Meeting Minutes
Executive Council
October 14, 2003
St. Louis, MO
Present: Cynthia Kuhn, chair; Susan Andres, chair-elect;
Chris Blake; Colleen Buggy; Mark Mathewson; Duane Stanley, treasurer;
and Francine Walker.
Ms. Kuhn called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m.
Approval of the minutes of the August 25, 2003 meeting
A motion was made by Ms. Andres and seconded by Ms. Buggy to approve
the minutes of the August 5, 2003, Executive Council meeting in
San Francisco. The motion was adopted.
Treasurer's Report
Mr. Stanley reviewed the Treasurer's Report. He noted that the surplus
of revenues over expense looks better than it actually is. This
is due to the fact that the financial statement reflects revenue
received from the workshop, but not expenses, which have not yet
been received and processed.
Committee Reports:
Program: Ms. Andres reported on a section-sponsored
program that is planned for the 2004 NABE Midyear Meeting in San
Antonio. The program will focus on how to attract, retain, train
and manage freelance writers for bar publications. Marilyn Cavicchia
of the American Bar Association, editor of Bar Leader magazine,
is chairing the panel. Ms. Andres thanked Christine Cendagorta for
her efforts in organizing this panel. Ms. Kuhn urged council members
to think about program ideas for the 2004 NABE Annual Meeting next
summer in Atlanta. Mr. Blake mentioned that the recent member survey
that was completed has some information about program ideas and
said he will share it with the council.
Luminary Awards: Mr. Mathewson reported that the
winners have been selected and the trophies are ready to be presented
on October 17. There were 50 total entries. The marketing and public
relations categories were light on entries, with only three for
marketing and five for PR. There were eight entries for special
publications, 20 entries for regular publications and 15 entries
for Web sites. He attributed the lack of entries for marketing and
PR to the fact that these are for special projects. Those activities
that are ongoing enterprises (such as publications) seem to draw
more entries. There was a general discussion about measures to increase
interest in the awards program. Ideas included a graphically attractive
electronic notice and/or periodic reminders through e-mail and early
notification in December, when the calendar year ends, to get people
thinking about their best projects that year.
Membership: Ms. Kuhn gave the report on behalf of
Yvonne McGhee, this year's chair of the Membership Committee, who
was unable to attend the workshop. Ms. McGhee prepared a written
report. There are 22 first-timers attending the workshop. A discussion
ensued as to what is the best way to provide an orientation for
first-timers at the workshop. It was suggested that a post-meeting
evaluation session be held toward the end of the workshop to get
immediate feedback. This idea was enthusiastically received. Ms.
Kuhn also asked if there are protocols and procedures for welcoming
new members who join. She said she will follow up with Jill Werner,
NABE staff director for the ABA's Division for Bar Services, and
report back to the council.
2003 Workshop: Ms. Walker gave a report as chair
of the 2003 workshop program subcommittee. There are 78 registrants
for the workshop. The three-ring binders will have handout material
for the various programs, a schedule, and speaker biographies. Ms.
Kuhn thanked workshop Chair Gary Toohey, workshop committee chairs
Francine Walker (program), Dan Wise (sponsorships) and Yvonne McGhee
(social events) and the entire workshop committee for their outstanding
efforts.
Newsletter: Mr. Blake will serve as newsletter editor
and Kimberly Smith as designer. Mr. Blake outlined his plans for
Communicators Talk. He said his goals are to publish the newsletter
on a regular quarterly schedule, adhere to deadlines, establish
an editorial calendar and get more section members involved in writing
for the newsletter. Ms. Kuhn also mentioned that this would be an
ideal time for a redesign of the newsletter. Mr. Blake said he would
follow up with Kimberly Smith, who designs the newsletter.
Other committees
Ms. Kuhn gave a brief synopsis of other committee activities and
chairs. The Ann Charles Committee, headed by Paul Nickell of the
Oregon State Bar, has selected the 2003 award winner, which will
be announced on October 17. There is a Communications Audit Committee,
but it has not been active in recent years. Ms. Kuhn questioned
whether the committee should continue, since the workshop usually
includes a service whereby experienced publications managers sit
and evaluate bar publications. Electronic Services will continue
to be chaired by Joe Conte. Ms. Kuhn indicated she has a candidate
identified to chair the Luminary Awards Committee next year. Ms.
Kuhn also initiated a discussion on the future of the Marketing
Committee. Mr. Blake said the committee's initial goals were to
publish the Marketing Commandments handbook and to coordinate educational
programs at NABE meetings and at the workshop. Now that the handbook
is published, there was some sentiment expressed that the committee
is no longer needed. The Program Committee was also discussed. Chair-elect
Susan Andres is chairing this committee, but the section needs to
identify a new chair. Ms. Walker said she would be interested. The
Scholarship Committee was briefly discussed. Dennette Young of the
Louisiana State Bar took over as chair after Lori Ruello left the
bar. Ms. Kuhn said she will ask Ms. Young if she wants to continue
in that role. Finally, there was a discussion about the Volunteer
Recognition Committee and it was agreed that this should not be
a standing committee but rather the council as a whole should fulfill
this role.
Section member database
Ms. Kuhn reported that Ms. Cendagorta worked hard to create a searchable
database of section members' titles and talents. Recently, Ms. Kuhn
held a conference call with Jill Werner, staff director for NABE,
Ms. Cendagorta and Mr. Blake to discuss the details of how the database
will be updated and maintained. It was suggested that the section
sponsor an annual mailing to get updated information. Hard copies
of section members' database profile will also be distributed at
the annual workshop for updating. Ms. Kuhn noted that the other
NABE sections are excited about the database and she is optimistic
that it will drive traffic to the section's area on the Web site.
She thanked Ms. Cendagorta for her exhaustive efforts to develop
this database and the DBS staff, especially Brian Myers, for production
assistance.
2004 Workshop Report
Mr. Stanley gave a brief report on the 2004 Workshop, which will
take place from October 6-9, 2004, in Minneapolis. A contract has
been signed with the Hotel Crowne Plaza North Star. Mr. Stanley
said there is a workshop committee in place that consists of representatives
of the Hennepin County and Minnesota State Bar Associations as well
as Thomson-West, which is headquartered in Minnesota.
Recommendation for 2005 Workshop
Ms. Kuhn noted that Ms. Walker is interested in bringing the 2005
workshop to Florida. However, since the workshop generally moves
around the country and has not been held in the western part of
the U.S. since the Lake Tahoe workshop in 2002, it might be appropriate
to ask bar associations in the West if they would be willing to
host the 2005 workshop. Some suggested locations included Albuquerque,
N.M., Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Diego.
Web site link to West editorial content
Ms. Kuhn gave a report on a proposal that was previously approved
by the Executive Council to allow a link from the section's area
of the Web site to articles that would be made available by West
to bar associations that wish to run them in their bar magazines.
This is a six-month trial program. Ms. Kuhn said she is attempting
to contact Gretchen DeSutter of West to implement this program,
but has been told that Ms. DeSutter has turned it over to someone
else. She said she would follow up.
New Business
Division for Bar Services Report: Ms. Kuhn gave the
report on behalf of Ms. Werner. The NABE board of directors has
adopted a resolution to study the current model of two conferences
yearly and examine alternatives. Suggestions include scheduling
one national conference along with several regional conferences;
scheduling one conference and encouraging greater attendance at
section workshops; and scheduling two conferences, with one being
detached from the ABA meeting. NABE President-Elect Anne Fritz is
chairing a task force that is gathering information and defining
issues for the board to study. Important factors will include: does
this change improve the quality of our programming? Will this change
enable us to reach more members? Is it cost-effective? Ms. Kuhn
noted that the section should be involved in discussions regarding
the future of the two annual conferences. She said that Tim Hazen,
executive director of the Connecticut Bar Association, is the NABE
board's liaison to the section. Mr. Blake volunteered to speak to
Mr. Hazen and get an update on this issue.
Ms. Kuhn also said that Ms. Werner indicated that NABE has formed
a Web site Committee to discuss ideas to improve the NABE Web site.
Helen McDonald, executive director of the Rhode Island Bar Association,
is chairing this committee. One of its goals is to provide fresh
content for the home page. One suggestion is to ask bar communications
directors to contribute news about their respective associations.
Types of material that would be useful include: announcements of
new bar publications, programs or services, accounts of creative
solutions to common problems, new advances on bar Web sites, and
lawyer image enhancement campaigns. Another idea that was proposed
was to summarize tips from listserve discussions and share those
on the Web site. A sample document/policy library is also under
consideration.
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made,
seconded and adopted. The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Christopher G. Blake
Temporary Secretary
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