Rep. Wally Straughn, D-Dist. 15, has received a certificate from the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services for his efforts on veterans issues during his campaign and the 2003 legislative session. Mr. Straughn pushed to get the POW/MIA flag installed in the Capitol, introduced legislation on registering for the draft and worked on veterans bills that created a Navajo Code Talkers monument and the Southern Arizona Veterans’ Cemetery Trust Fund. “Wally showed a commitment to veterans issues in his campaign and in his first year in the Legislature, “ said Veterans Services Director Patrick Chorpenning in a press release. “He was phenomenal help to us and the veterans community. Legislators like Wally are invaluable to the department and this is our way of saying thank you.”

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Neighborhood Activists Inter-Linked Empowerment Movement, a community group, has recognized Rep. Clancy Jayne, R-Dist. 6, for efforts to protect Phoenix neighborhoods from crime and violence. Mr. Jayne was honored for his support of H2208, which increases the criminal penalty for threatening or intimidating the victim of a crime or an activist who reports a crime. The bill was signed by Governor Napolitano on May 16. He also was recognized for supporting H2482, which adds writing graffiti and firing firearms at occupied structures to promote gang activity to lists for which registered neighborhood associations may receive victims’ rights notices or may invoke other victims’ rights. The governor signed the bill May 12. “Good government starts in our neighborhoods,” Mr. Jayne said.

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Daniel Ortega of Phoenix was recently named to the 32-member board of directors for National Council of La Raza. Mr. Ortega is a partner with the Phoenix law firm of Roush, McCracken, Guerrero and Miller and serves as chair of the Ed Pastor for Congress committee. Mr. Ortega also is a member of the State Bar of Arizona, American Trial Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, Maricopa Bar Association and Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association.

The National Council of La Raza, based in Washington, D.C., describes itself as a “private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization established in 1968 to reduce poverty and discrimination, and improve life opportunities for Hispanic Americans

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The University of Iowa Alumni Association has named Snell & Wilmer Chairman John Bouma as a 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. The award was presented at the university’s All-Alumni lunch earlier this summer in Iowa City, Iowa. Mr. Bouma earned the award for his on-going presence on The Best Lawyers in America list, along with his dedication to providing pro bono legal services. Mr. Bouma and his brother created the University of Iowa’s first endowed faculty fellowship by donating $250,000 to the university’s College of Law. He also has served as the vice president of the University of Iowa Law School Foundation Board of Trustees since 1996. Snell & Wilmer is a law firm founded in 1938 with more than 350 attorneys with offices in Phoenix and Tucson and several other Western states.

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Arizona Community Foundation’s Giving Counsel newsletter, a publication for professional advisers in the charitable giving community, has changed from its paper format to an online newsletter. The Giving Counsel is distributed six times a year and covers charitable giving. The new format enables readers to forward articles to clients or colleagues. Information: send an e-mail address to panews@azfoundation.org or contact Kimberly Kur at kkur@azfoundation.org. Arizona Community Foundation is a statewide nonprofit organization established in 1978, which focuses on youth and families, education, community development, arts and culture and the environment.—