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Next Meeting:
Friday, October 7, 2011 at Noon at the MSBA Offices |
2011-12
Meeting Summaries
Minutes from prior fiscal
years
Diversity Committee
Meeting Summary
October 7, 2011
The meeting was chaired by David Ahlvers.
In Attendance: Leslie Altman, Jack Hennen, Joan Bibelhausen, Yvonne Moore, Justi Miller, Alan Haynes, Anna Horning Nygren (from Women in the Legal Profession Committee), and Tram Nguyen (MSBA staff).
Present by invitation: Waeiz Syed (Council on American-Islamic Relations - Minnesota Chapter (CAIR-MN)
Update ABA Pledge for Change
Mr. Ahlvers reported that there is now quorum to pass the motion to adopt the ABA Pledge for Change following the email vote. This is a committee-only position. Mr. Ahlvers will draft a resolution calling on the Minnesota State Bar Association to adopt it as well.
Muslim Networking Co-Sponsorship
The Committee welcomed Mr. Waeiz Syed, a law clerk with The Council on American-Islamic Relations - Minnesota Chapter (CAIR-MN), to the meeting. CAIR-MN is a non-profit organization that seeks to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil liberties, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
Mr. Syed reported that CAIR-MN would like to sponsor a meet and greet among Muslim attorneys and Muslim law students in the Twin Cities area and requested the Diversity Committee co-sponsor the event. The Committee agreed to co-sponsor this event. The event is scheduled for November 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at a location to be determined. Mr. Syed will forward final details to Mr. Ahlvers and Ms. Nguyen.
Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers 35th Anniversary
Joan Bibelhausen invited everyone to attend the event on October 28, 2011 at the University of Minnesota. The proceeds will support LCL’s core services including their Founders’ Fund. This fund provides financial assistance for treatment related expenses for lawyers and law students who would otherwise be unable to afford them.
Subcommittee/Working Group Meetings
The Committee broke into Subcommittee meetings/working groups for the remainder of the meeting time.
Next Meeting:
The Committee will meet next on November 4.
Meeting adjourned.
Diversity Committee
Meeting Summary
September 16, 2011
The meeting was chaired by David Ahlvers.
In Attendance: Tom Nelson, Alan Haynes, Yvonne Moore, Justi Miller, Marlene Garvis (via phone), Julie Plumitis (via phone), and Tram Nguyen (MSBA staff).
Mr. Ahlvers welcomed everyone to the Committee; followed by brief introductions.
Best Practices Implementation Pilot Project
Ms. Garvis updated the Committee on the efforts of the Best Practices Outreach subcommittee. Eleven employers have agreed to pilot implementation of some or all of the diversity best practices. The next step is to meet with the employers and ask them to define their goals, as well as how the subcommittee might assist them. A question was raised about sustainability and how to keep it going. Ms. Garvis offered to provide quarterly progress reports to the Committee.
New Meeting Structure
Mr. Ahlvers would like to try a new meeting structure this year with alternating monthly meetings between full committee and subcommittee meetings. Committee members were encouraged to sign up for a subcommittee. Tram will circulate a sign-up form via email to all members.
ABA Pledge for Change
Motion was made for the Committee to sign onto the ABA Pledge for Change. Motion was passed unanimously by those present; however, the Committee did not have quorum to carry the motion. An email vote will be necessary in order to have quorum. Mr Ahlvers will draft a Resolution to have the MSBA as a whole sign on to the Pledge as well.
Minnesota Minority Clerkship Program
Mr. Ahlvers reported that commitment forms have been sent out to employers. Deadline to respond is September 30. The goal is to have at least fifteen employers.
Diversity Survey Final Report
Mr. Haynes provided a summary of the final results of the SAGE/Diversity survey. Overall, there have been improvements in some areas and regression in others. A link to the report will be circulated to the Committee. There was also a suggestion to email the link to the report to the 1501 participants that participated in the survey. The next step is to have the Diversity and Women in the Legal Profession Committees work together to build a best practices guide and then take it to the Best Practices Subcommittee for implementation.
CLE
Mr. Ahlvers reported that he met with Ashley Wenger, Co- Chair of the Women in the Legal Profession Committee. The two of them discussed the possibility of doing a three part CLE series on the findings of the Diversity Survey. The goal is to hold the first CLE in early November.
Part 1: Providing the survey results
Part 2: What the results mean going forward
Part 3: Bring in national speaker to talk about execution and implementation
This will be further discussed at future meetings.
Minority Bar Summit:
Mr. Ahlvers reported the next meeting of the Minority Bar Summit is October 25 at Noon at the MSBA offices.
Meeting Schedule for 2011-2012:
The Committee will continue to meet monthly on the first Friday of the month from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. at the MSBA offices. Please mark your calendars.
Next Meeting:
The Committee will meet next on October 7.
Meeting adjourned.