The following are highlights from the KCBA Board of Trustees meeting held on October 16, convened by KCBA President Erin Overbey.
The KCBA Board of Trustees held their Board meeting on October 16, 2024. After President Erin Overbey called the meeting to order, she welcomed the trustees, staff, and guests to the meeting.
The Board approved the meeting minutes for the September 18, 2024 Board meeting and, after discussion, unanimously approved the nomination of Benjamin Byers to serve a three-year term as a KCBA Board Trustee.
The New Lawyers Division (“NLD”) Chair, Amanda Simantov, reported on successful back-to-school happy hours for Seattle University and University of Washington law students, and a great turnout of about 150 new attorneys at the Swearing-In Ceremony on October 9, 2024. The NLD also planned on participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk and the KCBA New Member Mixer and Open House in October.
American Bar Association Delegate Kathleen Hopkins briefed the trustees on the ABA’s annual meeting, which took place in August, and talked about the work that the ABA Task Force did this last year regarding KCBA’s SCOTUS resolution. She shared some of the strategies the ABA Task Force have been discussing to supplement the KCBA resolution relating to President Biden’s requests regarding SCOTUS term limits and staggered appointments. The Task Force is holding off on actions relating to whether KCBA would take lead again pending the outcome of the November 5, 2024, election results. Discussions will continue in the coming months. Further, Ms. Hopkins informed the Trustees about a draft report proposed by the NY Bar that may form the basis for an upcoming resolution, which it will ask KCBA to co-sponsor at the February 2024 ABA Midyear meeting.
Neal Black, KCBA Treasurer presented the financials for the period ending September 30, 2024, and reported that both revenue and expenses are still below budget, and both are expected to increase as CLEs, events, and other activities pick up.
Ms. Schuster, Member Services Director, noted membership renewals have risen slightly from last year. In terms of events, 80 new members submitted RSVPs to attend KCBA’s New Member Mixer, and she notified the Board of the upcoming Bench Bar Conference scheduled for Friday, November 8, 2024. She also informed the Board that the staff are currently evaluating Lawyer Referral Service policies and procedures.
Pro Bono Service Director Judy Lin reported the Neighborhood Legal Clinics’ 50th Anniversary celebration had a great turnout to celebrate the milestone and all those who made the program what it is today. On the Housing Justice Project (“HJP”) front, she informed the trustees that Edmund Witter has two cases that will be argued to the Washington Supreme Court in November.
President Overbey reported that a draft administrative services agreement has been proposed for the HJP spinoff and will be shared at the upcoming HJP Board meeting for questions and feedback. A firm has been identified to help with obtaining HJP’s 501(c)(3) tax status, and the KCBA will pay for the services.
The Board then entered into an executive session until the meeting adjourned.
