American Association for Justice
GOVERNORS
Anne Marie Brockland, St. Louis
Brian Franciskato, Kansas City
Brett Emison, Lexington
D. Todd Mathews, Edwardsville, Ill.
STATE DELEGATES
Frederick W. Bryant, N. Kansas City
Matthew L. Dameron, Kansas City
MINORITY DELEGATE
Timothy J. Smith, Maplewood
AT-LARGE MEMBER
Jackalyn A. Olinger, St. Louis
BOARD REVITALIZATION GOVERNOR
Mary Simon, Kansas City
BOARD MEMBER OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Membership on the MATA Board of Governors is a significant responsibility. To the Board is entrusted the careful and responsible management of MATA. Chief among the duties of a Board member is to help fulfill MATA’s mission. Without an active and engaged Board, the organization suffers. If the organization suffers, our mission, our members, our clients and the public at large suffer as well.
Membership on the Board should not be considered a perfunctory or honorary position. Each Board member must be willing to contribute time, attention, effort, ideas, energy, presence and money to MATA and its mission. Individuals should seek membership on the Board only if they are willing and able to make the necessary commitment.
In furtherance of these principles, the Board hereby adopts the following Resolution:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the members of the MATA Board of Governors are viewed as trial lawyer leaders both within the Association and in the national trial lawyer community; and
WHEREAS, unless trial lawyer leaders throughout the state contribute their fair share of time, efforts and resources, MATA cannot fully meet the needs of our members or turn back the challenges faced by the civil justice system in the legislature and public eye; and
WHEREAS, members of the Board are duly elected representatives of their region; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Governors has the authority to set minimum requirements for the responsibilities of its members;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Governors of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys hereby enunciates as among the responsibilities expected of MATA governors at least four of the following:
- Active participation in efforts to recruit new or lapsed MATA members;
- Active service on a MATA committee, MO-TLC, ERT service project, AAJ position or other bar related leadership position;
- Active participation in MATA fundraising priorities as those priorities arise, either by contributing money or raising dollars and as an attendee at events;
- Participation as a CLE speaker, contributor to the magazine, student chapter speaker or drafter of an Amicus brief;
- Registration each year for the Annual Convention and attendance at Board Meetings;
- Demonstrated willingness to respond to Action Alerts on legislative priorities or actively participate in the social media program to share and distribute educational materials;
- Active Key Contact to a legislator, a participant in the Lobbyist for a Day program or provide committee testimony;
- Demonstrated commitment for the good of the Association; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
(a) The Board of Governors hereby establishes a Compliance Committee, whose responsibility it shall be to monitor compliance with the obligations and responsibilities of Board members as enunciated under this Resolution. The Committee shall be comprised of four persons chosen by the Executive Committee.
(b) In reviewing a governor’s compliance with Board-established obligations and responsibilities, the Committee may request information from that governor and from MATA staff. The Committee shall have broad discretion regarding how to enforce compliance. In evaluating an individual governor’s compliance, the Committee may take into account the aggregate of the governor’s commitment to the Association. In the event the Committee finds non-compliance by any governor, it shall allow that governor a fair opportunity to expeditiously come into compliance or to take demonstrable action toward compliance. A governor’s continued failure to comply shall be reported by the Committee to the Executive Committee.
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