SC BAR

The Solo and Small Firm Section Council met this date at the Bar building in Columbia. Members present included William E. Booth, III, Jane H. Downey, Dennis Gerald, Aaron J. Kozloski, James E. Smith, Jr. and Dana Wilkinson. Representing the Bar staff were Terry Burnett, Courtney Kennaday and Tara Smith.

 

Chairperson Downey called the meeting to order.

 

The first item of business was discussion on the 2006 Section vendor fair scheduled for October 6 & 7. Ms. Downey expressed her desire to incorporate family-related activities in addition to offering the CLE. She welcomed feedback from the Council as to its preference of the location, format, and topics.

During the last Council meeting, it was suggested that the seminar be conducted at Saluda Shoals. Mr. Burnett reported that its meeting space could only accommodate up to 50 people and that the Section should anticipate 100 to 200 attendees. He opined that the Council should consider other locations that would provide adequate meeting and vendor space, breakout rooms, parking, and the ability to broadcast the seminar. After further discussion, the following suggestions were made: the S.C. Hospital Association, the Columbia Conference Center and the Riverbanks Zoo. Mr. Burnett was to gather information on

potential locations and costs and report his findings at the next Council meeting.

 

Ms. Kennaday distributed a list of potential topics that included technology, personnel, marketing, and management. Mr. Burnett asked that the Council consider conducting ten 36-minute sessions on the “top ten things you need know,” and recommended a legal futurist speaker for the plenary luncheon. Mr. Burnett was to email the Council additional information on the speaker and his ideas for the top ten list.

 

Ms. Kennaday reported that she continued to receive numerous requests for forms such as client intake, closing your office, new file data, and firing a client. She noted that the Bar provided the forms on its Web site and suggested that the Council add the forms that would be of interest to its members on the Section Web page. Ms. Wilkinson suggested that the forms be made available on CD and distributed to the attendees at the vendor fair. It was announced that Mr. Smith and Ms. Kennaday would compile the forms and download on CDs before the October seminar.

 

After continued discussion on the vendor fair, it was the consensus of the Council that it would proceed with the following seminar outline:

Thursday night oyster roast

Friday seminar with a plenary luncheon and vendor participation

Friday night dinner on the Southern Patriot

Saturday half-day seminar with vendor participation

 

Ms. Smith was to research a location for the Thursday night oyster roast and the availability of the Southern Patriot for Friday night. She was to email her findings to the Council members.

 

Ms. Kennaday would contact practice management advisors regarding the location and format of its events. She suggested inviting vendors to give a short presentation about their products. Mr. Burnett reported that he had obtained a list of vendors from the S.C. Association of Legal Administrators (SCALA). He noted that he would ask SCALA for permission to solicit from its list for the Section vendor fair.

 

The next item was discussion on the FY2006-07 Council nominations. Ms. Smith noted that one Council member seat was vacant. Mr. Smith reported that Bill Nettles had expressed an interest in serving on the Council. Mr. Gerald nominated Mr. Nettles to fill the vacant seat, term expiring in 2007. Mr. Kozloski seconded the motion, and it was approved. Ms. Smith was to contact Mr. Nettles and forward to him a copy of the Section bylaws and the FY2006-07 Council list.

Next was discussion on the statewide lunch and learns. Ms. Downey noted that Mr. Gerald and Ms. Wilkinson were to coordinate the programs with Mr. Burnett and that the first seminar would be scheduled in February.

The next item of business was discussion on the 2006 Bar Convention. Ms. Downey reported that the previously scheduled Thursday night dinner at the Woodlands had been cancelled. She confirmed that Ms. Smith had made two separate reservations at the Peninsula Grill for Friday night. Ms. Downey asked that Ms. Smith invite Craig Ball to attend the Friday night dinner. It was suggested that Ms. Smith also coordinate a breakfast meeting for Friday morning to discuss the October CLE.

Next was approval of the minutes from the November 7, 2005, meeting. Mr. Booth moved approval of the minutes. The motion was seconded, and it was approved.

There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned.