Donald F. Smith Jr. of Reading, executive director of the Berks County Bar Association (Berks CBA), received the 17th annual Arthur J. Birdsall Award. PBA Zone 2 Governor and past Berks CBA President Terry D. Weiler presented the award to Smith. The award is given to a county bar executive who demonstrates professional excellence, who is committed to the success of his or her bar association and who significantly enhances the stature of his or her bar association.

Smith has served as Berks CBA executive director since 2009. Formerly in private law practice for more than 30 years, he was the Berks CBA president in 2000 and president of the Berks County Bar Foundation from 2001 until 2003.

“Don brings his rich background of 30 successful years as a trial lawyer to his job as Berks CBA executive director,” said Weiler. “He is encouraging to our younger members and has created programs to help them build practices and bridge the gap between the younger and older generations.”

Smith also rejuvenated the Berks CBA pro bono programs by expanding them to cover bankruptcy, immigration assistance, legal services at a local women’s shelter and foreclosure conciliation. He developed a “Modest Means” program to help individuals who do not qualify financially for pro-bono assistance. He also developed a lecture series on legal topics for the public in conjunction with Alvernia University in Reading.