Minutes of the Meeting of May 13, 2004
Attendance:
Members present were:
Marianne Canning (Lehigh),
Don Morgan (Dauphin),
Liz Price (Delaware),
Jean Bednarski (York),
Fran O’Rourke (PBA),
Elizabeth Kramer (PBA),
Becky Morgenthal (Cumberland),
Sandy Brydon-Smith Erie,
Nancy Paul (Montgomery),
Susan Kenney (Monroe),
Diane Krivoniak (Westmoreland).
Dan Leverling (CLE)
Katy Buggy (CLE),
Sam Miller (CCBL president),
Claudia Myers (Northampton)
Arthur Birdsall (PBA),
Bruce Fleischer (Centre),
Evelyn Sullivan (Lancaster),
Marsha Ackerman (LCL)
Judge Irving Bloom,
Nevin Mindlin (PBA Legislative Manager)
Susan Kost (Schuylkill),
Barbara Kittrell (Berks),
David Maola (Chester)
Richard McCoy (PBI)
Roger Meilton (PBI)
CCBL
CCBL President Sam Miller invited all bar execs to attend
the 2005 CCBL in
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Treasurer’s report accepted as submitted.
2. Membership approved purchase of an additional Certificate of Deposit.
3. Minutes of April PABE retreat were accepted as submitted.
PBI
Liz Price, PABE liaison to PBI, gave update on PBI.
PBI finances in good shape with PBI board looking at structure of investments.
Philadelphia CLE center renovation is almost completed with open house scheduled for June 23rd. All bar execs are invited to attend.
Bridge the Gap program reviewed. No charge to new attorneys
Dick McCoy updated membership on marketing survey conducted by PBI. A written report is available for review. Some findings include:
2/3 of PBI consumers take over 50% of credits through PBI but most consumers do not take all their CLEs through PBI. Survey indicated desire of respondents to have better speakers.
50% indicated that they have no set image of PBI.
Subject matter relevance was major reason consumers chose PBI.
Those using online CLE will continue to use it as a source for CLE.
CLE
Dan Leverling gave an update on the CLE retreat that was held last week.
Forewarned bar executives that they will see swell in number of attorneys needing CLEs due to need for in-house counsel now needing CLE credits. Estimates are that there may be 5,000 – 10,000 new CLE consumers.
President Paul suggested that an invitation to the PA Board of Law Examiners be extended so that they could give an update on this rule change.
Board of Governors
President Paul reported on the Board of Governors meeting:
Discount for government lawyers to be extended for another 3 years.
Proposal on establishing restricted funds presented but no action taken
Task force on public image and PR presented report. $250,000 earmarked to get this project started. It is projected that will need about $1 million to be effective. Will solicit attorney donations to move this PR project forward.
Tom Golden appointed himself chair of the PR project. Northampton and Lebanon counties have already contributed dollars. Looking at starting a poster program, similar to the Virginia campaign, which will be reasonably priced and quick to get up and running.
INCITE
Commitment to reduce cost of INCITE contract and make the program better for PBA members. Contract expires on December 31st. Looking to add additional features. ED given authorization to continue negotiations and looking to save $25,000/month and to extend contract for 17 months.
OLD BUSINESS
Personnel issues topic of Fall meeting.
President Paul will post CLE hardship policy on listserve.
Business meeting adjourned at 2:35 pm.
LCL presentation followed including mock intervention.