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House of Delegates approves nominating committee, Access to Justice awardees

Issue March 2010

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.