The State Bar of Michigan will welcome former evening news anchor and senior editor of WDIV-TV (NBC), Detroit, Mort Crim at their 1999 New Presidents Conference, June 4 and 5 at Harbor Springs in Boyne Highlands.

Crim is the creator and host of the award-winning radio series Second Thoughts, now airing on more than 700 stations worldwide. He worked at WDIV-TV from 1978 to 1997 where his newscasts were twice named Best Local TV Newscast in America by United Press International. He has received eight Emmy Awards, including two for television commentary, a Gold World Medal as Best Radio Personality (1995) and a Silver Medal for Best Radio Humor Worldwide (1996) at the New York Festivals International Radio Awards.

Crim received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and was inducted into the Hall of Achievement at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in 1997.

The New Presidents Conference is open to all incoming local and special purpose bar association presidents and will teach them how to increase membership and revenue, help their members stay out of the grievance process, and establish a pro bono clinic that is manageable and meaningful to their members. Presidents will hear from experts on important issues facing the legal profession, State Bar initiatives that will impact Michigan, and issues facing the Michigan Supreme Court.

Programs will begin at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, June 4:

12:30 p.m. — Welcome (Thomas Plunkett, chairperson, Local Bar Liaison Committee); Introduction (Michael Krellwitz, Terri Stangl and Dawn Van Hoek, Co-Chairs, New Presidents Conference)

1:00 p.m. — The Value of that Old-Fashioned Advice "To Be Prepared:" Meeting the Challenges as a Bar Leader and Establishing a Vision (Hon. Victoria A. Roberts, U.S. District Court, Federal Court)

1:45 p.m. — How to Build Strength Through Diversity (Lorraine Weber, consultant, Open Justice System, State Bar of Michigan)

2:15 p.m. — Break

2:30 p.m. — How to Do a Lot With a Little: Membership & Revenue (Z. Kay Fischer, CAE, Executive Director, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association; Shelia S. Blakney, President, Washtenaw County Bar Association)

3:15 p.m. — 2000 and Beyond: Issues Facing the Bar (David Haynes, Public Affairs Associates, Inc.; D. Larkin Chenault, Executive Director, State Bar of Michigan; Kurt E. Schnelz, Chairperson, Representative Assembly; J. Thomas Lenga, President, State Bar of Michigan)

4:15 p.m. — New State Bar Service (Danial J. Kim, Deputy Executive Director, State Bar of Michigan)

4:30 p.m. — Transfer Break

4:40 p.m. — Buzz Sessions

5:45 p.m. — Prepare for Picture Taking (Pictures will be taken with New Presidents and Executive Directors of the bar associations with the State Bar of Michigan President and President-Elect. These will be used for the annual Pictorial Directory and press releases.)

6:15 — Reception sponsored by Paul Goebel Group

7:00 — Dinner (Mort Crim, Dinner speaker, Crim Communications "Getting There is Easy — If You Know Where You’re Going.")

Programs on Saturday, June 5:

8:30 a.m. — Stay Out of Trouble: Tips from Experts (Nancy Wonch, Attorney Discipline Board; Robert E. Edick, Deputy Administrator, Attorney Grievance Commission; F. Philip Colista, Judicial Tenure Commission)

9:15 a.m. — President-Elect Speaks (Alfred M. Butzbaugh, President-Elect, State Bar of Michigan)

9:35 a.m. — Resources for Your Year as President (Visit tables with valuable resources available to you and your organization)

10:00 a.m. — MCLE and Other Current Issues (Marilyn Kelly, Justice, Michigan Supreme Court)

10:30 a.m. — Judicial Selection (Bonnie Mayfield, Co-Chairperson, Judicial Qualifications)

11:00 a.m. — Service with Sanity: How to establish a pro bono clinic program that is manageable and meaningful for your members. (Edward Hoort, Executive Director, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan)

11:30 a.m. — Door Prize Drawing

11:45 a.m. — Lunch

The conference registration fee is $95, with a guest fee of $85 per adult and $50 per child, which includes the four group meals. New presidents can register by contacting Nancy Lee Jacka at (877) 247-8233, ext. 6339.