REVISED MINUTES OF THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
OF:
February 15, 2008
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Holly Somers called the meeting to order at 2:40 PM at the Oregon State Bar office. The following members were present: Holly Somers, Dale Johnson, Chuck Mundorff, Rob Guarrasi, Julie Masters, Meg Carman, Jill Riechers, Geoffrey Wren, Jennifer Roumell, Mustafa Kasubahi.
II. MINUTES
Minutes were graciously taken by Rob Guarrasi as Matt Fisher was on vacation and not at the meeting.
Member Johnson moved to approve minutes of the January 18, 2008 meeting, which was second by Member Mundorff. The minutes were unanimously approved without amendment.
III. CHAIR REPORT
Chair Somers opened discussion as to whether non-lawyers could join the section. Member Johnson recalled the section having over 500 members in the 90’s. The section currently has 370 members. Member Masters moved to admit non-lawyers. Member Johnson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Chair Somers received an email from Michigan State Bar regarding CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services). Member Roumell will write a letter to the Chairperson of Workers’ Compensation Section of the Michigan Bar to voice this Section’s concern and support for a review and possible overhaul of CMS rules and regulations.
Executive Committee Nominations. The section is made up of six defense attorneys, six claimant’s attorneys, and four employees of the Workers’ Compensation Board. For the 2009 term, five claimant’s attorneys are returning, leaving need for 1 claimant’s attorney. Three defense attorneys confirmed their return, two are not returning, and one is still considering it. The committee will therefore need at least 2 defense attorneys. All four WCB personnel are returning. This issue is referred to the Nominating Committee to identify attorneys for the positions noted above.
IV. TREASURER’S REPORT
Seven new members joined the section last year. The section had an account balance of $17,935.00 as of December 31, 2007.
V. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Salishan
Member Mundorff reported that the committee met last week. The agenda is complete and speakers are confirmed. Application has been made to the Bar for approval of nine CLE credits.
B. Communications
No Report.
C. Daughtry Award
Chair Somers will follow up with immediate Past Chair Vu on the status of nominations for the award. A deadline of April 1, 2008 was suggested for recommendations to be made to the EC. It was discussed that it is probably too late in the year to reconsider the procedure for nominations.
D. Legislative
The committee discussed combining the Rules Committee with the Legislative Committee. This is permissible in the OSB bylaws. Member Roumell has identified Chris Moore and Steve Cotton to serve on the committee. She will also contact Keith Semple, ALJ Bloom, Bob Webber, Thad Hettle, and Linh Vu to see if they are also interested in serving on the new combined committee.
E. Bench Bar
No report.
F. Race/Ethnic
M
Member Johnson will chair this committee and has secured other section members to join. Other members are Adriana Ortega, ALJ Kekauoha, Dave Runner, Bill Replogle, Mike Orlando, and Gloria Yates.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
No old business.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.