CLIPPINGS Excerpts from The Florida Bar News   To read an entire article, click on one of the headlines below. The dates are the issue dates.

Board okays no-new-fees 1998-99 budget June 15, 1998: Board member Herman Russomanno, 1998-99 Budget Committee chair, presented the slightly changed budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. He reported, at the board's May meeting, that no rank-and-file Bar members filed objections to the spending plan approved by the board at its April meeting.   Russomanno said after the meeting the budget both significantly improves Bar services and programs, while holding the line on dues.   'The 1998-99 budget is built on the strong foundation of providing better services to our members," he said. "The revenues spent include significant advances in technology for The Florida Bar, including adding an additional analyst to the Law Office Management Assistance Service to provide our members more help with automation and technology."   "That will provide greater member services and will allow our Bar to continue to be the leader of bars in the United States in providing services to our members so we can better serve our clients."   The budget also increases spending for both unauthorized practice of law enforcement - to protect the public from harm - and the Bar's professionalism programs, Russomanno said.   "Our programs are designed to assure the highest levels of professionalism among our members in the practice of law for the benefit of all our members and the public," he said, adding, "All of these programs to provide services to the attorneys of the State of Florida have been done without a dues increase to our members."   Bar's computer upgrades okayed Dec. 1, 1998: The Board of Governors, acting on the recommendation of its Budget Committee, approved spending $230,624 to upgrade computers at the Bar. Budget Committee Chair Herman Russomanno said the computers will improve Bar staff electronic communications with sections, committees and members, and replace older machines.   Trial lawyers unite to educate public about tort proposals October 1, 1998: "The trial lawyers summit was a classic beginning. The talent and experience of the distinguished lawyers in attendance was awesome," said Herman Russomanno of Miami, who co-chaired the summit with Gilbert. "Plaintiffs and defense lawyers from throughout the state shared their vision of the legal profession. Summit participants reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to the independence of the Florida lawyer and the independence of our judiciary." Preserving independence is important for the Bar, Russomanno said.   "The Bar's role is to protect and provide service to Florida lawyers," he said. "By having this group share their common goals, the Bar can, whether serving as a conduit or a centerpiece of all these groups, work to preserve our independence and the independence of Florida lawyers and the judiciary."   Bar to oppose any new public law schools July 1, 1998: Following action by its Executive Committee, The Florida Bar has gone on record opposing a new public law school. ...   Board member Herman Russomanno noted that Nova Southeastern University President Ray Ferrero, a former Florida Bar president, testified to the regents that existing law schools are meeting the demands for legal education. He also noted that Ferrero reported that minority enrollment at Nova's Shepard Broad Law Center is almost 20 percent while it is 33 percent at Miami's St. Thomas University School of Law. ...   Board member Arthur Rice called on the board to establish a committee of lawyers and nonlawyers to study whether Florida has too many lawyers "and if the committee determines the state is overpopulated with lawyers, I would like to know what the effects are on both our profession and our population."   Blumberg named Rice, Russomanno, Rydberg and board member Morris Silberman to work with Adams and the YLD on the law school report.

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