Twice president of same bar, 21 years its news editor
By Stephen Anderson
For many who have served a year as a bar association president, attaining the exalted office of past president is like a reprieve from the governor.
Aside from all the glory and a niche in association history, herding a diverse membership can be a worrisome chore. Once is usually enough, although a few have served as presidents of more than one bar.
But imagine serving twice as leader of the same association. It's happened twice for the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, and one of the double-timers was honored June 14 during the organization's annual dinner.
Arlington Heights attorney Nancy S. Scotillo was NWSBA president in 1996-97, attaining the office in the usual manner of moving up through the chairs.
One of her challenges was replacing the executive director, Nancy Hughes, who retired after many years of stewarding the growth of the NWSBA to the largest membership among suburban bar associations.
Scotillo overcame that obstacle by hiring Nairee Hagopian, who served ably for the next decade, and her year as past president was a welcome relief.
But less than two years after she handed over the gavel, Scotillo heeded a call in 1999 to take over as interim leader when a subsequent president stepped down abruptly to devote more effort to his judicial responsibilities.
The turmoil that precipitated this bump in the NWSBA road soon subsided as her calm, professional demeanor prevailed for a few months over what had been contentious proceedings.
When Scotillo was called up to the lectern by retiring president Adra F. Campbell last month, however, it was not just because of the double presidencies.
More amazing than that achievement is Scotillo's devotion to the association as editor of its monthly publication throughout the 21 years since its inaugural issue was distributed in April 1986.
Newsbriefs began during the reign of Edwin H. Shapiro as a modest, four-page, cut-and-paste vehicle for more timely communication with members than the occasional magazine-style Journal.
The June 2007 issue, Scotillo's last, is a 20-page compendium of NWSBA events in modern desktop design that includes color photographs and useful content.
It happened before
The irony of Nancy Scotillo's two stints as Northwest Suburban Bar president is that the only previous time this occurred can be attributed to her husband, Associate Judge John J. Scotillo.
During the annual dinner in September 1988, John Scotillo was installed as the 28th president during a festive event at the Crystal Lake Country Club. It was their 11th wedding anniversary, too.
Also installed that night was Sam L. Amirante, the incoming executive vice president, who was destined to succeed Scotillo the following year.
But a few months into their year of leadership, both Scotillo and Amirante were appointed to the Cook County bench. NWSBA bylaws prohibited judges from holding offices, so both had to resign.
Rather than thrust First Vice President Robert L. Best into the presidency a year and a half ahead of schedule, the organization prevailed on a past president to step up.
So Richard G. Larsen, who headed the association in 1980-81, served out Scotillo's term, and Best moved up a notch toward his installation later in 1989.
http://www.isba.org/association/july07bn/Twice.htm
