May 11, 2004

LARIMER COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

MINUTES FROM THE MAY 11, 2004 MEETING

AT CAFÉ BLUEBIRD AT 7:05 A.M.

ATTENDING:  Randy Starr, Ian McCargar, Dan Muffly, Linda Miller, Mason Mitchell, Jennifer Rice, Cathy Vlasak, Jeannie Drake and David Johnson

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  April 13, 2004, minutes were approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT:  Dan Muffly presented the CW Decker and Company Financial Report which reflected the January 31, 2004 balances as follows: 

            Legal Aid Checking Account                  $ 2,882.67

            General Checking Account                     28,893.57

            LCBA Raffle Account                               1,763.94

            Total Checking Account                       $33,540.18

            CD #6-FNB 04/18/04                         $ 16,642.32

            CD #3-American Bank 11/27/03            24,925.83

            CD #2-American Bank 10/10/03            21,797.15

            CD #4-FNB 02/07/04                            56,415.69

            Total CDs                                        $119,780.99

Dan indicated a need to transfer funds from the General checking account to the Legal Aid Account to cover up-coming expenses.  Discussion was on the need to get CW Decker to give us more current accounting information.  Dan will make the contact.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS:  Randy Starr gave the report.  Randy, Bruce Fickel and Zach Wilson attended the May 8 Board of Governors meeting.  Randy noted the Board gave endorsement to the Supreme Court to allow CLE credit for pro bono legal services performed.

YOUNG LAWYERS:  David Wyatt was elected the new Young Lawyers President.  Law Day was felt to be a success this year.  There were 105 paid attendees plus guests.  Of note, the Honorable Christine Carney was given the Jurist Award this year and John Sutters, U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, gave the keynote address.

The Young Lawyers are working on the fall term day event, which will be a wine and cheese tasting.  They will provide an update at the June Executive Meeting.

PROFESSIONALISM COMMITTEE:  The Ethics Seminar on April 14 was a success both by the number attending and the fees generated.  Eric Sunness in now the Chairperson of the Professionalism Committee.

WOMEN’S BAR:  Jennifer Rice gave the report on the Women’s Bar Association.  Election of Officers has been scheduled for the next general meeting.  The Women’s Bar is having a CLE in May with Magistrate Hartman as the presenter and then a CLE in June on Non-profit Corporations.

LEGAL AID:  Jennifer Rice presented the report.  Jennifer had some new handouts she is working on which show different services offered in our community.  These will be included in the upcoming Messenger.  Jennifer and Ellen Holmes will be attending the local Legal Aid Class to learn the process they use.  To help pro bono attorneys, Jennifer will develop a clause to be inserted in fee agreements on pro bono cases.  To encourage pro bono work, it was agreed to list attorneys in the Messenger who take pro bono cases.  To encourage greater participation in the Divorce Class, the customary $25.00 will be waived on a temporary basis from June through December 2004.  This was approved by the Executive Committee.  Finally, Jennifer has been working with David Bye to discuss how the Pro Bono Program can work better with Colorado Rural Legal Services to meet the needs of our community. 

LIBRARY:  Ian McCargar presented the report.  The Library Committee met last week.  There is discussion on making our Law Library a library by design and taking proactive steps to maintain certain types of research material that may not be available in the typical attorney’s office.  The Committee is also discussing making the Law Library a memorial Library in honor of a particular noteworthy attorney.

OLD BUSINESS:  Mason Mitchell reminded the group that the Pro Bono Malpractice Insurance Premium is due in June. 

The Executive Committee Retreat is scheduled for June 23, 2004.

NEW BUSINESS:  Discussion was held on the status of the Community Foundation Account which has a balance of $9,604.22.  Zach Wilson made a request to use this money as it was intended.  Randy Starr will look into using this account to hold both scholarship funds as well as the present funds, so we can close the Raffle Checking Account. 

The committee discussed the desire to continue the Scholarships.  A motion was made and approve to appoint Cheryl Van Ackern as chairperson of the Scholarship Committee.

The meeting was adjourned, with the next meeting scheduled for June 8, 2004.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted:

                                                                        Larimer County Bar Association

                                                                        David H. Johnson, Secretary