Section 1: Administrative Information
PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION OF AGENDA ITEMS
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees meets monthly throughout the year to set the overall policy and direction of the association and to address management issues. Contact the Assistant Executive Director at the bar office to submit an issue for board consideration. The issue will be placed on the agenda for the next board meeting. All persons submitting agenda items will be notified of the date and time of the scheduled board meeting in order to allow for presentations on all submitted issues.
GUIDELINES FOR USE OF BAR SERVICES/STAFF
Office Hours. The DBA hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The DBA staff must be notified when meetings are scheduled at the DBA office at times other than normal working hours as notice must be given to the building security to arrange to be here or open the office.
Conference Rooms. The DBA has three conference rooms available by appointment on the 9th floor and two classrooms on the 3rd floor for meetings. The conference room capacities are: one conference room will accommodate 30 persons and two rooms will accommodate 20 each. The large classroom on the third floor will hold 105; the smaller classroom will seat 30.
Non-smoking Offices/Meetings. The DBA offices are designated as being a non-smoking environment. All of the conference rooms are also non-smoking areas.
Phones/Offices. Generally, there are phones and/or an office available on a temporary basis for members to use. Please ask the staff to locate a vacant office/phone for you.
Parking Validation. When visiting the DBA office, the Denver Bar Association will validate members' parking coupon.
Refreshments. The area outside of the conference rooms is equipped with a coffee maker, water, refrigerator and sink. Coffee is available to members and visitors at no cost. Soft drinks may be purchased from the machine in the kitchen.
Staff Assistance. The DBA staff is available to assist committees in the following ways:
- Reserve conference rooms for meetings. Reservations should be requested through the DBA staff as far in advance of each meeting as possible to avoid conflicts in scheduling.
- Send out notices of meeting if notified to do so within a reasonable period of time prior to the meeting. We suggest at least three weeks advance notice to give members adequate time to plan.
- Reproduce and distribute meeting minutes to committee members. It is the responsibility of the committee to take and prepare minutes.
- Provide public relations assistance. (See Section D)
DENVER BAR ASSOCIATION AWARDS
The following awards are presented annually by the Denver Bar Association. Award nominations are routed through the Awards Committee.
Award of Merit. Recognizes outstanding contributions made by a DBA member to the DBA and the profession.
Volunteer Lawyer of the Year. Honors a DBA member who has performed extraordinary voluntary legal or community service.
Young Lawyer of the Year Award Honors a member of the DBA who is under 37 or has been practicing law less than three years, and has made outstanding contributions to the community and the interests of young lawyers in the Denver metro area.
Judicial Excellence Award. Honors a DBA member of the judiciary for extraordinary service or exceptional contributions to the improvement of the judicial system.
Liberty Bell Award. This may be a two-part award. One honors a lawyer, firefighter, police officer, teacher, media representative or member of the community, the second honors a legal assistant. Both awards are given for outstanding contribution to the legal profession that has strengthened freedom under the law. Nominees must be employed in the City and County of Denver.
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
The ABA is an enormous and diverse entity with dozens of departments, committees and divisions. It is also a wealth of information and a valuable resource for state and local bars on almost any issue or project that a bar association is confronting. The key is knowing who to contact at the ABA.
In almost all circumstances, your first point of contact at the ABA is the Division of Bar Services (312/988-5352). The division serves as the principle link between the ABA and state/local bar associations. This means that the division can not only provide you with information on ABA activities, but can direct you to a state or local association that can be of assistance. If the division cannot answer your inquiry directly, they can refer you to the appropriate ABA official, division, or committee. The director of the division is Roseanne Lucianek. Pamela Robinson and Elizabeth Derrico are the associate directors.
The ABA has numerous national conferences. The three that are budgeted annually are:
NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BAR PRESIDENTS - Held the Friday and Saturday prior to the ABA Annual Meeting (early August) and the ABA Mid-Year Meeting (early February). The president is invited to attend the annual meeting; the president-elect is invited to attend the mid-year meeting.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BAR EXECUTIVES - A 2-day conference for bar executives held the Wednesday and Thursday prior to the National Conference of Bar Presidents.
BAR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE - An annual 2½ day intensive training program for bar presidents-elect held each March in Chicago.
