SEABOTA
Dear ABOTA Friends:
April 8-11, 2010 SEABOTA Annual Meeting Nashville’s reputation as a musical hotspot is world wide. There are very few cities anywhere whose names are instantly recognizable as being synonymous with Music, but Nashville is one of those places. Nashville, Tennessee is “Music City USA!” I am delighted to have the opportunity to invite you to the 2010 SEABOTA Annual Convention in Nashville where “music is not just played but where it is made!”.
We are also proud to have chosen The Hermitage Hotel as the site for this year’s SEABOTA Convention. It is Tennessee’s only Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond Hotel. Located at 231 Sixth Avenue North in the heart of downtown Nashville, The Hermitage Hotel is across the street from the State Capitol and Legislative Plaza and is within walking distance of the Nashville Convention Center, the financial district, the night life of Second Avenue, the Ryman Auditorium, Printer’s Alley, and The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. As the only remaining commercial Beaux Arts structure in the State, the hotel has entertained six presidents and almost every member of entertainment royalty who has graced Nashville since its opening 100 years ago. The history of this treasured landmark has been painstakingly restored and preserved through an eleven month, $18 million recent renovation. From the stained glass lobby ceiling, marble columns and staircases, to the Russian walnut paneling, the original colors and impeccable detail have renewed it again. No wonder it has recently been listed in the Robb Report’s “Best of the Best Issue.” The Hermitage Hotel “again stands as one of the United States’ finest.” In addition to your spectacular stay at The Hermitage Hotel, we have arranged plenty of activities to keep you and your significant other occupied. We have planned for a dance contest on the first evening, Thursday, April 8, 2010, at the world renowned Wild Horse Saloon on Second Street in downtown Nashville. We have scheduled on Friday evening, April 9, 2010, an amazing treat, a private reception at the world famous Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This event is being co-sponsored by both SEABOTA and Tennessee ABOTA (TN ABOTA), as well as some of our more well healed members. This quintessential Nashville experience will include private tours of the museum, fabulous hors d’oeuvres, some of the world’s most acclaimed historical artifacts, and a chance to revel in the architecture of this splendid home of Country Music. The space chosen for our event is the Hall of Fame Rotunda, which is the very “Heart Of Country Music,” where commemorative bronze plaques surround the walls recognizing the lifetime achievements of the memorable members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. On Saturday afternoon, April 10, 2010, we will take a journey to the legendary home of President Andrew Jackson, known as The Hermitage, that will include not only a tour of the original mansion, but also a tour of its beautiful gardens. Thereafter, we will return to The Hermitage Hotel for a cocktail party and Banquet and Awards Ceremony that evening.. Dulin Kelly of Hendersonville, Tennessee has planned a marvelous continuing legal education program. Dulin has selected his own personal favorite speakers who are sure to enlighten our audience including Justin Kahn from Charleston, South Carolina, Past President of ABOTA; Lewis Sifford from Dallas, Texas; and the nationally renowned jury expert Lisa Blue also from Dallas, Texas, each of whom will appear on Friday, April 9, 2010 at 9:00 a.m., 10:15 am, and 11:15 a.m. respectively. On Saturday morning, April 10, 2010, we will have both a TN ABOTA and a SEABOTA business meeting. Later that day, our CLE program will feature the legendary Bobby Lee Cook of Summerville, Georgia, the incomparable James Neal of Nashville, Tennessee, and Tennessee’s Super Lawyer, Leo Bearman, Jr., of Memphis. We are honored to have presiding as moderator of this singular event the Honorable Circuit Court Judge Thomas J. Wright of Tennessee’s Third Judicial District. This program will truly be an unforgettable experience for everyone in attendance. Below are links to the registration forms for both the convention and the hotel. Please register promptly! We have a limited block and many members have already committed to attend. Finally, SEABOTA is indebted to Dulin Kelly as SEABOTA’s CLE Chairman; TN ABOTA’s President, Wayne Ritchie from Knoxville, Tennessee, and each of TN ABOTA’s members for co-sponsoring our Saturday night Banquet and Awards Ceremony and Friday evening’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum event; Tennessee’s National Board Member, Aubry Harwell from Nashville, Tennessee; TN ABOTA member Gary Blackburn also of Nashville, Tennessee, as well as, Sebrina Kelly, Carlana Harwell, and Melissa Blackburn for their contributions to the success of our convention by serving on its Planning Committee. I look forward to seeing you in “Music City USA” for the 2010 SEABOTA Annual Convention on April 8 through April 11, 2010. P.S. The Hermitage Hotel is a sister property of the Kiawah Island Golf Course where ABOTA’s National Board Meeting will be held in May of 2010. Please take a virtual tour of The Hermitage Hotel at www.thehermitagehotel.com and make your reservations by calling 1-888-888-9414. Be sure to register using the group name of SEABOTA Convention 2010 for our special group room rate of $239.00 per night and complete the Registration Form by going to www.abota.org and clicking on the “SEABOTA” link and follow the directions there.Cordially,
John T. Milburn Rogers
SEABOTA President
SEABOTA President