Pennsylvania Association of Bar Executives

Minutes of the Meeting of March 3, 2006

 

 

ATTENDANCE

Members present were:

Jean

Bednarski

(York),

Arthur

Birdsall

(PBA),

Sandra

Brydon-Smith

(Erie)

Marianne

Canning

(Lehigh)

Jessica

Engel

(Lycoming),

Bruce

Fleischer

(Centre),

Wendy

Hoffman

(Chester) ,

Susan

Kenny ,

(Monroe)

Barbara

Kittrell

(Berks),

Susan

Kost

(Schuylkill),

Elizabeth

Kramer

(PBA),

Diane

Krivoniak

(Westmoreland).

Shelly

Lawson

(Colburn),

Mary Beth

Leeson

(Northampton)

Gail

Markovitz

(PBI),

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)

Kathy

Sabol

(Washington),

Carolyn

Seibert-Drager

(Franklin)

Barry

Simpson

(PBA),

Evelyn

Sullivan

(Lancaster),

Paul

Tyler

(USI Colburn)

Lucy

Wolf

(Blair),


 

GUEST

Ian Clare, owner of Clare Printing, was introduced and he offered to make himself available to answer questions regarding printing projects.

 

President of CCBL, Ken Vasil, welcomed the PABE to 40th CCBL seminar. He reviewed the agenda and asked for evaluations to be turned in at the end of the conference.

 

MINUTES

MOTION: PABE minutes were accepted minutes as amended. Seconded by Carolyn and motion carried.

 

TREASURERS REPORT

Accepted as submitted. Balance = $16,604.42, CD values at about $9,500.

 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Legislative Coordinator, Nevin Mindlin gave update on pending legislation.

 

LEGAL ADVERTISING

Bill 1906 – Use of internet for legal advertising but could not get legal journal language inserted.

¨      Senate judiciary committee now has this bill.

¨      Support for HB1906 back to house from senate with legal journals and internet language inserted.

¨      Business community feels some success with getting internet use for legal advertising so Nevin does not want to dump this bill and start over.

¨      After primaries this bill will most likely be passed.

¨      Not currently working with newspapers.

 

UNCLAIMED PROPERTY

Unclaimed Property issue has come up again regarding unclaimed property and legal advertising. PBA will wait until legal advertising issue is resolved.

 

SALES TAX

¨             Nevin thanked the bar associations for their involvement in the sales tax matter. Many bars stepped forward to speak out against this issue and also took the time to educate their legislators about the importance of this. Over 3000 responses from lawyers were sent to the hill. Legislators indicated that the attorneys made impact and were heard.

¨             Nevin urged bar members to personalize all correspondence to legislators.

¨             Sales tax may not come up until April, and then solos/small firm practitioners will be asked to get involved.

¨             Nevin indicated that the PBA will be coming to bar associations which legislators have been targeted as swing votes, to ask for their involvement.

 

·        Nevin reminded bars that politics is local. PAC is local. Impact must come from local bar involvement with the state bar providing the legwork.

 

HISTORY OF PABE

Liz reported that:

¨      PABE history was almost complete but she has recently decided to add additional information.

¨      She is working on logo that would encompass all that PABE represents.

¨      May have found sponsor to absorb copying costs.

 

RETREAT

Liz reported that she has scheduled the PABE retreat for August 20-22, 2006.

¨      Theme to be ‘now and then’ to be held in King of Prussia.

¨      Sunday will be “meet and greet.”

¨      Bus to pick up group on Monday to do site visits at local bar associations.

¨      Monday Program will focus on contemporary issues.

¨      Tuesday AM breakfast and program.

  • Possible topic: How to Prepare for then – life after bar association life.

 

PBI

Roger reported that:

¨      Enrollment is up for PBI seminars.

¨      Distance learning will expand into webcasting – counts as 4 hours allowable online CLE (attorney can sign on and watch live online) 

¨      PBI may expand publishing opportunities, and allow some materials to be on line – will be fee schedule by chapter.

  • Online CLE is about 5% of PBI business

 

JAMES SMITH

Discussed the life and recent death of ACBA’s first executive director Jim Smith.

 

MOTION: Liz moved to make donation of $500 to ACBA’s Notre Dame scholarship, which was Jim’s alma mater. Seconded by Nancy and motion carried.

 

MOTION: Susan moved to rename the PABE SCHOLARSHIP policy after James I. Smith III. Seconded by Ev and motion carried.

 

Barry gave background on Jim Smith.

  • Jim was hired as E.D. of Allegheny County Bar in 1961 and was the first E.D.
  • Was  – at one time -the most senior bar executive in entire nation.
  • He also served as NABE president.

 

PBF

Don is member of the silent auction committee with the PBF for the PBA annual meeting in June.

¨      On behalf of the silent auction committee Don invited local bar associations to contribute a “unique” county-specific gift to be auctioned off.

 

BIRDSALL AWARD

Don suggested change in language to the Birdsall Award. Discussion on the idea that the Birdsall award is not our award but agreement that we can make suggestion.

 

MOTION: Don moved to ask CCBL committee to consider deleting language regarding “putting bar business ahead of all other business.” Seconded by Diane. Motion carried with opposition from Liz, Nancy.

 

SALARY SURVEY

Kathy Sabol asked about David Blaner’s offer to conduct salary survey.

¨      Kathy reminded the group that the survey has not yet been completed.

¨      A show of hands from bar execs indicated an interest to see this survey conducted.

 

MOTION: Susan moved to have David and Kathy conduct a salary survey including benefits with results to be shared with bar executives. Seconded by Liz. Motion carried.

 

MOTION: Liz moved to offer honorary member of the PABE to Pat Martin. Seconded by Barb. Motion carried.

 

WEBSITE

Fran reported that Al Trosky is working on frontpage for PABE website.

  • Sandy suggested that we have the opportunity to preview it internally before it is launched.
  • Fran agreed that it is possible to reveal the beta format to bar execs for their review.
  • Fran asked for input on material for inclusion on site with suggestion from Diane that PDF files of annual meeting invitations, bench bar conference brochures, cle literature be stored and accessible on the site.

 

KEN HOROHO

Barry reported that Incoming PBA president Ken Horoho is hoping to schedule conference calls with presidents and bar execs on quarterly basis.

  • This idea was brought to CCBL committee and they thought it was a good idea.
  • Also a listserve is being set-up for bar presidents. All presidents will be added and they can opt-out if they prefer.
  • Bar execs will also be copied on this

 

Motion to adjourn at 9:50 am.