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Meeting Minutes

October 2, 1996

Council Meeting Agenda
  1. Call to Order
  2. Approval of Minutes, Council Meeting of September 18, 1996
  3. Treasurer's Report
  4. Committee Reports
    1. Franchising Committee
    2. Newsletter Committee
    3. Special Committee on the Internet
    4. Legislative Committee
  5. Old Business
    1. Status of dues increase
    2. Review of budget process
    3. Other old business
  6. New Business
    1. Priority of services and activities
    2. Annual calendar
    3. Contents of Section website
    4. Litigation and legislative updates
    5. FTC interpretations
    6. Other new business
  7. State Bar Communications
  8. Next Meeting
  9. Adjournment
Approval of Minutes
    The Minutes of the meeting of September 18, 1996, were reviewed and approved.
Treasurer’s Report
    No additional financial information was available from the State Bar since the last treasurer's report.
Committee Reports
  • Franchise Committee
    John Forrest reported that the Franchise Committee was proceeding with the planning of a franchise mini-seminar similar to the successful mini-seminar last held by the Committee with the addition of an Indiana and FTC regulator and possibly an intellectual property segment. A copy of a draft flyer dated December 12, 1995 is attached. It was proposed that this seminar be held in late January, 1997. The counsel approved the proposed mini-seminar and authorized the Franchise Committee to take care of the details of the planning of the seminar.
  • Newsletter and Internet Committees
    Dave Chardavoyne Noted that the newsletter and antitrust digest were very important services provided by the Section but that they were also very expensive services to provide. He suggested that the cost of these services might be reduced by linking the newsletter with the internet. For example, the newsletter could be reduced to one two-sided page with references to the Section's website for details, cases, etc. Dave Chardavoyne and Lynn Krauss indicated that would do some follow-up on preparing a home page for the Section. The Council also discussed ways to cut the costs of the newsletter (e.g. publish in-house). Mr. Chardavoyne referred to State Bar materials that indicated that Jeff Smith at the State Bar is the liaison for website matters and that the State Bar is using Voyager Information Networks to prepare the homepage for the State Bar.
  • Legislative Committee
    No report was available.
Old Business
    Status of Dues Increase
    Dave Chardavoyne reported that the dues increase the Section approved did not take effect. He was told by the State Bar that it appeared that the dues increase had never been submitted to the State Bar Commissioners as is required. He requested that John Forrest check the past minutes for information regarding that matter. If the Bar State Bar made a mistake, it will send a separate mailing requesting the additional $5.

    Review of Budget Process
    Dave Chardavoyne reported that if there will be no dues increase, the budget, which was based on the increase, must be reconsidered. The Council discussed whether the dues should be increased beyond the planned increase up to $20. Any additional increase, however, would have to be approved at the next annual meeting of the Section. It was suggested that the newsletter could be used to publicize the fact that, even with a dues increase, the Section would have relatively low dues while providing important services.

    Lunch Meetings
    Dave Chardavoyne reported that lunch meetings at the Renaissance Club are not much more expensive than meetings at the Council members' offices. The Council decided that the format of meetings at Council Members' offices was preferred at this time.
New Business
    None.
State Bar Communications
    Priority of Services and Activities
    The initial priorities of the Council are the Franchise seminar and work on the newsletter and internet. Dave Chardavoyne indicated that he did not want to tie the Council to a Spring or Summer Seminar as in the past. He suggested waiting for current topics between now and March, then reacting and quickly setting up a mini-seminar. A seminar on health care issues was suggested. It was also suggested that the seminar topics be addressed to the business community and thus a wider audience.

    Annual Calendar
    Dave Chardavoyne reported that the State Bar is encouraging sections to establish annual scheduling of meetings. Some members of the Council acknowledged that advance scheduling would allow them to make it to more meetings. Mr. Chardavoyne suggested and the Council approved scheduling the Council meetings for the first Wednesday of each month.

    Contents of Section Website; Litigation and Legislative Updates
    The Council discussed potential information to post on the Section's website. Suggestions included recent national or state litigation or agency rulings. It was suggested that the Council members split-up various courts to monitor activity relevant to the Section. No decisions were made regarding website content.

    FTC Interpretations
    Norman Yoerg referred to his letter of March 22, 1996 as to his recommendations on this proposed project.
Next Meeting
    It was decided that the next meeting would be held November 6, 1996, at 12:00 noon at Ford's offices in the Renaissance Center.
Adjournment
    The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:10 p.m.

    Respectfully submitted,
    John A. Forrest, Secretary