Guardian/guardian-info.shtml.

A video created by John M. McHenry describing the 2012 guardianship and conservatorship changes can be viewed through http://www.supremecourt.ne.gov/multimedia/guardian_conservatorship.shtml.

Information regarding the Douglas County guardianship and conservatorship training can be accessed at http://vas-nebraska.com/services/guardianship-and-conservatorship/guardian-a-conservator-training-class.

Information regarding the UNL Extension Office statewide guardianship and conservatorship training can be obtained at http://www.extension.unl.edu/guardianship.

nsba newsnSBa leadership academy class of 2012

by Cassidy V. Chapman

Members of the 2012 Leadership Academy class (L-R: Michael Moyer, Cassidy Chapman, Edith Simpson, Kellie Harry, Daniel Epstein) at the opening retreat with the winning LEGO puzzle. Photo courtesy of Michael Moyer.

Members of the 2012 Leadership Academy class at graduation, held June 23, 2012 at Scotts Bluff Country Club. Photo courtesy of Michael Moyer.