WE, THE PEOPLE PROGRAM-
On January 19, the final competition in the We, the People program was held at the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse in Charleston. Outstanding students made presentations on constitutional issues and answered questions posed by lawyers, judges and citizen leaders. Each high school had already been victorious at the Congressional District level—First District-Keyser(Mineral County), Second District-George Washington(Kanawha County) and Third District-Shady Spring(Raleigh County). By a very close score, Keyser won the final competition and will represent WV at the national competition in Washington, DC in April. U. S. District Court Chief Judge Joseph R. Goodwin gave remarks and made presentations to all three schools. The WV Bar Foundation has supported this excellent civic literacy program for numerous years.

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE-
The Bar Foundation’s Strategic Planning Committee met on January 31 and proposed recommendations for consideration by the Board of Directors at its next meeting in March. The Committee members agreed to focus during the next 3-5 year period on dual objectives of implementing and enhancing programs and activities, as well as increasing the necessary fundraising opportunities in line with the stated mission of improving the administration of justice and the provision of legal services for West Virginia’s citizens. In the near future, there will be modifications in the Bar Foundation’s finances which will provide the impetus to move forward to reach the prospective goals and objectives for the organization.

EMENTORING PROGRAM-
More than 6,900 West Virginia high school students dropped out of high school in 2009. That equates to $1.8 billion lost lifetime earnings in West Virginia for that class of dropouts alone. Today’s students are tomorrow’s work force. Are you doing everything you can to ensure they are college and career ready? There is an easy way you can help – sign up to be a mentor today! The Education Alliance offers an online volunteer driven program around college and career readiness – WV eMentoring. WV eMentoring is an online career-based mentoring program for secondary students. Mentors from all types of careers are needed. Mentors should have jobs that require some kind of post-secondary education – on the job training, apprenticeship programs, vocational or professional school, two-year, four-year, or graduate degrees. In just 15 minutes a week you can make a difference in the life of a student without leaving the comfort of your desk! All activities can be completed online at your home or office.
Get more information on the Internet from the WV Education Alliance regarding this excellent program at—www.wvementoring.org