WEST VIRGINIA BAR FOUNDATION
ANNUAL REPORT
JULY, 2011- JUNE, 2012
The 2011-12 fiscal year was another
successful year for the WV Bar Foundation as it continued its progress from a
striving to a thriving entity in fulfilling its mission of improving the
administration of justice and the provision of legal services for West
Virginia’s citizens.
As the philanthropic organization for the state’s legal profession and justice
system, the Bar Foundation strengthened its commitment to initiating and supporting
those programs and activities that benefit men, women and children.
During the past year, the Bar Foundation’s Board of Directors, a diverse group
of fifteen judges and lawyers from all parts of the state, made policy
decisions to initiate new activities, reduce its administrative costs, enhance
its grant making process and implement an endowment fund. Through its various
committees, the Board received and reviewed numerous strategic actions that
included decisions to keep moving the Bar Foundation proactively into the
future.
In the middle of the year, the Board was faced with a difficult situation in
determining what needed to be done with the two buildings that it had owned and
leased for ten years and twenty years as they became vacant. After serious
consideration, the Board placed them on the market with one being sold in May,
2012, and the other being placed under contract shortly thereafter. Once both
facilities are sold, the Bar Foundation proposes to initiate an Endowment Fund
beginning with a half million dollars.
The Board of Directors fulfilled its desire to keep providing more grants to
worthwhile charitable entities that meet the Bar Foundation’s mission. With more than $40,000 granted,
the Bar Foundation has distributed almost $150,000 to
various groups around the state in just the past five years. A proud moment for
the Bar Foundation was the provision of its first Public Service Scholarship to
a deserving student at the West Virginia University College of Law.
Two other “firsts” occurred in the past twelve months—the Lunch and Laughs
with a Legal Legend program and the ALPS Lawyer Leadership Institute. The Lunch
and Laughs activity was a friendly “roast” of WVU President Emeritus and
College of Law Professor, David C. Hardesty, Jr. The event in Morgantown in
October, 2011, was well attended, well received and well supported. More than
$25,000 was designated for Professor Hardesty’s law student scholarships and for
Bar Foundation grants. A fun time was had by all and it will become an annual
affair.
The ALPS Lawyer Leadership Institute, sponsored by ALPS (Attorneys Liability
Protection Society) gave outstanding leadership training and guidance to a
small group of younger lawyers, who have demonstrated potential to be leaders
in the legal profession, in their communities and in the state. Excellent
presentations were made by knowledgeable judges and lawyers in a weekend
retreat atmosphere at Stonewall Resort in May, 2012. The evaluations were so
overwhelmingly positive that the Board of Directors will continue the endeavor.
For the 14th year, distinguished judges and lawyers were honored as Bar
Foundation Fellows during the annual dinner in Charleston in April, 2012.
Approximately 150 persons from all parts of the state attended the black tie
optional activity where sixteen lawyers and three judges joined less than 350
individuals who have previously achieved this high honor out of more than 5,000
judges and lawyers in West Virginia.
Again, the Bar Foundation had a clean audit from the independent accounting
firm as well as monthly bank reconciliations by a separate accounting entity.
The Board of Directors gives a high priority to its fiduciary responsibilities
during its quarterly meetings and throughout the entire year. One needed
expenditure was to improve and enhance the Bar Foundation’s
website—www.wvbarfound.org—which was accomplished in the fall, 2011. The
popular Bar Brief, a twice monthly electronic newsletter, keeps Bar Foundation
members informed about the good work and the services provided by the
philanthropic organization.
Elected to serve as Board members for three
year terms and as the Officers for 2012-13 were:
Richard Bolen-Huntington
Jodie Boylen-Parkersburg
Kenneth Gray-Morgantown
Harry Hatfield-Madison
John Shott-Bluefield
President-William Tracey Weber, Jr.-Weston
Vice President-Harry Hatfield-Madison
Secretary/Treasurer-Steve White-Charleston
Since its inception in December, 1988, the WV Bar Foundation has been taking
progressive actions to assist and support the state and her citizens. The
2011-12 fiscal year was another example of the Bar Foundation’s philanthropic
leadership.