Minutes of the Meeting of June 5, 2008
Hershey, Pennsylvania
President: Diane Krivoniak (Westmoreland)
Vice President: Susan Kenny (Monroe)
Secretary: David Blaner (Allegheny)
Treasurer: Ken Shear (Philadelphia)
Members:
Carolyn Seibert-Drager (Franklin)
Jessica Engel (Lycoming)
Bruce D. Fleischer (Centre)
Wendy Hoffman (Chester)
Mary Beth Leeson (Northampton)
Dan Levering (PA CLE)
Susan Kost (Schuylkill)
Elizabeth Kramer (PBA)
Richard McCoy (PBI)
Don Morgan (Dauphin)
Becky Morgenthal (Cumberland)
Fran O'Rourke (PBA)
Jo Ellen Pastore (Lawrence)
Nancy Paul (Montgomery)
Elizabeth Price (Delaware)
Kathy Sabol (Washington)
Michelle Shuker (PBA)
Barry Simpson (PBA)
Don Smith (Berks)
Evelyn E. Sullivan (Lancaster)
Cindy Van Laeys (York)
Dena Woelfing (Lebannon)
Lucy Wolf (Blair)
Guests: Dale McClain (PBA President-Elect)
President Krivoniak called the meeting to order at 3:00 pm.
WELCOME
President Krivoniak welcomed Don Smith the new Executive Director of the Berks County Bar Association and PBA President Dale McClain.
REVIEW OF THE FEBRUARY 2008 MINUTES
President Krivoniak reviewed the minutes as a reminder of the actions that the Board took at the last meeting.
Mr. Shear expressed his concern that the action of the group to authorize a survey of legal journal ad rates could violate federal anti-trust laws. He asked if the survey was undertaken.
Mr. Blaner reported that this issue was discussed and a motion was approved to conduct a survey but the survey was never conducted.
Mr. Shear urged the group to rescind the February 28, 2008 motion authorizing the survey of the legal journal ad prices.
After discussion and consideration by the Board, the motion by Mr. Shear to rescind the PABE Boards February 28, 2008 motion to conduct a survey of PABE member’s legal journal ad prices was duly seconded and approved.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 2008
The minutes were approved with corrections made to Ms. Sala’s name and as well corrections for typing errors.
TREASURER’s REPORT/Minutes
Mr. Shear submitted the Treasurer’s Report: As of May 31, 2008 the balance in PABE account is $9,352.05; CD investments total $10,184.05; balance of all assets as of may 31, 2008 is $19,286.10.
The two CD’s were invested at a rate of 4.17 percent and mature on November 24, 2008.
PBA PRESIDENTS REPORT
PBA President Dale McClain gave remarks to the members of PABE
During his year as PBA President he would like to address the following issues.
He would like to see more local bar involvement with the PBA. There needs to be more information sharing between the organizations
The PBA Leadership Committee is trying to identify possible future leaders. Members of PABE should contact me with the names of potential future leaders that are interested in being involved.
We will be using technology to encourage members to participate in PBA meetings. Due to increased cost of gasoline, members will be able to video conference into meetings.
Leadership Meetings will be held in Pittsburgh in an effort to reduce travel time and costs for our members from Western Pa.
The 2008 House Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 20th rather than on Friday, November 21st. It is hoped that this change will reduce the number of members that leave the House Meeting early.
The PBA Annual Meeting will be held on June 4, 2009 in Pittsburgh.
The location of the 2009 PBA Mid Year Meeting is Frenchman Reef in St. Thomas. This meeting is scheduled for late January 2009.
REPORTS
PA CLE BOARD
Mr. Levering gave the following report.
The Bridge the Gap Program needs to be updated. This is a DVD base program that is required for all new attorneys. The PA CLE Board is asking for feedback from Bar Associations on what show be included in this program.Operational Communications: Course Evaluations for CLE. The PA CLE Board would like input on the survey/evolutions that are used by CLE providers.
First Compliance Group CLE reports need to be submitted to the CLE Board by Monday, June 9th.
PBI UPDATE
Mr. McCoy gave the following report.
The PBI is beginning to offer Group Casting of CLE Programs to local Bar Associations. In the past these programs were sent to local colleges and public televisions. The PBI would like to work with local bars to receive these programs.
The PBI has signed a lease for a conference center in Pittsburgh; the space is being renovated and should be open on July 25, 2008.
The PBI is sponsoring the Law Practice Management Institute in Gettysburg on August 14th and 15th this year. There will be four tracks of programs each day. The focus is for Sole and Small Firm Practitioners.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The PBA Legislative report was distributed to the PABE Members.
Mr. Simpson reported that the PBA Day on the Hill was a success.
It was suggested that in the future the PBA schedule this event for another day due to the travel of the various legislators.
PBA UPDATE
Mr. Simpson reported that the PBA has had a good year. The Public Educations Campaign for the Retention Election was a success.
Mr. Simpson reported that the PA Insurance Trust has increased the pool of money for grants to local Bar Associations and he encouraged all local bars to submit grants. At this point, technology grants are evaluated more favorably by the Trust.
Mr. Simpson reported the PBA may need a modest dues increase in 2008/09 due to increased costs. No decision has been made at this time.
Barry also mentioned that the Public Relations Campaign will continue in the fall of 2008. They are still waiting for some responses from the local bar association as to their participation.
Mr. Simpson reported that annual budget of the PBA Legislative Department is $400,000 annually. The PBA needs your financial support to maintain this important service.
The PBA Mid-Year Meeting will be held on St. Thomas in 2009. President Krivoniak encouraged PABE Members to attend this meeting.
The PBA Bike Tour was held on May 17th. This was a joint event with the Dauphin and Cumberland County Bar Associations
Finally, the PBA is completing renovations to the PBA Headquarters. Mr. Simpson encouraged PABE Members to stop and visit the Headquaters the next time they are in Harrisburg.
PABE RETREAT
Ms. Leeson reported that the PABE meet will be held in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania during the MusikFest starting August 3, 2008 to Tuesday, August 5, 2008.
There was a show of hands for possible attendees. Thirteen (13) members planned to attend the Retreat. It was suggested that members consider attend the PABE Retreat and then continuing on to New York for the NABE Annual Meeting.
CONFERENCE OF COUNTY LEGAL JOURNALS
Mr. Blaner asked that we place a discussion item on the next PABE meeting agenda about the Conference of County Legal Journals and whether we should continue to have this organization as a free standing organization.
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY LEGAL NOTICES
Ms. Paul reported on the Unclaimed Property Legal Notices are being published this spring in newspapers of general circulation and county legal journals across the Commonwealth. The deadline for publishing the ads is June 30, 2008 so you should be hearing from Mid Atlantic.
NEW BUSINESS
PABE WEB SITE
Ms. Shuker gave a presentation of the new PABE web site and answered question from the members. The address of the site is pabe.info
The retirement dinner for Roger Meilton is schedule for October 28th in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Barb Kittrell is retiring this year. There was a discussion concerning holding a reception for Barb at the November 2008 meeting.
OLD BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT
Being there no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 pm.