I.
The Board of Directors of the South Carolina Women Lawyers
Association met in
President, Alice Paylor; President-Elect, Rosalyn W. Frierson; Treasurer, Toya Hampton Green; Secretary, Mary Elizabeth Crum; Immediate Past-President, Kathy Helms; Cherie Blackburn, Julie Jeffords Moose, Stephanie Nye, Mary Hewlette, Stephanie Borsanyi, Sarah Leverette, Jenny Anderson Horne, Cheryl Bullard, and Marguerite Willis.
Elaine Fowler and Leah Moody participated by phone.
Others present: Webmaster, Eleanor Kellett, and Administrator,
Angel Warren.
II.
The Minutes of the
III. Treasurer’s Report. Toya Hampton Green. Toya reported that we had $38,000 in our account, that we have had few expenditures so far this year and that 2006 has been a good year for membership. Toya included in her report the Regional Budgets from last year as an approximation for 2006. Regions are allotted $5.00 per member to use for regional events, and this amount does not carry over to the next calendar year. Sales from the Ladder Pins were a new source of revenue, and it was determined that since we are an exempt organization, we are not required to charge sales tax. Our tax preparation for 2005 has been completed and since the accounting firm of Pratt-Thomas & Gumb has done our taxes as a courtesy for the last four years, a profile of this firm would be included in an upcoming issue of the Briefcase, as a way of thanking them. This idea was moved and approved. Several board members commented on the fact that this accounting firm offered excellent litigation support for attorneys.
IV. Regional Reports. President Paylor renewed her proposal that each Region invite all women attorneys in their area to a “Social,” and noted that SCWLA’s general account (after the savings from publishing the Briefcase online) would pay for these events. Such events would provide regional networking opportunities for current members and would make SCWLA more visible to potential new members. Board members were asked to make a special effort to attend these events around the State. Cherie Blackburn, Julie Moose, Leah Moody and Cheryl Bullard volunteered to plan Socials in their regions, and Liz Crum volunteered to find someone to plan a Social in Beaufort. President Paylor was in favor of planning whatever events would encourage women (or men) to join SCWLA and cause them to get involved. Stephanie Borsanyi volunteered to look into finding a date when SCWLA could take the opportunity to man the phone banks for an ETV fundraiser. The Administrator volunteered to ask Bob Wells at the SC Bar to provide us with contact information to reach all women lawyers throughout the State.
President Paylor requested that Regional Representatives forward reports on their Region’s activities to the President-Elect, prior to each board meeting.
Low Country: President Paylor reported that their
region continued to have monthly lunch meetings on the third Wednesday of every
month with varying speakers. The Low
Country Region also continued to have a mentor-mentee program with the
Media Reports.
Website. Webmaster, Eleanor Kellett. The summer edition of the Briefcase (in color) will be posted on the website and we will listserv our members a link to the online newsletter. Eleanor Kellett passed around a mock-up of the upcoming edition of the Briefcase. Also, Toya Green reported that she would be putting together an online Directory for members who want their areas of practice listed on the website.
Briefcase.
Nancy Layman could not be present but President Paylor took the
opportunity to thank
V.
Committees.
President Paylor requested that Committees seek regional
diversity so the entire state would be involved in the various activities. Committees were asked to plan statewide
activities with expenses to be covered from the general account.
a. Membership. Natalie Bluestein could not be present.
b. Career Development. Stephanie Nye reported that she was ready to send out the letter to new admittees, to ask them if they would like to be paired with a mentor, and the new SCWLA brochure would be included in this mailing. The potential mentor list has already been compiled. President Paylor recommended that follow-up letters be sent to mentors and mentees, six months after the initiation of the relationship to assess the status of the program. Leah Moody suggested that we consider partnering with the Young Lawyers Division of the S.C. Bar for various activities involving new admittees. Jenny Horne suggested that SCWLA possibly consider co-hosting the new-admittee reception with the YLD and working with YLD on determining future mentoring pairs. President Paylor said the potential could be explored.
c.
2006 CLE. In
d. Editorial Committee. President Paylor reminded everyone that all listservs are sent through the administrator – who sends them out after getting permission – usually from the President.
e. Supreme Court Trip 2006. Liz Zeck. Monday May 15th is the swearing in date. Liz reported that 27 were signed up for the trip, all arrangements had been made, and accommodations would be at the Hotel George. The group had plans to attend a reception on Saturday, a dinner on Sunday, and a breakfast on Monday. Liz also noted that there was still room for a few additional participants to sign up.
f. Bylaws. Elaine Fowler is Chair. There was nothing to report at this time.
g. Awards and Nominating Committee. Chair, Liz Crum. Regarding the Bissell award, Liz reported that one remaining issue was whether to carry over nominations from the previous year. It was suggested that nominations could carry over if the nominator’s permission was received and they were afforded the opportunity to update their submission.
h. Documentary. Kif Cook, Chair. Mary Hewlette reported that she had spoken with producer, Cindy Tew, who put Mary in touch with Andy Hunt who has the master copy. Andy told Mary that he believes that the film is not too far removed from being ready to come back to us, and possibly being reformatted for ETV. President Paylor asked Mary to contact Kif Cook to get an understanding of the copyright issues that remain a major concern.
i. Community Outreach. Tara Shurling could not attend but sent a message that she was interested in doing a fundraiser for charity in connection with the October CLE. The Midlands Region was working on plans to request charitable donations at various luncheons. Other suggestions included working on projects to support breast cancer awareness, and heart health, etc.
j.
k. The Ladder Group. Bebe Barton has volunteered to continue to Chair the Ladder Group, but could not be present. The goal of the Ladder Group is to improve the number of women in leadership positions, including judicial positions, elective office, boards and commissions, etc. Resumes, for our resume bank are essential so that when a position becomes available, we know exactly who to recommend.
VI. New Business.
VII.
Member News.
President Paylor announced that the Congaree Council of the Girl
Scouts was honoring Sarah Leverette with their “2006 Woman of
Distinction” Award, and that Bebe Barton was now on the Board of Governors of
the S.C. Bar. President Paylor also
asked anyone interested in being on the Board of Governors to contact her,
because there was going to be an opening soon, and she would be happy to submit
their name. It was suggested that an
article describing exactly what the House of Delegates and Board of Governors
do, should be published in the Briefcase to inform our members and
encourage them to get involved. President
Paylor reminded everyone to continue to look for opportunities to promote
women.
VIII.
Next Board Meeting:
IX. Adjournment. There being no further business, a motion was made to adjourn. It was seconded and voted upon favorably