Meeting Minutes

Granlibakken Resort, Tahoe City, CA
September 9, 2000

Members present: Angie Burke, Arlene Abady, Betty Braden, Bill Litant, Carol Branch, Chris Blake, Chris Jepsen, Christine Cendagorta, Duane Stanley, Elizabeth Derrico, Francine Walker, Gina Lage, Ginger Banks, Jennifer Davis, Jennifer Krinock, Jeri Grier, Joe Conte, Joyce Hastings, Judy Berrett, Kim Rowden, Kimberly A. Smith (NV), Kimberly Smith (KY), Lori Ruello, Paje Felts, Paul Nickell, Roger Parris, Sam Lipsman, Stephanie Abbott, Susan Ferrer, Suzanne Robertson, Trina Gray, Trudy C. Levindofske, Wendy Jones

Chair Christine Cendagorta convened the meeting at 8:00 a.m.

Agenda presented.

In her introductory remarks, Chair Christine Cendagorta thanked the Board members who stepped up to join the planning committee for this workshop; Kimberly Smith (KY) for support in preparing binders and assisting in advance planning via e-mail; session coordinators and speakers who volunteered to present; the Granlibakken staff; DBS, who volunteered to do more than Chris would let them do; Libby Bullock, Maria Johnson and Elizabeth Derrico for advance planning; and Joe Cendagorta for everything.

Minutes of the previous meeting (NYC) presented and approved.

Arlene Abady requested a "gavel passing ritual" be instituted when our leadership changes at the Section's Annual Meeting. Chris explained that in general, although the leadership of the Section changes at the Annual Meeting, the outgoing Section Chair is usually honored at the next Workshop. Because we knew that Past Chair Gary Toohey would not be present at Lake Tahoe, we gave him his lovely parting gifts in New York.

Committee reports

Chris Cendagorta reminded the assembled that Section committees are the best way to become involved in the Section. Membership and leadership are important parts of what the NABE experience offers its members.

Program Committee

Wendy Jones reported that the Section is planning a joint program with the CLE Section at the Midyear Meeting in San Diego (February 2001). The focus will be on E-marketing and distance learning. There are funds in the Section's budget to pay highly qualified speakers. Our Section's programs always have very high attendance and excellent feedback at the Midyear and Annual Meetings.

Newsletter Committee

Kim Rowden reported that Communicators Talk will appear shortly after this Workshop adjourns.

Marketing Committee

Chris Blake is looking for new members. The committee wants to update the marketing handbook; the committee is looking to collect and share new strategies, especially in the area of e-marketing. In advance of next year's workshop, Chris would like to hear from (or about) good speakers and topics.

Luminary Awards Committee

Susan Ferrer thanked all the judges who assisted with the 2000 Luminary Awards. We are seeking increased participation in the Luminaries; Susan will post on the NABECOMM listserv questions regarding member participation. The committee is seeking a Vice-Chair (a "Chair-In -Training"). Adobe Systems has pledged to augment the Luminary Awards by supplying additional prizes to Luminary Award winners. West Group is happy with this arrangement.

Membership Committee

Elizabeth Derrico welcomed the first timers and reported on behalf of Carol Manning that the Membership Committee is looking for new members. There are many membership activities to be organized, including a Greeting Committee, events for First-Timers, and our mentoring program. The mentoring program currently has eight requests pending for mentors: volunteer "buddies" are encouraged to step up.

Electronic Services

Roger Parris reported the committee met on Thursday morning. NABE website has been redesigned and some updates have been posted to that site. New members of the committee are encouraged to do some troubleshooting. Our Section was commended by the NABE Website Committee for doing a good job. There are 103 participants on the NABECOMM listserv. There are 152 members of the Communications Section. We'll be making a pitch in the newsletter and via e-mail to join the listserv.

Scholarship Committee

Barbara Kittrell chairs the committee. Two scholarships for this Workshop were awarded: Kimberly Smith (KY) and Yvonne McGhee.

By-Laws Review Committee

Cheryl Bruce reported that her committee did finish the review of the bylaws changes that were completed. There is some confusion regarding whether or not we approved some bylaws changes at the New York meeting.

Leadership Development Committee

Joyce Hastings has joined the NABE Leadership Development Committee and Gary Toohey as past Section Chair now heads the Section's LD Committee. His responsibility is to help get newer members to become involved with committee work and committee leadership. The NABE LD Committee is concentrating on Knowledge Management.

The Richter Award/The Ann Charles Award

Elizabeth Derrico reported that the Executive Committee has approved a proposal from the Richter award Committee to create the Ann Charles Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service to the Communications Section. The award is named in honor of the late Director of Communications from the State Bar of California and last year's posthumous winner of the Section's Richter Award. The Ann Charles Award will be presented to dedicated unsung volunteers in recognition of outstanding service to the Section, especially members who take on extraordinary responsibilities but are not able to serve on the Executive Council. Past Section chairs and sitting members of the Executive Council will not be eligible for this award. One may self-nominate, another Section member may nominate you, or the Committee may nominate you. The award or awards will be presented at the annual Workshop at the Committee's discretion.

Barbara Kittrell will chair this year's Richter Award committee. Thanks are given to Chris Blake, Janet Eveleth and Brad Carr for conceiving and the Council for approving the award. 

Communications Review/Audit

Trudy Levindofske reported that she and Sam Lipsman would coordinate requests for reviews of a bar association's communications materials. The service is not broadly used, but will continue to be available and will be promoted through the DBS. The service will be expanded to include websites.

2001 Workshop

Wendy Jones reported that we are heading to Daufuskie, S.C. (no hills, no walking, golf carts) for the first week in October 2001. Wendy will be looking for volunteers to plan programs, etc.

Treasurer's Report

The Section is in very good shape. We have far more than we thought we had. In addition, this workshop will be profitable for the Section.

New Business

Sponsorship policy:

Our sponsorship policy (which is non-exclusive) needs to match the NABE policy. We will be working on that at the Executive Council level.

Volunteer Recognition Committee

Kimberly Smith announced that Executive Council has voted to create a Volunteer Recognition Committee. Jennifer Davis will chair. Jennifer said that we all serve in many ways. We rotate in and out of committees and boards. This new committee's job is to see that we as a group do a better job of recognizing ourselves.

Bylaws Change

The by-laws of the Communications Section do not provide for succession. Filling the office of Section Chair depends on who is willing to step up to the job. The sense of those assembled is that the Vice-Chair should be considered the Chair-Elect.

Motion: (Chris Blake) The Section recommends to the By-Laws Committee a change in the Section's by-laws to provide for automatic succession of the Vice-Chair to the position of Chair in the following year; and that the Vice-Chair position be renamed to Chair-Elect. (Multiple seconds). Motion carried and will be recommended to the By-Laws Committee.

Chris Cendagorta reminded all assembled to send in their evaluations. They are invaluable for future planning.

There are more t-shirts available.

Division for Bar Services (DBS)

Elizabeth Derrico announced new DBS staff:

Brian Myers is the new Information Coordinator. He is a librarian by training and is a very good resource person. He's also working on the NABE website and is redesigning some of the online forms.

Shelley Joksimovic is the new editor of Miscellaneous Memo online. Miscellaneous Memo has gotten very positive response as an online resource.

Consulting Services and Marketing Services have been launched. The Services will review your bar's needs at competitive rates. Several staff people will come out and facilitate your strategic planning sessions, your committes, etc.

Two new publications: Membership Models and Programs (a follow up to the web-based 8 to 10 page white papers, the first of which, on membership, was prepared by Jennifer Lewin; her second paper will be on meeting trends). If you have ideas for background papers, please let Elizabeth Derrico or Jennifer Lewin know. These white papers are extremely useful as source material over which you can lay your own local information for your own bar.

Joann O'Reilly is working on two new publications: a membership how-to and a Small Bar Administration Handbook.

In conjunction with the ABA President's Office DBS is also working on a diversity packet: how to partner with diversity bars, including talking points, interview questions, fact sheets, etc.

Discussion: Chris Blake recommended a white paper on technology. Response: The Administration and Finance Section is conducting their technology survey and is sponsoring a Tech Show in San Diego. Sam Lipsman asked if more detailed research information would be available beyond the white paper itself. Response: Call Jennifer Lewin - she has the data and will be happy to share it.

Angie Burke announced ABA President Martha Barnett's Death Penalty Conference in Atlanta in October. She also discussed the availability of strategic communications planning with ABA Sections

NABE

Betty Braden reported on Leadership Development. Gary Toohey is working in parallel with the NABE Leadership Development Committee and Joyce Hastings is liaison between the Communications Section and NABE.

Meeting adjourned at 8:50 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Roger Parris, Secretary