Minutes
of the Meeting of November 29, 2007
|
David |
Blaner |
(ACBA) |
|
Susan |
Kenny |
( |
|
Susan |
Kost |
( |
|
Don |
Morgan |
(Dauphin |
|
Becky |
Morgenthal |
( |
|
|
Paul |
( |
|
Kathy |
Sabol |
( |
|
Diane |
Krivoniak |
(Westmoreland) |
|
|
Kramer |
(PBA) |
|
Barry |
Simpson |
(PBA) |
|
Bruce D. |
Fleischer |
(Centre) |
|
Evelyn E. |
Sullivan |
( |
|
Dan |
LaBert |
(Lehigh) |
|
Michelle |
Shuker |
(PBA) |
|
Ken |
Hagreen |
(LCL) |
|
Nevin |
Mindlin |
(PBA) |
|
Cindy |
Van Laeys |
( |
|
Roger |
Meilton |
(PBI) |
|
Bob |
Cagna |
(USI Colburn) |
|
Gina |
Sage |
(USI Colburn) |
|
|
Niespodzianski |
(USI Colburn) |
|
Barbara |
Kittrell |
(Berks) |
|
Sandra |
Brydon Smith |
( |
|
Dale |
McClain |
(PBA) |
|
Dan |
Levering |
(PA CLE) |
|
Carolyn |
Seibert-Drager |
( |
|
Mary Beth |
Leeson |
( |
|
Fran |
O’Rourke |
(PBA) |
President
Morgenthal called the meeting to order at
WELCOME
President Morgenthal
welcomed PBA President-Elect Dale McClain who gave brief remarks. Dale
recapped an email to Becky Morgenthal on his hope to work closely with the
PABE. He plans to visits every county
bar during his term and will send an email in the early part of 2008 asking for
event dates. He plans to do outreach
programs and regional events on topics to be determined.
TREASURER’s REPORT/Minutes
Susan Kenny submitted the
minutes from the
David Blaner submitted the
Treasurer’s Report. Balance in PABE
account is $5,944.31. CD investments total $10,000.07. Balance of all assets as
of
Becky asked for a
ratification of the motion passed at the PABE Retreat regarding the acceptance
of the new PABE Bylaws. Nancy Paul moved
to accepts all items on the agenda item B. Recommended Actions, Ev Sullivan
seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
REPORTS
Roger Meilton reported the
PBI has had a successful year in 2007.
Using the internet to deliver CLE programs is continuing to make
progress. Several local counties are
offering groupcasting which increases the access to PBI CLE program. Roger
reported total annual online CLE enrollments is close to 13000.
LEGISLATIVE
UPDATE
Nevin Mindlin reported
the sales tax bill is a very big concern and recommends that all attorneys
contact their local representative.
There is a sample letter on the PBA website that can be edited and sent
to the representatives. Roger Meilton
asked if medical services are exempt under the house bill. Nevin replied that medical services were
exempt because of the federal monies, the insurance payments and third party payers
involved.
Nevin reported legal
journals are still in good standing with the legislature who understand the
need for them. The PBA will continue to
monitor any bills relating to legal advertising.
Nevin offered to visit
the local bar and do a program on grass root advocacy. Just give him a call.
Evelyn Sullivan reported
that Nevin is very active in the NABE Government Relations Workshops. He is highly regarded and respected in the
NABE.
David Blaner reported on
Senate Bill 1087 which will change the way public notice are advertised. Schools and municipalities will post their
notice on a website instead of in print.
According to David, the Senate committee was not interested in the
testimony from the newspapers and the committee is looking for tax relief. David suggested the bar associations start investigating
now on how to become the website to be used in their local county.
PA
CLE REPORT
Dan Levering reported the
PA CLE Board is working on a revision to the Bridge the Gap program. A survey was sent out to all BTG providers
and the results will be used to create the new version which should be out in
the second quarter of 2008.
Distance learning via
telephone is in its second year. 2500
credits were earned via the telephone which is less than .05 %.
PBA
UPDATE
Becky Morgenthal
introduced Andy Susko and Ken Horoho.
Andy thanked the PABE for the opportunity to report on his plans for the
coming year.
He is planning a Lobbying
Day on the Hill and wants the local bars to partner in developing a more
effective grass roots program on the hill.
The program will provide training on how to lobby and will give white
paper training. The program date is
still up in the air but Andy is tentatively looking at April. Ev Sullivan
pointed out that many local bar associations hold Law Day activities during the
last week in April and 2008 celebrates the 50th anniversary of Law
Day. Andy thanked Ev and promised to
look at the April carefully before scheduling.
Andy reported he is
making about one visit to a local bar each week. He encouraged the local bar execs to send
dates to him for events in which they would like a visit. He also intends to
conduct Executive Forum around the state instead of Barnstorming.
Andy congratulated the
local bars and the state bar on their work in making the judicial retention
elections a huge success.
Barry Simpson reported next
year’s November meeting will be before Thanksgiving as it has been in previous
years. Barry thanked everyone who made
donations to the
Barry also noted that
there will be an increase on malpractice insurance rates but that they are
still working on a membership discount program proposal which could be
effective in 2009.
Barry reported the PBA
budget was passed on
Barry also mentioned that
the Public Relations Campaign will continue in the spring of 2008. They are still waiting for some responses
from the local bar association as to their participation.
Fran O’Rourke reported
that Al Trosky of the PBA IT Department has created an online dues reporting
program for unit counties. There will be
a Web-n-nar in early January to teach the local bars on how to use it
HISTORY
BOOK
PABE President Becky
Morgenthal reported the PABE history book and bylaws were at the printer and
will be distributed shortly. The
survival guide on the PABE website will be updated soon and Liz Price may be
asking for help in doing so.
PABE
RETREAT
Kathy Sabol reported that
the 2007 PABE retreat was a success. The
PABE actually made some money on the retreat which, she suggested, could be
used for attendance scholarship.
NEW
BUSINESS
LAWYERS
CONCERNED FOR LAWYERS
Ken Hagreen went over an
Outreach Checklist and encouraged the local bar associations to use it to
inform their members about the services of LCL.
Responding to Dan LaBert, Ken agreed to supply an ad that can be used in
the legal journals.
NOMINATING
COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee
was made up of Chair Nancy Paul, as PABE Past President, Liz Price and Barb
Kittrell.
OLD/NEW
BUSINESS
WEBSITE
The PABE website is
coming along. Fran requested any
pictures, minutes, and any other information of interest be sent to him to be
posted on the website.
CCBL
Michelle Shuker reported
the plans for the CCBL in February are coming along nicely. Information about Foundations will be
included in the program. She is
encouraging the local bar foundations to send board members to CCBL.
2008
PABE RETREAT
Marybeth Leeson and Dan
LaBert offered to host the 2008 PABE retreat.
They talked about several dates available. An email will be sent to all PABE members to
determine which dates work best for all.
JAMES
SMITH SCHOLARSHIP
Susan Kenny moved to
allow Diane Krivoniak to request a scholarship to the mid-year meeting as
President of the PABE waiving the requirement to have a written request to the
current President prior to this meeting.
Dan LaBert seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
CONGRATULATIONS
AND THANK YOU
Diane Krivoniak thanked
Becky Morgenthal for her hard work over the past two years as PABE President
and presented Becky with a gavel plaque and a special gift.
ADJOURNMENT
Being there no further
business, the meeting was adjourned at