March 2000

Opportunities for Service

Service opportunities with WSBA committees, boards and organizations can be very rewarding. Please inquire and/or apply to the contact person specified.

WSBA mailing address
Washington State Bar Association
2101 4th Ave., Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98121-2330

The Board of Governors of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) is seeking applicants to serve as President for 2001-2002. Pursuant to Article IV(A)(2) of the WSBA Bylaws, the President's primary place of business is the area west of the Cascade mountain range generally known as Western Washington, but outside of King County.

Applications will be accepted through May 15, 2000, and should be limited to a current résumé, a concise application letter stating interest and qualifications, and no less than five or more than 10 selected references. Endorsement letters received by May 31, 2000 will be considered by the Search Committee and the Board of Governors. Applications and endorsement letters should be sent to the WSBA Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Fourth Fl., Seattle, WA 98121-2330.

Confidential interviews with the Presidential Search Committee will be conducted between May 16-31, 2000 at the WSBA office. In addition to these interviews before the Search Committee, candidates will be invited to the June Board of Governors meeting for an interview before the full Board of Governors in open session. Direct contact with the Governors is encouraged.

The person selected to be the WSBA President will have an opportunity to provide a significant contribution to the legal profession. While prior experience on the WSBA's Board of Governors may be helpful, there is no requirement to have been a Governor or to have 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 2000. The term as President-elect will begin at the Annual Business meeting in September 2000. In September 2001, at the WSBA's Annual Business meeting, the President-elect will assume the position as President of the Association. The President-elect will be expected to attend two-day Board meetings every six weeks, as well as attend numerous subcommittee, section, regional, national and local meetings. During his or her service, the candidate 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 must be devoted to communication by letter, e-mail, and telephone in connection with these responsibilities.

Presidential Search Committee:
J. Richard Manning, Chair
Daryl L. Graves
Stephen J. Henderson

Three positions on the WSBA Board of Governors will be up for election this year. Available positions are for Governors representing the 1st, 5th and 7th-West* Congressional Districts. They are currently held by Walter Krueger (1st District), John Powers (5th District) and J. Richard Manning (7th-West, formerly known as one of two King County at Large).

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 in which such member is entitled to vote by filing a petition signed by at least 20 active members of the WSBA currently entitled to vote in that district. All out-of-state active WSBA members are now eligible to vote in the district of the address of their agent within the state of Washington for the purpose of receiving service of process as required by APR 5(e), or, if specifically designated by the Executive Director, within the district of their primary Washington practice.

Nominating petitions are available from the Office of the Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Fourth Fl., Seattle, WA 98121-2330; 206-727-8244; e-mail: oed@wsba.org . The Executive Director of the WSBA must receive petitions by 5:00 p.m. on March 15, 2000. The Board of Governors determines the official dates of the election. Ballots are usually mailed around the first of June and counted approximately the first of July.

Note: The May issue of Bar News will include biographical statements of 100 words or less from all the nominated candidates. Those statements should accompany the nominating petitions.

*As per a bylaw change, the 7th Congressional District has been subdivided into three sub-districts East, Central and West. These sub-districts are distinguished by ZIP codes and will each have one elected governor. For the coming year, the West sub-district (ZIP codes 98013, 98070, 98106, 98107, 98116, 98117, 98119, 98121, 98126, 98133, 98136, 98146, 98199) will elect a new governor.

Application Forms Available for 2000-2001 WSBA Committee, Board and Volunteer Panel Appointments

The WSBA Committee, Board and Volunteer Panel application forms have been mailed to all active members. Replies are due by March 15, 2000. The Board of Governors makes its appointments based on these forms. Since appointments are reviewed and renewed annually, current members of committees, boards and panels who are interested in reappointment must submit a new application form each year. If you didn't receive the application form, please contact the Office of the Executive Director at 206-733-5905 or e-mail: oed@wsba.org.

Positions Available on ABA House of Delegates

Deadline: March 30
Two positions are available on the American Bar Association House of Delegates. The control and administration of the ABA is vested in the House of Delegates, the policymaking body of the ABA. The House, which has approximately 500 delegates, elects the ABA Officers and Board, and meets out-of-state twice a year. Delegate attendance is required. The WSBA's allowance is $500 per year per delegate. Members appointed to the House of Delegates serve two-year terms which begin at the close of the Annual Meeting (July 2000). Incumbents may be eligible for reappointment and must reapply.

Members interested in this appointment should submit a letter of interest and resume to: Executive Director, Washington State Bar Association, 2101 Fourth Ave., Fourth Fl., Seattle, WA 98121-2330 or e-mail: oed@ wsba.org 

The WSBA Legislative Committee is seeking new members. The Committee meets once in October and again in November, usually for a full day. Depending on work load, the Committee may also meet in December and January. The Committee deals with proposals for legislation that relate to the improvement of justice. It also reviews proposed legislation of interest to the Bar and the judiciary, and makes recommendations to the Board of Governors on positions to be taken by the Bar Association. Additionally, the Committee maintains liaisons with sections and other committees in order to coordinate the legislative activities of the WSBA.

Anyone interested in being considered for an appointment to the Legislative Committee should submit a letter of interest and résumé to: Executive Director, Washington State Bar Association, 2101 Fourth Ave., Fourth Fl., Seattle, WA 98121-2330. Materials must be submitted by March 31, 2000.

Applicants should include the following information in their submissions:

• Name
• Office address
• Nature of practice (including years in practice, size of firm and areas of expertise)
• Experience in legislative process
• Experience in state and local bar sections and committees
• Reason for interest in Legislative Committee

For more information, contact John Fattorini or Gail Stone at 360-943-9977; e-mail: legis@wsba.org.

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