FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 5, 2006 

Contact: Judith Berrett    
Director of Member and Community Relations
206-727-8212; judithb@wsba.org

WSBA Board of Governors to Meet in La Conner, December 8-9

Seattle, Washington, December 5, 2006 — The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Board of Governors will hold its next meeting on December 8 and 9 at the La Conner County Inn. Eron Berg, of Mount Vernon, who represents members in the Second District, will welcome the Board to Skagit County. The public meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and from 1:15 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

On Friday’s agenda will be reports from several WSBA groups: the Environmental and Land Use Law Section (Chair Michael Rissotto, of Mountake Terrace, and Immediate Past-Chair Barbara Dykes, of Everett, presenting); the Continuing Legal Education Committee (Chair Jennifer Willner, of Bellingham, presenting); and the WSBA Leadership Institute (Chair Ronald Knox, of Seattle, presenting). Immediate Past-President S. Brooke Taylor, of Port Angeles, will report on the work of the Executive Director Task Force (WSBA Executive Director M. Janice Michels is retiring in May).

The Board will consider two recommendations from the WSBA Amicus Brief Committee, that the WSBA file amicus curiae briefs. One matter is in In re marriage of King, pending before the Court of Appeals, Division I. The issue concerns the right to court-appointed counsel in certain non-criminal proceedings. The other concerns a request from the Court of Appeals, Division I, that the WSBA file an amicus brief in three consolidated cases: Grateful Siding, Inc. v. Roosevelt, LLC & Steinvall, Inc.; Colonial Dev. LLC v. Emily Lane Homeowners; and Chadwick Farms v. F.H.C., addressing five questions related to limited liability companies.

The Board will consider a resolution supporting a Statement of Legal Profession Principles — Immediate Past-President of the American Bar Association (ABA) Michael Greco is hoping that every bar association in the country will adopt these principles. The Board will also vote on whether to cosponsor a resolution to be submitted to the ABA House of Delegates to adopt a Model Rule on Provision of Legal Services Following Determination of a Major Disaster. Also on the agenda is a report from WSBA Director of Lawyer Discipline Anne Seidel.

Joining the Board for Friday’s luncheon will be Skagit County Bar Association President Wendy Wall, of Mount Vernon, and Vice-President Jason Powers, of Mount Vernon.

Also on Friday, in preparation for the upcoming legislative session, the recommendations of the WSBA Legislative Committee will be presented to the Board for approval. Legislative Committee Chair Klaus Snyder, of Sumner, and WSBA Legislative Director Gail Stone will discuss the recommendations with the Board. Friday’s session will conclude with a workshop on “effective boards,” facilitated by Susan Coskey, of the Seabold Group.

Saturday will begin with a facilities report from WSBA Deputy Director Paula Littlewood and a report on fiscal matters by WSBA Treasurer Eron Berg. WSBA Committee for Diversity Co-chairs Lael Echo-Hawk and Frederick “Rick” Rasmussen will update the Board on the Committee’s work. The Board will also discuss judicial-election issues.

About the Washington State Bar Association
The WSBA is part of the judicial branch, exercising a governmental function authorized by the Washington State Supreme Court to license the state’s 29,800 lawyers. The WSBA both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. As a regulatory agency, the WSBA administers the bar admission process, including the bar exam; provides record-keeping and licensing functions; and administers the lawyer-discipline system. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member-service activities.
 
The governance of the WSBA is vested in its Board of Governors. There are three governors from the seventh congressional district; one from each of the other eight districts; and three at-large members, one of whom represents the Young Lawyers Division. The 2006-2007 president is Ellen Conedera Dial, of Seattle. The 2006-2007 president-elect is Stanley A. Bastian, of Wenatchee, and the immediate past-president is S. Brooke Taylor, of Port Angeles. The Board meets regularly (every six weeks) at various locations around the state, and its meetings are open to the public. Much of the work of the Bar is carried out through 23 standing committees; 26 sections; and a Young Lawyers Division, with its many committees.

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