Legal Aid of North Carolina

Meeting Minutes - LANC Board of Directors
December 7, 2007

Site/Location: Hampton Inn
                      Goldsboro, NC

Call to Order and Welcome

Chairman Barfield called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m. and welcomed all in attendance to Goldsboro.

Members Present

Members Absent With Prior Notification

Approval of Minutes

Chairman Barfield directed the Board’s attention to the minutes of September 14, 2007.  Following review and discussion of the minutes a motion was made, duly seconded, and the minutes were UNAMANIMOUSLY APPROVED.

Chairman’s Report

Chairman Barfield reported that Cal Adams is working closely with the 4All committee and other fundraising efforts, which will be a focus during his tenure.  He stated that committee assignments have confirmed and that the committees have a larger number of members than in the past.  He stated that the committees are comprised of new and experienced members to bring about an increase in interest and durability for doing the work.

 President’s Report

George Hausen reported that LANC receives special funding to do domestic violence work.   He recognized TeAndra Miller, Project Manager and Managing Attorney for the Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative, to report on domestic violence work within LANC.  She emphasized the importance of domestic violence work in our state, and gave an account of the Battered Immigration Project.  This project works with immigrants on domestic violence and trafficking issues.  She announced that a domestic violence poster produced and distributed to each LANC office designed to increase awareness and availability for help for domestic violence victim.  These posters are in English and Spanish.  Ms. Miller also stated that the Governor’s Crime Commission recognized the DVPI Unit for its outstanding work in crime victim services with presentation of a plaque at its annual conference.

LANC has launched a Loan Repayment Assistance Program, LRAP, to assist its attorneys with repayment of their student loans. LANC has earmarked $250,000 in its budget for the repayment assistance and has partnered with NC Loan Education Assistance Foundation, (NCLEAF) to provide this additional benefit to its attorneys.  Newly hired attorneys can apply for this assistance after working with LANC for six months and they will need to stay for a minimum of three years in order to avoid repaying LANC for this assistance.

LANC has undertaken a new project through Volunteers for Income Tax Assistance program, VITA, to assist clients with the preparation and filing of 2007 tax returns to help our clients avoid exorbitant tax preparer fees and charges for a rapid refund.  LANC staff is being trained to complete and file the returns and approximately 10,000 North Carolina households are expected to benefit.  Along with LANC staff, private attorneys, law firms and law students have volunteered to help with this project. LANC is scheduling appointments for clients during four nights in January and February when the returns can be completed. Clients who may qualify to receive an earned income tax credit will be targeted by this project.

The Centralized Intake Unit, CIU, the call center for LANC that interviews new clients and provide advice and limited service, opened in April 2006.  CIU is providing an outstanding service and recently increased the number of counties from which it will interview clients.  The Unit has served approximately 7,000 clients in 2007 and its impact has been tremendous. CIU is expected to expand in the upcoming year.   

LANC’s pro bono coordinators continue to promote pro bono work in our communities by encouraging more private attorneys to participate.  Private attorneys interested in providing pro bono services are offered training in unfamiliar areas as well as the opportunity to call an experienced LANC attorney for assistance.  Pro bono opportunities other than handling cases are available, such as helping with clinics and co-counseling with LANC attorneys.

The Access to Justice Campaign, an outstanding fundraising effort by LANC and the private bar to provide more assistance to low income persons in NC, is well underway.  Janet Ward Black, President of the North Carolina Bar Association, has begun a fundraising campaign through her 4All Campaign that covers four areas-- donate, educate, legislate and participate.  The goal of this fundraising effort is to raise one million to fund the NCBA’s Endowment for LANC.  Also, LANC has created its own endowment with the NC Community Foundation and hope it can raise its targeted goal of one million.  Currently a part-time grant writer is being considered to increase the fundraising efforts for Legal Aid of North Carolina.

Mr. Hausen reported that several board members terms will expire in June of 2008.  Those members are: Scott Lewis, Frank Queen, Burton Craige, Willis Williams, Pearl Nealey, CR Ward, and Sarah Davis.  The Nominations Committee will begin its work to fill these positions.

Chairman Barfield recognized Lisa Morgan, Vice Chair, who reported that she recently attended the NLADA Conference.  She attended some interesting session related to diversity and disaster relief work. She learned much from the conference and appreciated the opportunity to attend on the Board’s behalf.  

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Client Affairs
Willis Williams gave the Clients Council report.  He reported that he and other members of the Clients Council recently attended the Region VI Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas and the NLADA Conference in Tucson, Arizona.  The experience was empowering and the presence of client involved in legal services work was tremendously inspiring.  Mr. Williams stated that the Client’s Council will continue to work with the NC Justice Center in the areas of focus started in 2007, education and community outreach.  He further stated that in 2008 the client’s council will address incorporating diversity within its membership.  Currently, the Client’s Council is composed of client members who serve on LANC’s Local Advisory Councils and clients who serve on the LANC Board. 

Finance Committee
Chris Marks was asked to give the Finance Committee Report.  Mr. Marks presented the proposed 2008 budget, found on Page 8 in the Board book, and asked the Board for approval.  Following discussion, it was moved, duly seconded and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the proposed budget as presented.  A copy of the budget is attached to these minutes.

Mr. Marks directed the attention of the Board to page 9 in the Board Book, and reviewed the 2007 Medical/Dental Plan Summary.  He further reviewed the changes to the 2008 Plan, also found on page 9, and the benefits summary found on Page 10 of the Board book.   There was no Board action taken. 

Personnel/Operations Committee
Celia Pistolis was asked to give the Operations/Personnel Committee report.  Ms. Pistolis directed the Board’s attention to the Resolution for Plan Amendment found on Page 12 of the Board Book, which had been reviewed by the Committee.  It unanimously recommended that the Board approve an amendment to the retirement plan that participants are able to increase, decrease or resume their elective deferrals from a quarterly basis to a payroll basis, effective July 1, 2007.  Following discussion it was moved, duly seconded and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve the amendment, as presented.  A copy of the approved amendment is attached.

The Committee had reviewed the Program Integrity Report for 2007 found on Pages 17 – 24, and unanimously recommends that the Board accept the Report and direct the Board Chair to certify that LANC’s Program Integrity is fully compliant with LSC Regulation 1610 and to issue the attached Certification of Program Integrity to LSC. Following discussion it was moved, duly seconded and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to accept the report as corrected and to direct the Board Chair to certify that LANC’s Program Integrity is fully compliant with LSC Regulation 1610 by issuing the Certification of Program Integrity. 

The Committee had reviewed LANC priorities as set out in the Priorities in Use of Resources, found on Page 25 and unanimously recommended the Board adopt the same for 2008. Pistolis explained that LSC requires the Board to establish case priorities annually and those Priorities require approval.  Following discussion it was moved, duly seconded and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to adopt the 2008 Priorities, as presented.  A copy of the Priorities, as presented, are attached.

The Committee discussed revising the Assets Policy found on Page 34 in order to simply the financial screening of clients.   The Committee unanimously recommended that the Board adopt the revised policy. Following discussion it was moved, duly seconded and UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to adopt the revised Assets Policy, as presented.  A copy of the Assets Ceiling is attached to these minutes.

New Business

There was no new business.

Adjournment

As there was no further business to be brought before the Board, Chair Barfield adjourned the meeting at 2:00 p.m.

___________________________

Phillip Leigh, Secretary
LANC Board of Directors