Represent Your Bar Association as a Conference Delegate

Apply now for 2009 delegation.

Association members may apply for positions on the Association’s Delegation to the 2009 Conference of Delegates, which will meet September 11-13, 2009, in San Diego. The conference consists of approximately 500 delegates representing local bar associations from throughout California who meet annually to debate proposed legislative resolutions. As a corporation independent from the State Bar, the conference is funded mostly by individual contributions and grants. It continues to be instrumental in molding the State Bar’s legislative agenda in Sacramento. The Association sends approximately 60 delegates and alternates to the conference. Interested Association members should complete the application accompanying this story and include an idea for a new statute or for an amendment to a current statute.

Continuing delegates may suggest candidates for the Charles R. English Spirit Award, renamed in 1999 in memory of a previous delegate and recipient who personified the award. The Spirit Award recognizes a person who has been an inspiration to the Association Delegation and instrumental in promoting its interests.

Executive committee positions. The Association Delegation’s executive committee will elect an executive committee secretary and three executive committee members on October 30, 2008. Nominations are being accepted for these positions.

The secretary serves a one-year term beginning in November 2008 and succeeds to the positions of vice chair and chair. All applicants must have current or previous service on the executive committee. Nomination shall be by written self-nomination and must be received by October 30, 2008, by the current chair, Donna Hollingsworth, at the address that is listed at the end of this article.

To be eligible for executive committee membership, applicants (1) must have been a member of the Association Delegation for at least two years (not necessarily consecutive) and (2) shall not have served on the executive committee for any of the immediately preceding three years. Candidates are nominated by current executive committee members. Those interested may contact any executive committee member by October 30, 2008. Nominators must confirm to the secretary that they have personally verified the candidate’s eligibility and desire to serve, and that the candidate has been advised of the three-year term and other time commitments.

Candidates for the executive committee positions may send a written statement and/or resume, or have executive committee members endorse them. The terms of the three new executive committee members begin in November 2008 and end in fall of 2011.

Current executive committee. The executive committee members are Donna Hollingsworth, chair; James Gilliam, vice chair; Shirley Deutsch, secretary; members whose terms end in fall of 2009: Jeffrey Erdman, Phyllis Kupferstein, and Dennis Resh; and members whose terms end in fall of 2010: Lisa Berger, Jo-Ann Grace, and Mark Harvis.

For more information, contact Donna Hollingsworth at (626) 308-5434, astropaddy@msn.com or c/o LACBA, PO Box 55020, Los Angeles, CA 90055-2020.