Minutes of the Meeting of May 8, 2006
David
Blaner
(ACBA)
Arthur
Birdsall
(PBA),
Marianne
Canning
(Lehigh)
Jessica
Engel
(Lycoming),
Bruce
Fleischer
(Centre),
Wendy
Hoffman
(Chester) ,
Susan
Kenny ,
(Monroe)
Barbara
Kittrell
(Berks),
Susan
Kost
(Schuylkill),
Mary Beth
Leeson
(Northampton)
Dan
Levering
(PA CLE)
Heather
Martin
(Bucks),
Roger
Meilton
(PBI),
Nevin
Mindlin
(PBA Legislative Coordinator
Don
Morgan
(Dauphin
Becky
Morgenthal
(Cumberland)
Fran
O’Rourke
(PBA),
JoEllen
Pastore
(Lawrence),
Nancy
Paul
(Montgomery)
Elizabeth
Price
(Delaware)
Suzanne
Robinson
(Butler)
Kathy
Sabol
(Washington),
Evelyn
Sullivan
(Lancaster),
Carolyn
Seibert-Drager
(Franklin)
President Morgenthal called the meeting to order at 2:30 pm.
WELCOME
Introduction of new executive directors:
Suzanne Robinson, Butler County
Debra Arner, Mercer
Lucy Kitner, York County
TREASURER’s REPORT/Minutes
Minutes from the March 3, 2006 business meeting in State College were accepted as corrected.
The Treasurer’s Report was accepted as submitted.
Balance in PABE account is $7,257.52. CD investments total $9,249.94. Balance of all assets as of May 31st is $16, 507.46.
2 outstanding dues billings with notation that Gail Markowitz is no longer with the PBI and should be removed from roles of PABE.
Discussion on balance in checking and whether some should be directed to savings. No decision made.
REPORTS
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Nevin Mindlin, PBA Legislative Coordinator, reported on legal notice advertising in legal journals.
Business community seeking to use only internet. PBA is arguing the importance of legal journals. Senate is supportive of compromise to use both legal journals and internet for advertising of legal notices. Business lobbyists will be meeting with Nevin in the near future. They want a cap on advertising pricing for law journals and Nevin asked for decision from PABE on this matter. Nevin indicated that he preferred a decision on “suggested cap” within one week.Nevin reminded the bar execs that lobbyists from Montgomery and Allegheny County are also working this issue.
Nevin and PABE agreed to use listserve for updates on this issue.
PABE HISTORY AND LOGO
Liz Price reported that the history on PABE is completed.
Printing costs will be covered.Logo design is not yet completed.
PABE SUMMER RETREAT
Nancy Paul and Liz Price reviewed to PABE retreat agenda:
THEME: Now and Then
LOCATION: Crown Plaza next to King of Prussia mall
Sunday, August 20th – Arrival
Welcome reception at 7 pm Monday August 21
Bus to Chester County for breakfast and seminar
Lunch at Delaware County
On to Montgomery County for Dinner
Pat Martin and Ted Stellwag to report on retirement issues
PBI
Roger Meilton reported that new PBI budget was accepted. New PBI officers appointed.
PABE SALARY SURVEY
David Blaner reported on a salary survey that was conducted by NABE and described the criteria that was gathered at that time.
PABE members agreed to use same criteria.
Agreed to use Excel format and email survey with responses resubmitted by email.
Agreed to use no identification.
Agreed to do every couple of years.
UNCLAIMED PROPERTY NOTICES STATUS
Supposedly the publication of unclaimed property notices in legal journals is required by law but the Dept. of Treasury claims that they never have published in law journal before so they don’t need to do so now. This is still unresolved.
CLE BOARD
Dan Levering CLE Director, gave an update on CLE:
Active military servicemen and women now have a waiver on credits owed.
Distance learning to include teleconferencing (kind of like talk radio) for cle credit. Pilot project for 2 years and attorneys can earn up to 4 hours total (inclusive of internet.)
Rules state that this must be a one on one session and not a group setting.
Between 8-10% of lawyers are taking advantage of this method for securing CLE credit.
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION
Bridge the Gap requirement for moderator– difficult to fill that position with senior lawyer
Law office management CLE – there has been a change in rules that now allow Law Office Management. Dan agreed to circulate this policy on the listserve.
Rules for allowing Webinar in group setting as it did not qualify for Washington. Again Dan agreed to research this.
NEW BUSINES
PABE application has been designed and is being used for new members and will be put on the PABE website.
OLD BUSINESS
PABE website - tabled because Fran O’Rourke was not present.
SCHOLARSHIP POLICY
Scholarship policy was discussed. No action taken.
DONATION
New Orleans Bar Foundation letter received that indicates that they are using our PABE donation to benefit lawyers specifically with the internet cafes.
LAW JOURNAL CAP
Discussion on the capping of legal journal advertising rates.
Motion: Nancy Paul moved to tell PBA Legislative Coordinator Nevin Mindlin that the PABE is not agreeable to placing a cap on legal journal advertising as there is already a compromise presented that allows for both internet and law journal advertising. Seconded by David Blaner. Motion carried with Roger Meilton abstaining.
ART’S RETIREMENT
Liz Price prepared and read a resolution regarding Art Birdsall’s retirement from the PA effective October 1st. Art indicated that he will retire to donate his time to a nonprofit faith based organization called Cure International, with website of: cureinternation.org which now boasts 12 hospitals in 12 third world countries and the mission to provide physical and spiritual healing for disabled children in developing worlds.
GALLEY PROOFS
Question on the requirement of the process of “cutting” and “pasting” galley proofs from legal journal advertisements. David Blaner reported that Allegheny County’s President Judge signed off on a new local rule that allows for a computer printout and not a cut copy from the legal journal to serve as legal notification that legal notice was published in the Allegheny County Legal Journal.
No further business, meeting adjourned at 4:00 pm to attend a retirement reception for Art Birdsall, sponsored by PABE.