I.          Introductory Remarks from President Lindberg

• Call to order
• Introductions
  • Mr. Anderson introduced Ms. Alexandra Griffin, new associate at Anderson Law Firm.
  • President Lindberg introduced Zoe Cantu, our special guest for the evening.

 
II.        Guest Speaker: Zoe Cantu

• How to make a Bourbon Mary!

 
III.       Board Announcements

• Recognition to President ex Officio Hagen
  • Thank you for your service.
• Presentation of Treasurer’s Report
  • Mr. Anderson moved to approve.
  • Mr. Godwin seconded the motion.
  • Motion approved unanimously.
• Presentation of November Minutes
  • Referee Baker moved to approve.
  • Mr. Anderson seconded the motion.
  • Motion approved unanimously.
• Reminder to pay dues
  • Those who haven’t paid in full by 12/18 will be removed from the roster.

 
IV.       New Business

• Ugly Sweater Contest!
  • First round: tie between Ms. Whalen and Referee Baker.
  • Final round: Referee Baker wins for “having most appalling outfit.”
• Results of first vote to increase scholarship
  • Approved by 72% of the 65 members who voted.  47 for, 18 against.
  • Discussion of scholarship increase.
    • Ms. DiFiore presented rationale for increasing scholarship awards.
      • This isn’t an either/or contest between scholarships and LAOC.
      • We are able to do both.
    • Mr. Novack explained financial ability to pay for this year.
      • We’ve only spent $1000 so far this year.
      • We have plenty of reserves to continue this year even if things move forward.
      • We would have spent this much already on other things and still have funds for LAOC.
    • Referee Baker
      • Opposed because of special role between OCBA and LAOC.
      • Doesn’t think scholarship increase is sustainable.
      • There’s a difference between helping two people and dealing with 200% increase in people who need civil legal services.
      • LAOC needs the money as much or as more now.
      • Wants to amend vote to include language that restricts increase to one year.
    • Mr. Lipford
      • Opposed because of special role LAOC plays in our county.
      • He runs SMRLS in eleven counties; Olmsted is the only bar he doesn’t ask for money.
    • Ms. Dobson
      • In favor.
      • Concerned about sustainability.
      • Hopes that $2500 in future years can be part dues, part individual or firm donations.
    • Ms. Plante
      • In favor.
      • Ms. Johnson unable to attend tonight, but communicated she is in favor; her thoughts are consistent with Ms. Dobson’s.
      • Point of clarification: LAOC hasn’t made request yet; they are welcome to do so if/when they need money.
      • Point of clarification: bylaws don’t provide for change of voting issue midway through voting process.
    • Ms. Griffin
      • In favor.
      • Wants to make sure we make a meaningful contribution in whatever we undertake as a group.
      • She would like to see us to do that with LAOC, too.
    • Ms. DiFiore
      • Each expenditure goes before membership every year, so no reason to amend current issue before membership.
    • Mr. Anderson
      • In favor.
      • Each expenditure goes before membership every year, so no reason to amend current issue before membership.

• Results of vote to appoint Mr. T. Adkins
  • 100% in favor.
  • Welcome to the Board, Terry!  Thank you for your willingness to serve!
• Changes to pandemic OCBA business
  • Email voting necessary to continue engaging in our business during pandemic.
• Bylaws update
  • Among other things, seeking to clarify and formalize grant request process.
  • Hoping to have at least some preliminary proposals at January meeting.
• Overview of January 14, 2021 meeting
  • Guest is Referee Baker, who will discuss HRO’s and OFP’s.
  • Meeting will be via Zoom and begin @ 5:30 p.m.

 
V.        Adjournment

• Mr. Anderson made motion to adjourn.
• Mr. J. Adkins seconded the motion.
• Meeting adjourned.

 
 
Present: Ms. Lindberg, Ms. DiFiore, Mr. Novack, Ms. Plante, Ms. Dobson, Mr. T. Adkins, Mr. J. Adkins, Mr. Anderson, Ref. Baker, Mr. Godwin, Ms. Griffin, Mr. Lampman, Mr. Lipford, Ms. McLaughlin, Mr. Suhler, Ms. Whalen

​Olmsted County Bar Association

• As noted in last week's announcements, your OCBA Board of Directors passed the following resolution on November 10, 2020, to address the need to conduct business during a pandemic that prohibits in-person voting:
  • Pursuant to Article III, Section 7(E)(1) of the Bylaws of the Olmsted County Bar Association, the Board resolves as follows: (1) To allow issues to be put before the membership, and votes cast thereon, via e-mail for the duration of the Governor's Emergency Order relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic, for all such business that would ordinarily be transacted at a regular meeting of the OCBA Membership, and (2) To presume that all members consent to voting by e-mail unless such members expressly opt-out in a written electronic communication to the OCBA Secretary via the OCBA Gmail account. 
• PURSUANT TO THIS RESOLUTION, THERE WILL BE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES PUT TO THE MEMBERSHIP, VIA SEPARATE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION, BEFORE THE NEXT BAR MEETING ON DECEMBER 11. 
  • The first issue is whether to increase the OCBA scholarship amount to $2500.
    • Because of the size of the expenditure, there will be a second vote on this after the December OCBA meeting.
  • The second issue is whether to appoint Mr. Terry Adkins to fill the at-large vacancy on the OCBA Board of Directors.
    • Mr. Adkins was nominated pursuant to the Bylaws and, if appointed by the membership, will add invaluable assistance to our Board as we work on updating the Bylaws.
  • As noted above, the default method for voting will be electronic communication.  You must opt out of voting electronically if you do not wish to cast your vote in that fashion.
  • The Board is vetting tools to accomplish the voting on these two issues.  Please look for future communication from the OCBA in the next week or so that will provide further voting instructions once we identify the most appropriate tool and format for our needs.
• The next OCBA meeting is at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 11, via Zoom.
  • Our special guest will be Zoe Cantu from Five West Kitchen + Bar!
    • Ms. Cantu will be teaching us how to make a festive drink (regular or NA, depending on your preference) to celebrate the season.
    • We will be donning our ugliest holiday sweaters and competing for bragging rights of most visually alarming.
    • Stay tuned for additional details!

 
Anderson Law Firm

• The attorneys and staff of Anderson Law Firm are pleased to announce that Alexandra R. Griffin has joined our practice as an associate attorney.  Alexandra is a graduate of St. Thomas School of Law and Winona State University, where she graduated with a B.S. in Public Administration and a Minor in Spanish, and a B.A. in Political Science and a Minor in Mass Communication. She was most recently a judicial clerk for Judge Timothy Mulrooney in St. Paul, MN.  During law school, she worked as a law clerk with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.  Prior to entering law school, Alexandra was a Senior Advisor to a U.S. Senator in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C.  We are pleased to welcome her to our practice, and to the OCBA.

 
Olmsted County District Court

• The Legal Counsel Division of the Minnesota Judicial Branch is hosting a free CLE to discuss recent amendments to the General Rules of Practice taking effect on January 1, 2021.
  • There are two dates available for this CLE: (1) Friday, December 4, at 9:00 a.m., and (2) Thursday, December 10, at 1:30 p.m.
  • Please contact Erin Glaesemann at (507) 722.7250 or erin.glaesemann@courts.state.mn.us to register for this event.

 
Minnesota State Bar Association

• The MSBA is seeking volunteer judges to work on this year's High School Mock Trial program, which will be conducted via Zoom.
  • From the MSBA:
    • This year is a civil case and will teach the students about force majeure clauses relating to the pandemic.
    • Roughly 1,500 students statewide will be competing from the safety of their homes while learning about the legal system and honing their critical thinking skills and teamwork.
    • There are 257 rounds scheduled and 773 judging positions that need to be filled to ensure the students' hard work comes to fruition.
  • The MSBA is offering unlimited Zoom tutorials to assist judges in becoming familiar with this platform.
  • The MSBA is offering a 1.5-credit CLE for judge training at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 11, 2020.
• Please contact Kim Basting at kbasting@mnbars.org for more information or visit the Mock Trial webpage here: https://www.mnbar.org/public-resources/mock-trial/judges-information.

 
Have an announcement to share with your OCBA colleagues?  Please email the OCBA Gmail account before 8:00 p.m. the preceding Sunday.  Announcements will be shared here and on the OCBA Facebook page unless requested otherwise.