September 2017 Annual Membership Meeting

Minutes of the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Membership

of

The Nevada Judicial Historical Society

September 15, 2017

Carson City, Nevada

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Peter Smith at 12:10 p.m.  Present were paid members Susan Southwick, Karen Baggett, Terry Rankin, The Honorable Thomas Perkins, Donald Klasic, Dennis Myers, as well as Peter Smith, constituting a quorum.  Also present were The Honorable Mark Gibbons, Jason Sowards, Janette Bloom, The Honorable Robert Johnston and Don Southwick, guest.

The Chairman then made a brief introduction of new member Jason Sowards.  Justice Gibbons further introduced Mr. Sowards as the recently appointed Supreme Court Law Librarian, noting that he had a law degree from Brandeis University and that he had come to the court from Vanderbilt University.

The minutes of the 2016 annual meeting were approved as mailed.  Myers/Gibbons.

Treasurer Janette Bloom noted that the balance as of August 31 was reduced from the 2016 balance of $7,623.39 to $6,390.95.  Total receipts came from dues and one donation, while large expenditures were made for Judge Fondi’s commemorative plaque, expenses relating to reformatting several oral histories from digital to print (including printing and binding costs), and significant postage and supplies expenses required to distribute the King’s Court book to Justice and Municipal courts.  She also put forth a budget projection for 2018 for receipts and expenditures anticipated, as well as an approximation of the value of other assets.  Susan Southwick said she thought there were more medallions than reported.  She and Ms. Bloom agreed to do a count.
Myers moved to approve, Klasic seconded; report approved.

Chairman Smith then handed out the 2017 Annual Report, saying the major points would be covered under the projects reports portion of the agenda.
He noted that the reformatting of the oral histories in digital form on UNR’s Special collections library to octavo print form was largely completed, with most of the histories also indexed for reprinting and binding.  Some large ones, like Claiborne are still in progress, but most are close to having an accurate page count to calculate publishing costs.
Robert Johnston asked about the “confidential pages” that had been withheld from the original publication of Justice Young’s history. Susan Southwick said that she had maintained them in her position as Law Librarian, but couldn’t remember exactly where they had been filed; she said she would assist Jason Sowards in locating them, but that their publication was contingent on the deaths of individuals who were still living.
Judge Johnston said he was working on completing histories of federal magistrate Phyllis Halsey Atkins and federal district judge Ed Reed and that he had obtained releases from the families of both.  He wondered how to get them published and Peter Smith said that with minimal editing and introductions, they could go on-line at the UNR Special Collections site.  Judge Johnston said he also has the original tape recordings and it was suggested that those could be offered to the Special Collections Library to back up the digital versions.

As Jeff Kintop was not present to report on the 10 Cases exhibit, Peter Smith said he would like the Society to sponsor a reception in the Old Supreme Court Chambers in the Capitol to celebrate its re-opening.  Earlier exploration had revealed that no food or drink was allowed there, so he would explore alternatives.

Janette Bloom reported that there was a good turn-out on April 7 for the dedication of Judge Fondi’s plaque at the Carson City Courthouse.  Many of the judge’s family were present, as were members of the local bar and members of the Judicial Historical Society.

Susan Southwick reported that a majority of the membership returned ballots re-electing the incumbents to additional 3-year terms.

Under New Business, Janette Bloom noted that bank account signatures need to be updated.
There being no further business, Gibbons moved for adjournment, Baggett seconding.  The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:
Susan Southwick, SecretaryAnnual


Susan Southwick, Acting Secretary