The New York Times’ Motherlode blog just published this piece about whether blogging makes new moms happier. In generations past new moms had to actually get out of the house to connect with each other – not an easy feat when you have a young child. Now through blogging, women connect constantly regarding a variety of topics without leaving their living rooms. And, according to a recent small research study, this makes new moms happier. Read the piece and let us know what you think. Do you have a blog? Has a blog helped you as a parent? As an adoptive parent or a parent through surrogacy?
Weekly visits from the Wow! food truck make lunch time more fun in our office complex at Lenox Pointe. The pulled chicken with grits and the shrimp cakes are our favorite dishes. If you’d like to know more about food in Atlanta, check out Amy’s food blog, Amy on Food.
Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. is proud to announce that T. Buckley Levins has joined the firm as an Associate. Please join us at an open house and welcoming reception for Buck on Monday, September 19, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. at the firm’s offices located at 410 E. Bay Street, Savannah, Georgia. Drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided.
Buck is an honors graduate of the University of Georgia and a 2005 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law. Buck will be practicing in the areas of Family Law, Civil/Plaintiff’s Litigation, Appellate Litigation, and Criminal Defense. Buck is a native of Perry, Georgia and has previously served as a Senior Assistant District Attorney in the Alcovy Judicial Circuit and been in private practice in Americus, Georgia.
Today Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. partner Ruth Claiborne was featured on Creating a Family’s weekly radio show. This week’s show focuses on the legal issues surrounding egg, sperm and embryo donation. You can listen to archived and live radio shows here.
Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. recommends Creating a Family as a supplementary resource for information about adoption, infertility and assisted reproduction. This non-profit organization’s website includes a blog, webinars, videos and country charts for international adoption in addition to the weekly radio show.
Claiborne & Surmay PC congratulates long time foster parent, adoptive parent and friend of the firm Bonnie Gunter for her recent Georgia lottery win. We cannot imagine a person who deserves this more. For the complete story, click here.
Attorney Lori Surmay, has enjoyed a busy July! A TRUE Harry Potter fan, she attended a special preview of the new movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, the day before it opened nationwide. The showing represented Lori’s first foray into the world of 3D at a theater, which she enjoyed. She even sent text messages to our office and posted on Facebook during the anxious moments before the movie began. Although not dressed in costume like other attendees, a cameraman interviewed Lori afterward and she pronounced the film “Fabulous!” The following week, Lori dined at Twist and sat next to many of the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Of course, her nieces had to explain who the “celebrities” were. Then after a great concert at the Atlanta Botanic Gardens, Lori visited with country recording icon Emmylou Harris, her dogs and her family. Now she must prepare to teach again at UGA Law School next month.
Attorney Ruth Claiborne enjoys arranging flowers for family and friends and assists with her church’s flower program. Each summer Ruth enters the Mountains in Bloom Garden Festival Flower Show in Highlands, NC and she frequently comes away with a ribbon. This year Ruth won second place for her entry in the “Tea for Two” category. Flower arrangement entries were displayed at the Bascom Art Center’s early 1800s hand-hewn post and beam barn. The show also featured a horticulture exhibit as well as a nature photography exhibit.
Claiborne & Surmay P.C.’s Amy Wallas Fox won the “Most Innovative Flavor” award at Slow Food Atlanta’s 5th Annual Ice Cream Social fundraiser in June. Click here to read the full post on Amy’s popular food blog.
While Facebook and other social media sites can be instrumental in helping adult adoptees and teen adoptees (with their parents’ permission) find their birth parents, it can also be a dangerous minefield for underage adoptees who are searching – or are being searched – without guidance from an adult. With the rise of social media, there is even more reason for adoptive parents to be open and honest with their children about their adoptions and their birth parents. Teen adoptees are very likely to search for birth parents their own, using Facebook and other social media sites, and if search and reunion has been discussed openly and honestly between adoptees and their parents, teens are more likely to turn to their parents for help.
Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. took leading roles in the 22nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA) and the 2nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (AAARTA). The meetings were held May 4-7, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency, Savannah, following a full year of planning by conference co-chairs Ruth Claiborne, a principal in Claiborne & Surmay, P.C. (Atlanta & Savannah) and Jim Thompson of the Thompson Law Firm,LLC in South Carolina. Claiborne & Surmay senior paralegal Toni Treadway co-chaired the paralegal portion of the conference, with attorney Shannon Matteson serving as liaison and advisor to the paralegals. This was Toni’s second time as a paralegal leader together with Wendy Gebhauer of Wisconsin, and once again she did a fantastic job. Our Savannah office, located on Bay Street just 2 blocks east of the Hyatt, provided valuable logistical support and paralegal Kim Griffin also set up several tours for participants and guests. Attorney Lori Surmay also participated actively in all aspects of the conference, so our firm was very well represented.
By all accounts this was one of the Academy’s most successful annual conferences ever, drawing approximately 250 attorneys, 32 paralegals, 15 sponsor/vendors, and numerous seminar speakers, spouses, and guests. Despite beautiful weather and the attractions of historic Savannah just steps from the hotel, 15 hours of cutting edge continuing legal education seminars were very well attended, held in a room with a long glass wall overlooking the river! Topics included Surrogacy Contract Drafting, ARTs Dilemmas; Health Insurance for Gestational Carriers; Ethics; Legislative Advocacy; Joint Adoption, ARTS & Immigration; Jurisdiction and Multistate Adoptions; Contested Adoptions; Impact of Maternal High Risk Behaviors on Child Development; Social Media; Telecommuting and Multijurisdictional Practice; and more. Paralegals were involved in a number of the CLE Sessions but also had their own breakout sessions focusing on ethics, technology and practical paralegal pointers.
The AAAA and AAARTA conference was an invaluable opportunity for all who attended to share ideas, to network with the best attorneys in our field from all over the US and Canada; to learn from each other and form lasting professional alliances. Often adoption and ARTs cross state lines with parties residing in different states, so it is crucial to have trusted colleagues throughout the country. The conference provided a balance of education, business meetings, and social activities.
On the recreational and social fronts, we built events around Savannah’s history and charm: a waterfront headquarters hotel, the opening reception at The Olde Pink House with delicious food in a converted historic home, and our main evening dinner and entertainment event on beautiful Johnson Square, complete with Savannah musicians followed by AAAA’s Rogue Band (famous in Academy circles!), delicious food, and the beauty of the historic square with its live oaks and monuments surrounded by landmark buildings. Attendees in their free time enjoyed walking tours, a riverboat cruise, an array of great restaurants, kayaking, golf, and even “The Book” Club at Clary’s café.
The conference ended on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. Perhaps not coincidentally, Mother’s Day weekend was the time at least two adoption triads met for the first time, following successful searches and reunions. A daughter from Oregon found her birth mother who lived in Savannah, met for the first time, and contacted Savannah media about the joys of reuniting. Attorney Ruth Claiborne was interviewed by the local Fox news channel about adoption reunions, the role of state-sponsored reunion registries, the new phenomenon of social media, and the Academy’s support of open adoption. Meanwhile, paralegal Toni Treadway and her husband went out to dinner and had a very personal encounter with an adoption reunion between a birth mom, biological father, and adult adoptee, happening at a nearby table in the restaurant. Toni was able to connect with them in a special way and to give meaningful and lasting gifts of understanding and a necklace with special symbolic meaning. For more on Toni’s story,click here.
AAAA voted in 2009 to form AAARTA as an affiliated academy, in recognition of the growing role of assisted reproductive technologies in family formation. Both Academies have rigorous selection processes for fellows, high ethical standards, and focus on the best interests of children as well as the adults who want to be parents. Both Academies seek out the best in our niche practices of adoption and assisted reproduction. We are grateful for having been given leadership roles and energized by having experienced the latest/greatest continuing education while having fun and enhancing professional relationships.
