HARRISBURG (March 4, 2004) � The Pennsylvania Bar Association Conference of County Bar Leaders (CCBL) will honor Erie County Bar Association Executive Director Sandra Brydon Smith March 5 in Hershey for her commitment to the legal profession. Smith will receive the seventh annual Arthur J. Birdsall Award during the 38th annual seminar of the CCBL.

The Arthur J. Birdsall Award, which is named for the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) county bar services director who has served the PBA for 37 years, is presented to a county bar executive who demonstrates the highest traditions of professional excellence, is committed to the success of his or her bar association and has enhanced significantly the stature of his or her bar association. Birdsall accepted the first award at the 32nd annual CCBL.

�This award is designed to recognize those county bar leaders who go above and beyond what is expected,� noted PBA President Thomas M. Golden. �The PBA is pleased to honor Sandy for her outstanding dedication to the legal profession.�

Erie County Bar Association (ECBA) President James Bryan said in his nomination letter, �Sandy personally oversees all projects and initiatives of this bar association�Personal attention has always been key to keeping members interested in the ECBA, and our director provides that to everyone.�

In the nomination, Smith was commended for accomplishing �a 95% membership rate in the ECBA among Erie attorneys.� She has worked to maintain a high interest level among bar members by reviewing and improving existing programs, services and procedures. She reaches out to new members and actively involves them in ECBA activities, such as the Attorneys & Kids Together program.

Smith is a past member of the CCBL Executive Committee and served as the local bar association representative to the PBA Board of Governors. She also is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Bar Executives. Smith is a member of the American Society of Association Executives, the National Association of Bar Executives and the Association for Continuing Legal Education. She also serves on the board of the Conference of County Legal Journals.