January 2003

Opportunities for Service

Service opportunities with WSBA committees, boards and organizations can be very rewarding. Please inquire and/or apply to the contact person specified.

Washington State Bar Association
2101 4th Ave., Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98121-2330

WSBA Presidential Search

Application deadline: May 15, 2003

The WSBA Board of Governors is seeking applicants for the position of WSBA president for 2004-2005. Pursuant to Article IV(A)(2) of the WSBA Bylaws, the primary place of business of candidates for 2004-2005 president must be King County. The WSBA member selected to be president will have an opportunity to provide a significant contribution to the legal profession.

Applications for 2004-2005 WSBA president will be accepted through May 15, 2003, and should be limited to a current résumé, a concise application letter stating interest and qualifications, and no less than five or more than 10 references. The Presidential Search Committee and the Board of Governors will consider endorsement letters received by May 30, 2003. Applications and endorsement letters should be sent to WSBA Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330.

Confidential interviews with the Presidential Search Committee will be conducted May 16-30, 2003, at the WSBA office. Direct contact with the governors is also encouraged. All candidates will have an interview with the full Board of Governors in open session at the June meeting. Following the interviews, the board will select the president.

Although prior experience on the WSBA's Board of Governors may be helpful, there is no requirement that one must have been a member of the Board of Governors or had previous experience in Bar activities. The candidate must be willing to devote a substantial number of hours to WSBA affairs and be capable of being a positive representative for the legal profession. The position is unpaid. Some expenses, such as WSBA-related travel, are reimbursed.

The commitment begins in June 2003 following selection. A one-year term as president-elect will begin at the Annual Business meeting in September 2003. The president-elect is expected to attend the two-day board meetings held approximately every five to six weeks, as well as numerous subcommittee, section, regional, national and local meetings. In September 2004, at the WSBA Annual Business Meeting, the president-elect will assume the position of president. During his or her service, the president-elect and president will also be required to meet with members of the Bar, the courts, the media, and public and legal interest groups, as well as be involved in the Bar's legislative activities. Appropriate time will need to be devoted to communication by letter, e-mail and telephone in connection with these responsibilities.

The duties and responsibilities of the president are set forth in the WSBA Bylaws.

Presidential Search Committee: Lucy Isaki, chair; Dick Manning, president; Dave Savage, president-elect; and Robert Boggs, Ray Gonzales, Bill Hyslop and Fawn Sharp governors.

2003 Notice of Board of Governors Election

Three positions on the WSBA Board of Governors will be up for election this year — the governors representing the 1st, 5th, and 7th-west* congressional districts. These positions are currently held by Kenneth H. Davidson (1st), William D. Hyslop (5th) and Lucy Isaki (7th-west).

The WSBA Bylaws provide that any member in good standing, except a member previously elected to the Board of Governors, may be nominated for the office of governor from the congressional district (or geographical region within the 7th district*) in which such member is entitled to vote. Nominations are made by filing a statement of interest and a biographical statement of 100 words or less.

Generally, a member is entitled to vote in the congressional district in which the member resides. All out-of-state active WSBA members are eligible to vote in the district of the address of their agent within Washington for the purpose of receiving service of process as required by APR 5(e), or, if specifically designated to the executive director, within the district of their primary Washington practice.

Nominating petitions are available from the WSBA Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; 206-727-8244; and the WSBA Web site (www.wsba.org). The WSBA executive director must receive petitions by 5:00 p.m. March 3, 2003. The Board of Governors determines the official dates of the election. Ballots are usually mailed around the first of June and counted approximately the first of July.

*Note: The biographical statements of nominated candidates will be published in the May issue of Bar News.

*The 7th congressional district is divided into three sub-districts: east, central and west. These sub-districts are distinguished by ZIP codes, and each has one elected governor. For the coming year, the west sub-district (ZIP codes are 98013, 98070, 98106, 98107, 98116, 98117, 98119, 98121, 98126, 98133, 98136, 98146 and 98199) will elect a new governor.

Statute Law Committee

Application deadline: January 20, 2003

The WSBA Board of Governors is accepting letters of interest from members interested in serving a six-year term on the Statute Law Committee (which oversees the operation of the Code Reviser's office), commencing April 1, 2003 (two positions). Incumbents are eligible for re-appointment and must also submit letters of interest.

This 12-member committee of lawyers seeks to foster accurate publication of laws and agency-rules services in a professional and strictly nonpartisan and cost-effective manner. The primary responsibilities are to periodically codify, index and publish the Revised Code of Washington; and to revise, correct and harmonize the statutes of administrative or suggested legislative action as may be appropriate. The committee meets at least twice a year.

Please submit a letter of interest and résumé to WSBA Executive Director, 2101 Fourth Ave., Ste. 400, Seattle, WA 98121-2330; or e-mail barleaders@wsba.org.