1. CALL TO ORDER

President Jeffrey Portnoy called the meeting to order at 11:35 a.m.  No quorum was present at the time, but was established before the Board took any action.  The following persons were present for all or part of the meeting:

Officers Present
Jeffrey Portnoy
Robert Godbey
Hugh Jones  (by phone)

Directors Present
Steven Chow
Jackie Erickson
Gregory Frey
Geraldine Hasegawa
Louise Ing
Ronette Kawakami
Carol Kitaoka
Steven Songstad
Trudy Burns Stone  (by phone)
Suzanne Terada
Jodi Kimura Yi
Nichole Shimamoto
 
Board Members Absent
Nathan Aipa
Roxann Bulman
Alfred Castillo
Janice Kim
Jeffrey Sia

Others Present
Catherine Levinson
Aviam Soifer

HSBA Staff
Lyn Flanigan
Iris Ito
Debra White

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Minutes of the June and July board meetings were approved by consensus. 

3. TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Robert Godbey reported that the proposed 2008 budget, which the Board will vote upon at the September meeting, will include an increase in HSBA dues because of several factors:  the purchase of Casemaker as a member benefit; an operations deficit of $100,000; and a new staff position to handle member benefits and review of legal contracts.  Executive Director Lyn Flanigan added that reserves have been regularly used the last few years to cover operational expenses and are now reduced to the amount that the policy requires be kept in reserves. 

4. COMMITTEE/REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS

a.   Rule 17 Committee – President Portnoy reported that both the HSBA Committee and Judiciary Committee are moving forward.  A questionnaire to be sent to bar members regarding Rule 17 is being developed.  Board members had the following comments with respect to the questionnaire:  use the same SMS questionnaire from 7 years ago to easily compare the results of then and now; make title more positive and inviting; correlate points being made with each question; shorten the survey; if question is asked whether bar should be mandatory or voluntary, be sure to ask why; no sense in asking this question since most everyone is opposed to anything mandatory.

b.   Strategic Planning Committee – Retreat planned for September 15, 2007. 

c.   Japan Delegation - October 1st program on American jury system.

d.   Hawaii Idle Lawyers Dinner - President Portnoy urged all board members to attend and sell tickets.

e.   Bar Convention - arrangements made with Neal Katyal (Georgetown law school professor and lead attorney in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld) to be keynote speaker.

f.    Kona Courthouse Committee – meetings held with representatives of legislative and judicial branch; will next meet with executive branch.

g.   Wm. S. Richardson School of Law Dean Avi Soifer – Dean Soifer reported on law school activities: 88 new law students and 13 LLM students from 12 countries; new Associate Dean Linda Krieger; plans library renovation project; visiting professors for this fall and next spring; new evening JD program to take 24 students.

5. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Ms. Lyn Flanigan encouraged everyone to attend the October 26th bar convention including the luncheon with keynote speaker Neal Katyal.  She also noted that Na Loio and Domestic Violence Clearinghouse are having their annual fundraisers, and that the Access to Justice Hui is conducting focus group sessions throughout the community.  See written report for other HSBA activities. 

6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a.   Proposed Amendments to Rule 2  (see agenda item 6.a. and Exhibit B)

Action taken:  After discussion, a motion was made, seconded, and carried without opposition to support James Kawachika’s version of the proposed amendments to Rule 2.
 

7. NEW BUSINESS

a.   Pro Bono-Service Award Nominations  (see Exhibit C) 

Action taken:  A motion was made, seconded, and carried without opposition to approve the Selection Committee’s nomination of the Pro Bono-Service Awards to Irene Anzai and to John Lim posthumously.  The awards will be presented at the annual meeting luncheon at the bar convention. 

b.   Proposed Amendment to Co-sponsorship Guidelines and Section 10.3 of HSBA Board Policy Manual  (see agenda item 7.b. and Exhibit D) 

Action taken:  After further discussion, a motion was made, seconded, and carried without opposition to approve the Executive Committee’s recommendation to adopt amendments to section 10.3 of the Board Policy Manual to reflect the current practice of communicating by email rather than mass fax.

c.   Annual Fundraiser Dinner  (see agenda item 7.c.)

Action taken:  A motion was made, seconded, and carried without opposition to approve the Executive Committee’s recommendation to adopt an amendment to section 2.1G of the Board Policy Manual as a result of a legal opinion recommending a restructuring of the relationship between Hawaii Justice Foundation and HSBA that deletes the reference to HJF with respect to HSBA’s fundraising event.  The beneficiary of the 2007 dinner will be limited to the HSBA Public Services Fund.

8. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 1:07 p.m.

Submitted by:

Lyn Flanigan
HSBA Executive Director

Approved by:

Hugh R. Jones
HSBA Secretary