Solo and Small Practice Section
Minutes of Executive Committee
December 13, 2007
Committee Members Present: Dirk Bartram, Julie Fowler, Bruce Gardiner, Ann Guinn, Steve Crossland, Siri Quigley, Kinnon Williams, Dan Fiorino, Steve Dixon, Robert Mannheimer
WSBA Staff Present: Toni Doane
1. Review and approval of minutes
2. Subcommittee updates
a. Website Bob and Dan - still working on bids
b. Education / CLE Ann
c. Listserv / e-letter Julie proposed service for e-letter
d. Legislative Steve & Kinnon still in formation
3. Debrief of Section Leaders Meeting Bruce and Steve
4. Retreat - Ann
a. Location - Inn at Port Hadlock, meeting time and purpose
b. Section vote to pay for spouses meals during official retreat meals unanimously approved
5. CLE - Ann
a. You asked for it Volume 2 February 15
6. Solo and Small Firm Conference
a. July 17 19, 2008 Wenatchee
i. Talk with Jon Redenbaugh about what $4,000 receipt sponsorship means
ii. Vote to approve sponsorship of $4,000, with annual meeting unanimous
b. KCBA S&SM wants a table at S&SP. Consensus that we dont think it would be appropriate.
7. Website Report
a. Dan will post listserv request to section members re: website content
8. Listserv Report Toni
9. Treasurers Report - None
10. Ways to Serve our Members Toni
Planning for 2008
1. Ways to serve our members:
a. Newsletter identify editor, outsource desktop publishing & printing survey
b. Website content updates / satellite website for e-newsletter (Intl Law Section)
c. Mini CLEs hold annual meeting and conduct mini-CLE after
d. Mid-year CLE meeting,
e. Hold section meeting during mid-year or annual meeting
f. Brown bag lunches / lunch CLE at law firm
g. Reasons to check back to the website regularly
h. Law student outreach
i. Publications for members (Business law ethical responsibilities) but also sell through WSBA
j. Co-host events with other sections, collaborate on legislative or other issues
k. Quarterly meetings, annual party meeting / election
l. Forums bring in speakers
2. Website
a. Content
b. Design
c. Links court rules, documents
d. Hosting
3. Legislative Committee
a. Establish a process for reviewing issues
b. Seeking section/board approval
c. Process for formally responding to legislative issues
4. Section Events
a. Meet and greet events
b. State-wide quarterly meetings
October 25, 2007
Committee Members Present: Dirk Bartram, Julie Fowler, Catherine Noonan, Bruce Gardiner, Ann Guinn, Steve Crossland, Siri Quigley, Kinnon Williams, Dan Fiorino, Steve Dixon, John Mitchell
WSBA Staff Present: Toni Doane, Pete Roberts
1. Introductions
a. New member introduction and orientation
2. Subcommittees
a. Website none of the committee members present (Cathy, Bob, Pete). Discussed content and format
b. Education / CLE Ann - Winning Strategies January 11, February you asked for it CLE look at member survey for CLE content
c. Listserv / e-letter Julie WSBA delay in migrating and Lyris listserv, e-letter
d. Legislative Steve RPC 1.15a update discussed looking into preadmission requirements
3. Budget Bruce reviewed current and projected budget
4. Sub-Committee appointments
a. CLE / Education John, Ann, Jan, Bruce, Kinnon
b. Website Cathy, Bob, Pete, Dan
c. Listserv / E-letter Julie, Dirk, Siri
d. Legislative Steve C, Kinnon, Steve D
5. Website
a. Members area of practice
b. News / activities
c. CLE / Seminar schedules
d. Members only form bank / e-letter
i. Forms discussion - email Cathy with form suggestions. Cathy should email Doug Lawrence & Doug Becker of family law section
ii. Look at current website and make suggestions
6. E-Letter
a. Quarterly aiming at Jan 1 for first issue, published either through list serve or blast email
August 24, 2007
Committee Members Present: Dirk Bartram, Julie Fowler, Catherine Noonan, Bruce Gardiner, Ann Guinn, Steve Crossland, Robert Mannheimer
WSBA Staff Present: Toni Doane, Pete Roberts
1. Review & Approval of Minutes
2. EC Elections Update Ann & Julie
a. Slate of Candidates provided to Committee
b. Revised schedule to mail out ballots
c. Deborah Lazaldi voluntarily removed from committee due to health issues.
d. Discussed how to fill her open position
3. Change to RPC Steve
a. Reported by email. No further action at this time.
4. Website / Listserv Catherine
a. Update on meeting with Web Developer
b. Subcommittee Robert & Catherine Action items:
i. Research domain names.
ii. Propose website content, features & capabilities
iii. Determine Cost of development
iv. Provide resources for Web hosting services
c. Listserv still have 2 list serves Julie to talk to Bri about moving to Lyris
5. Conference Recap
a. Follow up on who signed up at conference.
b. Bob to draft welcome letter to new members.
c. Discussed welcome package.
d. Toni will generate list of new sign-ups.
6. Winning Strategies Ann
a. November 7, 2007 CLE
b. Discussed including new lawyer admittee preadmission requirements
7. Proposed MCLE rule changes - Ann
a. BOG changed language proposed by Section.
b. Issue is now gone to Supreme Court for review. Not fast tracked.
c. Next steps
i. Get other organizations involved
ii. Make specific language recommendation
d. BOG liaison Toni to notify us who this is
e. Dirk to send letter to every section chair, county bars, WSTLA, minority bars
8. Treasurer's Report - Bruce
9. Change Meeting Days
a. Proposal to change meeting days to Thursdays approved
June 29, 2007
Committee Members Present: Dirk Bartram, Julie Fowler, Catherine Noonan, Bruce Gardiner, Ann Guinn, Steve Crossland, Bob Mannheimer, Pete Roberts
WSBA Staff Present: Toni Doane
1. Agenda approved, reviewed treasurer's report
2. Solo Small Practice Conference
a. Booth will have computer with section website up
b. Printed section material brochure, applications, committee sign-ups
c. Table shifts, name tags, pass out section info
i. Pete's staffer will prepare name tags
ii. Julie to get candy & bowl for booth
iii. Thursday: 3:15 3:35 Julie , 11:15 Julie & Deb; Friday: 7:30 8:15 Bob & Catherine, 9:45 10 Ann & Dirk, 11:45 1 Ann, 11:45 1:15 Julie, 7:45 8:00 Catherine; Saturday: 9:15 1:25 Dirk & Bob
d. Reception- Dirk to make an announcement Thurs Night 5:45
e. Reimbursement lodging for Thurs night and mileage
3. Logo
a. Reviewed logos, chose colors, made changes
b. Julie to work with designer on changes
4. Brochure
a. Reviewed and revised content, discussed printing in time for conference
5. Sub-committees
a. Agreed on section sub-committees
b. Conference will have sign-up sheets & descriptions of committees
6. Nominating committee John, Julie, & Ann
a. Toni sent out balloting info invite people at conference to run for election
b. 4 open positions and Bruce's seat will be up for election. However, the Treasurer position will not be up for a vote in the general election. Only ExCom members are elected at the general election. The ExCom members elect the officers, such as Treasurer.
c. Group 1 Dirk & Bruce
d. Group 2 Julie, Steve, Bob, Catherine, John
e. Slate by 8/1
f. Mail ballots 8/15
g. Counting ballots 9/1
h. Inform section membership 9/3
i. Notification to slate by 9/5
j. Tabled discussion on subscriber seats to see if we need to amend by-laws to address elections, by laws may need to be amended to make a correction to reflect prior changes.
7. Listserve
a. Bri Orlebeke discussed the WSBA listserv conversion.
b. WSBA is moving to LYRIS List Manager
c. Robert Way will be our section moderator
8. Website / E-letter
a. still need bids for website design - Catherine Noonan will follow up on this and report at the next meeting
b. no report on e-letter
9. Update on MCLE reporting - Ann
10. New Business - Steve
a. Discussed how we as a section want to address changes to RPC 1.15a safeguarding client property. We will address this at the next meeting.
April 20, 2007
Committee Members Present: Dirk Bartram, Julie Fowler, Catherine Noonan, Bruce Gardiner, Ann Guinn, Pete Roberts, Jan McKean
WSBA Staff Present: Toni Doane
1. Agenda: Agenda approved. Minutes of January 27, 2007 approved as amended.
2. TARRTF: Ann Guinn
1. Update on committee work - breakdown of groups presenting options to BOG, issues revised by the committee
2. Ann sent out questionnaire again and received some more responses
3. Treasurer's Report: Bruce Gardiner
1. Discussed section membership numbers (355 plus subscribers (non-attorneys)
2. Reviewed 2007 budget.
3. Discussed budget for 2008
4. Bruce will provide proposed budget
4. Special Projects:
1. Membership recruiting using postcard announcements
2. Section Brochure - Bruce suggests outsourcing development and printing of brochure
3. E-Letter needs formatting (i.e. headers) so it is recognizable as our publication and easy to contribute content too.
4. Develop law school outreach programs for law students, assist in bridging the gap from law school to practice.
5. Outreach to Paralegals individual section membership and programs with paralegal association. Possibly send speakers to their programs
6. Creation of sub-committees to carry out ideas and projects of the section.
7. Update website and add features to list serve to increase usage of both.
5. Goals for the section to focus on and complete:
1. Brochure
a. Layout and content - Julie to put together content for brochure, get bids for copywriters, and email to group for comment and approval
b. Printer Jan and Ann can provide bids
2. Website / eLetter
a. Graphic designer for website Catherine to get bids for web designers
b. Ideally graphic designer can do eLetter and brochure template the format should be the same
c. Julie to post request for graphic designer on the listserv
3. List serve Dirk and Julie to speak with Robert Way about moderating and combining list serves
6. EC Elections Board members:
1. Under new bylaws election to happen September 2007
2. Discussed how to advertise and carry out elections.
a. May be able to do it electronically if Lyris is operational in time for elections. Otherwise we'll do paper ballots.
3. Discussed positions up for election:
a. 4 open positions
b. 1 incumbent up for election Bruce
c. Up to 11 total board members Rob, Catherine, Julie, Steve, and John will not stand for election
d. The Chair position would normally be up for election this year but as allowed by 9.3 of the Bylaws Dirk is serving two consecutive one year terms. The Chair position will be up for election next year.
4. Appointment of Nominating committee
a. Ann, Julie and John Mitchell will be nominating committee
b. Committee will appt. chair
7. List Serve: Toni Doane
1. WSBA moving Yahoo groups into internal listserv
2. Committee needs to appt moderator
3. Lyris multiple list serves, online voting, publish notices
8. Solo Small Firm Conference:
1. Issues to be addressed before conference - increased section visibility at the conference, booth and reception, drawing for tuition
2. Discussed having sub-committee sign-up lists available
3. Committee approved offering an extended membership to anyone joining the Section at the conference, or as a result of the conference. Anyone joining at the conference or immediately thereafter will have membership in the Section for $25 that will not expire until the end of our year in 2008.
Jan 27, 2007
Annual Retreat - Semiahmoo WA
Committee Members Present: Dirk Bartram, Chair, Deborah Lazaldi, John Mitchell, Julie Fowler, Steve Crossland, Catherine Noonan, Robert Mannheimer, Bruce Gardiner
Non-Attorney Members Present: Ann Guinn, Pete Roberts, Dave Bilinsky (guest)
1. Agenda: November 10, 2006 minutes approved. This meeting is in lieu of Jan 12 meeting
2. Review of EC membership duties:
1. Attend 5 of 6 meetings and perform 4 hours of work between meetings
2. Attendance by telephone at meetings is fine
3. Non lawyers do not have a vote by bylaws of the WSBA. But their input is highly valued in this group
3. WSBA Demographics
1. How many lawyers are in solo and small firm practice and in what areas:
2. Each quarter the WSBA publishes the demographics
3. King County is about ½ of active members of the WSBA
4. 22,000 active members in the state
5. Over ½ members are in firms of 5 or under
6. If you include firms up to 10, then 2/3 of the membership practice in solo or small firms
4. Nomination and Election of Officers:
1. Dirk is Chair. There is no Chair-Elect, Secretary or Treasurer.
2. Secretary would take minutes and bring the minutes and bylaws to the meetings. Julie Fowler elected
3. Treasurer would receive the quarterly financials from the WSBA, and prepare the annual budget for circulation. Bruce Gardiner elected
4. Chair-Elect would take Dirk's position. Postponed to later meeting
5. Review of Survey by Education Sub-committee:
1. Education sub-com last year surveyed our members and asked what kinds of info do you want?
2. Enough people responded to be useful.
3. We have tried to develop education programs. We did a survey here are the high points:
a. Human resources:
i. Setting salaries and benefits
ii. Performance evaluations for staff
b. Facilities
i. Leasing equipment
c. Technology (big topic)
i. Best Hardware and software
ii. Records mgmt
iii. Increasing Efficiency and Productivity
iv. Going Paperless
v. Developing a disaster plan
d. Finance
i. Measuring your progress using benchmarks
ii. Understanding your financial stmts
iii. Setting appropriate billing rates
iv. Managing your cash flow
e. How to Market Your Practice
f. Personal Planning/Professional Protection
4. Ann was asked to summarize the top five issues from the survey:
a. How to stay out of trouble.
b. Marketing and cash flow.
c. Best hardware and software.
d. Records retention and management.
e. Safeguarding your work product.
6. MCLE Accreditation
1. Objective: Get the WSBA to change the rule that you can't talk about how to make money or improve the cash flow of your practice to get MCLE Credit.
2. General consensus on moving ahead to secure MCLE credit for finance and marketing topics on CLE's. Secure LOMAPS' support and present a united position.
3. Review of Regulation 11 APR (admission to practice rules) dealing with legal education.
5. Chairman appoints an exploratory committee to explore obtaining MCLE credit for finance and marketing CLE Topics.
a. Explore to determine what the source and reasons for the MCLE prohibition (APR 11, paragraph (d)(2)).
b. Let us know about Bruce's recommendation to approach other committees.
c. Look at the position of other states.
d. Draft alternative language to the APR.
7. By-laws:
1. Voting members are licensed lawyers. Trying to get associate members as full voting members, but the WSBA would not approve this.
2. Executive members are now elected by the members at large.
3. Each term is 2 years. Voting EC terms are staggered. Group 1 and Group 2. Members who have been here go into Group 1, and the ones who have just joined would be in Group 2.
4. 11 members max, but non-voting members don't count in this limit.
5. Immediate past-chair can stay on for a 1 year term.
6. Subcommittees:
A. Website Subcommittee - Pete Roberts, Bob Mannheimer, and Catherine Noonan
1. Reviewed the web site:
a. Need more photos
b. Resources on fee agreements
c. Links to ethics opinions and cases on fee agreements
d. Talked about different resources that could be added to the web site
e. Clean up the web site (outdated stuff)
f. Sample engagement/non-engagement/disengagement letters
g. Links to staffing issues and temp resources
h. Trust account information
i. Insurance Info
j. Software
k. Links to RPC 1.5 and 1.15
l. Links to info on persons in the military on active duty
2. Discussed using Lyris software to bring listserv in-house with the WSBA and off of Yahoo.
B. List serve/ eLetter Subcommittee - Dirk Bartram, Steve Crossland, and Julie Fowler
1. Listserv Larry and Julie have been emailing on this. Robert Way wants to be a part of this. Was to do an eLetter to members. Put out a paper newsletter in the past but was dropped. Ann was to put out the first article. Bruce volunteered next October.
2. Subscribe everyone to the list who joins the section with the option to opt out.
C. Education/CLE Subcommittee - Ann Guinn, Jan McKean, Bruce Gardiner, Deborah Lazaldi and John Mitchell
1. Develop programs for members - Discussion and Suggestions:
a. Queries for CLE topics
b. Hold CLE's outside of Seattle (video conferences?)
c. CLE's as lunch time offerings streaming video (bar does not have this capability yet)
d. Put together resource lists
e. Develop an experts list
f. EC to serve on Solo and Small Firm conference planning committee (we have 3)
g. Offer scholarships
h. Member Benefit CLE
i. CLE on how to handle state taxes
j. Develop Questionnaire on future CLE's
k. Using outside entities to enter into partnerships and jointly host/present CLE's.
l. Three events: The seminar, winning strategies, and the Conference.
m. Solo and Small Firm Conference overview of Conference sessions.
n. Offering a package program for the county bars.
o. Video tape CLE and put it on the web site.
p. Local brownbag lunches
q. Self-study CLE on the web
r. Submit a column in the bar journal and if not used, we can post it on our web site (and try to develop this into a regular feature)
s. Bring in a national speaker to draw people to our CLE's
D. Membership Committee - Discussion of having a membership committee.
1. Discussed the lack of tools to reach out to people. Discussion of going to the law schools and reaching out to people
2. Discussion of how to deliver products and address the people who needed the help the most
that is when the focus came, what info do they need etc.
9. Update on CLE:
1. New person in CLE department she has turned to us and asked how we want to market the conference.
2. Ann and Bruce have said market to the sections that have overlap with solos and small firms. Now Ann is looking at the membership count by section should also include immigration law section, etc
Ann will call Toni Doane and see if there is remedial marketing possible to the sections not already on the marketing list.
3. Winning Strategies in the fall. Steve has been part of this for some time.
10. Solo and Small Firm Conference:
1. July 12, 13 and 14 Ocean Shores. Motion approved that the board will finance mileage and one night's accommodation for EC members to attend the reception.
2. Discussed program speakers, location, cost, etc.
3. Discussion of offering some sort of financial help to members or new members to attend the Ocean Shores CLE.
4. Logistical impediments to offering discounts to attend CLE's? Current surplus is $29,500. Certainly have the funds to offer a discount.
5. Robert offers that we consider applying what can be done to lower the CLE costs for section members. Education committee to consider this issue and report back to the Board.
11. Law School Outreach Pete Roberts was contacted by Seattle University to provide a program or services to students.
1. Discussion
a. Discounts on CLE's
b. Membership in the section
c. Outreach to law schools
d. Shadow a lawyer for a day
e. Networking opportunities
f. perhaps a roundtable with YLD
2. Follow-up - Pete Roberts will get back to Betsy at Seattle University for more information
12. TARRTF:
1. Meeting has been postponed to next month.
2. Ann sent out an email asking listserv members to answer three questions. How do you handle:
a. Advance fee deposits
b. Retainers
c. What happens if the client is fired or leaves?
3. Julie will encourage people on the listserv to complete the questions
13. Budgetary/Fiscal Matters:
1. 2007 budget was not done with a sharp pencil prepared by the WSBA.
2. 330 members, reserve is up to $29,000.
14. Thank you letter:
1. Larry has retired. Ann will draft a letter to be signed by Dirk and sent to Larry.
15. Annual Meeting Notes
1. Reimbursement Policy for Semiahmoo. Bar pays for tonight for lodging on the master account.
2. Round trip mileage is included.
3. No meals. Tonight's meal for members are covered, but guests are not to the room charge.
4. We are at the Great Blue Heron Restaurant down Semiahmoo Way. Meet at 6:30 dinner at 7:00 pm.
5. Future Meeting Dates:
a. Fridays, downtown Seattle, 12-2 pm. Place to be announced.
b. Dates: April 20, June 29, Aug 24, Oct 26, Dec 14, Jan 25, 2008 proposed Semiahmoo date.
November 10, 2006
The Executive Committee met in Seattle, WA on November 10, 2006. Chair Dirk Bartram called the meeting to order at 12:20 PM. Attendees included Robert Mannheimer, Ann Guinn, Jan McKean, Pete Roberts, John Mitchell, Bruce Gardiner, and Catherine Noonan in person, and Larry Juday and Julie Fowler via telephone. Toni Doane had a calendar conflict and did not attend; Joseph Rockne and Deborah Lazaldi were similarly not in attendance.
1. Review of Minutes: Minutes of the meeting of 9/15/06 were reviewed. It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes as written. The motion passed.
2. Solo and Small Firm Conference: The Chair asked Ann Guinn, who is on the Conference Steering Committee, to report. She noted that John Redenbaugh, WSBA CLE Department, has invited the Section to again sponsor the Conference welcoming reception at a cost of $4,000. Ann noted that sponsorship would give the Section the opportunity to have a Section member make welcoming remarks to the assembled guests, to be recognized by the WSBA as a sponsoring organization, and to have a display table in the Exhibit Hall. Following discussion, it was moved that the Section again sponsor the Conference Welcoming Reception at a cost of $4,000. Following further discussion, the motion was seconded and unanimously passed.
3. Review of EC Expectation of Members: For the benefit of new members, The Chair reviewed the expectations for membership on the Executive Committee. The primary expectation is regular attendance at bi-monthly meetings, which is defined by attendance at 4 of the 6 meetings each year. Also, all EC members are expected to participate in at least one sub-committee, which typically requires an average of approximately 5 hours of work between Committee meetings. Bruce Gardiner then explained the history of the SSF section and its precedent section (Law Practice Management Section). The main focus of the section is to provide information about topics of interest to solo practitioners and members of small (10 or less attorneys) firms. The EC meets bi-monthly, and included in this is an annual retreat at the resort at Semiahmoo. The focus of the retreat is long-range planning.
The Section participates in planning/presenting two CLE's each year. One is sponsored jointly with the WSBA, and is entitled "Winning Strategies", aimed primarily at new lawyers. In the past, the second CLE, the LOMI Expo, has been presented collaboratively by the Section and the Association of Legal Administrators. Since the LOMI Expo has now been discontinued, the second CLE is now being planned and will be offered by the Section with ALA involvement. It is set for February 22, 2007.
The Section's Mission Statement was discussed, and the Section's goals for 2006 were reviewed. There are 3 standing sub-committees of the EC:
Website
Education/CLE's
Listserv & e-letter
New Section members were asked to join one of these sub-committees, and the following discussion sub-committee assignments were determined to be the following:
Website: Pete Roberts, Bob Mannheimer, and Catherine Noonan
Listserv/e-letter: Dirk Bartram, Larry Juday and Julie Fowler
Education/CLE: Ann Guinn, Jan McKean, Bruce Gardiner and John Mitchell
4. CLE Update: Bruce reported that "Winning Strategies" went well this year, although attendance may have been slightly lower than in previous years. This event serves to expose new Bar members to the Section, inasmuch as it is a co-sponsor.
The stand-alone CLE is scheduled for February 22, 2007, and the title is "You Asked For It 8 Things Solos Want to Know" and the topics are based on the results of a survey of potential topics that the EC sent to all section members. The sub-committee planning this event is looking for 2 more speakers in order to round out the roster of presenters, one to address the issue of personal information devices (e.g. Treo, Blackberry, Palm Pilot, etc.), and one who can address the issues of safeguarding client, attorney and financial information.
5. Trust Account Taskforce Update: Ann Guinn reported on the most recent meeting of the Task Force, and their discussions of how fees paid in advance should be handled by attorneys. The Section's recommendation has been invited, so Ann polled the membership and elicited 14 responses as a result. There was no consensus among responders, which illustrates the difficulty the Taskforce faces in addressing the confusion the currently exists among the state's attorneys. Pete urged the EC to prepare a response to the Taskforce's statement of the issues. Ann then agreed to send the list of issues to EC members asking for comments. She will compile these and share the results at the EC's next meeting.
6. Setting calendar for 2007: The next meeting was set for Friday, January 12, 2007. At the January meeting dates for all subsequent 2007 meetings will be set.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan E. McKean
September 15, 2006
The Executive Committee met in Seattle, Washington September 15, 2006. Chair Dirk Bartram called the meeting to order at 12:45.p.m. Attendees included Pete Roberts, Ann Guinn, Toni Doane*; Larry Juday and Bruce Gardiner participated by conference call. Josie Townsend and Jan McKean did not attend.
* Toni had a commitment that required her to leave at 1:00 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS. Chair, Dirk Bartram, noted the meeting commenced 45 minutes late due to technical difficulties in connecting telephone attendees. Dirk further noted the need of Bar Liaison Toni Doane to leave at 1:00. He recommended rearranging the order of agenda times to assure Toni's input. The Chair further noted receiving the email resignation of Committee member Robert Way. Committee members acknowledged the resignation. After brief discussion Ann Guinn suggested a letter of appreciation.
MINUTES. The Committee reviewed the minutes the July 7, 2006 Executive Committee meeting and adopted the minutes upon the motion of Bruce Gardiner and the seconding of Dirk Bartram.
SECTION BYLAWS. The Chair explained that Section 7.7 of the proposed Section Bylaws includes a statement that can be interpreted as inconsistent with the open-meeting provisions of the WSBA Bylaws. Bruce Gardiner made a motion to strike the offending statement. The motion was seconded by Larry Juday. The motion carried; the proposed Section Bylaws will be forwarded to Washington State Bar Association for approval.
CONTINUING BUSINESS MATTER.
1. Posting Minutes. Pete Roberts announced that current Executive Committee minutes are posted on the Section web page. Members agreed to maintain a rolling set of minutes, retaining only the most recent four to six.
2. Committee Vacancies. Each Committee member reported contacting prospective Executive Committee members. Dirk Bartram announced that Josie Townsend provided him a sample "welcome letter" that includes language inviting new members to serve as committee member. Ann Guinn and Larry Juday have lists of prospective EC members they will circulate to Committee members for comment.
3. CLEs. Ann Guinn announced the results of a Section Member survey soliciting member comments for proposed CLEs. The survey identified eight topics of strong interest to members. Ann fashioned the topics into a proposed CLE outline and submitted the proposal to WSBA for approval and comment. Ann announced that a co-chair will be needed and explained that a February 2007 presentation is probably optimum and will not conflict with the Annual Solo and Small Practice CLE scheduled for July 12-14, 2007 at Ocean Shores. The Chair proposed all Executive Committee members attend. Ann again emphasized the immediate need for additional CLE Committee members especially persons with CLE experience.
4. List Serve. Larry Juday reported contacting Robert Way by email on August 11 requesting Robert's assistance in simplifying the list serve sign-up process. Larry sent a second request September 6. Robert responded by providing html code to be add a "join" button to the web page. Larry forwarded Robert's response to Pete, who stated he will review it and try to get it incorporated into the web page.
5. Newsletter Coordination. Larry Juday reported contacting WSBA on August 24 for guidance concerning procedure for publishing/dispatching a Section electronic newsletter (e-letter). Larry discovered that WSBA has the capability to email all members and selected members through "broadcast" email, but that broadcast-email does not accommodate attachments (such as newsletters). Larry also confirmed that WSBA does not "approve" newsletters as such, but rather conducts a "review" first by the legal department (Bob Weldon) and then by Communication (Judy Berrett), after which the letter can be distributed.
6. Newsletter Distribution. Following Josie Townsend suggestion, Larry Juday contacted WSBA, obtained a list of SSP Section members, and forwarded copies to each Executive Committee member for review. Over 90% of Section members reported email addresses. After discussion, members concluded that an effective method of distributing an electronic newsletter could be to post the newsletter on the Section website, then inform members of the newsletter by broadcast email. After discussion about the purpose and content of the electronic newsletter, a majority of Committee members endorsed proceeding quarterly publication. Ann Guinn volunteered to produce the January 2007 (first) edition. Other commitments included: April 2007 edition - Pete Roberts; July 2007 edition - Dirk Bartram, and; October 2007 edition Bruce Gardiner.
7. Web page Management. Pete Roberts emphasized the need to overcome inertia and get protocol in place to exploit the benefits of the Section web page. He outlined topic such as "news of interest" with links to timely topics (i.e., changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct), and providing multiple avenues of communication through timely postings. Web page management is still unresolved. Pete reported contact with Family Law website manager Doug Becker, and found the discussion inconclusive. Ann Guinn suggested investigating how the ALA maintains its website. Pete is familiar with the part of the ALA arrangements and suggested that some parts might be adaptable for the SSP Section.
SPECIAL REPORT. Ann Guinn and Pete Roberts reported on their representation at Trust Accounts Responsibilities and Retainers Task Force (TARRTF) conference, the trust force that is reviewing attorney trust account matters. Pete explained some of the background events leading to the creation of the task force. He noted the purpose is to determine how to handle money paid in advance of work to be performed by an attorney, with a key question being: "When is a fee earned?" The question is related questions arose after the withdrawal of Formal Opinion 186 in the wake of the DeRuiz disciplinary matter. Ann emphasized the need for "stakeholder" input for the upcoming October meeting. Dirk Bartram added that this is a suitable topic for posting to the Section web page.
NEXT MEETING. The next Solo and Small Practice Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for noon, November 10, 2006, in Seattle at the Washington State Bar Association office.
ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Larry Juday
Acting Secretary
July 7, 2006
The Executive Committee met in Vancouver, Washington on July 7, 2006. Dirk Bartram called the to order at 12:10. Attendees included Pete Roberts, Ann Guinn, Josie Townsend, Larry Juday, and Bruce Gardiner (by conference call). Robert Way and Jan McKean did not attend.
MINUTES. After discussion, the Committee reviewed and approved the minutes of the May 19, 2006 meeting.
ANNOUNCEMENT.
1. Resignation. Dirk Bartram confirmed that Executive Committee members received the May 25, 2006 e-mail announcing the resignation of Section Chair Skip Mayhew. Section Bylaws provide that the Chair Elect will perform the duties of the Chair and will succeed to the office of Chair. Upon motions duly carried, members voted to accept the resignation and to confirm Chair Elect, Dirk Bartram, as Chair.
2. Section Secretary-Treasurer. The Chair announced that Ann Marie Sargent would not be available to serve on the Executive Committee, thereby leaving the Section without a Secretary-Treasurer.
3. Section Bylaws. On July 6, 2006, Committee members were advised by e-mail of a proposed change to Section Bylaws. The proposed change amends Subscriber-voting to conform to WSBA Bylaws. The Committee reviewed and approved the proposed change.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
1. Executive Committee Vacancies. Committee members discussed ideas for identifying and attracting additional Executive Committee members. Dirk Bartram suggested each Executive Committee member talk to at least one prospect about serving on the Committee. Josie Townsend suggested the Chair send a "welcome letter" to new members that included an invitation to serve as a committee member.
Josie Townsend noted WSBA maintains a master list of SSP Section members that includes the member's e-mail address and that WSBA can provide a list to the EC. The list could be used to send Section members an e-mail announcement about Executive Committee vacancies. Committee members also discussed the possible need to send an e-mail announcement to as few as 50 members at a time to avoid triggering spam filter programs. There was additional discussion concerning using the web page and the list serve as a means of communicating the EC openings.
2. CLE. Josephine Townsend announced that the CLE Committee recently distributed a survey to SSP Section members. Survey results are expected to aid in identifying topics of interest to members so those topics can be incorporated into CLEs.
Ann Guinn stated the CLE committee is already preparing and promoting the Annual Solo and Small Practice CLE scheduled for July 12-14, 2007 at Ocean Shores. She emphasized the need for the Section to sponsor at least one CLE annually; she also explained the importance of participating in CLEs sponsored by others.
Executive Committee members Josie Townsend, Jan McKean, and Ann Guinn are the only persons presently serving on the Section CLE committee. There is an immediate need for additional CLE Committee members especially persons with CLE experience. Ann announced the Bar Association recently authorized two additional positions for Solo and Small Practice Section members on Bar CLE Steering Committee. Ann added that a through active participation on the Bar Steering Committee, the SSP Section could help assure CLEs include the best speakers and programs.
Ann also emphasized the need to schedule and present a CLE prior to the end of the calendar year. She noted WSBA must approve the CLE date and that scheduling might be difficult because there are many CLE scheduled during the last quarter of the calendar year. Pete Roberts added that WSBA is relocating in December, an event that could also affect scheduling.
3. List Serve. Ann noted that EC member Robert Way previously reported 44 Section members had subscribed to the Section list serve. Larry Juday noted that at least 25 individual members have participated to date. Subscribers are actively assisting one another by sharing information. Bruce explained that during a recent four-day period list serve participants exchanged information about locating a notary public (3 communications), generating clients (6 communications), and creating a website (7 communications).
There was discussion about ways to encourage more members to subscribe to the list serve. Several Committee members noted the act of subscribing is somewhat complicated and unreliable, possibly limiting the number of potential subscribers. There was a general consensus that the list serve can be an important Section member benefit, that a key first-step in providing this benefit is to make it easy to sign up, and that we need to provide simple, step-by-step instruction and post those instructions on the Section web page. Larry offered to contact Robert Way on this matter.
4. Newsletter. Committee members resumed discussing a Section newsletter in an electronic or a printed/published. An "electronic" newsletter (e-letter) is thought to be faster and less expense to produce and distribute than a printed/published newsletter. A limitation of the e-newsletter is that not all members have e-newsletter capability. Ann Guinn noted that a printed/published newsletter typically requires formal reviewing and editing, and can take many weeks to write, edit, coordinate, print, and distribute.
Dirk Bartram observed that to produce a quality printed/published newsletter the Section will need the services of a qualified editor/publisher. Dirk added that without an editor/publisher, the Executive Committee must manage the process with each member taking responsibility for preparing an article. There followed a discussion of how to recruit an editor/publisher.
5. Website. Pete Roberts reported progress in updating the Section web page. He explained he submits changes to Becca Smith of WSBA Community Relations. He commended Becca for her timely and accurate work. Dirk Bartram reminded committee members that Pete personally maintains the LOMAP web page and cannot be expected to continue supporting the SSP Section web page; the Section must acquire the services of a dedicated web-page manager. This point led to further discussion about identifying and hiring a website manager, including a suggestion by Josie Townsend that she contact the Family Law website manager, Doug Becker, for recommendations.
SEPTEMBER MEETING. The next Solo and Small Practice Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for September 15, 2006.
ADJOURNMENT. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Larry Juday
Acting Secretary
