Pennsylvania Association of Bar Executives
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Minutes of the meeting of February 28, 2003
Hershey, PA

BUSINESS MEETING

President Birdsall called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Art welcomed the PABE members and our guest.

ATTENDANCE: Members present were: Al Azen (IOLTA), President, Arthur Birdsall (PBA), David Blaner (Allegheny County), Sandy Brydon-Smith (Erie County), Marianne Canning (Lehigh County), Bruce Fleischer (Centre County), Don Ivol (USI Colburn), Susan Kenny (Monroe County), Barbara Kittrell (Berks County), D. Susan Kost (Schuylkill County), Diane Krivoniak (Westmoreland County), Patricia Martin (Bucks County), Roger Meilton (PBI), Claudia Meyer (Northampton), Donald Morgan (Dauphin County), Secretary, Becky Morgenthal (Cumberland County), JoEllen Pastore (Lawrence County, Vice President Nancy Paul (Montgomery County), Elizabeth Price (Delaware County), Kathy Sabol (Washington County), Carolyn Seibert-Drager (Franklin County), Kenneth Shear (Philadelphia), Barry M. Simpson, PBA, Daniel Stark (Chester County) and Suellen Verlihay (Beaver County)

PRESENTATION BY CITIZENS BANK
Christopher Ritchie and Christopher Nardo made a brief presentation about Citizens Bank interest in teaming up with the State Bar Association as well as the Local Bar Associations in Pennsylvania. They handed out an information packet concerning their Affinity Program.

President Art reminded everyone to call Nemacolin on Monday to make reservations for the PABE retreat on May 11-13. Use code PA0503, phone 724-329-8555, Ext. 6052. We briefly discussed programs and noted that we received two sponsorships, USI Colburn and Citizens Bank.

MINUTES: The minutes of the November 21, 2002 meeting held in Harrisburg were approved as corrected by Liz Price; Pat Martin second the motion; vote: all in favor.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Diane Krivoniak, Treasurer reported that our current balance is $2,936.63 after paying $2,000 towards our Nemacolin retreat. After some discussion about doubling our dues to help pay for speakers, Nancy Paul moved to increase our dues to $125; Liz Price second the motion; vote: all in favor.

NEW BUSINESS
Pennsylvania Bar Institute Board of Directors Meeting, February 13, 2003
Liz Price, PABE representative on this board, reported that she enjoyed the meeting. They discussed ways the local bar associations can help PBI. Alleghany & Philadelphia are marketing online CLE electronically to their members.
Pat Martin reported that they have installed a satellite dish and had their first satellite presentation; it was a great success.

Roger Meilton, PBI, Executive Director reported that 200 people have used the trial online CLE in the first couple months of its implementation. The PBI is marketing its online CLE program by:

sending ads to over 9000 email addresses
sending program flyers
electronic notices to members of Philadelphia & Alleghany Bar Associations
Roger mentioned that classes on how to use online education is not CLE accredited.

Ken Shear thanked the PBI for taking advantage of the newest technology changes and noted that an online CLE demonstration will be presented today. He noted that all future announcements coming out of the Philadelphia Bar Association will be maid online and not by flyers.

Many Bar Executives reported emailing agendas and minutes to their board members.

It was also noted that the program “Bridge the Gap” will be delayed until May.

PABE Open Discussion
Pat Martin asked how many keep their buildings open 24-7? Diane Krevoniak said the Westmoreland County Bar Association allows its members to sign out a key and it must be returned the next day. She also noted that those who sign contracts to hold depositions will be charged extra if they stay over the time noted in the contract.

Francis X. O’Conner, President of the Conference of County Bar Leaders visited with us and thanked all the Bar Executives for supporting the attorneys in their counties and supporting the CCBL.

PBA Report
President Art reported the bylaw change request coming to increase the size of the PBA Board of Governors. The increase is to place a Unit County Representative on the Board. The rotation for the governor position is as follows:

A class = 1500 plus members taking turns between Dauphin and Montgomery Counties
B class = less than 1500 members, which includes all other unit counties, rotating on a 3 year term

OLD BUSINESS

USI COLBURN
Don Ivol reported on the following plans:

Health Insurance sponsored plan rolled over to Highmark, Blue Shield. The change over is slower in Western PA.

Professional Liability Insurance is maintaining retention but prices are still on the high side. Westport is filing for a 35% increase in the Philadelphia area

Disability Program underwritten by Baltimore Life has been down graded to B+; we are looking for an A rated provider. American General has an A+ rating and is the largest writer in the country. The only change will be a new policy; rates will remain the same.

PBA President, Timothy Carson stopped by to thank the Bar Executives for all their support. Tim noted that the support of the E.D.’s is vital because they stay around for many years while Bar President’s come and go. He also noted that relations with the following groups has increased:

Legislators

Governors

Judiciary – PBA’s relationship with Justice Cappy

State Conference of Trial Judges

In the near future we will be seeing a change in the structure of the PBA Foundation. They are studying how other States in the country are structured. The fund drive for the Foundation will be taken to the House of Delegates members for donations before going to the entire PBA membership.

PBA President-elect, Thomas Golden came to visit and asked the Bar Executives to attend future mid-year meetings. He plans to do programming for us that has not been provided at prior mid-year meetings. The meeting will take place at the Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach. There will be appellate Judges, legislators and 5 to 6 Supreme Court Justices in attendance. These are people govern what you and your members do for a living. He made a special note that the PBA no longer comps the Judges; but we do the legislators. The mid-year meeting will be held January 21 thru 24, 2004. Barry Simpson, PBA Executive Director will work with the PABE at the April meeting in Philadelphia.

Tom asked that each association create an active legislative component to assist the PBA when law related issues are being considered; for instance the re-introduction of charging sales tax on lawyer fees. Bring in your State representatives once a year and develop relations with hem. Also, identify lawyers who already have close relationships with the legislators.

Al Azen from IOLTA, thanked the local E.D.’s for their grass roots efforts to get the Access to Justice Act passed. This act increases filing fees in the Recorder of Deeds office by $10. Recognition awards were presented by the Pennsylvania Legal Services office. There has been one wrinkle. In the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, the Recorder of Deeds office thinks it should interpret this statue on its own and not by the Supreme Court. The current plan shares 38 million; 10% to the IOLTA Board for legal aid; 2.5 million to Legal Service’s programs; 90% to the Supreme Court to implement new electronic systems. As of this date, actual revenues are lower than the projections.

The next PABE meeting will be held on April 24th in Philadelphia. Ken Shear will host the meeting at the Philadelphia Bar Association office.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted

by________________________________
Becky H. Morgenthal