60th Annual Community Thanksgiving Luncheon

Description

Be a part of the 60th Annual Community Thanksgiving Luncheon, hosted by the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Ameren Illinois Company with welcome sponsor Decatur Memorial Hospital. As a day to convey and express thankfulness and gratitude to the Lord for granting and blessing the lands with a good harvest, Thanksgiving is a holiday the whole community embraces.

The Annual Community Thanksgiving Luncheon is a tradition that began in 1953, as a way for the community to come together and offer thanks and blessing for the year. For This We Give Thanks is the theme of the luncheon as we give thanks to business, organizations and leaders that make our community a great place to do business, live and raise families. 

We are proud to announce our keynote speaker: the Honorable Lisa Holder White, Circuit Judge, who will deliver the traditional narrative "For This We Give Thanks".

Tickets are $20.00 per person or $160.00 for a table of 8. 
ALL TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2012

11:30 a.m. - Doors Open
12:00 p.m. - Lunch Served



Honorable Lisa Holder White

Lisa Holder White, a Decatur native, is the daughter of Marvin and Corinne Holder.  She graduated from Macon Community High School in 1986.  Judge White obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Lewis University in 1990 where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.  In 1993, Judge White earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University Of Illinois College Of Law in Champaign-Urbana.  Judge White has an Honorary Doctorate from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.  Assistant State’s Attorney for Macon County was the first legal position held by Judge White.  During her tenure in the State’s Attorney’s office, she handled various matters ranging from traffic to criminal felonies.  Subsequent to serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney, Judge White served as an Assistant Public Defender litigating on behalf of those charged with criminal offenses and representing abused and neglected children. 

Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge White enjoyed a thriving private practice at the firm formerly known as Brinkoetter & White.  Her private practice was focused in the areas of family and criminal law.  On March 5, 2001, Judge White was sworn in as an Associate Judge after being appointed to that position by the Circuit Judges of the Sixth Judicial Circuit.  On September 29, 2008, Judge White was sworn in as a Circuit Judge.  She was appointed to the position of Circuit Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Circuit Judge John Greanias.  Judge White was elected to the position of Circuit Judge in November of 2010. 

Judge White is a member of the Illinois Judicial Conference and serves as Chair of the Illinois Supreme Court Judicial Conference Committee on Education.  The Committee on Education is charged with planning and providing continuing judicial education to Illinois judges.  Judge White is an instructor for “New Judge School” which is a five day session taught in Chicago on an annual basis for all new state judges in Illinois.  She also teaches at the bi-annual Education Conference, which all Illinois state court judges are required to attend.  Judge White has also served as a presenter for the Illinois State Bar Association and the Decatur Leadership Institute. 

Since taking the bench, Judge White has presided over various matters ranging from small claims disputes to murder.  During her tenure in juvenile court, Judge White worked with various community organizations to address the issues of truancy and juvenile delinquency.  As the current Supervising Judge of the Criminal Law Division, Judge White takes pride in running an orderly and efficient courtroom.  She ensures that all who enter are treated with respect and dignity.  Judge White enjoys utilizing her courtroom to host mock trials to allow school children to learn about and participate in the justice system.  She routinely allows young people who have expressed an interest in a career as an attorney or judge to spend a day with her to gain an understanding of what being an attorney or judge involves.  Judge White has also allowed college and law school students to complete internships in her office.

Judge White is a member of the Decatur Bar Association and the Illinois Judges Association.  She previously served on the boards of the Decatur Public Schools Foundation and the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross.  She currently serves on the boards of the Community Foundation of Macon County and Millikin University.  She and James, her husband of twenty-four years, are the proud parents of two children, Brett, age 18 and Myah, age 13.