Association Governance Report House of Delegates Wraps Up the 112th Annual Meeting Record Annual Meeting Attendance and Record Membership Numbers The Association’s House of Delegates met June 12, 2010, in Hot Springs with 2009-10 President Donna C. Pettus presiding. This was the final event of the 2010 Annual Meeting which had record attendance of 1,500 attorneys. President Pettus thanked Gwendolyn Rucker for her outstanding work as Chair of the Annual Meeting and Rosalind Mouser as Chair of the Underwriting Committee. Vicki Vasser, on behalf of Membership Development Committee Chair Brian Rosenthal, reported that membership exceeded 5,300 for the first time in Association history. Pam and Sam Gibson, Co-Chairs of the IT Infrastructure Committee, presented an update on the Association’s new website that became available for member use on June 5, 2010. President Pettus reported on another great experience at ABA Day sponsored by the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C. Jim Julian, Rosalind Mouser, and Pettus attended the event that allowed them to visit with Arkansas representatives in Washington. Lobbyist Jack McNulty updated the delegates on the outlook for the 2011 legislative session. Cliff McKinney, on behalf of Jurisprudence and Law Reform Committee Chair Dennis Zolper, presented the Association’s proposed 2011 Legislative Package. The House approved the five bills in the package which were: Uniform Principal and Income, Uniform Adult Guardianship, Revised Uniform Unincorporated Nonprofit Association Act, Revised Uniform Arbitration Act, and Revised Scire Facias (bill form) 03. The Package is available for viewing and comments at www.arkbar.com/pages/ ProposedLeg.aspx. Jim Julian provided a report on the Ark Bar PAC, which is working diligently to be more visible and to let members know how important PAC contributions are to the legislative process. President Pettus reported 38
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on the success of the 2010 Mock Trial Competition and encouraged members to participate in the coming years. Parkview High School competed in the national competition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 5-9, 2010. President Pettus announced that the Leadership Academy is on track to begin accepting applications this fall. The Academy’s mission is to create a diverse network of lawyers with the knowledge, skills and values to provide dynamic leadership to the profession, their communities and the state. The intensive five-month program kicks off in January 2011 with a leadership weekend and culminates with graduation at the 2011 Annual Meeting. More information on the Academy can be found on page 36 of this magazine and at www.arkbar. com/pages/leadershipacademy.aspx. The Delegates re-elected Tom Curry of Arkadelphia as the Association’s Secretary and William Martin as the Treasurer for 2010-2011. Charles D. Roscopf of Helena will again assume the office of Parliamentarian in 2010-2011. 2009-2010 Board of Governors Chair Frank Sewall presented the Charles Carpenter Award to Charles Harwell for his work as a member of the Finance Committee and as Chair of the Sustaining Member Committee. Delegates heard reports from 2009-2010 YLS Chair Anthony Juneau, ABA Delegates Carolyn Witherspoon and H.T. Moore, and Frank Sewall on behalf of Arkansas Bar Foundation President David Vandergriff. The following members were elected to serve on the Legislation Committee: Jay Scurlock, Aaron Squires and Kristen Pawlik. The following members were elected to serve on the House Advisory Committee: James McMennis, Keith Chrestman, Jay Shue, Elizabeth Smith, Marshall Prettyman, and Debby Thetford Nye. The following departing delegates were recognized for their service to the House of Delegates: Mitch Berry, Michelle Cauley,
“membership exceeded 5,300 for the first time in Association history” “the 2010 Annual Meeting had record attendance of 1,500 attorneys”
Earl Buddy Chadick, Robert Estes, Jr., David Glover, Jacob Hargraves, KaTina Hodge, Patrick McDaniel, Jerry Patterson, Matthew Shepherd, Jay Shue, Stephen Smith, Elizabeth Thomas Smith, Vicki Vasser, Jeff Wood and Marshall Wright. The following departing Governors were recognized for their service to the Board of Governors: Chair Frank Sewall, Immediate Past President Rosalind Mouser, YLS Chair Anthony Juneau, Arkansas Bar Foundation President David Vandergiff, Governors Causley Edwards, Charles Harwell, Roy Beth Kelley, and Tom Womack. Gwendolyn Rucker was appointed to fill Sean Keith’s at large position on the Board of Governors for one year as he takes the helm as Board of Governor’s Chair. President Pettus presented 2010-2011 President Jim Julian with the President’s pin and gavel and said the Association will be in good hands under the leadership of President Julian. Mr. Julian introduced Sean Keith as Chair of the Board of Governors and Tom Womack as President-Elect. The next meeting of the House of Delegates will be held at the Mid Year Meeting at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday, January 29, 2011. n