Pennsylvania Association of Bar Executives
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Minutes of the meeting of March 1, 2002
State College, PA

BUSINESS MEETING

President Birdsall called the meeting to order at 9:05 A.M. Art thanked the PABE members for honoring him to be its President. Art introduced the new executive board for the next two years as follows:
Nancy Paul, Vice President Becky Morgenthal, Secretary
Diane Krivoniak, Treasurer
Art thanked Marianne Canning for her time and commitment as PABE’s President for the past two years.

ATTENDANCE: Members present were: Alfred Azen (IOLTA Board), Jean Bednarski (York), President, Arthur Birdsall (PBA), David Blaner (Allegheny County), Marianne Canning (Lehigh County), Charles Hagins (Cambria County) Susan Kenny (Monroe County), Barbara Kittrell (Berks County), D. Susan Kost (Schuylkill County), Treasurer, Diane Krivoniak (Westmoreland County), Patricia Martin (Bucks County), Claudia Meyer (Northampton County), Donald Morgan (Dauphin County), Secretary, Becky Morgenthal (Cumberland County), Francis O’Rourke (PBA), Vice President Nancy Paul (Montgomery County), Elizabeth Price (Delaware County), Carolyn Seibert-Drager (Franklin County), Kenneth Shear (Philadelphia County), Sandra Brydon Smith (Erie County), Daniel Stark (Chester County), and Evelyn Sullivan (Lancaster County); guest(s) Don Ivol (Colburn).
The president asked those present to introduce themselves.

MINUTES: The minutes of the November 29, 2001 meeting held at the Dauphin County Bar Association were presented. Nancy Paul moved to accept the minutes as presented; Barb Kittrell second the motion; vote: all in favor.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Becky Morgenthal presented the treasurer’s report. Liz Price moved to accept the treasurer’s report as presented; Barb Kittrell second the motion; vote: all in favor.

Bill Scott, President of the CCBL came into the meeting to thank the PABE members for their time and effort in helping to make the CCBL conference a success.

HR 110 COMMITTEE REPORT – LEGAL ADVERTISING: Pat Martin thanked the task force for all their work. The goal was to prepare a packet of information to give to all county bar associations that would guide us to move quickly to contact legislators if the need arises. The advertising changes being looked out are not impacting on the legal journals at this time. David Blaner reported that a drastic change in public notice ads is happening throughout the country.

APPOINTMENT TO CCBL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Art appointed Liz Price and Barbara Kittrell to serve on this committee because they are the only two past presidents’ who have not served on the committee. Liz will be on the committee for 2002-03 and Barbara will serve 2003-04.

FUTURE MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS: Some of the meeting dates suggested are as follows: May 2nd – PBA Annual meeting
May 31-June 1 Retreat?
September, the first weekend after Labor Day (Sept 6-8)
November 21 – Harrisburg before PBA House of Delegates
The question of PABE meeting at the same time and place as the Board of Governors and YLD was suggested. Pat Martin moved that PABE have its own retreat by our selves and decline the invitation to join the Governors and the YLD; David Blaner second the motion; vote: all in favor.
After some discussion, the first weekend in September, after Labor Day will be the retreat. Nancy Paul & Liz Price will select the location. Two places mentioned were Annapolis, MD or Skytop, PA. The following people volunteered to be in charge of the programming: Ken Shear Diane Krivoniak Dan Stark

PABE WEB SITE: Pat Martin wants to be involved in developing its content.

PABE SURVIVAL GUIDE & RESOURCE GUIDE: This information should be placed on the Web Site, the PBA Web site and/or Conference of County Bar Leaders site. The role of the President and the Bar Executive should be on all the sites.

MyPublicNotices.com – Brian Gottlieb, PA Newspaper Association (Special order of business at 10:30 a.m.) Never Showed

PBA ACTIVITY:

Fran O’Rourke reported that the new InCite program is just short of 4,000 subscribers; 1100 members have been there at least once; the rest have used 36,000 searches. The PBA will do a program to instruct members in your county how to use the Incite program and they are trying to match young attorneys with the older ones who are not as familiar with online research.

The PBA is looking for more new benefits, such as office products, membership development (Gateway was the only computer supplies willing to offer a 5% discount)

Tort reform and other legislative info will likely be added to the email list including House of Delegates and Bar Executives.

Board of Governor’s Report from Art:

Reviewed InCite status: 3860 people about 36,000 searches
Senate Bills: 869 PBA will approve
1000 Crime on terrorism – PBA will approve

PBI- CLE reports that attorneys are taking shorter courses and not wanting to stay through the 6 to 8 hour courses. Books are now being sold online.

PBA-PA Medical Society committee created by Marvin Lieber has now been tabled.

YLD Mock Trial finals are March 22-23 in the Senate chambers in Harrisburg. They need jurors.

Family Law committee raised their dues from $35 to $50 per year.

WESTPORT: Don Ivol of Colburn reports that malpractice provider Westport wants to recoup the losses of the past 3 to 4 years plus Sept. 11th therefore everyone will see increases in their rates for next year. In Philadelphia alone there is a 40% increase in their coverage; the average increase should be about 5%. Caution members about other insurance carriers because there are not many left in this market.

PBA PRESIDENT-ELECT TIMOTHY J. CARSON: Art introduced Tim Carson. Tim’s plans are to help market the InCite program; stay on top of technology issues; increase pro bono programs for individuals; move some programs, such as I signed the Constitution to the Bar Foundation; increase legislative efforts.

NEW BUSINESS:
PBI has made a new proposal for charging but no one seems to know what it is.

Pat Martin moved to have our President ask the PBI Board to allow a PABE representative to sit on their Board and send the letter to the PBI Executive Director; Susan Kenny second the motion; vote: all in favor.

Kit Connor has been nominated to the 3rd Circuit Federal Bench

Al Azen from IOLTA reported that the recommendations for distribution of funds that normally go out in March would not be released until May. There is $100,000 available and they have received $140,000 in requests. The Supreme Court is considering raising fees on Civil cases to raise more funds.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted

by________________________________
Becky H. Morgenthal

President	Vice President	Secretary	Treasurer
Arthur J. Birdsall	Nancy R. Paul	Becky Morgenthal	Diane Krivoniak
Penna. Bar Assoc.	Montgomery Bar Assoc.	Cumberland Co. Bar Assoc.	Westmoreland Bar Assoc.
100 South St.	100 W. Airy St.	2 Liberty Ave.	129 N. Penna. Ave.
P.O. Box 186	P.O. Box 268	Carlisle, PA 17013	Greensburg, PA 15601
Harrisburg, PA.17108	Norristown, PA 19404	Tel. 717-249-3166	Tel. 724-834-6855
Tel. 800-932-0311, x. 2218	Tel. 610-279-9660, x. 202	FAX 717-249-2663	FAX 724-834-6855
FAX 717-238-7182	FAX 610-279-4321