APBCO Annual Member Conference Call
November 11, 2009
I. Introductions & Housekeeping
A. The Executive Committee is pleased to have you all join us for our 4th fall all-member teleconference meeting – the first being held in September 2006.
B. Introductions
Executive Committee Members: Maureen Alger, Jennifer Colyer, Amanda Smith, Laren Spirer and Angela Vigil
Other Board Members: Saralyn Cohen, Alison King and Greg McConnell
C. Ground Rules – Due to a tight timeframe, we ask you to please "mute" your phones. We will take periodic pauses to give you a chance to jump into calls or feel free to email me at if you can't get in the conversation for some reason.
D. Changes to the agenda
E. We continue to be inspired by the overall participation and input among members and urge all of you to continue your efforts on behalf of our shared community.
II. Purpose of Call
A. We are excited about the progress that APBCo has made during the course of the last year not only in terms of substantive member programming, but also in tying down numerous foundational administrative tasks necessary to the continuing healthy existence of the organization. We will outline all of this for you during the call.
B. We will also review activities and accomplishments of the past year and also project forward into planned activities for next year. In part this is informative, but it is also an open invitation for any of you to join in any of the committees and working groups advancing the issues and activities that impact our community.
III. STRATEGIC PLANNING DISCUSSION
A. Identified key objectives:
o give our community a voice in the current pro bono issues of the day;
o provide professional development opportunities previously unavailable
o nimbly and swiftly responsive to major issues
o promote firm hiring and advancement of PB Counsel
o maintain focus on role of pro bono counsel as public interest attorney/advocate
o build member consensus for positions or have not pursued
B. Discussed areas of improvement:
o does nimble responsiveness distract from achieving less urgent goals?
o need to involve more members
o operate more efficiently from a corporate governance/organizational standpoint
C. Enunciated Goals for next 12 months
o increase overall member participation [this is an annual goal!]
o continue growth as an advocacy organization
o better integration of new pro bono counsel into organization and into their role
o focus on areas of current/future importance to our community – for 2010 will continue to be effects of down economy; possibly on compensation/policies
o consider involvement of public interest agencies in working groups as appropriate (ie bridging the social justice gap group)
o establish annual member "award" to be announced at spring meeting held in conjunction with PBI annual meeting
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