November 2005 Newsletter

TIME IS RUNNING OUT. CALL 763-566-8800 TO REGISTER FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING NOW!

Spend a day at the prestigious
Interlachen Country Club
6200 Interlachen Boulevard, Edina, MN

Collaborative Law Institute MN 2005 Annual Meeting

8:00-8:30am Registration/Continental Breakfast

8:30-Noon Morning Program

• Keynote speaker Justice Sandy Keith, on Living the Vision of Collaborative Practice—How Far Have We Come?
• Updates on the accomplishments of each CLI-MN committee during 2005

12:10-1:10pm Luncheon/Election of Board Members

1:10-4:30 Afternoon Program

• CLE Training with instructor, Janis Prichard, LLB. Janis practices exclusively in collaborative law and mediation. She has helped more than 150 clients resolve their divorces in a collaborative manner, and has trained more than 1,000 professionals in basic and advanced collaborative methods.

4:30-5:30pm 2005 New Member Welcome

Friday, December 2, 2005
Cost: $105 if registered by November 15th
$130 to register after November 15th
Contact Jo Elias at 763-566-8800

Message from the President

MORE ON MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS: REGIONAL GROUPS

In October’s newsletter, I clarified that the 6-hour per year training requirement can be met by attendance at seminars and trainings related to collaborative practice outside the trainings provided solely by the Institute. Now I want to clarify the regional meeting requirements.

In an effort to carry out one leg of our 5-year Strategic Plan to “increase active membership”, the membership committee determined that attendance at four (4) regional meetings per year is consistent with this goal. But “active” has more than one meaning. It can mean “active” in the CLI organization and it can also mean “active” in the greater community to promote collaborative and non-adversarial practice of family law. We believe that “active” in both senses of the word should be encouraged. Therefore, the regional meeting requirement is expanded to include activities and meetings beyond the regional group meetings provided by CLI. Once again, we rely on good faith self-reporting of these activities when you renew your membership in January 2006. Some examples of what would be considered comparable to a regional meeting would be attendance at any CLI committee meeting and attendance at activities related to collaborative practice with other professional groups or organizations such as the ADR or Family sections of the Minnesota Bar Association, AAML, and psychological and financial groups. Also, attendance at the 2005 Annual Meeting will count as two (2) meetings! To continue reading, please click here

By Tonda Mattie, 2005 CLI President

Minnesota Member Spotlights

Running for the Board - Tom Alf, Audra Holbeck, and David Olson

Elections for the openings on the Board of Directors of the Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota will take place at the Annual Meeting, December 2, 2005. So far, three members have stepped up to the plate to show their desire to help lead the Institute in the coming years. It’s not too late; if you desire to run or would like to nominate another worthy candidate, please contact Tonda Mattie. Here is a look at who is in the running.

Tom Alf, Financial Professional

Tom Alf, CPA, CDFA, joined the Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota last May. He brought with him a wealth of experience in the financial services industry, including work in public accounting for KPMG, CFO positions with Spearhead Industries and Bruegger’s Bagels of Minnesota and Wisconsin, and a solo venture he started in 2004 called Clerestory Financial Planning. Tom centers his practice on holistic approaches to problem solving, and has found his commitment to CLI to be very rewarding. He values the method of collaborating with other professionals and understanding the clients’ needs when dealing with issues, and feels he has gained excellent insight to the process in his membership experience thus far. He also enjoys networking with the “interesting, bright, and fun people” who belong to the Institute. Tom is an active member on the membership committee and has been integral in the planning of this year’s Annual Meeting.

Tom earned his BS in accounting from the University of Illinois – Champaign-Urbana. His is married with two children. His daughter, a senior at Barnard College at Columbia University in New York, pursues a degree in neuroscience. Tom’s son, a sophomore at Rice University in Houston, Texas, is studying architecture. The Alf family also has an Australian Sheppard. Tom enjoys traveling, reading and exercising. He looks forward to his children’s’ post-college life, when he will be able to partake in his desire to travel a little more liberally.

Audra Holbeck, Attorney

When asked why she loves her career as a collaborative family law attorney, Audra Holbeck does not hesitate for a second to respond. Her passion for the collaborative process is fueled by her love for helping clients and families make it through one of the toughest situations in life—divorce. Her belief that litigation is inappropriate for families helps her stay committed to helping clients heal and make it through the process successfully. Audra wishes to help spread the word about the benefits of collaborative law in order to provide families with the best outcomes possible.

Audra earned her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Minnesota—Duluth. She dreamed of going to medical school her whole life, and worked in a nursing home during college to gain experience in that area. However, during her junior year she worked in a women’s shelter as a legal advocate and realized her true passion. She wanted to help turn lives around, and began contemplating law school as a post-graduate opportunity. Since she had no experience in law, she took a job as a receptionist at a law firm and took classes to become a paralegal. She was accepted into William Mitchell College of Law, and during her final year, became a clerk at a law firm. Within 6 months of graduating, she opened up her own practice. With 6 years of family law experience and a year and half of commitment to the Collaborative Law Institute, she now strives to be 100% collaborative in her practice in the coming years. Audra is actively involved and chairs the membership committee, co-chairs the outreach committee, and has devoted a lot of time in helping put together this year’s Annual Meeting.

Audra and her high school sweetheart-turned-husband, Greg, live in Woodbury and enjoy cross country and downhill skiing, golfing, traveling, and talking about their legal careers. Although Audra is a competent family law attorney, you may want to think twice if you plan to have her cook up your Thanksgiving turkey. On a past holiday, Audra and her family waited until 10:30pm to eat, for the turkey was more frozen than the cook thought. However, Audra says everyone was pleased with the meal once they finally ate. It must have been her skill in dealing with family struggles that saved the day.

David Olson, Attorney

Over thirty years of experience in the legal field has guided Davis Olson to his current career as a family law attorney and member of the Collaborative Law Institute. He joined the Institute a year ago, and has developed a passion for its mission and is ready to take more action.

David earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in economics, and returned to the University to earn his law degree as well. He was admitted to practice in 1972, and started working for the new town of Jonathon, in Chaska. That experience was “exciting but short-lived,” and following those years, was an assistant county attorney in Mankato. He began his fellowship in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 1987. His legal background encompasses work in the areas of bankruptcy, real estate, corporate law, personal injury, and workers compensation.

When David is out of the office, he loves to bike and ski. He is a member of the ski patrol at Hyland in Bloomington, where he and his wife live. His wife runs a computer lab in an elementary school in Bloomington. They have two children as well—one is an assistant professor for communication studies at the University of Houston Downtown, and their multi-degreed son is presently in Berlin preparing to teach English as a second language. Just this past summer, he and his son drove David’s 1955 Volvo 1800S to Kansas City for a national vintage Volvo owners’ convention. The Olson’s were lucky enough to have the opportunity to park next to 1966 Volvo 1800 that held the world record for mileage—2.3 million miles! The original owner sill drives it everywhere!

Now that you are well-acquainted with the prospects for the CLI Board of Directors for 2006, attend the Annual Meeting and vote!

By Megan Stone and Amy Wolff

IACP Atlanta Forum held last month

Thirteen members of the Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota attended the 6th Annual International Academy of Collaborative Professionals at their annual forum at the Westin Peachtree in Atlanta, October 28-30. The conference featured a wealth of information and knowledge on collaborative practice trends from around the World, and was a great networking opportunity. Minnesota members who attended the conference include:

Several of our local members made valuable contributions to the Conference this year. As always, Stu gave an insightful look into the future during the general session. Ron Ousky, as co-chair of IACP’s public education committee gave an inspiring talk on the international marketing initiatives for 2006. He also moderated a panel discussion on “The 9 habits of Highly Effective Practice Group,” of which Amy Wolff and Tonda Mattie participated in as well. Linda Wray helped by “womaning” the IACP Membership table to help recruit new talent. We look forward to 2006 with more members attending and being actively involved.

CLI Rookie’s take on the IACP Atlanta Forum

One of the first times I was actually proud to be a lawyer was at the IACP Forum in Atlanta, 2005. I was surrounded by over 500 Collaborative Professionals from around the world; each there to learn and share about the revolution in the legal system. As the CLI Rookie I thought I’d be able to share an energy that maybe some more seasoned Collaborative Professionals may not have. Boy do I have a lot to learn. Those folks were amazing, energetic and inspiring. I am still flying on the energy attained by attending the event.

Justice Robert Benham, the first African American to serve on Georgia’s Supreme Court, welcomed us with open arms and an inspirational reminder. He told us the original three professions were healing professions. Doctors heal the body. Clergy heal the soul. The third profession was the lawyers. He noted that we are once again becoming the healers of the community.

There were a number of break-out sessions and I had a hard time selecting which to attend. When it was clear CLI would be purchasing a copy of the tapes being made I was ecstatic. I strongly urge everyone to check out the tapes. I understand a nominal fee will be charged to cover the expense of purchasing the tapes. Trust me; it will be well worth the cost.

I discovered Collaborative Law only a few months ago, while trying to find other ways to use my skills to help children and their families. I enjoyed hearing from child specialists during one of the break out sessions. During the last session I attended, an attorney interviewed 3 couples she had worked with through their collaborative divorces, along with a gentleman that used Collaborative Processes to peacefully amend visitation provisions ten years after his divorce. I heard several of the couples indicate that while they really appreciated the lawyers, it was the child specialist that provided the most important services in their situations. I also heard one couple comment that the meals provided by the attorneys were very helpful. They were under the impression that the attorneys were actually in competition to be the best cook. I am eager to use these and other comments in my practice as a Collaborative Professional.

Finally, Stu Webb looked into the future and told us what we saw. Interestingly, one of the most heated discussions of the weekend was resolved in the future. Though Collaborative Law had spread beyond family law and into medical malpractice, employment, business, and estates and trusts, all collaborative cases included executed Participation Agreements. What a relief to see that this movement I only just found out about, though evolving into exactly what it needs to be, is remaining focused on providing clients with a safe place to resolve their disputes with dignity.

By Anne Towey