Pennsylvania Association of Bar Executives
Minutes of the Meeting of February, 25, 2010, Lancaster, PA

The February 25, 2010 meeting of the Pennsylvania Association of Bar Executives held in Lancaster, PA, was called to order at 4pm by PABE President David Blaner with 30 members present: Debra Arner, Mercer (by phone); Al Azen, IOLTA; David Blaner, Allegheny; Sandy Brydon Smith, Eric (phone); Joe Burke, Luzerne, Jennifer Ellis, PBI; Jessica Engel, Lycoming; Wendy Hoffman, Chester (phone); Janis Hackett, Butler; Susan Kenny, Monroe; Susan Kost, Schuykill; Elizabeth Kramer, PBA; Diane Krivoniak, Westmoreland; Mary Beth Leeson, Northampton; Deanna Mindler, Bucks; Nevin Mindlin, PBA; Don Morgan, Dauphin; Becky Morgenthal, Cumberland; Fran O’Rourke, PBA; Nancy Paul, Montgomery; Kathy Sabol, Washington; Carolyn Seibert-Drager, Franklin; Michelle Shuker, PBA; Barry Simpson, PBA; Don Smith, Berks; Ev Sullivan, Lancaster; Cindy Van Laeys, York; Suellen Verlihay, Beaver; Dena Woelfling, Lebanon, and Lucy Wolf, Blair. CCBL President Sam Cooper welcomed the group to Lancaster and the Conference of County Bar Leaders.

Secretary’s Report. The Minutes of the December 3, 2010 PABE meeting were approved as distributed. The Minutes of the January 15, 2010 PABE Executive Committee meeting were approved as distributed.

Treasurer’s Report. Treasurer Wendy Hoffman reviewed the Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet statements. She advised members that dues invoices will be sent electronically. She did not recommend an increase to the PABE dues, which are currently $125.

Report on the Actions of the PABE Executive Committee.

Upcoming PABE meetings will be as follows: Thursday, May 13, 2010, Hershey Ledge, 2:30pm; Friday, August 20, 2010, Gettysburg (if needed), in conjunction with the PABE Retreat (August 20-21); Thursday, November 18, 2010, Holiday Inn East, Harrisburg, 2:30pm. The possibility of a meeting in May 2010 of the Conference of County Legal Journal Officers was discussed.

The only standing committee in the PABE Bylaws is the Nominating Committee. After discussion and distribution of committee descriptions, the following ad hoc committees, and respective chairpersons for two-year terms, were established:  Annual Retreat Committee, Becky Morgenthal and Liz Price, Co-Chairs; Communications, Carolyn Seibert-Drager; Legal Journals, Sandy Brydon-Smith; Membership, treasurer/Wendy Hoffman; Programs & Education, Kathy Sabol; Scholarships, immediate past-President/Diane Krivoniak. PABE members are encouraged to volunteer for committees by contacting the appropriate chairperson. Note that legislative issues should be referred to PABE officers to expedite any required action.

David Blaner and the other PABE officers are developing a PABE Policy Manual to assist future officers and members. If anyone has any information to make this manual more effective, please share.

Annual Retreat Committee report. Becky Morgenthal advised the group that rooms have been booked at the historic Gettysburg Hotel for  August 20-21, 2010 for the PABE retreat. Rates are $129/night ($149 for suites); rates are good through August 22. Families are welcome. Ideas for fun activities and potential sponsors should be referred to committee chairs Becky Morgenthal and Liz Price. Ideas for educational portion of the retreat should be referred to Education & Program Committee chair Kathy Sabol.

Legislation Update. Nevin Mindlin highlighted issues, including the recurring sales tax on professional services and court funding. The Day on the Hill will be held May 3.

PA CLE Board Update. Dan Levering, unable to attend, submitted a written report. Of note: the revised version of Bridge the Gap is now available; 99% of accredited profiders are filing their CLE reports electronically, but only half of accredited providers engage in electronic fund transfers; and providers were reminder to submit attendance reports within 30 days. The next CLE provider conference will be held Friday, May 21 at the Harrisburg Hilton.

PBI Update. Jennifer Ellis provided a report on behalf of Dick McCoy. Of note: revenues have not been increasing, but $400,000 in cost-saving measures have been implemented; weakness in revenue can be attributed to increased usage of various discounts including scholarships, public interest lawyers reduced fees, etc.; PBI is experimenting with Facebook, including posts of articles about current developments in the law and videos about practice management topics (local Bars were encouraged to become a fan to receive notices of posts); and a series of seminars designed to help lawyers facing recession issues will launch in June with in-person programs in Philadelphia simulcast to PBI’s other conference centers. PBI helped develop a new InCite reference card. To date, there are 12,000 users and 90,000 searches a month. InCite’s content and functionality have recently been expanded and improved.

IOLTA report. Al Azen reported that notice of IOLTA grant applications will be made in June after approval by the IOLTA Board and the Supreme Court.

PBA Update. Barry Simpson thanked local bars for supporting the National Mock Trial fundraising efforts. A PBA dues increase is “probable.” PBA will once again be hosting a dinner for all PA attendees at the ABA’s Bar Leadership Institute in Chicago. The PBA has been “slowing exploring” how to overcome legal impediments to publishing county bar legal journals in the 20 counties which do not currently do so, as well as a possible “consortium” model to cover legal notice publishing across the state. Kathy Sabol noted that this topic was discussed at length at the PBA Mid-Year Meeting and January 2010 Board of Governors Meeting. Several PABE members commented that the PBA needs to fully consider the consequences of the loss of legal journal revenue to county Bars before proceeding. Barry Simpson noted that PBA President Cliff Haines is in the process of appointing a committee to consider the issues.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Sabol, PABE Secretary