MEMBERSHIP MEETING and PRESENTATIONS

CENTRAL NEBRASKA LEGAL PROFESSIONALS

 

January 5, 2012

 

          Our first meeting of the new year was held at Perkins Restaurant in Grand Island with a full house in attendance!  Lynelle Homolka gave a presentation on juvenile abuse and neglect.  Lynelle is the current Merrick County Attorney and is passionate about protecting the innocent in our society from abuse and neglect.  She has extensive experience as a prosecutor  and trial lawyer and shared some of her stories to help us be more aware of what is going on behind closed doors in our society.  We were startled to learn that Nebraska is ranked 4^th in the nation for child abuse related deaths.  10% of those who die under the age of 4 are victims of abuse.  If you would like to become involved on a layperson level to help eradicate child abuse the Association for Child Abuse Prevention (ACAP) is a good place to start.  We also learned that the general public is required to report suspicions of child abuse to the authorities, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 28-711.

 

         

December 1, 2011

 

          Our December member meeting was spent Christmas Caroling at several retirement homes in Grand Island.  Since we spent time practicing our carols we sounded really good!!  It was once again a very enjoyable worthwhile evening and thanks to Merry Johnson for making all the arrangements.  Thanks also to Alan Nielsen who accompanied us on his guitar.  We ended our evening with supper at Perkins.  I recommend the Tomato basil soup…. Mmmmmmm

 

 

November 3, 2011

 

          The November meeting was held at the Liederkrantz in Grand Island, Nebraska.  Our speakers were Ron Trampe and Matt Armstrong who gave presentations on retirement savings and some changes in federal tax laws that we should be aware of.  The speakers were informative and sometimes downright funny!  We enjoyed the food and hospitality presented by the Liederkrantz and hope to return again.

 

 

October 12, 2011

 

          Our October meeting was at the Grand Island Woman’s Club and our meeting was actually a book signing and presentation by author Jamie Tallman who wrote a book entitled "The Notorious Dr. Flippin".  We opened the presentation to the public and had a wonderful turnout for Mr. Tallman who was surprised at the number of interested folks who showed up.  Mr. Tallman was introduced by Valorie Bendixen, the Hall County District Court Clerk whose office was a major source of information for the research that went into the writing of the book.  We learned that  Dr. Flippin was born a slave in the southern United States who rose to a position as a trusted, loved and talented medical doctor who tended to many in the central Nebraska area.  Dr. Flippin was often the defendant in lawsuits brought against him in the area courts usually by disgruntled medical practitioners, but I would suggest that you read a copy of the book to satisfy your curiosity about the life of this interesting man.  After his presentation Jamie Tallman autographed books purchased by the group and the Grand Island Woman's groups offered tours of the magnificent Hargiss House.

 

              

September, 2011

 

          Our new season opened at the Saddle Club on September 1, 2011 at the Grand Island Saddle Club with our speaker Bob Sivick joining us for supper and speaking about his position at the Grand Island City Attorney.  Mr. Sivick, a native of Pennsylvania and graduate of Creighton Law, was formerly employed by the Federal government in the disaster relief loan program.  A department which originally employed eight federal attorneys ballooned to 300 federal attorneys to work with the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief applicants in 2005.  Mr. Sivick has an extensive background in Nebraska law having served on the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission (Sunshine Law), the Omaha City Council, and as the Howard and Greeley County Attorney.  As the Grand Island City Attorney he works closely with the Mayor and a great majority of his time is spent on taxation issues.

 

July, 2011

 

          This is a quick recap of what has been whirlwind of a spring!

In March, the  Central Nebraska Legal Professionals held two events; Bosses Night wherein we selected Mark Porto of Shamberg, Wolf, McDermott and Dupue as the Boss of the Year.  Mark was nominated by JoAnn Oseka.   Myself, Shelly Nielsen was greatly surprised and honored at being selected Legal Professional of the Year.  My family showed up and I found out that they were a part of the "secret" all along.  We held our March membership meeting after the festivities and thank you to JoAnn Oseka for taking the minutes for me as I was "kidnapped" by my family and taken out to my favorite restaurant to eat.  Nominations and elections were held at that membership meeting as well.  Our new board is JoAnn Oseka, President, Merry Johnson, Vice-President, Shelly Nielsen, Secretary, Nikki Campos, Treasurer and Cariena Birchard, Chapter Representative.  A big Congratulations to each of you (and me) and we are all looking forward to our coming year as officers.

          On March 19, CNLP hosted the NLPA Spring Seminar and although it took a great deal of work and planning, the committee members were spectacular in bringing it all together and the day was wonderful!  The Grand Island Woman's Club is an excellent historic venue in which to hold a day long meeting of this sort and it made the event a huge success!

          The April meeting was our new member night and we met at the Saddle Club and listened to Shane Thielen, an attorney from Lincoln, who discussed on-line social networking and its use in the law office as possible evidence in lawsuits.  We had one guest join us, Cris Larson from Central City who attended on an invitation from Teresa Hartwig.

          Mahoney State Park was the venue for the annual State meeting hosted by the Omaha Legal Professionals the last weekend in April.  It was a wonderful time!  Interesting topics and speakers, great food, and a rollicking mock trial involving Humpty Dumpty and his great fall.  The banquet on Saturday was beautiful and as a first time attendee I am looking forward to the next one and getting to know more of the members and renew acquaintances!

          Our May meeting was held at President JoAnn Oseka's home.  We discussed the speakers we would like to hear this next year and possible venues in which to hold our meetings. JoAnn did indeed open that bottle of wine purchased from the Tasting Room in Ashland and it tasted even better at her house! J

          Our next meeting is in August.  Our annual "Picnic".  This year we are picnicking at the vineyard near Ravenna.  Details on the webpage.

 

 

February 3, 2011

 

          We met at the Saddle Club in Grand Island for our February members meeting and shared our meal with the Honorable Philip Martin, attorney John Sellers and DHHS supervisor Kacee Zimmerman.  Bobbie Barta also joined us as our guest.  Our speakers introduced us to the "Through the Eyes of the Child" initiative which began in 2005 in Nebraska City, Nebraska at a mandatory attendance summit.  The initiative's purpose is to keep families who are in the legal system working as team members with the legal system.  The State of Nebraska was divided into districts which implement their initiative mandates as fits their district needs.  The purpose was to make the journey through the legal system as quick and smooth as possible, for example creating a case plan for the family in 30 days and not 90 days as had been done previously.  Foster children were brought before a meeting of Judges, attorneys and caseworkers and told the group that they had no relationship with their Guardian ad Litem nor their Judge.  The initiative seeks to make the child and the parents a part of the team who meets and sets goals to reunify the family if possible.

          The speakers were well informed and passionate about the hopes for this initiative and its future.  The website address is: www.throughtheeyes.org.  Our monthly meeting followed.

 

January 6, 2011

 

          We met at Uncle Ed's Steakhouse in Grand Island for our January meeting and we welcomed Susan M. Koenig of Mayer, Burns, Koenig and Janulewicz as our speaker.  Susan has a general law practice but has specialized in adoptions for the last 15 years.  Adoptions are statutory, not common law.  There are several technical steps to be complied with in order for the adoption to be granted.  The legal effect of an adoption is that the child and parents have the same relationship as though the parents are biological.  The child must be adopted by both husband and wife is couple are married.  Nebraska law does not recognize same sex parent adoptions because the biological parent would have to relinquish their parental rights and would defeat the purpose.  Adoptions are filed in the county where the parents live unless the juvenile is involved in a juvenile case in another county.  Then there is a choice of venue between the two counties.

          With a stranger adoption (no blood relationship) a home study is done.  In a step-parent adoption no home study is required.

          With all adoptions a criminal history, central registry check and fingerprint cards are all required to be done.  In a step-parent adoption the bioparent must give consent.  If the bioparent is absent, their parental rights can be terminated.  There must not have been any contact with the bioparent for at least six months.  If child support is being received from the absent parent that is considered contact.  If the child is over 14 years of age, the child must consent. 

          An adoption can be private, through an agency or through the Department of Health and Human Services.

          The County Judges prefer to review the exhibits before the Petition for Adoption is filed.  The hearing is at least four weeks after filing but within eight weeks of filing.  Both parents and  the child must be present at the adoption hearing.  The hearing is closed but the family can invite friends and family to attend.  Pictures can be taken in the courtroom.  Three certified copies of the Decree of Adoption are prepared.  A Report of Adoption is prepared and given to the Clerk Magistrate for filing with the Vital Statistics office in Lincoln which prepares the new birth certificate.  If the adopted child was born in another state other than Nebraska, that state's form is prepared and mailed in with the correct dollar amount.  Our monthly meeting followed.

 

 

December 3, 2010

 

Christmas Caroling

 

 

NOVEMBER 4, 2010

 

Members and guest Bobbie Barta met at the Saddle Club in Grand Island, Nebraska.  Speaker was Attorney Fred Vipperman on DUI Interlock Device.

 

Old Business:  There still has been no response from the Scholarship receipient.  Teresa Hartwig will check with Mary Nuss to determine who the runner-up was so that the scholarship may be awarded.  Karen Bortz is working on the Articles of Incorporation for CNLP.

 

New business:  Discussions were held regarding filings with the State of Nebraska and new stationary available for our chapter's use.

 

Committee reports were given.  Our next meeting is our holiday party which we have chosen to spend caroling at retirement homes.  Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

Merry Johnson, Secretary Pro Tem

 

 

OCTOBER 7, 2010

 

The members and a guest of the Central Nebraska Legal Professionals met at the Child Advocacy Center in Grand Island, Nebraska on October 7, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. for a guided tour of the facility.  Our tour guide was Will Kramer who then joined us for supper at Nathan Detroit's along with Roberta Barta, a paralegal student.

 

Traci Dusatko Vauble, Executive Director and Will Kramer presented the history of the Center, its purpose and the services provided to Grand Island, Hall County, and the surrounding counties.  We toured the facility left there being very impressed with the child-friendly surroundings and the dedication of the staff working to provide a safe environment for the children.  As individuals, we donated stuffed animals for the children and supplies for CNCAC use.

  -- Karen Niedfelt Secretary Pro-Tem

 

 

SEPTEMBER 2, 2010

 

 

          The members and guests of the Central Nebraska Legal Professionals met at the Riverside Country Club in Grand Island, Nebraska on September 2, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. for speakers and supper.

 

          Our speakers were William Miller, Deputy Court Administrator for I.T. and Sherri Dennis, Senior JUSTICE Business Analyst.  The discussion began with an introduction to JUSTICE the on-line court system used in the State of Nebraska.  An annual fee of $50.00 per year to Nebraska.gov gives access to the system for JUSTICE case look-up of legal filings.

          E-filing is being utilized across the State in all 93 county courts and a large majority of the District Courts.  E-filing is 24/7 and the file stamp date is the date and time that the pleading is filed by the attorney, not when the clerk's office accepts the document.

          As of the date of meeting all but one of the 93 county courts have used e-filing and all but three of the District Courts have e-filed.

          Many advantages of e-filing were shown including more time for clerks to perform other tasks other than accepting and filing documents; saves money in the Court's budget as they do not have to mail case information and more time for the attorney's and their staff to perform other tasks other than court house filings.

          We were given a demonstration and questions were asked and answered satisfactorily.  We learned a great deal from these speakers and took some vital information back to our employers.

 

Another excellent choice of speakers!

 

After our enjoyable dinner meal we held our September meeting and lively and spirited discussions were held regarding our next meeting activities.  Watch the calendar!

 

We adjourned at 8:31 p.m.

 

Shelly Nielsen, Secretary