Annual Report
2018-19
Section Membership
As of June 24, 2019 the Section has 1,347 members.
Financial Status
The Section had an account balance of $44,935.95 as of April 2019.
CLEs & Events
The Section hosted 2 events in fiscal year 2018-19.
| Program Title | Date | Event Code | CLE Credits | Number of Attendees |
| Probate for Real Estate Attorneys and Real Estate for Probate Attorneys | 12/18/19 | 265099 | 1.0 Standard | 65 |
| Understanding Mechanic’s Liens | 3/7/19 | 269904 | 1.0 Standard | 56 |
Annual Meeting and Election Results
The Section’s Annual Meeting was held on November 1, 2018 at the Real Property Institute.
The following council members were elected to serve on the Section’s Governing Council from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021:
District A: Sachin Darji
District B: Pierre Heitler
District C: Michael Melchert
District D: Dan Maddy
District E: Andy Shaw
District F: Scott Johnson
District G: Marty Helle
District H: Brad Schmidt
The following officers were elected to serve on the Section’s Governing Council from 7/1/2019 to 6/30/2020:
Chair: Robert Bigwood
Vice-Chair: Wayne Anderson
Secretary: Dan Maddy
Treasurer: Eric Johnsrud
Diversity and Inclusion
What diversity and inclusion goals did the Section include in the 2018-2019 work plan, how did you approach these goals, and what was the result?
Two female attorneys replaced male attorneys on the Council.
Other Section Accomplishments
Ad hoc pro bono committee added to the Council, to provide real estate legal services to low income residents of Minnesota.
Submitted By:
Kevin Dunlevy, Section Chair
Dated as of June 30, 2019
Annual Report | 2015-16
Section Membership
As of June 16, 2016, the Section has 1542 members. This compares to 1567 members at the beginning of the fiscal year (July 1, 2015). While we have stayed steady with membership, the demographics of our members show that we are an aging Section. The average years in practice is 26. The average age is 52. Three-fourths of the membership is male.
Years in Practice:
1 to 9 years – 246
10 to 19 years – 273
20 to 29 years – 257
30 or more years – 684
Age in Years:
29 or younger – 60
30 to 39 years – 368
40 to 49 years – 212
50 to 59 years – 278
60 to 69 years – 440
70 and older – 140
Financial Status
For the first eleven months of the current fiscal year (through May 31, 2016), revenues were $39,163.51, made up of membership dues, the sale of products (Title Standards) and royalties (Miller Davis use of the residential real estate forms). Expenses were $30,621.30. As of May 31, 2016, the Section had an account balance of $42,662.67. The Council considers it prudent to keep a bank balance sufficient to cover one year’s worth of expenses.
The annual Section dues are $28, and the Section receives $18 of this amount. We have almost 700 members who have practiced law for over 30 years, and 580 members who are at least 60 years old. Our membership will inevitably decline in the years to come. In the current fiscal year, in an effort to provide more value (or “give back”) to Section members, we have used our reserves to fund the following initiatives:
We contributed $500 to the MSBA’s Mock Trial Program
We sponsored the New Lawyers Leadership Conference with a $500 donation.
We donated $500 to Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers.
We provided the five events in the grid below, free of charge to anyone.
CLEs & Events
The Section hosted 6 events in fiscal year 2015-16.
|
Program Title
|
Date
|
Event Code
|
CLE Credits
|
Number of Attendees
|
|
Fall social co-sponsored by the real property law and new lawyers sections
|
9/11/15
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
33
|
|
“My client owns exempt property: Understanding past and present issues facing taxpayers’ with exempt property” CLE & happy hour, co-sponsored with the tax law section
|
12/17/15
|
213380
|
1.0 Standard
|
74
|
|
Get to know your examiners of title and county recorders happy hour
|
2/10/16
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
89
|
|
Get to know your surveyors happy hour
|
4/27/16
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
51
|
|
Get to know your local government planning officials regional happy hours
|
6/22/16
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
84
|
*The Section also served as co-host to the annual Real Estate Institute coordinated by Minnesota CLE.
Annual Meeting and Election Results
The Section’s annual meeting was held on October 22, 2015 at the Real Estate Institute.
The following Section members (with the county where they work identified) were elected to serve on the Section’s governing council from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018:
District A: Gordy Jensen (Hennepin County)
District B: Paul Fahning (Ramsey County)
District C: Jeff Johnson (Anoka County)
District D: Dave Pritchett (Carlton County)
District E: Alicia Cope (St. Louis County)
District F: Robert Bigwood (Otter Tail County)
District G: Travis Ohly (Olmsted County)
District H: Paul Goode (Lyon County)
The following Section members (with the county where they work identified) were elected to serve as officers on the Section’s governing council from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017.
Chair: Alan C. Thiel (Hennepin County)
Vice-Chair: Jennifer Gilk (Redwood County)
Secretary: Kevin Dunlevy (Hennepin County)
Treasurer: Eric P. Johnsrud (Winona County)
Other Section Accomplishments
2015-2016 has been a watershed year for the Section’s Communications Committee. The Committee, made up of approximately 10 members, has spearheaded several new initiatives designed to bring together real estate practitioners and tap into the collective knowledge of the Section’s members. Among other initiatives, the Committee (i) created the Real Property Law Section’s Facebook page, through which the Committee shares real estate and legal news, announces upcoming events and provides practical advice for real estate professionals; (ii) began hosting a bi-monthly happy hour series, which brings together non-attorney real estate industry professionals with the Bar; and (iii) began disseminating monthly practice tips designed to be quick reference guides for common, emerging and tricky real estate issues. The upcoming year promises to be just as exciting. In addition to the activities started this past year, the Committee is rolling out a two-year study group for practitioners interested in taking the Real Property Law Specialists exam, a law school outreach program to get law students interested in the MSBA and the Real Property Law Section early in their careers, how-to webcasts that will piggyback the existing monthly practice tips and is exploring new ways to engage new and reengage vintage attorneys alike at the Real Estate Institute. Additionally, once Higher Logic is up and running, the Communications Committee has plans to revamp the MSBA Real Property Law Section web content.
Want to Get Involved in Section Activities?
The Section can always use energetic members to join the committees (Legislative, Title Standards, Residential Real Estate, Communications, and Liaison) and the governing council. Some committees are focused on substantive real estate issues, and some are not. Getting involved starts with a phone call (612-278-6305) or email (scarlson@mnbar.org) to our Section Manager Shawn Carlson, or anyone you know on a committee or on the council. That’s it – take a deep breath and leap. You will be rewarded in so many ways!
Submitted By:
Matthew Foli, Section Chair
Date June 30, 2016
Annual Report | 2014-15
Section Membership
As of June 17, 2015, the Section has 1,547 members.
Financial Status
The Section had an account balance of $151,184.28 as of April 30, 2015.
CLEs & Events
The Section hosted 2 CLE programs in fiscal year 2014-15.
| Program Title | Date | Event Code | CLE Credits | Number of Attendees |
| Links to Success: Internet Resources for Lawyers | 6/18/15 | 205503 | 1.0 LOM | 49 |
*The Section of Real Property Law served as co-host to the annual Real Estate Institute coordinated by Minnesota CLE.
Annual Meeting and Election Results
The Section’s Annual Meeting was held on November 14, 2014, in conjunction with the Real Estate Institute.
The following council members were elected to serve on the Section’s Governing Council from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016:
District A: Thomas Bray & Alan Van Dellen
District B: Wayne Anderson
District C: J. Michael Melchert
District D: Daniel Maddy
District E: Andrew Shaw
District F: Scott Johnston
District G: Marty Helle
District H: Bradley Schmidt & Paul Goode
The following officers were elected to serve on the Section’s Governing Council from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.
Chair: Matthew J. Foli
Vice-Chair: Alan C. Thiel
Secretary: Jennifer Gilk
Treasurer: Eric P. Johnsrud
Submitted By:
Eileen M. Roberts
Chair, MSBA Section of Real Property Law
June 29, 2015