February 2004

Opportunities for Service

2004 Notice of Board of Governors Election
Deadline: March 1, 2004

Four positions on the WSBA Board of Governors will be up for election this year. These are the governors representing the 2nd, 4th, 7th-Central,* and 9th Congressional Districts. These positions are currently held by Jon E. Ostlund (2nd District), Robert M. Boggs (4th District), Carl J. Carlson (7th-Central District), and Bryce H. Dille (9th District).

The WSBA Bylaws provide that any member in good standing, except a member previously elected to the Board of Governors, may be nominated for the office of governor from the congressional district (or geographical region within the 7th Congressional District) in which such member is entitled to vote. Nominations are made by filing a statement of interest and a biographical statement of no more than 100 words.

Generally, members are entitled to vote in the congressional district in which the member resides. All active out-of-state WSBA members are eligible to vote in the district of the address of their agent within Washington for the purpose of receiving service of process as required by APR 5(e), or, if specifically designated to the executive director, within the district of their primary Washington practice.

Nomination forms are available from the Office of the Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; 206-727-8244; and the WSBA website at www.wsba.org/info/bog/2004+nomination+forms.htm. The WSBA executive director must receive nomination forms by 5 p.m. March 1, 2004. The Board of Governors determines the official dates of the election. Ballots are mailed April 15 and counted approximately May 15.

Note: The biographical statements of nominated candidates will be published in the April issue of Bar News.

* The 7th Congressional District is divided into three subdistricts — East, Central, and West. These subdistricts are distinguished by zip codes, and each subdistrict has one elected governor. For the coming year, the central subdistrict (zip codes 98101, 98102, 98103, 98104, 98108, 98109, 98111, 98112, 98114, 98124, 98134, 98138, 98148, 98154, 98158, 98161, 98164, 98166, 98168, 98174, 98181, 98184, 98188, and 98191) will elect a new governor.

Call for Applications for One of Two Board of Governors At-Large Seats
Deadline: March 1, 2004

To increase member representation on the Board of Governors, the WSBA Bylaws provide for two at-large seats. The full text of the bylaws can be reviewed at www.wsba.org/bylaws. One of those seats is up for election to a three-year term commencing at the close of the annual meeting in September 2004.

Persons interested in filling an at-large position should submit a letter of application. The deadline for receipt of applications at the WSBA office is March 1, 2004. The Board of Governors will elect the at-large governor at their meeting on June 11, 2004. The application should include a statement addressing how the applicant believes he or she meets the intent specified in Article III, Section M. There is no intent that these seats are dedicated to or rotationally filled by any one element of diversity or group of members.

(Excerpt from the WSBA Amended Bylaws, Article III, Section M)
M. ELECTION OF AT-LARGE GOVERNORS. Any active member of the Bar, except a member previously elected to the Board of Governors, may apply for the office of At-Large Governor. Filing of applications shall be in accordance with Section C of this Article, except that any candidate who has run for and failed to win a Congressional District position in that election year may supplement his or her application to run for an at-large position within 7 calendar days of the announcement of the election results.

At the regularly scheduled June meeting of the Board of Governors following the regular election of Governors from Congressional Districts, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, the Board of Governors shall elect additional Governors from the active membership at-large. Election may be by a secret written ballot. There shall be two at-large Governor positions to be filled with persons who, in the Board's sole discretion, have the experience and knowledge of the needs of those lawyers whose membership is or may be historically under-represented in governance, or who represent some of the diverse elements of the public of the State of Washington, to the end that the Board of Governors will be a more diverse and representative body than the results of the election of Governors based solely on Congressional districts may allow. Under-representation and diversity may be based upon the discretionary determination of the Board of Governors at the time of the election of any at-large Governor to include, but not be limited to, age, race, sex, geography, areas and types of practice, and years of membership, provided that no single factor shall be determinative.

Members interested in the at-large position on the Board of Governors should submit a letter of application and résumé to the Office of the Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; oed@wsba.org.

WSBA Presidential Search
Deadline: May 15, 2004

The WSBA Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the position of WSBA president for 2005-2006. Pursuant to Article IV (A)(2) of the WSBA Bylaws, the primary place of business of candidates for president for 2005-2006 must be Western Washington (outside King County). The WSBA member selected to be president will have an opportunity to provide a significant contribution to the legal profession.

Applications for 2005-2006 WSBA president will be accepted through May 15, 2004, and should be limited to a current résumé, a concise application letter stating interest and qualifications, and no fewer than five or more than 10 references. The Presidential Search Committee and the Board of Governors will consider endorsement letters received by May 30, 2004. Applications and endorsement letters should be sent to the WSBA Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330.

Confidential interviews with the Presidential Search Committee will be conducted May 17-31, 2004, at the WSBA office. Direct contact with the governors is also encouraged. All candidates will have an interview with the full Board of Governors in open session at the June meeting. Following the interviews, the board will select the president.

Although prior experience on the WSBA's Board of Governors may be helpful, there is no requirement that one must have been a member of the Board of Governors or had previous experience in Bar activities. The candidate must be willing to devote a substantial number of hours to WSBA affairs and be capable of being a positive representative for the legal profession. The position is unpaid. Some expenses, such as WSBA-related travel, are reimbursed.

The commitment begins in June 2004 following selection. A one-year term as president-elect will begin at the Annual Business Meeting in September 2004. The president-elect is expected to attend the two-day board meetings held approximately every six weeks, as well as numerous subcommittee, section, regional, national, and local meetings. In September 2005, at the WSBA Annual Business Meeting, the president-elect will assume the position of president. During their service, the president-elect and president will also be required to meet with members of the Bar, the courts, the media, and public and legal interest groups, as well as be involved in the Bar's legislative activities. Appropriate time will need to be devoted to communication by letter, e-mail, and telephone in connection with these responsibilities.

The duties and responsibilities of the president are set forth in the WSBA Bylaws.

Presidential Search Committee: Robert Boggs, Chair; David Savage, President; Andrea Brenneke; Bryce Dille; Randolph Gordon; Fawn Sharp.

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