Life Members

Life Membership is an honor conferred on a limited number of individuals who have rendered extraordinary service to the chapter; no more than one individual may be so recognized by the chapter's Board of Directors in any given year. Life members have all the rights and privileges of regular membership, but they are not required to pay dues. Those life members who are no longer employed as legal administrators and do not meet the criteria for regular membership may not hold elective or appointive office but may serve as members of committees.

Philip T. Hamilton

The first member awarded life membership was Philip T. Hamilton, a co-founder of Cyber Chapter. Phil has been an active member of ALA since 1989 and a hard-working volunteer at all levels of the association. He has served Cyber Chapter in a variety of roles since 1994 and contributes his time and talents to this day. Phil almost single-handedly helped many ALA chapters design, launch and maintain their websites. For this work as well as his role in founding the Cyber Chapter and his leadership in the Central Florida Chapter and Region 2, Phil was honored with ALA's Outstanding Association Volunteer Award.

Diana B. Clark

 Diana B. Clark was the second member to be honored. "Lady Di," as she is known to the Chapter's membership, helped guide the Chapter during its transition from CompuServe to this web site. Although she left the profession to manage an accounting firm and subsequently started a third career as a translator and interpreter, she returns to the fold at annual conferences whenever time and geography permit.

Morris E. Schorr 

The third member to be awarded life membership was Morris E. Schorr, co-founder and charter president of the chapter. Morry was also the founder and charter president of the San Fernando Valley Chapter and has held several board positions in the Beverly Hills Chapter. Both those chapters are now defunct, but Morry refuses to accept the blame for that. He has served as a Region 6 Officer and was the leader of the Technology PDN at the ALA web site from its inception to May 2005. For these and other services, ALA honored Morry with its Outstanding Association Volunteer Award.  Morry now functions as CFO for Roland Schorr, for which his son, Ben, is the CEO.  

Lewis A. Gray

The fourth member to be awarded life membership was Lewis A. Gray, recognized by the board of directors in December of 2003 for his many years of service and valued presence in the discussion forum. Lew Gray brought substantial dignity and good humor to the Chapter until his retirement from legal administration. He, like Lady Di, rejoined our crew at annual conferences whenever possible. A connoisseur of wine, he could usually be found regaling his friends at the "official" Cyber Chapter bar at these events.

Tragically, Lew was killed by a hit-and-run driver in March, 2009.  See news story as well as additional stories here and here.  Chapter members Phil Hamilton and Don Osborne attended his funeral in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The funeral home provides an online memorial; enter Lew's first and last name to get to his specific memorial.  Also see a touching news video with quotes from friends.

Carl Barba

In December of 2004, the board of directors recognized Carl Barba as a Life Member. Known as the "Unabarba" because of his no-nonsense, often explosive and never repressed opinions, Carl has provided leadership and valued advice. Unwilling to lose his unique contribution as he leaves the profession, the Chapter's board voted him life membership.  When not on the golf course, Carl enjoys his second career as a business coach for Action Coaches.

Paul Sullivan

Paul Sullivan announced that his final conference would be in 2008 in Seattle, as he was planning to retire from his firm in early 2009.  A frequent composer of limericks, speaker on management topics, regular poster in the forum, and staunch supporter of the chapter, his retirement would have left a void in the chapter.  Consequently, then President Sue Lamb presented Paul with a lifetime membership at the chapter's annual dinner in Seattle.  Paul and his wife DD, who accompanies him to many of the conferences and is as beloved as he is, have started their own consulting company, On Call Management, Inc.

Bernadette E. Peters, CLM

In July 2009 President Will Lee announced that our newest life member is Past President Bernadette Peters, CLM.  Bernadette's contributions to the chapter have been many, including serving on the chapter's nominating committee and as president.  She, along with Paul Sullivan, conceived and spearheaded our vendor sponsorship program, and she worked on the CLM study group program. She has mentored other chapter members and has recruited members to Cyber Chapter. Bernadette served our country (she is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves) while continuing to serve the chapter and has created the fun presidential baubles which have been passed down from year to year. Her posts in the Discussion Form are insightful, and we are pleased we do not have to lose her from our group now that she's a consultant.  Bernadette has followed in Paul's footsteps and is now President of Executive Management Consulting, a consulting service for law firms and small businesses.