Pennsylvania Association of Bar Executives
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Minutes of the meeting of May 13, 2003
Hershey, PA

BUSINESS MEETING

President Birdsall called the meeting to order at 8:50 A.M. Art welcomed the PABE members to the retreat and reminded us that PABE has been in existence the past 20 years. Congratulations to PABE! Art thanked Chris from Citizens Bank and Dan & Shelly from Colburn for sponsoring this event and their friendship.

ATTENDANCE: Members present were: Al Azen (IOLTA), Jean Bednarski (York County), President, Arthur Birdsall (PBA), Sandy Brydon-Smith (Erie County), Marianne Canning (Lehigh County), Don Ivol (USI Colburn), D. Susan Kost (Schuylkill County), Diane Krivoniak (Westmoreland County), Shelly Lawson (USI Colburn), Patricia Martin (Bucks County), Richard McCoy (PBI), Claudia Meyer (Northampton), Donald Morgan (Dauphin County), Secretary, Becky Morgenthal (Cumberland County), Francis O’Rourke (PAB), JoEllen Pastore (Lawrence County), Vice President Nancy Paul (Montgomery County), Elizabeth Price (Delaware County), Kathy Sabol (Washington County), Carolyn Seibert-Drager (Franklin County), Barry M. Simpson, PBA, Evelyn Sullivan (Lancaster)

Presentation by Dan Ivol
Westport, provider of the USI Colburn liability insurance increased rates 35% in the Philadelphia area and 15 % in the rest of the State. Colburn did a market review to insure Westport rates were competitive and out of the 13 insurance companies asked to bid, only 2 companies gave proposals:
Professionals Direct – could not meet Colburn needs
CAN – matched policy form but rates were higher than Westport
Therefore, Westport was retained.
Disability & Life insurance policies are now being written by AIG because Colburn left Baltimore Life due to their drop in ratings.

Announcement from Barry Simpson
Citizens Bank has been named the official bank of the PBA. There will be a mailing announcing the “Attorney First” program which is not just for the attorneys but for PABE members and their staff. The mailing will be sent out in June.

MINUTES: No minutes were discussed

TREASURER’S REPORT: No report was given

NEW BUSINESS

Review of the Bylaws
The thought of changing the bylaws to include others such as the Trial Lawyers Association and the District Attorneys Association executive directors and secretaries took place. The summary of the discussion notes that personal contact is the way to keep membership retention.

Review of Publications and Communications

Review the PABE web site

Review Survival Guide and make suggestions for change: Liz Price volunteered to make a new survival guide

County Line Newsletter: don’t just send your newsletter – send specific articles

Master Calendar – send to Art Birdsall

Review of Meetings

Keep meetings in conjunction with PBA events

Mid Year Meeting: Barry Simpson report: Palm Beach – Breakers Jan 26 – 30, 2004; there is a gap of one week between the PBA Mid Year meeting the NABE’s annual meeting; Judges and legislative representatives are there and approachable to all; please budget money for the Bar Executive and their president to attend; prepare a program for the Bar Executives; Unified Court System is coming to PA; Appellate Court and law makers are paid for by the PBA but Supreme Court pays their own expenses.

Keep the 4 meetings a year: CCBL (March 4-5-6, 2004), PBA Annual (May 12-13-14, 2004 Hershey) Sections Day and the Retreat(dates in April 2004 were discussed)

Future of PABE

Outreach to the community was discussed. Each Bar Executive works in their county and it would be difficult doing something as a group thorough out the State.

Offer a scholarship to our PABE members to attend retreat or CCBL

Guidelines for vendor endorsements should be established

Roundtable Discussion
Foundations: Art will ask Marie Queen to organize a presentation for our next PABE meeting

House Bill 1229: what is behind this legislation? Diane from Westmoreland will talk to Tangretti about the “list of delinquent tax payers”

IOLTA Report – Al Azen

The law suit with Chester County is still on

Low interest rates are having a real impact on IOLTA funds

Trying to develop a Sweep Product

Citizens Bank is giving better IOLTA rates than most other banks.

PBI – Richard McCoy

Susan Swope is the leader of the 3 credits on line program. 99% are recommending this program

We the People
This group is writing living trusts. The PBA UPL committee is looking into this group. The Patriot News reported the Attorney General said there is UPL going on here.

The next PABE meeting will be held on November 20 in Harrisburg.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:48 A.M.
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Respectfully Submitted

by________________________________
Becky H. Morgenthal