Nominate an unsung Section hero! The honorary of the Anne Charles Award may be noteworthy for any of the following:

• Mentoring and reaching out to members;
• Contributes to the professional development of their fellow members;
• Helps ensure the vitality of the section;
• Stimulates diversity of thoughts and contributions;
• Made a significant contribution to advancing the goals of the Section through committee service and/or volunteer efforts;
• Member who has developed a new project or spearheaded a committee;
• Member who has planned/presented an education program; or
• Generally steps up when the call is issued.

All NABE Communications Section members are eligible, except current members of the Communications Section Executive Council.

NominationS - Now Closed

Nominations are now closed for our 2024 Anne Charles Award!

The award may be presented each year at the discretion of the committee. More than one recipient may be selected at the discretion of the committee. The nominee will be presented the award at the NABE Annual Communications Section Workshop.

Who was Anne Charles?

Anne Hanlon Charles served as the communications director for the State Bar of California for nearly 15 years. 

She was known for her media skills and respected for her forward-thinking about communications technology to improve customer service for the organization that had grown to over 132,000 members by 1998. An articulate spokeswoman, Anne managed the organization's media and public relations during difficult periods. She handled the flood of calls related to the criminal trial of O.J. Simpson during 1995 and again served as the point of contact for the media during a period of tremendous financial and political crisis for the State Bar as it faced collapse in 1998.

Before joining the bar in 1985, Anne graduated magna cum laude from Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY. In California, she was active in local and state politics and had been a successful public affairs consultant since 1976. Anne was the consummate professional.

She was an active NABE member for many years and elected in 1998 to serve on the NABE board of directors. Not long after that, she was diagnosed with cancer. Anne died in July of 1999.

Award Recipients

• 2024 Patricia McConnico, State Bar of Texas
• 2023 Amy Starnes, Supreme Court of Texas
  
• 2022 Farrah Fite, The Missouri Bar
• 2019 Marilyn Cavicchia, American Bar Association
• 2018 Brandon Vogel, New York State Bar Association
• 2017 Sayre Happich, Bar Association of San Francisco
• 2016 Dan Wise, New Hampshire Bar Association
  
• 2015 Ann Murphy, Bar Association of San Francisco
  
• 2014 Judson Haverkamp, Minnesota State Bar Association
  
• 2013 Samuel Lipsman, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• 2012 Stephanie Abbott, Clark County Bar Association
• 2011 John Sirman, State Bar of Texas
• 2010 No winner
• 2009 David Simms, D.C. Bar Association
• 2008 Ken Brown, Ohio State Bar Association
• 2006 Toby Brown, Utah State Bar
• 2005 Yvonne McGhee, Fairfax Bar Association (VA)
• 2004 Anne Scarle, Baton Rouge Bar Association (LA)
• 2003 Roger Parris, Bar Association of Erie County (NY)
• 2002 Paul Nickell, Oregon State Bar
• 2001 Arlene Abady, Colorado Bar Association