MINUTES – January 26, 2009

THE WEST VIRGINIA BAR FOUNDATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPECIAL MEETING
STATE BAR CENTER-CHARLESTON
January 26, 2009

MINUTES

The Special Meeting of the West Virginia Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors, called by President Carl Harris on January 15, 2009 in accordance with the Bylaws, was called to order by Vice President John Tinney on January 26, 2009 at the State Bar Center in Charleston.

Members of the Board of Directors in attendance were Jane Moran, Neva Lusk, Larry Skeen and Steve Crislip. Participating by telephone conference call were Cheryl Riley, Janet Preston, Tracey Weber, Michael Aloi and Steven Nord. Bar Foundation Executive Director Tom Tinder were also in attendance.

In the notice for the Special Meeting, there were two items to be considered-ad valorem taxes for the State Bar Center and Lawyer Disciplinary Board buildings owned by the Bar Foundation and the loan arrangements for the organization.

Vice President Tinney informed the Board members of the discussions that a committee of President Harris, Mr. Skeen, Mr. Crislip and he had with a similar sized committee from the State Bar’s Board of Governors. There were comments made about the positive and negative aspects of making a formal request to Kanawha County officials to have an exemption from the payment of real property taxes for the two facilities which are rented to the State Bar. The Board had received a proposed letter from the State Bar Committee to be sent to the appropriate county officials.

After further discussion, a motion was duly made, seconded and passed that the Bar Foundation request a tax exemption for the buildings at 2006 and 2008 Kanawha Blvd., East in Charleston, Kanawha County and that the proposed letter be utilized with changes and corrections that had been discussed.

The Board members then reviewed the two loans that the Bar Foundation has with the State Bar and Chase Bank which funds were used several years ago to purchase the building at 2008 Kanawha Blvd., East, as well as the Bar Foundation’s current financial situation. The Bar Foundation had paid off loans to the State Bar in the total amount of more than $44,000 in May, 2008, which had been used for the purchase of the building at 2006 Kanawha Blvd., East, approximately 15 years ago.

After some comments were made, a motion was duly made, seconded and passed that the four person committee would investigate bank loan options and report back to the Board at the next regular meeting on March 12, 2009. Then, a motion was duly made, seconded and passed that this committee will review all the loans of the Bar Foundation.

There were remarks made regarding the current three year leases between the Bar Foundation and the State Bar for the two buildings that will expire on June 30, 2010. A motion was duly made, seconded and passed that the Bar Foundation will defer action on considering the amending of the leases with the State Bar until a later date.

There being no further business to transact, the Special Meeting was adjourned.