From the Director Jun 2001

ABI, in partnership with a wide range of other insolvency organizations, will
participate in a training institute on the coming new bankruptcy law. The goal of the
institute is to provide a forum where knowledgeable bankruptcy practitioners, educators
and regulators can create a cohesive and effective means to implement the many changes
contemplated by the new law. The new law's effective date is just 180 days after
enactment, providing little time for the bankruptcy community to prepare for the
changes.

</p><p>Training sessions over a two-day period will cover new duties assigned to chapter
13 trustees, chapter 7 trustees, creditors, debt counseling agencies, U.S.
trustees, bankruptcy administrators, clerks, judges, creditors and debtor's attorneys,
among other players in the system. The institute will be held in Nashville, Tenn.,
at the Opryland Hotel, with the dates to be determined when the legislation is signed
into law. Fees for attendance will be established soon.

</p><p>Other participating organizations include the National Association of Chapter Thirteen
Trustees (NACTT), National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (NABT), Executive
Office for U.S. Trustees (EOUST), National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges
(NCBJ), National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA),
National Conference of Bankruptcy Clerks (NCBC), and the Trustee Education
Network (TEN).

</p><p>The institute is being organized by ABI Director <b>Henry E. Hildebrand
III,</b> who is also chair of the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee for
the NACTT.

</p><h3>State Court Judges Education Programs Continue</h3>

<p>ABI's education program for state court trial judges continues to be popular with
state court administrators and judges. The program is offered at no charge to the
states and is supported by a grant from the NCBJ Endowment Fund. New programs
have been held in Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania and California so far this
year. Special thanks are due to Judge <b>Judi Fitzgerald</b> (W.D. Pa.) and Prof.
<b>Peter Alexander,</b> who organized the March 23 program for more than 60 Pennsylvania
judges. "It's not uncommon for defendants who are ordered to pay fines to also be
dealing with bankruptcy issues," said Meadville, Pa., Area District Justice William
Chisholm. "Having knowledge of bankruptcy law allows me to deal more effectively
with attorneys who represent clients that owe money to the court," he said. Upcoming
programs are set for June 15 in Des Moines, Iowa.

</p><h3>ABI "On the Road" for Summer Programs</h3>

<p>The ABI exhibit booth will be on the road this summer at a variety of
bankruptcy conferences. May 24-25, ABI will be at the annual meeting of the
National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts in Chicago. June 13-16,
ABI will be at the annual meeting of the Association of Insolvency and
Restructuring Advisors in Newport Beach, Calif. From June 30-July 5, the booth
will be at the annual meeting of the NACTT in San Diego, and the booth will be
at the National Auctioneers Association annual meeting in Boise, Idaho from July
16-21. From July 17-20, ABI will be represented at the INSOL quadrennial
conference in London.

</p><h3>ABI Members Disagree on "Disinterested" Standards</h3>

<p>Results of an audience survey from one of the "Great Debates" at the Annual
Spring Meeting show that ABI members hold divergent views on the appropriate test
for disqualifying a firm on grounds of a conflict. The question was posed during the
"U.S. Trustee—Friend or Foe" debate between <b>Russell L. Munsch</b> (Munsch Hardt;
Dallas) and <b>Barbara Stuart</b> (U.S. Trustee, Region 12).

</p>