Candidate for Treasurer

Kathryn Bullon

Deerhaven Consulting Services, Sombra, Ontario, Canada
Email: kmbullon@gmail.com

Platform Statement

I am honored to be nominated for the office of State Bar treasurer. I am proud of our Bar and the many programs, services and volunteer opportunities it offers its members. I also know that these come at a very real cost that we must balance among court-mandated services, desirable-but-optional programs, and reasonable dues levies. Our challenge is maintaining critical and valued initiatives while mindfully seeking new revenues and trimming nonessential costs.

I bring many years of relevant Bar leadership experience to guide my service as treasurer. As CLE Committee chair, I helped balance revenue needs with providing relevant, cost-effective programming. As a member of the Finance and Executive Committees, and the Board of Governors, I have grappled with our fiscal, programmatic, and operational issues, and the philosophical challenges we face as a mandatory Bar. And as current president of the 6,359-member Nonresident Lawyers Division, I have the unique experience of working with a constituency encompassing many purely voluntary members.

Realistically, the Bar cannot be all things to all members. We can, and I pledge to, continue the difficult work that we have already started. I will review every program, service, expense and revenue dollar, and ask the hard questions: does it serve our members and their needs? Can we afford it? The answers to those questions must determine if, and how, the item stays in the budget. We can be a stronger, leaner Bar, and I hope you will give me the opportunity to help build it.

Biography

I am one of two Legal Education Coordinators for Community Law School (Sarnia-Lambton [Ontario] ) Inc., a nonprofit working to bridge the civil access-to-justice gap through public legal education and advocacy training. Daunting administrative programs like social and disability assistance, housing, and human and employment rights can be successfully navigated by nonlawyers with focused education and training. We provide such training to frontline staff working with people needing services and advocacy.

I also manage the financial affairs of the unincorporated consulting business and the 100-acre homestead (Deerhaven Farm) owned and operated with my spouse, assisted by our Giant Schnauzers, Sophie and Mischa.

I practiced in Fond du Lac (my hometown) with St. Peter Law Offices, S.C./Edgarton, St. Peter, Petak, Massey & Bullon from 1980 until moving to Ontario in 2003. My practice focused on municipal law (townships, sanitary districts), member-owned cooperatives (dairy, breeder, feed/seed), estate planning (individuals, small business owners), probate, and real estate.

I am a member of the Board of Governors, its Executive and Governance Committees, the Finance Committee, the Emeritus Task Force, and am the Nonresident Lawyers Division President; formerly: chair of the CLE Committee, Local Bar Relations Committee member, #MeToo Task Force member, and Fond du Lac County Bar president and treasurer.

Education

• B.Sc. (Philosophy and Political Science, summa cum laude), University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, 1977
• J.D., University of Wisconsin, 1980
• M.Ad.Ed., St. Francis Xavier, Nova Scotia, 2011

State Bar

• Board of Governors, Nonresident Lawyers Division Representative, 2017-20
• Board of Governors Executive Committee, 2017-present
• Board of Governors Governance Committee, 2017-present
• Board of Governors Strategic Plan Joint Review Committee, 2016-present
• Finance Committee, 2014-present
• President’s Emeritus Task Force, October 2018-present
• #MeToo Working Group, August 2018
• CLE Committee, 2006-09, 2013-16, Vice Chair 2013, Chair 2014-16
• Chair, CLE Committee Paralegal Working Group, 2016-17
• Local Bar Relations Committee, 2000-03
• Member, Senior Lawyers Division
• Member, Civil Rights and Liberties Section
• Member, Public Interest Law Section
• President, Nonresident Lawyers Division, 2018-19
• Board Member/Officer, Nonresident Lawyers Division, 2017-20
• Nonresident Lawyers Division Nominations Committee, 2016-17
• Nonresident Lawyers Division CLE Committee, 2016-17

Honoraria

• Fellow, Wisconsin Law Foundation, 2016-present
• State Bar President’s Award, 2015, 2017

Local Bar Service

• Fond du Lac County Bar Association, member 1980-2003
  • President 1999
  • Secretary 1991-93
  • Treasurer 1989-2003
• Local State Bar Mock Trial Coordinator, 1999-2002

Community

• Housing Board of the ARC of Fond du Lac, 1986-2003, President 1989-2003
• FAVR (Friends Aware of Violent Relationships) Ad Hoc Committee, instrumental in locating suitable and safe property for Fond du Lac County’s first domestic violence shelter, 1982-84.
• University of Wisconsin Alumni Association-Fond du Lac County Chapter, 1980-90, president 1984-85​​​

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