Meeting Minutes

NABE Communications Section Meeting
Thursday, August 5, 2004
Stockholm Room Convention Level
Marriott Marquis Hotel
Atlanta, Georgia

Present were:

Cynthia Kuhn, D.C. Bar
Chris Blake, Connecticut Bar Association
Susan Andres, Alabama Bar Association
Rene Eishem, Kansas Bar Association
Emily Eastin, Columbus Bar
Yvonne McGhee, Fairfax Bar
Kelley Jones King, State Bar of Texas
Ken Brown, Ohio State Bar
Debbie Weixl, ABA Division of Media Relations
Francine Walker, The Florida Bar
Christina Morganti, State Bar of New Mexico
Brad Carr, New York State Bar Association
Jill Werner, ABA Division of Bar Services
Christine Cendagorta, Washoe County Bar Association
Betty Braden, State Bar of Wisconsin
Mark Mathewson, Illinois State Bar Association
Arlene Abady, Colorado Bar Association
Sharon Nolan, Chicago Bar
Judson Haverkamp, Minnesota State Bar Association
Barry Kolar, Tennessee Bar Association
Carol Manning, Oklahoma Bar Association

Outgoing Section Chair Cynthia Kuhn called the meeting to order and turned the meeting over to new Section Chair Susan Andres.

Susan Andres reported that the theme for her year as chair is to be listening - listening to what members have to say. She asked, "What can the section do to help you do your job even better?" and asked members present to e-mail her their responses.

Strategic Planning Committee - Susan Andres reported Dan Cirucci and Elizabeth Derrico have volunteered to work on this project to take the recommendations from the 2003 membership survey created by Chris Blake and to develop the information obtained into a long-range plan. Chris Blake said the committee will get together in the fall via conference call.

Luminary Awards - Susan Andres reported Matt Silverman will be the new committee chair. Mark Mathewson reported to help boost the number of entries that he will develop marketing materials.

Volunteer Job Descriptions - Susan Andres reported board members and committee chairs will be asked to document their responsibilities to facilitate leadership transitions each year. Jill Werner will maintain a copy of the information submitted.

Section Listserv - Susan Andres urged all members to utilize the section listserv, which is one of the section's most valuable benefits because of its ability to reach so many people and to receive responses quickly.

Communications Audit Service & Publications Counseling Service - Susan Andres reported the section was going to refocus on a past service of providing bar associations with a communications audit upon request. The service could be limited to sending publications to a team for advice and recommendations for improvements.

Minutes - Christine Cendagorta moved, Yvonne McGhee seconded to approve the minutes from the section's last meeting February 6, 2004 in San Antonio, Texas. Motion passed.

Treasurer's Report - Treasurer Francine Walker reported the section has 184 members and a healthy balance of $15,198 in the section's account as of May 31, 2004.

NABE Chair - NABE Chair Tom Pyrz dropped into the section meeting. He thanked the section for its assistance in developing meeting programming and complemented Cynthia Kuhn on a job well done during the past year.

Introduction/Announcement of Section Council Members -
Colleen Buggy, Ohio State Bar Association
Mark Mathewson, Illinois State Bar Association
Chair Susan Andres stated that Matt Silverman, State Bar of Arizona, will fill the unexpired term of Joe Conti, who has resigned from the council because of his new position as New Mexico Bar Association executive director.
Daniel Cirucci, Philadelphia Bar Association
Emily Eastin, Columbus (Ohio) Bar Association
Rene Eichem, Kansas Bar Association
[Note to Susan - Colleen & Dan were not at the meeting; special notation needed - or not?

Membership Committee - Yvonne McGhee thanked her fellow committee members for their efforts. She reported they will assign buddies to first timers at the upcoming section workshop. Also to facilitate section members getting to know one another better, round table discussions will be held on Friday of the workshop. She said the membership brochure is in production, but graphic design assistance is needed. She said a ribbon for section members will be produced to wear on name badges at NABE meetings. Yvonne said she will again chair the committee for the coming year.

2004 Workshop: Minneapolis - Susan Andres reviewed the details about the Oct. 6-9 workshop. Its theme will be "Make Tracks to Minnesota! Where Creative Ideas Run Wild." Information already been distributed to members.

2005 Workshop: Orlando - Francine Walker reviewed the details for the workshop to be held Sept. 28 - Oct. 1 2005. The hotel will be the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort. The rate will be $169 per night, which is a good rate for that time of year.

Newsletter - Chris Blake shared details about the problems encountered in trying to produce the section's newsletter. He said it was his goal to get the newsletter out as soon as possible. He thought his graphic designer would be able to do the design, and he asked for content contributions.

Appreciation to Out-going Section Chair - Chris Blake reviewed section accomplishments achieved during the past year and attributed those successes to the leadership of Chair Cynthia Kuhn. Cynthia was thanked with thunderous applause. She acknowledged the expression of appreciation and said the section would be in good hands with its new leader, Susan Andres.

Division for Bar Services Report - Jill Werner reported the Communications Section has sparked changes to be made at NABE meetings that will focus more on job responsibilities and provide more time to interact with colleagues. She asked the section for its help in planning future programming. She also asked the section to come up with a plan for its financial reserves. She said one of the speakers for the Minnesota workshop has written an article that will be published in the next issue of the Bar Executive electronic newsletter. She reported Christine Cendagorta will serve on the NABE Program Committee. Debbie Weixl, with the ABA Division of Media Relations reported lawyer bashing is back. She is concerned about the negative media and will share the ABA message platform with section members via the listserv. She also said the ABA has published a new book on America's lawyer presidents, and review copies are available.

The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,
Carol Manning, Secretary