Lawyers Against Waste Committee Gets to the Root of the Matter at the Seventh Annual Trash Bash

By Karen A. Conticello

While some legal work may result in pockets lined with greenbacks, the hard work of dozens of Houston attorneys recently yielded a different result – lines of beautiful greenery framing a Houston park. Braving unseasonably high winds and cold weather, 85 Houston Bar Association members and their families spent April 30, 2005, planting 300 redbud trees at MacGregor Park as part of the HBA’s Seventh Annual Trash Bash.
“I was really happy with the turnout,” said Leah Mitchell, co-chair, along with Michael S. McCoy, of the HBA’s Lawyers Against Waste Committee. “It was exactly what we needed.”
While serving as the HBA president, Gib Walton organized the Trash Bash in 1999 as an effort to do something to benefit the community. HBA members initially cleaned up areas of Mid-Town before later moving to Mason Park. More recently, the committee has focused its efforts on MacGregor Park. The HBA officially adopted the park this year.
The volunteers have always been energetic and enthusiastic about the project, and many bring their families to help with the cleanup. In past years, HBA members and their families have cleaned grounds, power-washed buildings, and planted flowers. Breakfast and lunch are usually served, and various merchants donate door prizes for the volunteers.
Mother Nature put up a slight challenge this year in the form of unusually strong wind and low temperatures during the Trash Bash. The volunteers, however, were still able to handle the task.
The City of Houston obtained a grant that funded the purchase of the trees. City workers tilled the ground, so most of the volunteers had little trouble planting the trees in the soft, loose dirt.
“There was one small portion that was hard as a rock,” Mitchell said. “The volunteers working in that area got the short end of the stick.” Fortunately, they maintained their good spirits, and before long the trees were planted firmly in the ground.
“It looked great,” Mitchell said. “Next year at this time, hopefully all of the trees will be in full bloom.”
Waste Management, Inc., Brown and Caldwell, and RLS sponsored the event.

Karen Conticello is an associate at Bracewell & Giuliani LLP and an associate editor for The Houston Lawyer.

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