The Board of Governors
The Board of Governors manages and directs the affairs of the State Bar of Wisconsin. There are 49 members on the Board of Governors, including the association's five officers and the immediate past president. Thirty-four members are elected from the l6 State Bar districts. Each is a single-member district except for Milwaukee County, which has l3 members, Dane County which has six members, and Waukesha County which has two members. In addition, the Supreme Court appoints three nonlawyer members to the board, and the Government Lawyers Division, Young Lawyers Division, and Senior Lawyers Division each select one member, while the Nonresident Lawyers Division selects three members to sit on the board. There are also five Building Bridges Liaisons appointed to the Board of Governors.
Placing Items on the Board of Governors Agenda
In order to have a matter or communication placed on the agenda for a meeting of the board, a member needs to notify the executive director of the bar and submit the appropriate materials at least two weeks in advance of the board meeting.
The State Bar staff sends the agenda and supporting materials to the governors at least a week before the meeting. The approved Board of Governors meeting minutes are posted on WisBar within two weeks following the meeting at which they are approved.
Board of Governor Liaisons
Each year a board of governors liaison is assigned to each committee. The liaison's role is to improve communication between the committees and the Board of Governors. The board of governors liaison receives all materials sent to the committee. Committee members are encouraged to communicate with their liaison on matters relating to their committee and the State Bar in general.
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee consists of the president, president-elect, the immediate past president, the chairperson of the Board of Governors, one representative each from the Nonresident Lawyers Division, Government Lawyers Division, Young Lawyers Division, and Senior Lawyers Division selected from their Board of Governors representatives and six additional members elected annually by the Board of Governors. The Executive Committee has all the powers and is authorized to perform all the duties of the Board of Governors between the meetings of the board, except the Executive Committee may not amend the bylaws, make rules or regulations governing nominations or elections, prescribe regulations for proceedings before grievance committees, or initiate the taking of any referendum or poll of members of the association. See Supreme Court Rule 10.06 of the State Bar bylaws, in the back of the handbook for more information.
The Finance Committee
The Finance Committee consists of the president, president-elect, the immediate past president, treasurer, CLE committee chairperson and four additional members appointed annually by the president. The Finance Committee advises the Board of Governors on financial matters and usually offers a report at each board meeting. The committee also reviews the annual budget proposed by the executive director. See Article V of the State Bar bylaws in the back of the handbook for more information.
