Notice of Upcoming Deadlines
With December approaching quickly, many end-of-the-year deadlines are looming. The bar reminds members to follow up on bar dues, PLF assessments, MCLE compliance reports (for those members with reporting periods ending Dec. 31, 2008) and IOLTA certification – which is new, and is required for all lawyers whether they have a trust account or not.

The schedule for the 2009 dues cycle is as follows:

• 2009 fees will be assessed in late November 2008. Members will be able to begin paying online as soon as the fees have been assessed.
• 2009 membership fee statements will be mailed the first week of December 2008.
• The 2009 membership fee and status change deadline is Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. The bar center will be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. that day.
• Any member who fails to pay by Jan. 31 is assessed a membership fee increase on Feb. 1, 2009.
• Any member who fails to pay their fees or fee increase by 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009, will be assessed a second fee increase on March 1, 2009.
• Members who fail to pay any portion of their membership fees and assessments by 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 1, 2009, are automatically suspended for non-payment of fees.

UTCR Committee Seeks to Fill Three Positions
The Uniform Trial Court Rules committee seeks attorneys to fill three open positions. The committee desires applicants with expertise in family law, mediation and plaintiffs’ civil law. These are volunteer positions with appointment made by the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Candidates should have significant trial experience.

The UTCR committee is an advisory group to the chief justice that makes recommendations on the UTCR and supplementary local rules. It meets twice a year in the fall and spring in Salem. Members work with judges, attorneys and court personnel from across the state on issues that directly affect litigation practice.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter (describing your law practice, areas of expertise, qualifications, rulemaking experience and involvement in similar groups) to: utcr@ojd.state.or.us or Bruce C. Miller, Office of the State Court Administrator, Supreme Court Building, 1163 State St., Salem, OR 97301. The deadline for application is Dec. 31.

For more information on the UTCR, visit http://www.ojd.state.or.us/programs/utcr/index.htm.

Auction Raises More Than $100,000
Leaders in the legal and business communities came together on Sept. 16 to enjoy fine wine and to raise $101,000 for legal services for low-income families. The Markowitz Herbold Wine Tasting & Auction benefited St. Andrew Legal Clinic, a non-profit law firm supporting low-income families in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Columbia counties.

After a champagne reception, the 78 attendees tasted 10 wines, then bid on 38 wine lots, including a bottle of Domaine Serene autographed by music artist Tony Bennett.

This is the third year Markowitz, Herbold, Glade & Mehlhaf has hosted a wine auction benefiting St. Andrew Legal Clinic, whose clients are primarily the working poor. More than 80 percent of its clients have incomes below the federal poverty guidelines, and many are victims of domestic violence. The clinic has served over 35,000 people since opening its doors in 1979.

For more information, go to www.salcgroup.org.

New OSB Executive Director Will Arrive This Month
As previously announced, the Board of Governors has chosen Teresa Schmid, executive director of the State Bar of Arizona, to replace Karen Garst, who retires in December. Schmid will start working for the bar on Nov. 13 and will attend the annual board retreat. Her first day in the Tigard office will be Nov. 17.

BOG Election Results
Results for the 2009 Board of Governors election were announced on Oct. 21. The newly elected region 5 board member is Steve D. Larson. Barbara M. DiIaconi from region 1 and Mitzi M. Naucler from region 3 ran uncontested. The new public member is Michelle Castano Garcia from Portland.

Each new board member will take office on Jan. 1, 2009 and serve a four-year term. Karen J. Lord was also appointed as a public member of the board for a two-year term filling the vacancy created by Robert M. Lehner’s resignation.

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