April 2004
Board approves $14 dues increase, creates agriculture section, and
more
At its March 19 meeting, the Board of Governors approved a $14 dues
increase for active members, approved a request to create a new
Agricultural/Agribusiness Law Section, and set the Keller dues
rebate.
Dues. The board approved, by a vote of 35 - 3, a $14
dues increase raising the Fiscal Year 2005 (FY05) dues from $210 to $224
for active members (see article).
New section. The board approved the creation of an
Agricultural/Agribusiness Law Section.
"While the number of farmers has decreased in the last 30 years, the
complexity of the legal issues and the volume of work has increased,"
JoAnn Prust, a member of the Agricultural/Agribusiness Law Section Study
Committee told the board. Prust coordinates a mediation program that
provides legal administration and explains regulations to farmers.
The section will bring together State Bar members who have a special
interest in the fields of agriculture and businesses that serve farms
and farmers. According to Prust, the section will offer seminars and
work on the development and improvement of the law in these areas.
Keller. The board set the fiscal year 2005
- 06 Keller dues at $10 per member, under the standard set in
SCR 10.03(5). Under Keller, the State Bar cannot use compulsory
dues of objecting members for political or ideological activities that
are not reasonably related to regulating the legal profession or
improving the quality of legal service.
Keller allows members to decline to support activities they
consider political or ideological. The amount is determined using the
financial statements and activities for the Bar's most recent audited
fiscal year, which in this case is July 1, 2002 - June 30, 2003. The
Keller reduction is an option on the State Bar's yearly dues
and assessments statements, which will be mailed in May.
The minutes will be posted on WisBar after they are approved at the
May 7 - 8 board meeting.
Inside the Bar
