Pennsylvania Association of Bar Executives
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Minutes of the meeting of May 2, 2002
Hershey, PA

BUSINESS MEETING

President Birdsall called the meeting to order at 2:05 P.M. Art welcomed the PABE members and our guests.

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), Barry M. Simpson, PBA, Sandra Brydon Smith (Erie County), Daniel Stark (Chester County), and Evelyn Sullivan (Lancaster County); guest(s) Doug Kreitzbert (Colburn), Kara Beem, PA. Newspaper Association, Brian Gottleib, MyPublicnotices.com, Hank Grezlak, American lawyer Media, David Trevaskis, PBA, Richard McCoy, Julie Sipe & Roger Meitlon, PBI.
The president asked those present to introduce themselves.

MINUTES: The minutes of the May 2, 2002 meeting held at the CCBL convention in State College were presented. Pat Martin moved to accept the minutes as presented; Liz Price second the motion; vote: all in favor.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Diane Krivoniak, Treasurer reported that 30 out of the 34 PABE members have paid their dues. Pat Martin moved to accept the treasurer’s report as presented; Liz Price second the motion; vote: all in favor.

PENNSYLVANIA BAR ASSOCIATION REPORTS

David Trevaskis, PBA Pro Bono Coordinator reported that after 7 months on the job, he is making pro bono more visible through out the State. David has is first conference yesterday and 42 people attended. The most important aspect of his position is the recruitment efforts of counties that do not have a Legal Services or their own county program in place.

Barry Simpson, PBA Executive Director, reported the following:
PBA is doing well with the number of lawyers attending and the activities of the committees. The new InCite program is helping to retain members. As of one week ago, 150,000 searches have been tracked.

Rule 1023 passed and Bill 406 was defeated thanks to the help of many Bar Associations and the PBA legislative efforts.

Continue to negotiate with Gateway to provide a hardware discount of 5% and approaching other brokerage houses for other discounted services

Bench – Bar and Bar to Bar Association relationships are increasing every day

PBA changed its fiscal year a couple of years ago but the dues billing is continuing on a calendar year. Barry asked how it is affecting a unit county. No one reported any major problems.

HR 110 COMMITTEE REPORT – LEGAL ADVERTISING:
Carol Beem from PA Newspaper Association developed a list serve between them and some of the Bar Associations. House Bill 2330 amends newspaper advertising and it will compete with us for advertising. Rep. Heimer has concerns with the bill and it is not a priority in his office. They also met with Mike Schwoyer who works for Rep. Gannon who is sponsoring the HR110 and there will be a hearing in the near future in Pittsburgh and Delaware County.

REPORT ON PENNSYLVANIA BAR INSTITUTE VIDEO REPLAYS and
PABE REPRESENTATION ON PBI BOARD:
Roger Meilton would like more background information from PABE as to why PABE feels the need to have a representative on the PBI Board. He would like to have a meeting with PABE representatives to discuss this further with the PBI board members. Pat Martin, Claudia Meyer, Dan Stark, Barb Kittrell and Susan Kenny all volunteered to be PABE representatives.

Video replay information was presented by Julie Sipe and Dick McCoy:
47 out of 50 counties has a Bar Association
24 out of 47 the PBI has an informal relationship
23 counties have a formal relationship with PBI
There have been cut backs in programs to save money and to correct any on going programs
Satellite programming to other Bar Associations and assist in bring this technology to them
The following PABE volunteers will work with Dick to review proposal changes to the video program and future satellite programs: Pat Martin, Dan Start, Liz Price, Claudia Meyer and Barb Kittrell

REPORT ON ENDORSED INSURANCE PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY USI COLBURN INSURANCE SERVICES
Doug Kreitzberg reported that medical insurance rates will increase and expect to pay more out of pocket expenses in the future. Until 12/31/02, Blue Cross and Blue Shield are still jointly run. The hospitals in Central PA are the Blue Cross and the doctors are Pennsylvania Blue Shield.

Colburn is now working with other health care providers to get quotes for next year. Some of the providers are Health America, Blue Cross, Pennsylvania Blue Shield, Pennsylvania Insurance Trust.

Westport is still the industry leader for liability insurance. Everyone can expect and increase next year.

MYPUBLICNOTICE.COM – Brian Gottlieb
See your handouts.

LAWYERS CONCERNED FOR LAWYERS (LCL):
Ramon Roman, Deputy Executive Director is new with LCL. He has 28 years in the healthcare business and he is experienced in helping impaired attorneys, judges, district justices and law students. There are over 100 volunteers that help those in trouble. Educating attorneys as to these problems is now part of the malpractice avoidance seminars and 6000 attorneys attended.

Recently the LCL added gambling, depression and mental health problems to their list of services. The LCL will pay for the first visit and help with interventions when needed. It was suggested that the LCL present a mock intervention at next year’s CCBL.

OLD BUSINESS

Ken Shear mentioned that David Blanner’s sister died last week. The cards send to him from the PABE members when his father died meant a lot to him and maybe each one of us could send David a personal note.

Diane Krivoniak said that another bar association was giving credit to their Mock Trial
Participants and wondered if anyone was doing that. Everyone said no.

Susan Kenny thanked everyone for responding so quickly to her problem sent out through the PABE list serve.
Dan Stark asked if the PABE task force on HR110 is hurting the PBA legislative efforts. The current PABE task force does not want to be noticed at this time and PBA is taking the lead. As for PBA and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association the PBA will cooperate with them but will not team up with them.

PBA’s Public Policy Awareness campaign will be done in October and the subject is Consumer Credit Rights and Responsibilities.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted

by________________________________
Becky H. Morgenthal