TJSL Franklin PAD Chapter Year-End Event
April 8, 2011
Franklin Chapter wraps a successful year with fraternity and venison
By 1L Chelsea Halpine-Berger, Clerk
Despite the forecast, the sun was out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the Coronado Yacht club, and Justice-elect Eric Bernsen was there early to fire up the massive BBQ. By 1:00 pm, the sun was blazing as hot as the grill, and Phi Alpha Delta members began to arrive. Lured by the promise of Greg Caruso’s famous “Dinosaur BBQ,” PAD members new and old enjoyed sunshine, Frisbee, good food and drink, and the company of their fraternity brothers and sisters at the end of the year BBQ.
Greg showed such extreme dedication to his job as Grill Meister that he remained stalwart at the grill all afternoon, and has an epic sunburn on precisely half of his body to prove it. “I forgot to rotisserie myself,” he jokes. Thank you Greg, for suffering for the sake of delicious BBQ chicken. I’d say it was worth it. Current Marshal and next year’s Justice, Eric, produced three gallons of homemade venison chili, proving once again that he is fit to serve as Head Honcho of our organization (or at least as the cook from time to time). I think those who had the pleasure of partaking of a bowl are confident they voted for the right man. Many thanks to PAD sister, Dijon Fiore, for providing the deer! Present Vice Justice Janaye Martin also wowed the crowd with her confectionary delights and satisfied our sugar fix.
Phi Alpha Delta’s newly elected Executive board includes: Nicole Heffel as Vice Justice, Greg “G-Money” Caruso as Treasurer, Alicia Iorio as Marshal, and Chelsea Halpine-Berger as Clerk.
While PAD members certainly believe that all work and no play makes Jack-Law Student a dull boy, our organization has accomplished great things this academic year. PAD has coordinated events such as “Inside the Judges Chambers,” where members not only had the chance to watch attorneys practice their craft, but to go behind the scenes in the Judge’s chambers with the Honorable Lisa Foster. PAD hosted “Wine, Cheese and Judges Pet-Peeves,” where a panel of local judges dished to future lawyers about how to comport themselves in the courtroom. PAD also held an delicious and educational Etiquette Dinner at the Westgate Hotel, and assisted the Lawyer’s Club of San Diego with their annual “Champagne and Chocolate Affair”, volunteering and selling tickets to benefit their Fund for Justice.
Both first and second semester 1L’s received much appreciated writing advice and research tips through Memo Writing workshops held by PAD upperclassmen. All new Franklin Chapter members are also assigned an upperclass mentor, to help them navigate the 1L experience. We have also been active in the community, from serving food to the homeless at Father Joe’s Village, making and delivering cards to hospitalized veterans on Veteran’s day, to our participation in the Special Olympics golf tournament in April.
The Franklin Chapter is wrapping up the 2010-2011 school year with multiple award nominations from Phi Alpha Delta Headquarters, including a nomination for Most Outstanding Chapter in the nation. This is the first time in TJSL and Franklin Chapter history that our chapter has been nominated, which speaks volumes to the hard work and enthusiasm of all current PAD members! If you are not a member of Phi Alpha Delta and this article has intrigued you with its promises of venison chili, fraternity, and an outline database, keep an eye out for our events next semester and get involved!