Waukesha_County_Bar Association

SCRIPTUS

P.O. Box 400

Pewaukee, WI 53072

A Publication of the Waukesha County Bar Association

January, 2009

Danni Caldwell-Editor

			Table of Contents (click on a link to go to the article or item)
			Mark Your Calendars
			President's Letter
			Minutes and Treasurer's Report
			Clerk of Courts News
			Section News
			Member News
			New on the WCBA Website

MARK YOUR CALENDARS
February 3, 2009 - noon Country Springs Hotel February 7, 2009 April 25, 2009 May 14, 2009 Country Springs Resort Noon - 5 (end time tentative)	Support Staff Luncheon* High School Mock Trial Tournament Courthouse Spring Awards Dinner and Casino Night - Legends CC * Annual Meeting and Spring CLE * (members only events)

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A Word From Your President

Dear Members:

     I hope you can all join us for the Support Staff Luncheon on Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at the Country Springs.

     I received virtually no input on the entertainment, so I do not want to hear a lot of complaining if this year's choice is not funny or entertaining!

     Regardless of your attendance, I would urge you to take a minute and acknowledge the contributions of your support staff to your practice. For nearly all the attorneys I know, myself included, the wheels would completely fall off but for the professional efforts of our staff.

     Best wishes.

Very truly yours,

Dan Habeck

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WCBA Board Minutes -   Thursday, December , 2008, 12:00 p.m.

Attendance:    Dan Habeck, President; Doug Swanson, President-Elect; Christy D'Angelo, Secretary/Treasurer; Marjorie Wendt, Past-President; Danni Caldwell; Craig Kuhary; Vicki Schroeder, Jeff Zirgibel, Mike Hausman & Sharron Stolpa.

Minutes: The minutes of the November 20, 2008, meeting were approved.

Treasurer and Membership Report: 449 membership applications had been received for the 2008-2009 membership year.

18 Month CD:         $13,999.26
2 Year CD:              $13,999.51
Money Market:        $ 6,112.85
Checking Account: $19,402.90

Old Business and Committee Reports

State Board of Governors : Nothing to report.

Scriptus/Website : The next issue of the Scriptus will be sent out on December 19, 2008.

Judge's Luncheon :The Judge's Luncheon is scheduled for January 12, 2009 at the Country Springs Hotel. Cost is $10 per person. All judges and court commissioners have been invited.

Holiday Party :The Holiday Party was held on December 4, 2008, at the Delafield Brewhaus. 100 people paid to attend. 18 paid at the door. We had 19 no shows. The Arrowhead choir was well received and a nice addition to the party.

Tax Return : Gaylene Stingl has the tax returns which need to be filed by year end.

GAL Seminar: 50 attorneys in attendance. Very interactive seminar. There were issues with the food and beverages that will need to be addressed in the billing and next year.

New Business

Support Staff Luncheon Date & Entertainment Ideas: The Support Staff Luncheon will take place on February 3, 2009, at 12:00 p.m. at the Country Springs Hotel. Dan is looking for any entertainment ideas or suggestions.

Spring Awards Dinner: The Legends will be contacted to check available dates and the date will be selected at the next Board Meeting.

Annual Meeting: The Annual Meeting will take place on May 14, 2009, at the Country Springs Hotel. There will be a CLE segment to follow the luncheon. Details will be forthcoming.

State Bar Appearance Requests: The State Bar has asked to come to one of our membership meetings and speak to the membership. The Board reviewed our upcoming events and didn't believe we had an event that would be appropriate for their purposes. The Board will solicit the membership to see if anyone is interested in organizing a debate between the candidates for State Bar President. This request will be in the next edition of the Scriptus.

The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 1:00 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 12:00 p.m., Room G55, Administration Building. *

Respectfully submitted,
Christine D'Angelo, Secretary/Treasurer

*The next meeting is Thursday, February 19, 2009, same time, same location.

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From the Clerk of Courts

Announcement by Family Court Services Director

Effective January 2, 2009 the rates for mediations and evaluations are as follows:

Mediation:    The first mediation session is free (one free lifetime session per family).
                      The second mediation session is $100.00.
                       If the parties participate in mediation beyond their second session, the fee is $200.00.

Custody/Physical Placement Evaluation:    The fee is $900.00.

     The mediation fee scale has not changed. The evaluation fee was raised from $800.00 to $900.00. All court orders referring parties to Family Court Services dated January 2, 2009 or later shall be charged at the 2009 rates. Court orders dated prior to January 2, 2009 shall be charged at the existing rates. Family Court Services will not provide services until the required payment is received, unless so ordered by the court.

     The court generally determines which party will pay which portion of the fee, either before payment is made or at a later hearing. If not ordered by the court, each party is generally required to pay half of the fee in pending divorce/legal separation actions. In all other actions, the requesting party is generally required to pay.

     Please visit our website at http://circuitcourts.waukeshacounty.gov, click on Family Court, and then Family Court Services.

- Robin Kostroski - Director of Waukesha County Family Court Services

Family Court Guardian ad Litem Fees Increased

The Family Court division increased fees for guardian ad litem work from $65/hour to $70/hour
effective, January 2, 2009.

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Section News

Please send section news and information to Michelle Martin at mmartin@murnlaw.com or Danni Caldwell at wcba1@waukeshabar.org.

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Member News

RSVP Deadline for the Support Staff Luncheon is January 29th!

     An email was sent to all current members of the WCBA with the RSVP form for the Support Staff Luncheon attached. The Luncheon is on February 3 at the Country Springs. The cost is the same as it has been the last several years: $15.00 covers one WCBA member and one staff member. Additional staff members can attend for an additional $15.00.

     Because of the delay in getting the RSVP form and information to our members, we will be collecting the money at the event. Please bring the exact amount of cash or a check to pay. We will not have change available!

     If for some reason you did not get the email, you can find the form on the opening page of the WCBA website.

Volunteers Sought for High School Mock Trial

     Doug Swanson is still seeking volunteers to serve as judges. If you are interested in helping, please contact Doug at 262-523-4700. This is a very rewarding and fun event for all involved and will only involve 4 hours of your time on Saturday, February 7, 2009.

CLE Credit Information

     The Guardian ad Litem seminar on December 11, 2008 was approved for 4 credits (no ethics credits.)

Local Bar Grant Competition

     The Wisconsin Bar Association offers grant money to local bar associations for new public service projects that are topical, useful and novel. Information is available on the State Bar website. The deadline for applying is May 1, 2009. Information can be obtained from Kris Wenzel (800) 444-9404 or dwenzel@wisbar.org.

Congratulations!

     Congratulations to Rick Congdon, who was appointed by Governor Doyle to serve as our newest judge in Circuit Court Branch 2.

Board of Governors

     Mike Hausman’s seat on the Board of Governors will be vacated as Mike has reached his term limit. If you are interested in serving on the Board of Governors for our county, please go to the Wis Bar website and obtain a nomination form. The deadline for nominations is March 1, 2009.

     If you want your candidacy to be included in the State Bar Bulletin, the deadline is February 16, 2009.

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New on the WCBA Web Site

The RSVP form for the Support Staff Luncheon is available on the opening page of the WCBA website.

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Comments or questions about the Scriptus should be directed to:

Danni Caldwell, Editor

548-7432

wcba1@waukeshabar.org

SNOWCOVER FOR 65 DAYS AND COUNTING. ARGHHHH....