Join the HBA in celebrating its 25th Anniversary Memorial Day weekend travel seminar.  This wonderful trip is being offered at the very low rate of $999 (excluding tax, security, and fuel charges).  In the spirit of the holidays, the deadline to submit your deposit and reserve this special rate has been extended.  To reserve this special rate we must receive your $250 deposit by January 20th.  Space on this exclusive travel seminar is limited & subject to availability on a first come, first serve basis. For complete itinerary & registration details, please contact Robert White at Festival Travel & Tours, at 714.221.6381 or download the flyer.

We have reached the end of the year, and I wish to thank you for the honor of serving as your 2007 HBA President.  I especially want to thank the 2007 Board of Directors for their hard work and commitment: Frank Acosta, Ashleigh E. Aitken, Eric M. Alderete, Carlos Dom�nguez, Jamie Duarte, Edward Flores, Norma Garc�a Guill�n,Jacqueline Guzm�n, Jos� A. Hern�ndez, Christy Marie Lopez, Genoveva Meza Talbott, Monica E Lukoschek, Jorge A. Martinez, Marcus S. Quintanilla, Lisa D. Ramirez, Marcelo Reyes, Javier Rivera-Carbone, Jos� Sandoval, Federico C. Sayre, J. Craig Williams.  Thank you for dedication and for making this an exceptional year for the HBA.

Nearly 200 members strong, we experienced tremendous success and support from our members and the entire Orange County community.  Your support at our 2007 Installation Dinner and Scholarship Fundraiser - Rompiendo Barreras, Formando Caminos/Breaking Barriers, Blazing Paths - raised over $40,000, and broke records with over 500 people in attendance.  The success of the 2007 HBA Dinner allowed us to allocate over $15,000 in scholarships this year. 

We hosted a number of first-time events this year.  On April 25^th, we hosted our first session entitled "Immigration Law 101: Detention and Removal".  On April 30^th, we hosted our first Commissioner's Welcome Reception to welcome Orange County's recently appointed Judges and Commissioners.  On May 31^st, we hosted the first of our new HBA "Bar Reviews" - de Barranda at Taleo in Irvine, where HBA members and non-members came together for a light-hearted social gathering.

In addition, in response to the priorities articulated by our membership in our 2006 survey, the HBA formed a Social Issues Committee this year.  We rallied in support of the Mendez v. Westminster Magical History Tourandtheir efforts to participate in Huntington Beach's Annual Fourth of July Parade.  The Judiciary Committee worked very hard this year to increase the number of Latinos on the bench in Orange County and the state by partnering with the Bench Bar Coalition and by holding its first judicial applicant workshop entitled "Becoming a Judge: The Basics" in September.  In addition, the committee interviewed several candidates seeking letters of support from the HBA and continues to schedule interviews for interested candidates.

Of course, this year we continued to hold some of our annual events with great success.  Over 130 people attended the HBA's End of Summer Mixer, co-hosted by the OCAABA and the OCTLA, on August 29^th.  We held our Annual Judges' BBQ on October 14^th at the home of Bette and Wylie Aitken and honored the Honorable Jack Mandel.   Our 2^nd Annual D�a de los Muertos Mixer on November 1^st was also an amazing event and offered our members the opportunity to meet the candidates running for the 2008 HBA Board of Directors.  Lastly, the HBA Holiday Party brought over 100 of us together to celebrate the end of the year, the new board, and the amazing accomplishments of the year.

It has been a pleasure serving as your 2007 President.  I am honored and grateful to have been given the opportunity.  I congratulate the 2008 Board of Directors and I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and a very Happy New Year!

Sinceramente,

Lorena C. Pe�aloza

2007 HBA President