On Jan. 21, the Massachusetts Bar Association House of Delegates
met at Bentley University in Waltham. Meeting highlights
included:
- Approval of the 2010 Nominating Committee appointees Chair
Edward W. McIntyre, Warren Fitzgerald, Mary Jo Kennedy, Christopher
A. Kenney, Margaret D. Xifaras, Gina Y. Walcott and David W. White
Jr. The committee is charged with reviewing the nominations
submitted for consideration for MBA officer positions for the
2010-11 association year, which begins Sept. 1, 2010. Now that
nominations have closed as of Jan. 29, the committee will work to
finalize a report of nominees.
- Approval of the nominees for the 2010 Access to Justice Awards.
Awardees will be honored at the March 12 Access to Justice Awards
Luncheon as part of the MBA's Annual Conference. See honorees'
profiles on page 1.
- An endorsement to co-sponsor the American Bar Association
Paycheck Fairness Resolution at the ABA Midyear Meeting in February
2010. The Paycheck Fairness Act would amend the Fair Labor
Standards Act of 1938 and strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to
thwart gender-based wage disparities.
- An informational report on a public law school option in
Massachusetts. Margaret Xifaras and Southern New England School of
Law Dean Robert Ward provided an update on the proposed
collaboration between SNESL and University of Massachusetts to
create a public law school at UMASS Dartmouth's campus in
Southeastern Massachusetts. (On Feb. 2, the Massachusetts Board of
Higher Education unanimously approved the venture). Xifaras, a
SNESL board member, provided background on the collaboration that
she explained has been worked on for 15 years.
- A presentation of the newest MBA member benefit, "MBA on
Demand." Education Committee Chairs Alan Klevan and Marsha
Kazarosian were joined by MBA Senior Program Manager Marc D'Antonio
to demonstrate for the delegates what "MBA on Demand" would provide
to members. "MBA on Demand" is an innovative approach to Continuing
Legal Education and other association offerings. With this new
option, members are able to watch real-time webcasts or recorded
programs from their home or office at a time that suits their needs
and schedules.
The next House of Delegates meeting will take place on March 11
at the Westin Copley Place in Boston.