The Willson American Inn of Court, by its Charter, was initially limited to 65 active members, which was later increased to 70. The membership is divided into three classifications. Masters are lawyers with 15 or more years’ of experience, a law professor, and appellate and local trial court judges. These members are the voting members of the inn. Barristers include lawyers with from 5 to 15 years’ of experience. Associate or Pupil members include lawyers with fewer than five years’ of experience. The Willson Inn is associated with Stetson University College of Law and encourages law students who are in their final year of law school to attend and participate as they may. The Inn’s members are drawn from Polk County and the other surrounding counties within the Tenth Judicial Circuit. Membership is open to all qualified persons, regardless of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, or handicap. Thus, the Willson American Inn of Court reflects the rich diversity of the bench and bar in the Tenth Judicial Circuit and includes representatives of the plaintiffs’ bar, defense counsel (criminal and civil), solo practitioners, government lawyers, corporate counsel, law professors, persons working in large and small firms, and local trial and appellate judges. Efforts are made to ensure that no law firm or type of practice is disproportionately represented. All members serve at the pleasure of the Executive Committee. Masters are invited to participate without actual restriction on the years of service. Banisters generally serve four-year terms; while Associate or Pupil members serve two-year terms. Each July or August, invitations are extended to current members based upon participation and attendance in the preceding year. When vacancies are created, invitations are extended based upon the vote of the Executive Committee after considering the then existing needs of the membership. A waiting list for admission to the Inn is maintained by the Inn Administrator. Members are not permitted to change their membership classification during their term but may be placed in a different classification if they meet the qualifications at the beginning of the next Inn year. In addition to the active members, the Inn extends Honorary Membership status to Masters who have served the Inn, and customarily have served on the Executive Committee, and who wish to rotate out for any given Inn year. They have completed their term of membership in good standing. Honorary members are encouraged to participate in the Inn’s educational and social programs as their schedule permits. The Inn also recognizes Masters Emeritus members. This category is reserved for members who have been admitted to the Bar a minimum of 25 years, have been an active member in good standing with the inn for 5 years or more, and who have a record of distinguished service to the bench and/or bar, exemplifying the objectives of the American Inns of Court. SELECTION OF MEMBERS In the spring of each year, the membership chairperson and inn administrator solicit nominations for new Masters, Banisters and Associates from the Inn’s active members, from judges, and from the local bar membership. A list is then prepared which identifies persons who have a demonstrated interest in developing their own professional skills and in improving the quality ofjustice in the Tenth Judicial Circuit through inn membership. The names of these individuals, their area(s) of practice, and year of admission to the bar are submitted to the Inn’s Executive Committee. The Executive Committee engages in discussion and then votes to fill the vacancies of the Inn where there are more applicants than positions available. On behalf of the Executive Committee, the inn administrator extends the invitations to join or to continue membership in the Inn. Governance of the Willson American Inn of Court is entrusted to the officers and other inn members constituting the Executive Committee. The officers include: president, counselor, administrator, secretary, treasurer, and president-elect. Committee Chairs include: program chair, membership chair, American Inn of Court Foundation liaison, CLE chair, and such other chairs as may be appointed by the president. The Executive Committee consists of the officers, committee chairs, and other members so that the committee usually comprises a ten to twelve member board, with representatives of each membership category. The president and counselor must be Masters, and at least one of them must be ajudge. The other officers and representative members of the executive committee may be drawn from any membership category. Once a year, a nominating committee is appointed by the president to locate candidates for office for the upcoming year. After the committee makes its recommendations and nominations close, elections are held in conjunction with the last meeting of the program year. The officers are elected by a majority of the Masters. Officers serve a one-year term and are eligible to serve successive terms. A list of the officers for each Inn year is provided to the membership at the beginning of each year, and members are encouraged to contact any of the officers if they have questions or comments concerning the Inn. All active members are expected to attend and to participate actively in the inn’s meetings. Two unexcused absences during a program year can jeopardize an individual’s invitation for the upcoming year. The Executive Committee recognizes that the Inn is comprised of trial attorneys and judges and that from time to time there may be no way that a member can attend. To maintain fairness to all members, it is requested that in the event of an absence from any given inn meeting, that a note or letter be sent to the inn administrator explaining the reason for the nonattendance. These letters are reviewed at the year’s end in determining whether to extend an invitation for membership for the upcoming year. Persons who are unable to attend a particular meeting should inform the inn administrator in writing prior to the meeting. if at all possible, of the reasons for their absence. Absences without notice are considered to be unexcused. The inn administrator is Kevin A. Ashley, whose address is 212 E. Stuart Ave., Lake Wales, Florida 33853. If you have questions concerning the attendance policy or an absence, you may call Mr. Ashley at (863) 676-8584. The Inn’s programs are primarily for the members’ benefit. However, members may invite guests from time to time. Some times, a pupilage group may desire to have a non-inn member with specialized skills or knowledge participate in their program. In either case, members who wish to invite guests must inform the president and inn administrator in advance of the meeting of their guest’s name. They must also agree to be responsible for the cost of the guest’s meal prior to or at the time of the meeting. The cost of the meal can be obtained from the treasurer or inn administrator. The Inn’s active members are divided into eight-person teams known as "pupilage groups." The inn administrator assigns members to pupilage groups and makes sure that each team includes Masters, Barristers, and Associate or Pupil members who would not otherwise encounter each other frequently in their daily work. Team assignments may be changed for good cause. Members desiring to change teams must do so as early as possible. It is helpful if the member finds a member of another team thaL has not yet presented a program who is willing to take their place. The teams are encouraged to meet monthly, or more often if necessary, to prepare their program and to promote camaraderie among the team members. The teams choose their own meeting places and times, but are expected to notify the president, inn administrator and the program chair when their meetings are scheduled. Each team is led by a judge. The judge is responsible for convening the team, for assuring that the pupilage group members attend the inn’s meetings and activities, and for promoting contacts among team members between Inn meetings. The Master lawyers of the group are to supervise the preparation of the team’s program and are responsible for all other team activities. All members of the group are to be including in the planning, preparation and presentation of the program. Each team must prepare and present one of the Inn’s eight programs. The team’s responsibilities in this regard include: (1) selecting the format most likely to present the assigned or selected topic in an interesting manner; (2) preparing written materials to assist the membership with the subject matter and to meet the CLE requirements of the Florida Bar; (3) preparing an American inn of Court Demonstration Report to be included in the American Inns of Court Foundation national programming library, if the program is not otherwise included in the Programming Manual; and (4) preparing the Florida Bar CLE application form outlining the program to be presented. in addition to presenting a program, the teams provide Inn members an opportunity to become better acquainted with other lawyers practicing in the Tenth Judicial Circuit. The teams are the principle component of the Inn’s mentoring activities. Their diverse membership is intended to build an inter-generational relationship that encourages frank and personal discussion of matters of practice, ethics, civility, and all other aspects of the practice of law. The most experienced members of the team are encouraged to pass on the best of the practice to the less experienced members. Accordingly Masters are encouraged to provide their Associate colleagues with opportunities to observe them in court, in deposition, or in the office. The annual dues for Honorary Masters and Masters of the Inn are $200. Annual dues for Banisters is $175 and Associate or Pupil members of the Inn are $150. The funds provided by the dues defray the Inn’s operating expenses, including the cost of the members’ meals at the monthly Inn meetings, the dues to the American Inns of Court Foundation, and the CLE fees collected by the Florida Bar, Continuing Legal Education Department. Honorary members are charged a membership fee to also assist financially with the operation of the inn and in obtaining the CLE credits. The American Inns of Court Foundation has received a 501 (c)(3) designation from the Internal Revenue Service, and the Willson American Inn of Court benefits from this designation as an affiliate of the Foundation. Members may deduct their dues either as a business expense or as a charitable contribution. Members electing to deduct their inn dues as a charitable contribution must reduce the amount of their contribution by the value of the meals. Please contact the inn administrator or treasurer to ascertain the value of the meals and that which may be deducted as a charitable contribution. CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION CREDIT One of the benefits of inn membership is due to the quality of our meeting programs, many are approved for CLE credit. The Inn has been certified as a CLE provider by the Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Department. Members may earn as many as 12 hours of CLE credit, including 2 hours of ethics and professionalism credit, by attending and participating in all eight of the Inn’s programs. Credit has been received not only toward general required CLE hours, but for various areas of certification as well. The number of credits available for participating in the presentation of a program depends upon the length of the program, subject matter and written materials. Members and guests desiring to obtain CLE credit must complete a scantron card detailing the program number at the conclusion of each program. In the event the program information is not available at the time of the program’s presentation. that information is forwarded to the membership at its earliest receipt, usually in the monthly newsletters. If you need more information about the approval of programs for credit or any other matters pertaining to CLE, please contact: Raymond J. Rafool, II Those members who are uncertain of their attendance or CLE eligibility, should check with the inn administrator. As a member of the Willson American Inn of Court, your CUB fees are included in your dues. The program year begins in September. Thereafter, the Inn holds seven other meetings on the fourth Thursday of every month except November and December. The November meeting is held on the third Thursday of the month to avoid any conflict with the Thanksgiving holiday and there is not a meeting in December. All meetings are held at the Peace River Country Club in Bartow. Each meeting begins with a social hour from 5 to 6 p.m. The programs are presented beginning shortly after the call to order of the meeting at 6 p.m. and last between an hour and an hour and a half Each month, the program is presented by a different one of the Inn’s eight pupilage group teams. The programs deal with a practical aspect of the practice of law. For example, What to look for in Closing Argument, How to Make an Effective Opening Statement, Pitfalls in Initial Client Interviews, Evidence Update, etc. Dinner follows the program giving members an opportunity to continue with discussions of issues and ethical consideration.s raised by the program presented. Meetings, including dinner, end at approximately 8 p.m. The programs are the heart of the monthly meetings. They involve practical legal skills with an emphasis on ethics, civility and professionalism in lawyering. They generally involve a demonstration or presentation of principles, skills, techniques, and relationships involved in trial and appellate court proceedings and in activities preliminary to courtroom appearances. The programs also incorporate opportunities for critique and discussion.
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