Meeting Minutes - LANC Board of Directors
June 20, 2008
Site/Location:
AmeriSuites - Atlantic Beach, Pine Knolls Shore, NC
Call to Order and Welcome
Chairman Glenn Barfield called the
meeting to order at 8:39 a.m. and welcomed all in attendance.
Members Present
|
Reid C. Adams
|
Sharon Greig
|
Pearl Nealey
|
|
Glenn Barfield
|
Shirley Jones
|
Paul Shepard
|
|
Thomas Berkau
|
Nellie Kearney
|
Rhonda Shepherd
|
|
Susan Perry Cole
|
Phillip Leigh
|
Alice Tejada
|
|
Burton Craige
|
Scott Lewis
|
CR Ward
|
|
Sarah Davis
|
Lisa Morgan
|
Willis
Williams
|
|
|
|
Diana Williams-Cotton
|
Members Absent With Prior
Notification
|
Charles Becton
|
Bill Lambe
|
Frank Queen
|
|
Helen Cook
|
Greg McDougal
|
Kristoffer Shepard
|
|
Celeste Harris
|
Ray Owens
|
Kyle Woosley
|
Approval of
Minutes
Chairman Barfield directed the Board’s
attention to the Board of Directors general business meeting minutes
of March 14, 2008. Following review and discussion of the minutes,
a motion was made, duly seconded, and the minutes were
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, as written.
Chairman's Report
Chairman Barfield recognized Dennis
Dorgan who reported on the progress of the LANC’s Access to Justice
Campaign. Mr. Dorgan highlighted the campaigns in the Triangle and
the Triad. The Triangle fundraising efforts have targeted
small firms and government lawyers as well as large firms in order
to meet its three-year goal of one million—a goal that appears very
reachable. Fern Gunn Simeon (small firms and government
lawyers) and John Sarratt (large firms) have raised approximately
$430,000 in cash and pledges. The majority of these
funds have been from private lawyers and large law firms. The
next phase of the Triangle Campaign is to focus its fundraising
efforts on corporate donations. The Triad campaign has been
spearheaded by Janet Ward Black and Andrew Spainhour. Their
efforts have generated approximately $122,000 in donations.
Cliff Britt, a Wake
Forest
alumnus, has pledged $100,000 to be used toward loan repayment
assistance for Wake
Forest
graduates employed with LANC. In addition to sizeable firm awards
from Womble Carlyle and Kilpatrick Stockton, an estate made an
unexpected donation of $50,000. The NCBA endowment fund is
approaching its fundraising goal of one million.
Chairman Barfield reported that the 2008 Legal Services statewide
conference was well attended and featured outstanding speakers and
sessions.
President’s Report
George Hausen, Executive Director of
LANC, reported that LANC has submitted the 2008 LSC funding
application, but no significant increase in LSC funding is
anticipated. Funding for foreclosure work has been requested
from the NC General Assembly. This funding is very important
given the number of foreclosures that have been and are expected to
be filed. Volunteer attorneys, including 150 members of the NC
Academy of Trial Attorneys, have been recruited and are helping
legal aid clients facing foreclosures.
LANC Management is considering an increase in the starting salary
for first year attorneys to $40,000 annually to approach the $45,000
starting salary now being paid by Virginia Legal Services.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Finance Committee Report
Assistant Director of Finance and Administration Chris Marks
presented the Finance Committee’s Report. He reported that the
Finance Committee met and discussed the 2007 Audit and the current
mid-year financials. Angie Goodwin and Mastin Simmons,
auditors from Romeo Wiggins, addressed the Board, speaking highly of
the LANC accounting staff, and reporting the audit findings received
a clean opinion in all aspects reviewed. Following discussion, it
was moved, duly seconded, and UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED, to accept
the audit report as presented.
Mastin Simmons reported that the annual case review audit required
by LSC was also very favorable. He stated that nine offices
were visited and 145 randomly selected case files were reviewed.
There were no missing case files or files missing required
documents. He reported that the LANC staff was knowledgeable
and attentive toward LSC requirements for managing and reporting
case information.
Chairman Barfield and the LANC Board expressed appreciation to the
LANC staff for an excellent audit report and their dedication and
hard work.
Nominating/Board Development Committee
On behalf of the Nominating Committee, George Hausen presented the
following slate of candidates to fill expiring LANC Board member
terms as designated: James Talley, Jr., IOLTA (one-year term); Auley
Crouch, North Carolina Bar Association (three-year term); Samuel
Johnson, NC Gay Advocacy Legal Alliance (three-year term); Mary Ann
Tally, NC Academy of Trial Lawyers (three-year term); Mary Flowers,
Statewide West Region Clients Council (three-year term); Dellarene
Myers, West Region Clients Council (three-year term); and Ellen
Shepperd, Northeast Region Clients Council (three-year term).
Also, the Nominating Committee was renominating Gregg McDougal, NC
Bar Association for a 2nd three-year term, and Nellie
Kearney, Triangle Region Clients Council, for a 2nd
three-year term.
Chairman Barfield added Celeste Harris for approval by the Board to
serve as the chair of the Finance Committee.
Following discussion, it was moved, duly seconded, and
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to approve James Talley, Auley Crouch,
Samuel Johnson, Mary Ann Tally, Mary Flowers, Dellarene Myers and
Ellen Sheppard to serve as LANC Board members for the respective
terms as designated by the Nominating Committee, to reappoint Gregg
McDougall and Nellie Kearney to three year terms respectively, and
to appoint Celeste Harris as Chair of the Finance Committee.
Operations/Personnel Committee
Celia Pistolis reported that the Operations/Personnel Committee met
by conference call and in person to begin its review of the LANC
priorities. This process was ongoing and the Committee expected to
have its recommendations to the Board at the December meeting. Also,
the Committee obtained the Local Advisory Reports in the Board
Notebook and directed the Board to review the same. The Committee is
reviewing the Local Advisory Guidelines for possible revision.
Client Affairs Committee
Mary Flowers, Chair of the Client Affairs Committee, reported that
the Client Council met yesterday and that Leo Allison and Celia
Pistolis had discussed the LANC election process for client eligible
board members. Debra Tyler-Horton facilitated the strategic
planning portion of the meeting. Ms. Flowers also reported that
the Region VI meeting is scheduled for September and that members of
the Clients Council are planning to attend.
Resource Development Committee
Paul Shepard, Chair of the Resource Development Committee, reported
that the Committee was recommending that an ad hoc committee be
formed to address the hiring of a full-time development director
position. Following discussion, it was moved, duly seconded
and UNAMAMIOUSLY RESOLVED to create a position for a
full-time development director and that a search committee be formed
to identity the qualifications and recommend a candidate to the
Board for approval. Board members were encouraged to call
Glenn Barfield and George Hausen with impact Board service issues.
The following out-going board members were recognized for their
service: Pearl Nealey, Scott Lewis, Burton Craige, Rhonda Shepherd,
and CR Ward. Willis Williams and Frank Queen were not present.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
___________________________
Phillip Leigh, Secretary
LANC Board of Directors
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