Idaho Women Lawyers Idaho Women Lawyers working for the benefit of all under represented groups in Idaho

Idaho State Bar Annual Meeting

Friday, July 10, 8:30-11:45 a.m.

Sponsored by Idaho Women Lawyers, Inc.

I.             Overview

A.         8:30-9:15 AM

B.         Topics:  Title IX history and legal overview, developing case law and regulations

C.         Speaker(s): Kristen Galles, Title IX litigation; Linda Mangel, principal consultant, Education Equity Group

II.            Local Issues/Statistics – Glenda Talbutt, Brady Law Chtd., Moderator

A.         9:15-10:00 AM

B.         Topics:  Title IX compliance policies/gender equity policies at various high schools and smaller colleges in Idaho. 

C.         Speaker(s):  Prof. Shelley Lucas, BSU associate professor, Department of Kinesiology, Chair of the Gender Equity Subcommittee of Boise State’s Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Committee from 2001-2007; Elaine Eberharter-Maki, Eberharter-Maki & Tappen, PA; Connie Skogrand, Mountain View High girls basketball coach

BREAK  – 10:00 - 10:15 AM

III.          Open Discussion/Policy Forum – Kristen Galles, Moderator

A.         10:15-11:45 AM

B.         Topics:  Contemporary Issues in Title IX (e.g., Are more women participating in college athletics?  Have men’s sports suffered?  Do women coaches have fewer opportunities? How does college football affect Title IX analysis?)

                Panelists: Mike Prater, Idaho Statesman sports editor; Susan Buxton, Moore, Smith, Buxton & Turcke, Chtd., and member, Whitman College, Board of Overseers; Christine Von Tol, BSU senior women’s athletics administrator; Linda Mangel, Prof. Shelley Lucas, BSU associate professor, Department of Kinesiology, Chair of the Gender Equity Subcommittee of Boise State’s Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Committee from 2001-2007.

IWL’s Judicial Diversity Committee continues its efforts to encourage more women and minorities to apply for open positions on the bench. We are fortunate to have Judge Wilper, who serves as a District Court Judge and is on the Judicial Council, Judge Copsey, who is the only District Court Judge in recent history to face a challenger in an election, and Judge Sticklen, who ran for and was elected to the District Court at a time when there was an open seat, speak to us at our June 30th luncheon. These three respected jurists will provide us with their insights and recommendations based on their unique experiences. Plan to attend!

Tuesday, June 30th from noon to 1:00pm at the Idaho State Bar office, 525 W. Jefferson.

Lunch will be provided for $10 or you are welcome to bring your own. RSVP by June 24th by emailing info@idahowomenlawyers.com or directly by comment to this posting. Please indicate if you will be purchasing your lunch.

2009 Annual Bar Conference Scholarships available: The Idaho State Bar is offering scholarships to the Annual Conference July 8-10 in Boise. The scholarship includes the conference registration fee and up to $50 a day in per diem for travel and lodging. To apply for a scholarship, contact the ISB Commissioner who represents your judicial district. In the Fourth judicial district that is Deborah Ferguson who can be reached at Deborah.ferguson@usdoj.gov.

In preparation for its Title IX program at the Idaho State Bar’s Annual Meeting this year, Idaho Women Lawyers, Inc. is compiling a list of Idaho attorneys (men and women) who were college athletes. Please help us complete this list by emailing your sport and school name and a college-era photo if you have one to Deborah Nelson at den@givenspursley.com. Thank you!

IWL would like to congratulate Leslie Goddard, the 2009 recipient of the Kate Feltham Award. This award is intended to honor individuals who have made extraordinary efforts to promote equal rights and opportunities for women and minorities within the legal profession and legal justice system in Idaho.  Past recipients include Cecil Andrus, Mary Smith, Susan Graham, Cathy Silak, Debora Kristensen, Betty Richardson, Kelly Miller and Deb Nelson.

The namesake of this award, Kate Feltham, has a remarkable place in Idaho’s history.  Kate E. Neville was born in Adams, New York on December 20, 1859, just before the Civil War began.  She was one of the first graduates of the Iowa State Normal School in Cedar Rapids.  She taught school in Ackley, Iowa before moving to Idaho in 1893.

On September 21, 1893, Kate Neville married Lot Feltham in Nampa.  Lot served as city attorney for Caldwell from 1893 until 1895.  While living in Caldwell, Kate was active in her community and a leader for women’s rights:

*  She founded the first free public reading room in Caldwell. 

*  She was the founding president of the Progress Club, a forerunner of the Future Club in Caldwell. 

*  She was one of the leaders in the drive to give Idaho women the vote and served as the president of the Caldwell branch of the Idaho Equal Suffrage Association and first vice president of the state organization. 

*  She taught English and public speaking at the College of Idaho (Albertson College).

By 1910, Kate and Lot were living in the Weiser area.  In the 1910 census Kate is listed as a fruit farmer.  She was admitted to the practice of law on September 22, 1914, the fifth woman admitted to practice law in Idaho.  In 1926 she was appointed the prosecuting attorney for Washington County in Weiser, becoming the first female county prosecutor in Idaho.  She remained in the Weiser area after she and her husband divorced.  She continued to practice law into the early thirties and died in 1936.

 Kate Feltham was an early pioneer for women’s rights and women in the legal profession. 

The award will be presented at IWL’s annual board meeting on (date to be announced) at Yen Ching restaurant in Boise for a cocktail hour, dinner and presentation of the award.

Congratulations Leslie!

Welcome to the re-designed Idaho Women Lawyers website!  Our goal for this website is to make it your first resource.  IWL has over 90 members and is growing every month.  Our members include prominent attorneys practicing in all areas of the law, State Bar and government leaders, and educators.  This is a great opportunity to connect with the talent of our membership and gain invaluable professional contacts and friendships across the state.

IWL offers many opportunities to get involved in statewide activities like our 2009 Annual Bar presentation on Title IX.  Board member Wendy Olson is leading the project and she welcomes your contribution to the effort.  Check out Wendy’s summary of the last meeting under the Events tab for details on how to get involved.  Our past President, Deb Nelson, is also leading the yearly Legislative reception – an informal after work gathering to meet and talk with the women serving Idaho in the legislature – which we hope to schedule in February or March.  This is a unique and enjoyable evening, offering you the opportunity to get to know these remarkable women.  Stay tuned for the date and details which will be posted under the Events tab.    IWL also holds a monthly luncheon presentation on a variety of topics.  In February we’re planning to have a legislator from each political party join us and in April a financial specialist is coming to talk about planning in this troublesome economic environment.  When the dates are set we’ll post them so check back.

Over the last couple of years, thanks to the hard work of Mary Huneycutt, the first IWL chapter was formed for those who live and practice on the eastern side of the state.  Mary motivated and organized several women to form the chapter.  Eastern IWL is putting together a curriculum for junior high and high school students encouraging young women to pursue legal careers.  If you want to get involved with that effort, contact Mary whose email address can be found under the Leadership tab.

Please take advantage of this website.  With your participation, we can make this an ongoing community conversation about life, work, and everything in between.  We want you to share your wisdom, your stories, and your reflections. Post your articles and ideas.  Express your opinions.  Where the conversation goes is really up to each of us.

All the best, 

Peg Dougherty

IWL President

Women, whether subtly or vociferously, have always been a tremendous power in the destiny of the world.

          ~Eleanor Roosevelt