The Florida Bar Foundation seeks director applicants

Board Meeting

The Florida Bar Foundation is seeking applicants for six seats on its board of directors for terms starting in July 2018 under the Florida Supreme Court-approved governance plan. The plan calls for 18 members of the Bar Foundation board to be selected in equal portions by the Florida Supreme Court, The Florida Bar Board of Governors and the Foundation’s board of directors.

Six of the 18 at-large seats will be filled for three-year terms beginning July 1, 2018. The positions for which applicants are being sought currently are held by: Gregory P. Brown, Tampa, Dori Foster-Morales, Miami (Foundation appointees) Hon. James M. Barton, II, Tampa, David L. Manz, Marathon (Florida Supreme Court appointees) Stephen R. Senn, Lakeland, Hon. Suzanne Van Wyk, Tallahassee (Florida Bar Board of Governors appointee).  Foster-Morales, Manz, and Judge Van Wyk are eligible for an additional term.

The Foundation is also seeking four public members of the board for three-year terms. The four public member seats for three-year terms currently are held by Connie Bookman, Pensacola, Mary Gardiner Evertz, Tampa, Carlos Halley, Miami and George W. Tinsley, Lakeland.  Bookman, Halley and Tinsley are eligible for an additional term.  The public member positions will be filled by a joint Florida Bar/Foundation Nominating Committee.Board Meeting

Since 1981, the Foundation has been the administrator of the Florida Supreme Court-approved Interest on Trust Accounts (IOTA) program. The Foundation board awards all grants, oversees the Foundation’s fundraising program, sets investment policies and Foundation policies generally, and adopts the annual operating budget.

Applications for positions to be filled by the Supreme Court and the Bar Foundation can be completed at www.TheFloridaBarFoundation.org/board. They can also be requested from The Florida Bar Foundation, 875 Concourse Parkway South, Suite 195, Maitland, FL 32751, or (800) 541-2195. Completed applications for these seats must be received by the Foundation by Feb. 1, 2018. The Florida Bar will give separate notice for the positions to be filled by The Florida Bar Board of Governors. Applicants for Florida Bar seats should contact the Bar’s executive director or visit .

The Florida Bar Foundation board of directors embraces the concept of diversity.  A diverse membership makes the board stronger, and its work for the Foundation more relevant to the society in which we live. The Foundation strongly encourages minorities and persons with disabilities to apply for service on the board. To help achieve the broadest participation, The Florida Bar Foundation “Expense Reimbursement Policy” provides modest reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred during board service for attorney members, and full reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred during board service for public members and members of the judiciary.”

Applicants will be advised in writing by May 30, 2018, of action taken by the selecting authorities.