The convergence of tax season and the Spring Board of Governors meeting has me running way behind schedule in getting out a preview of the April 16, 2011, meeting. There are only a couple of items on the agenda that will require board action. But, as my learning curve on my first year on the board continues, I'm finding that sometimes some thorny issues erupt during the meeting that don't appear overtly on the agenda.
2011-12 Dues Recommendation
One dues-related item up for consideration is to increase dues by $2, from $236 per year to $238. This seems be a de minimis increase and dues have held steady at $236 since 2008. The dues amount for inactive members would be set at $119.
The Treasurer's Report contained in the February 14, 2011, Executive Committee minutes noted that dues have not been indexed in recent years due to surpluses in the operating budget that eventually will be depleted. Small, incremental increases in dues over the next several years would be an option to get back to an indexed model, so that a substantial increase would not be necessitated by a depletion of reserves.
According to the draft minutes of the Finance Committee meeting, which was held on February 25, 2011, the committee decided to recommend increasing dues by $2 after a discussion that included consideration of the Board of Governors' recent decisions to help fund the BASICS program and current economic conditions. Some programs have been carried in the State Bar's budget the past two years due to the loss of IOLTA funds to the Georgia Bar Foundation, but for which dues indexing has not occurred.
The Finance Committee recommendation to increase dues by $2 included a concurrent requirement to the State Bar staff to decrease the first draft of the 2011-12 operating budget by $160,000, which is the equivalent of $4 per member.
Other dues related issues on the BOG agenda include section dues, assessments required by bar rules and check offs for the Legislative and Public Education Fund and the Georgia Legal Services Program.
Law Related Education Resolutions
The other action items on the agenda relate to resolutions honoring two late Court of Appeals judges, the Hon. Debra Bernes and the Hon. John H. Ruffin.
Legislation
A timely agenda topic, given that the Georgia General Assembly just adjourned on April 14, 2011, is a legislative update.
The State Bar's Legislative Program has reports on the recently completed legislative session, which you can find on-line at this link. http://www.gabar.org/programs/legislative_program/
Recognition of Retiring Board Members
Fifteen members of the Board of Governors who are retiring from service will be recognized. These include two from the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit: Johnny Mason, who has served twelve years on the board, and Tara Lee Adyanthaya, who has served two years on the board. Thank you to you both for your service to the legal profession.
Don't forget that there are contested elections underway in the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit to fill each of their seats. (That's in addition to a contested race for secretary of the State Bar.) You can find information on the candidates at this link: http://www.gabar.org/news/vote_here_2011_state_bar_of_georgia_election_information/
Votes must be cast by May 2 and results will be available May 13.
Lawyers Without Rights Exhibit
The Spring board meeting is being held at the State Bar headquarters in downtown Atlanta. As a result, we will also be able to check out the Lawyers Without Rights Exhibit that is showing from April 13 to April 22 on the third-floor of the Bar Center. This exhibit, which is in conjunction with the German Federal Bar Association, provides the historic account of the lives and fates of Jewish lawyers during Nazi rule in Germany. You can find more on the exhibition at this link: http://www.gabar.org/news/state_bar_hosting_lawyers_without_rights/
Katie Wood
Stone Mountain Circuit, Post 1
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