Board meets in Ridgedale, Shelly Dreyer seeks election as next vice president

Joplin lawyer Shelly Dreyer seeks election to serve as the next vice president of The Missouri Bar. Her candidacy was formally announced Friday, July 15, 2022, during the call for candidates at The Missouri Bar Board of Governors meeting in Ridgedale.  

“I am excited to continue to serve the bar in the role of vice president if approved by the board,” Dreyer said. “I am looking forward to working with the incoming president and president-elect in continuing the bar’s mission of helping Missouri lawyers better serve their clients.” 

In addition to Dreyer’s new role, board members, who are elected to represent their district’s colleagues, discussed and filled various committee appointments, including members of the Joint Commission on Women in the Profession; Trustees of The Missouri Bar; Legal Services of Southern Missouri Board of Directors; and the Client Security Fund. The board also made appointments to the ABA House of Delegates and the Judicial Performance Review Committee. An upcoming board vacancy in District 9 along with applicant certification of an open Eastern District Appellate seat were also discussed.  

Committee chair Doug Harris and President-elect Lauren Tucker McCubbin presented an update on behalf of the Board Strategic Planning Committee, which has been actively reviewing its own processes.  

“Working with Mark Smiley, we’ve taken the time to enhance the process, both from efficiency and effectiveness,” Harris said. “We’re looking forward to outputs that will be more useful to the bar, and more responsive to Missouri lawyers.” 

The board also heard officer reports; received an update from Finance Committee Chair Jason Paulsmeyer; learned more about the Client Security Fund Committee from Shannon Briesacher, Missouri Bar staff member; and heard from Eric Jennings of the bar’s government relations department, who provided a review of Missouri’s most recent legislative session and presented bar-endorsed legislative proposals for the next regular session for board consideration.  

Learn more about the Board of Governors and see past and future meeting information here.