Richard A. Kavitt at 2 p.m. will review and explain association member benefits. Private consultants will offer information at exhibit booths in the reception area.
At 3 p.m., Cook County Judge Joseph Claps will moderate an update on legislation and significant decisions of the Supreme and Appellate Courts.
The annual business meeting and election officers and directors will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11. It will be followed at 9:45 a.m. by the presentation, "Dealing with the Media: Right, Wrong and Otherwise."
Speakers are Judge Steve Smith of Brazas County, Texas, a past president of the Texas County Court-at-Law Judges Association, and Don E. Tomlinson, a professor of journalism professor and mass communications at Texas A&M University and adjunct professor at the South Texas College of Law.
Exhibitors tell services at Midyear
Several exhibitors of ISBA-affiliated products and services will be available during the Midyear Meeting to explain details and answer questions. ISBA publications also will be displayed.
The exhibit area will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel.
ISBA members will be able to donate toys, books and games for children's courthouse waiting rooms. The gift items may be placed under the Young Lawyers Division tree, and cash donations can be fastened to its branches.
Officials of the Illinois Bar Foundation and Illinois Pro Bono Center will be present to tell about their contributions to the profession and sign up volunteers.
The "Books Are Fun" sales program, which was so popular during the ISBA Annual Meeting at Lake Geneva, will be repeated in Chicago. A portion of proceeds benefits the Bar Foundation.
Travel information on future ISBA trips may be obtained from Carrousel Travel and Global Holidays representatives.
Other exhibitors include the ISBA Mutual Insurance Co., for professional liability coverage, and DRIASI, for life, major medical, disability, dental, long-term care and law office business insurance.
Section Attorney To Pursue Practice
Ms. Deborah Fortier has resigned as ISBA Section Attorney, effective 23 November 1999 to pursue an opportunity in the practice of law. Ms. Fortier has served on ISBA's staff since 29 December 1992. Ms. Fortier served as staff liaison to various committees and sections, administered ISBA's voluntary fee arbitration program, and previously served as manager of the Chicago Regional Office. These duties should have been noted opposite Ms. Fortier's picture in the 1999-2000 edition of the ISBA Blue Book, and the ISBA apologizes for their inadvertent omission. ISBA wishes Ms. Fortier the best of luck in the future.
Office of Third Vice President, 5 Seats on Board of Governors, 23 Assembly Seats to be Filled
Below is a listing of the offices in the Illinois State Bar Association to be filled at the 2000 annual election. Those elected to the Board of Governors and Assembly take office on June 22, 2000 and the third vice president takes office on June 25, 2000. Pertinent information and the requirements of the bylaws governing nomination of candidates and election procedures follow the listing.
* Under the bylaws the third vice-president automatically succeeds to the office of second vide president, therefore there is no incumbent for this office.
**Ineligible to succeed due to term limitations.
^ Deceased
NOMINATION
Any member of the Association in good standing at the close of the nominating period may be nominated for third vice president, Board of Governors member or Assembly member from the geographical area in which he/she resides.
Voting Address. Bylaws Sec. 1.11 reads: For purposes of voting and candidacy for ISBA elected office, a member's voting address shall be their primary legal office as designated by the member. If a member's primary legal office is not within the state of Illinois, such member may designate their Illinois residence as their voting address; if no voting address is designated, the member shall be considered a non-resident.
Nominations must be in writing. (See Election Policy Para. 6.1) Printed copies of the nominating petitions are available upon request to the Office of the Executive Director, Illinois Bar Center, Springfield, IL 62701. (Telephone toll free 800/252-8908 or e-mail kdavidso@isba.org or Nbarber@isba.org ) Election information and downloadable nominating petitions are also available on the ISBA Website.
Nominating petitions may be filed no earlier than January 15, 2000 and must be filled by 4:45 p.m. on February 16, 2000 at either the Illinois Bar Center in Springfield or the ISBA Chicago Office at 20 S. Clark St., Chicago. Petitions must be physically submitted with original signatures. Petitions cannot be submitted via facsimile transmission or e-mail. (See Election Policy Para. 6.3)
The ISBA Policy and Procedures on Association Elections (as adopted by the Assembly June 20, 1998) follows this notice. All persons interested in seeking office should carefully read this policy.
VOTING
All members of the Association in good standing (except student members) are eligible to vote for the office of third vice-president.
Eligible ISBA members residing in the areas in which there are contested elections may vote for Board and Assembly members. Members residing in Cook County vote for Cook County Board of Governors members, the Under Age 37 candidates and Assembly members from Cook County. In those instances where there is a contest, all members residing in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th judicial districts may vote for Under Age 37 candidates nominated from these districts and for Board of Governors members from the member's area.
In order to receive a ballot and vote in the election a member's dues must be paid by March 1, 2000 for the period ending June 30, 2000.
November 1, 1999
ROBERT E. CRAGHEAD, Executive Director
ISBA Policy and Procedures on
Association Elections
(As Amended June 20, 1998)
SECTION 1
Preamble
Para. 1.1. It is the policy of the Illinois State Bar Association to encourage its members to conduct themselves with the highest degree of personal and professional conduct. The election process for ISBA office or board positions should be no exception to this policy. It is, therefore, the goal of ISBA to conduct its elections with procedures and rules that are:
(a) Fair to all candidates.
(b) Clear and concise.
(c) Devised to encourage the discussion of important issues and disseminate information to allow members to exercise informed judgment in voting for ISBA candidates.
(d) Designed to make efficient use of ISBA funds and staff time in the conduct of elections.
(e) Crafted to impress upon each candidate their responsibility of ascertaining and following all rules and meeting all deadlines, and to realize that is the responsibility of each candidate to submit all required filings and materials in a timely, complete and presentable fashion.
SECTION 2
General Policy on Elections
The following are policies which apply to all ISBA elections:
Para. 2.1. There shall be open nominations for Third Vice-President, members of the Board of Governors, and members of the Assembly.
Para. 2.2. Election shall be by members at large in appropriate geographic areas.
Para. 2.3. Notice of elections in appropriate form shall appear in the Illinois Bar Journal or ISBA Bar News.
Para. 2.4. No material promoting a candidacy shall be false, misleading or deceptive, nor shall it contain the name or likeness of any individual or organization without the written authorization from such individual or organization.
Para. 2.5. The Illinois Bar Journal or other ISBA publications, except for ISBA sponsored informational advertising, shall not be used as vehicles for campaigning by candidates for ISBA office, except as provided below:
(a) Publication in the ISBA Bar News of news stories advising the members of candidates who announce for the office of Third Vice-President is presented on the basis of the value of this information to the membership and is not to be considered campaigning by the candidates per se.
(b) Candidates for ISBA office are encouraged to advertise in the ISBA Bar News provided that such advertising is clearly identified as advertising.
(c) All expenditures for advertising in the ISBA Bar News shall be included in the aggregate spending limitations imposed by the Policy in paragraph 2.23.
Para. 2.6. The filing period for nominations for all offices shall be from January 15 to February 15. Ballots shall be mailed on or before April 1 of each year.
Para. 2.7. The period for return of the ballots shall be from April 1 to May 10 each year in the manner prescribed by the Executive Director.
Para. 2.8. The appointment of tellers shall be completed no later than March 1 each year.
Para. 2.9. Free publicity appearing in the ISBA Bar News for all contests except that of Third Vice-President shall be in a single issue.
Para. 2.10. Photographs of Third Vice-Presidential and Board of Governors candidates and biographical materials for candidates in contested elections shall be dispatched with the ballots. Third Vice-Presidential and Board candidate biographies shall be limited to 300 words and Assembly candidate biographies shall be limited to 100 words.
Para. 2.11. All material should be submitted to ISBA, if possible, on a computer disk in a format prescribed by the Executive Director. ISBA staff shall not be charged with the responsibility of editing materials for content, grammar, or spelling. The staff shall have the discretion to edit such material to conform to word count.
Para. 2.12. There shall be a Bar Elections Supervision Committee consisting of five members of the Assembly who are not members of the Board of Governors, all of whom shall be appointed by the President, with two from Cook County, two from downstate, and the chair to be chosen from that portion of the state from which the Third Vice-President is not being chosen, all to be selected no later than September 1 of the year prior to the election. In consultation with the Executive Director, the committee shall have general independent authority to supervise the conduct of ISBA elections. The committee's scope of authority includes, but is not limited to the following:
* This committee shall hear complaints and responses thereto and make