Tuesday, July 17, 2012
WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY
Lunch begins at noon - Meeting begins at 12:30 p.m.
Meet Rick Mullaney
JU Public Policy Institute
JU Public Policy Institute
Rick
Mullaney is a local attorney and former General Counsel for
the City of Jacksonville. As General Counsel from 1997 to 2010, Rick was the
chief legal officer for Jacksonville’s $4.5 billion a year consolidated
government, and head of a 40-lawyer public law office. Prior to serving as
General Counsel, Rick served as Chief of Staff to former Mayor John Delaney,
City attorney and advisor to the Austin administration, as a prosecutor for ten
years, and a business litigator for the Carlton Fields law firm.
Rick grew up on Jacksonville’s Westside off of 103rd Street and Jammes Road. He graduated from Forrest High School in 1973, where his father taught for 21 years after serving in the Navy for 22 years. Rick attended the University of Florida for undergraduate school, receiving a George Smathers debate scholarship and graduating Phi Beta Kappa and number one in the College of Arts and Sciences. In law school at the University of Florida, he was Executive Editor of the Law Review.
Following graduation in 1980, Rick practiced business litigation with Carlton Fields – Florida’s largest law firm at that time — before joining the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit in 1982. A prosecutor for ten years, he was recognized statewide for his work in creating Florida’s first Repeat Offender Court for career criminals, and for his work in creating and leading the State Attorney’s Homicide Unit. During his years as a prosecutor, Rick also taught business law at the University of North Florida and lectured in more than 20 states on violent crime and criminal prosecution.
In 1991, the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association named him Prosecutor of the Year for the State of Florida.
Rick joined the General Counsel’s Office in 1991 during the Austin administration, serving as chief of the Tort Litigation Department and legal advisor until being named Chief of Staff by former Mayor John Delaney in 1996. As Chief of Staff for Mayor Delaney, he led the creation and adoption of the City’s first comprehensive Code of Ethics and the creation of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC), which consolidated 23 entities into one organization. He also played a key role in the successful effort to get City finances in order in the 1990s by freezing salaries, cutting ad valorem tax rates, reducing starting salaries for some public employees, and changing the City’s approach to compensation.
After being appointed General Counsel in 1997, Rick played a leading role in creating The Preservation Project and The Better Jacksonville Plan. As General Counsel, Rick recruited experienced and talented lawyers from the private sector, making the General Counsel’s Office one of our communities’ best law firms. He also developed ethics training programs for public officials and formed a municipal law clinic for second and third-year law students, providing substantial legal services to the City at no cost to taxpayers.
In the courtroom, Rick’s achievements include successfully defending the right of Duval County students to say a prayer at their high school graduation ceremonies. Arguing before all 12 judges of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, he persuaded the Court to reverse its original decision against prayer by a margin of 10-2, creating a landmark case for school prayer.
Rick is a nationally-regarded expert and speaker on consolidated government, and is “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell. In 2003, he was named Lawyer of the Year at the Jacksonville Bar Association’s annual Law Day Luncheon. Subsequently, as Chairman of Jacksonville’s Telecommunications Master Plan Task Force, he received IT Florida’s statewide award for innovation in technology. He received the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville’s Good Government Award in 2004 and was named a Top Government Attorney by Florida Trend magazine in 2009.
Rick serves on the Board of Directors for four non-profit organizations. He is Chairman of the Board of St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation, Vice-Chair of the Board of Gateway Community Services, and serves on the Boards of St. Vincent’s HealthCare System and the Timucuan Trails Parks Foundation (formerly Preservation Project North Florida). He also serves on the ALS Regional Council. He is a graduate and member of Leadership Jacksonville and Leadership Florida. Rick and his wife, Lynn, have three children: Taylor, Richie, and Katie.
President Jim Lanahan shared his vision for the South Jacksonville Rotary Club's 2012-2013 year. Highlights from the presentation include:
Rick grew up on Jacksonville’s Westside off of 103rd Street and Jammes Road. He graduated from Forrest High School in 1973, where his father taught for 21 years after serving in the Navy for 22 years. Rick attended the University of Florida for undergraduate school, receiving a George Smathers debate scholarship and graduating Phi Beta Kappa and number one in the College of Arts and Sciences. In law school at the University of Florida, he was Executive Editor of the Law Review.
Following graduation in 1980, Rick practiced business litigation with Carlton Fields – Florida’s largest law firm at that time — before joining the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit in 1982. A prosecutor for ten years, he was recognized statewide for his work in creating Florida’s first Repeat Offender Court for career criminals, and for his work in creating and leading the State Attorney’s Homicide Unit. During his years as a prosecutor, Rick also taught business law at the University of North Florida and lectured in more than 20 states on violent crime and criminal prosecution.
In 1991, the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association named him Prosecutor of the Year for the State of Florida.
Rick joined the General Counsel’s Office in 1991 during the Austin administration, serving as chief of the Tort Litigation Department and legal advisor until being named Chief of Staff by former Mayor John Delaney in 1996. As Chief of Staff for Mayor Delaney, he led the creation and adoption of the City’s first comprehensive Code of Ethics and the creation of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC), which consolidated 23 entities into one organization. He also played a key role in the successful effort to get City finances in order in the 1990s by freezing salaries, cutting ad valorem tax rates, reducing starting salaries for some public employees, and changing the City’s approach to compensation.
After being appointed General Counsel in 1997, Rick played a leading role in creating The Preservation Project and The Better Jacksonville Plan. As General Counsel, Rick recruited experienced and talented lawyers from the private sector, making the General Counsel’s Office one of our communities’ best law firms. He also developed ethics training programs for public officials and formed a municipal law clinic for second and third-year law students, providing substantial legal services to the City at no cost to taxpayers.
In the courtroom, Rick’s achievements include successfully defending the right of Duval County students to say a prayer at their high school graduation ceremonies. Arguing before all 12 judges of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, he persuaded the Court to reverse its original decision against prayer by a margin of 10-2, creating a landmark case for school prayer.
Rick is a nationally-regarded expert and speaker on consolidated government, and is “AV” rated by Martindale Hubbell. In 2003, he was named Lawyer of the Year at the Jacksonville Bar Association’s annual Law Day Luncheon. Subsequently, as Chairman of Jacksonville’s Telecommunications Master Plan Task Force, he received IT Florida’s statewide award for innovation in technology. He received the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville’s Good Government Award in 2004 and was named a Top Government Attorney by Florida Trend magazine in 2009.
Rick serves on the Board of Directors for four non-profit organizations. He is Chairman of the Board of St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation, Vice-Chair of the Board of Gateway Community Services, and serves on the Boards of St. Vincent’s HealthCare System and the Timucuan Trails Parks Foundation (formerly Preservation Project North Florida). He also serves on the ALS Regional Council. He is a graduate and member of Leadership Jacksonville and Leadership Florida. Rick and his wife, Lynn, have three children: Taylor, Richie, and Katie.
Mark Your Calendar
Blood Drive - July 17th: The Blood Alliance Mobile will be at our meeting from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Please Donate!!!
Board Meeting - July 17th: The South Jacksonville Rotary Board Meeting will follow the regular meeting. Attendance counts as a make-up. All members are welcome.
Rotary Leadership Institute - August 4th: Rotary Leadership Institute Training at Orange Park - St. Johns River Community College from 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Register on line and support our Leadership Development goals at http://www.rlitraining.org/
On-Line Rotary Roster
Check out the on-line Rotary Roster at http://www.rotaryroster.org/
The "Getting Started" steps are easy. Once you are on the main page, there is a "Log-in" box on the left of the screen like the image below. The steps are on the main page and also documented below for your convenience.
- Log in with the email address you have on file with your club.
- Click the Activate My Account link and follow the instructions about how to create and register a password.
- You will be emailed a link that will authenticate your continued access to the Rotary Roster. Follow the simple instructions for your first time use.
Recap of the July 10th Meeting
The Pledge of Allegiance: Dinkins Grange
Prayer: Past President John Callender
Introduction of Guests: Past President Ken Weiss
Greeters: Bob Massey, Jr. & Dinkins Grange
Speaker: President Jim Lanahan
President Jim Lanahan shared his vision for the South Jacksonville Rotary Club's 2012-2013 year. Highlights from the presentation include:
- Our theme for the year is "Peace Through Service".
- Rotary: "A worldwide network of inspired individuals who translate their passion into relevant social causes to change lives in communities."
- Introduction of club officers.
- Club Goals for 2012-2013:
- A net gain in 4 or more new members
- 100% participation in the Rotary Foundation
- Leadership Development Goals: 1.) 3 members to attend Rotary Leadership Institute 2.) 2 members to attend Foundation Seminar 3.) 6 members to attend the District Conference
- Club Activities for 2012-2013:
- Major Fund Raiser: A roll out of the final plan in the next few weeks
- Support the International Polio Campaign: We are very close to eliminating polio!
- Rotary Youth Exchange: Sponsor another student
- Interact: Youth Speech Contest
- Outside Organization Cooperation: The Salvation Army Bell Ringing
- Dictionary Project
- Two Blood Drives
- Clean Water Project
- Rotaract Club: Joint Meeting with Rotaracters
- Two New Initiatives:
- Enhanced Literacy Program: Adopt a kindergarten class and support with mentoring, reading, supplies, etc.
- San Marco Initiative: Support roundabout construction at intersection of Landon Ave & San Marco Blvd. to include a monument using this year's Rotary International theme, "Peace Through Service".
- Develop a 3 to 5 Year Strategic Plan: 1.) Long term signature project 2.) Long term source of funds 3.) Membership development plan
- Rotary Club of South Jacksonville: "We are a local network of inspired individuals who translate our passion into relevant social causes to change lives in our communities."
