Legal Services of North Dakota : A look back at 2017
By Adele Hedley Page , Deputy Director , Legal Services of North Dakota
As we enter 2018 , Legal Services of North Dakota ( LSND ) looks back on 2017 as an eventful and inspiring year . Not only was our client work fulfilling and interesting , LSND engaged in exciting transformational activities . The organization engaged consultants to create a comprehensive strategic plan and train our board on significant board governance issues . Springing from these endeavors was an exciting opportunity . The president of the Legal Services Corporation ( LSC ), James “ Jim ” J . Sandman , visited Bismarck to inspire our staff , board , and invited guests about the mission of legal aid . The invited guests included Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle , President of the North Dakota Bar Foundation Jack McDonald , and Executive Director of the State Bar Association Tony Weiler .
It all happened suddenly . Our comprehensive strategic planning session was set months in advance to take place on Friday , Sept . 29 . We knew in advance our contacts at LSC , most of whom we knew well , were going to join our board training session on Saturday , Sept . 30 . LSC , our federal funder , provides extensive support to its grantees , including LSND . Grayce Wiggins , our LSC program counsel , William Sulik , our LSC compliance officer , and Janice Fontall , LSC fiscal compliance analyst , were all slated in advance to join us .
But then , about a week before our meetings , Grayce called . She met with Jim Sandman to see if she could get him to videotape an inspiring message for our board and staff , but he had another idea . Jim flew from the District of Columbia to Bismarck , arriving in the early morning hours of Saturday , Sept . 30 , and spoke to our staff , board , and honored guests .
Jim Sandman , LSC president , traveled to North Dakota for the LSND board training session .
A visit from the president of the LSC is a big deal for a number of reasons . Primarily , Jim got his job for a good reason : he is a talented advocate for the promotion of equal access to justice . Also , Jim ’ s organization provides support and grants to 133 independent nonprofit legal aid programs with more than 800 offices . Despite LSND being statewide in a geographically large state , we are one of the smallest of those 133 .
Jim Sandman , center , with the LSND board of directors .
Left to right , Grayce Wiggins , LSC program counsel ; Rich LeMay , LSND executive director ; Chief Justice Gerald W . VandeWalle ; Janice Fontell , LSC fiscal compliance analyst ; Jim Sandman , LSC president ; William Sulik , LSC Office of Compliance and Enforcement program counsel .
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