Pennsylvania Association of Bar Executives

Minutes of the Meeting of March 4, 2005

Attendance:


Marianne Canning (Lehigh),

Don Morgan (Dauphin),

Liz Price (Delaware),

Jean Bednarski (York),

Becky Morgenthal (Cumberland),

Sandy Brydon-Smith (Erie),

Nancy Paul (Montgomery),

Suellen Verlihay (Beaver)

Carolyn Seibert-Drager (Franklin)

Roger Meilton (PBI)

E. Marie Queen (PBF)

Mary Beth Leeson (Northampton)

Heather Martin (Bucks)

JoEllen Pastore (Lawrence)

Susan Kenny (Monroe),

Diane Krivoniak (Westmoreland).

Bruce Fleischer (Centre),

Evelyn Sullivan (Lancaster), 

Nevin Mindlin (PBA Legislative Manager)

Susan Kost (Schuylkill),

Barbara Kittrell (Berks),

Deborah Basalyga (Lackawanna)

Wendy Hoffman (Chester)

Kathy Sabol (Washington)

Jessica Engel (Lycoming)

David Blaner (Allegheny)

 

 

INTRODUCTION
CCBL President Sam Miller welcomed all bar executives and gave brief outline of the planned events. He also thanked those bar associations who participated as sponsors for the CCBL.

 

WELCOME

President Paul welcomed all members and introduced the newest bar executives, including:

Wendy Hoffman, Chester

Heather Martin, Bucks

Mary Beth Leeson, Northampton

 

LEGISLATIVE

Nevin Mindlin, PBA Legislative Director, gave overview of current legislative happenings, including:

  • Start-up of weekly legislative e-letter which will be linked through PBA website with further links to sections
  • Publication of LLCs in law journals. This issue is now split into 2 bills 392 and 393, a companion bill. When these bills come up for a vote, the PBA will give the bar execs notice. Bar execs are asked to please make contact with local legislators. Mr. Mindlin expects this to move from committee in April.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

  1. Treasurer’s report accepted as submitted. Checking account balance = $14,692.61
  2. Minutes of Fall PABE meeting were accepted as submitted.
  3. Upcoming meetings
    • PABE RETREAT scheduled for August 14-16th at the Bellaire Hotel. Discussed using PABE funds to rent bus. Mr. Mielton offered the PBI Center for pick-up/drop-off point for retreat.
    • PBA Annual meeting scheduled for May 4-6 in Pittsburgh.

 

MOTION: Liz Price moved to accept the consent agenda. This was seconded by Ev Sullivan and motion carried.

 

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

CCBL

President Paul thanked bar execs for helping to raise sponsorship dollars for CCBL.

Agreed that President Paul will pass on bar exec’s request for substantiation of need for sponsorship dollars for CCBL. This will help local bars to sell the need to their boards. Discussion occurred regarding additional methods for raising CCBL revenue including waiving the $50 per person savings for unit counties and increasing the registration fee.

 

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY NOTICE

President Paul explained that research on the PA code indicated that the law journals should be publishing PA treasury’s unclaimed property notices in local legal journals -receiving income for this publication. The Mid-Atlantic newspapers are responsible for distributing this information. President Paul has invited that representative to attend the May 5th PABE meeting in Pittsburgh to answer questions.

 

  • Discussion occurred regarding discounted advertising rates, how data will be received, who gets billed, and when the advertising of the unclaimed property occurs (Fall of each year)
  • Bar execs agreed that it would be helpful for each law journal to determine the true printing costs and set advertising rates accordingly.

 

STEPPING OUT

President Paul indicated that the sharing of Stepping Out data via email may negatively impact the printing costs for smaller bars that choose to purchase the Stepping Out books through the PBA. Discussion occurred about the advantages and disadvantages of printing the books at local bars vs. printing through the PBA. Consensus of group to continue to share data via email for bar execs.

 

LIAISONS

Board of Governors – Nancy Paul

Nancy reported on her attendance at the Board of Governors meeting:

 

  • Fiscal year – proposal to change to calendar year. May go into effect January 1, 2006. This change will bring the dues billing into sync with PBA budgeting process.
  • Annual meeting will move from May to the 1st week of June beginning 2006. Reasoning of PBA leadership is that this will attract more families to attend.
  • H. Reginald Belden, Jr. – Discussion on making a contribution from PABE to PBF in memory of Reg. Agreed to wait until the PBF decides what to do.
  • Tom Goldon has been appointed to the Pa. Insurance Trust Board and he has pledged to work on health insurance benefits/costs for PBA members, their staffs and families.
  • Announced the recipients of the Pa Insurance Trust Grants and also announced that applications can be found online.

 

PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION – MARIE QUEEN

1.  Goffman Award applications are available and nominees should be those who have made significant pro bono contributions.

Deadline for applications is March 18th.

Winners will receive $1000 each.

 

2.  The PBF will hold a silent auction in conjunction with the PBA annual meeting. The contribution deadline is April 1st. Ms. Queen made gift suggestions, which include: baskets, gift certificates, bed and breakfasts.

 

PBI – Roger Meilton

1.  Mr. Meilton explained that the PBA had recently held training for presenters which worked on developing presentation skills. Training was held by Temple University and involved modeling, advanced demos, more effective presentation.

 

2.  Mr. Blaner reported that the ACBA partners with PBI for some online courses. Mr. Meilton echoed that the PBI is looking to have local bar associations do the same.

 

CLE

  • Ms. Sabol reported that her CLE program has received a request from CLE Board for spot-checking of 3 seminars and an evaluation of handouts. Consensus was that this in not out of the ordinary for the CLE Board.

 

  • CLE Board has increased online credits to 4 per year however attorneys cannot carry over online credits.

 

OLD BUSINESS

  • Akron News is helping the ACBA legal journal to go online.
  • Jessica Engel and Fran O’Rourke had previously agreed to work on website. No report.
  • Liz Price still working on PABE history. Mrs. Price reported that history will be brief and will begin with the organization’s attempt to be recognized in the late 1970’s.

 

NEW BUSINESS

  • Ms. Sullivan announced that she is running for Vice President of NABE and asked for support. Only 2 others from PA have previously served and no one from a local bar association has served in this position.
  • Mr. Blaner announced that he is running for Treasurer of NABE and also asked for support.

 

BLI

Bar Leaders Institute is scheduled in Chicago next week. David will be leading bar exec training session with compensation and benefits as the hot topic. He agreed to bring back information on this subject for the May meeting.

 

President Paul adjourned the meeting.