Wednesday, December 03, 2025

Fixing our political system through joining

 Fixing our broken political system isn’t just about elections - the decline and the rebuilding starts with each of us in our neighborhoods. Political scientist Bob Putnam ("Bowling Alone", "The Upswing") has shown again and again that democracy rises and falls with civic participation. When people stop joining clubs, churches, dance groups, or bowling leagues, trust and cooperation erode. When they rebuild those face‑to‑face networks, democracy strengthens.

This has been a trend since the 1950s - and COVID threw us off a cliff. History proves this is reversible. In America’s Progressive Era, civic life was rebuilt after the Gilded Age collapse, and government became more responsive. Putnam’s studies in postwar Italy and post‑WWII America show the same pattern: strong civic engagement = strong democracy. The documentary *Join or Die* (on Netflix) explains this beautifully. The good news is people actually *like* this stuff. After COVID, there’s a real hunger for in‑person community. We just have to “turn the dial up to 11” on rebuilding clubs, associations, and local groups. Here in West Seattle, we tried it: on Nov 8 we held a **Joiner Jamboree**—1,000 people packed into a church basement with 60 local clubs. The Kiwanis signed up more members in one day than all year. Dance groups discovered they could share infrastructure. Political groups started planning joint efforts. In short, we saw civic life being rebuilt in real time. So what can we do? Start small, start local. Organize events where people can connect face‑to‑face. Support clubs, choirs, hiking groups, service organizations. Every new member, every collaboration, is a brick in the foundation of democracy. If we want to fix politics, we need to fix community first.
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Sunday, November 30, 2025

December 2025+ Free CLE

I’m delighted to share this month’s lineup of Free CLE Webinars—ready for you to explore, attend, and pass along to your networks. As always, every program is free, though credit approval varies by jurisdiction. If your state isn’t listed, you may still be able to self-apply depending on local rules.

Some of you may notice that LexisNexis’ once-prolific offerings taper off beginning in 2026. Is this a shift in their direction, or simply a pause before unveiling new programs in the new year? Time will tell—but in the meantime, we continue to diversify our calendar with a wide range of providers and topics.

And that’s where you come in: if you know of upcoming free CLE webinars hosted by your law school, bar association, or another organization, please send them my way. I’d be glad to share them with our community. Together, we’re building a supportive network for mutual education and professional growth.


Wishing you success and good health in the year ahead - and now … on to the calendar!
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December 2025 Free CLE

December 1:
December 2:
* The Sidewalks of New York: Trip, Slip and Fall Cases in the Five Boroughs. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
* Breached! Cybersecurity 101. By LexisNexis.
December 3:
* Ghosts of Coverage Past: Benefit Issues in PI Actions. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
December 4:
* Lost Canadian? A Guide to Canadian Citizenship Claims. By WSBA International Practice Section.
December 5:
December 8:
December 9:
December 10:
* Search Smarter, Not Harder: Digital Research Hacks for Real Lawyers. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
December 11:
* Spontaneous Combustion Fires. By Cozen O'Connor.
December 12:
December 16:
December 17:
December 18:
December 19:
December 23:
January 8:
January 13:
* New York Settlement Math Made Easy. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
January 14:
* Global Public Health Law: A Transdisciplinary Approach. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
* The Past, Present, and Future of International Justice. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
January 15:
January 20:
* Appointment of Counsel, Ethics, and Due Process for Parents in CHIPS Cases. By Children's Court Improvement Program of Wisconsin.
January 22:
* NYS Court of Appeals 2025 Round Up. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
January 27:
* Spending Programs and the New Roberts Court. By Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
January 29:

March 2026 Free CLE

March 11:
* No, I’m Not the Court Reporter: Seeking Justice Without Bias. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
March 18:
March 19:
March 25:
* PJI Backstage Pass: Inside Knowledge to Strengthen Your Case at Every Stage. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.


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Topical Highlights (an experiment in organization):

🔐 Technology & AI

  • Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace (LexisNexis, multiple dates)

  • Seeing Isn’t Believing: Litigating in the Age of Deepfakes (LexisNexis, Dec 11)

  • AI & Insurance Law (Cozen O’Connor, Dec 16)

  • From the War-Room to the Bench: Navigating AI in the New Legal Frontier (Clifford Law Offices, Feb 19)

  • AI & the Record: Balancing AI Innovations and Ethics (Veritext, Feb 25)

⚖️ Trial Practice & Litigation

  • Trip, Slip and Fall Cases in NYC (NY Academy of Trial Lawyers, Dec 2)

  • Orders in the Court: Executive Authority and Litigation in 2026 (Bloomberg, Dec 10)

  • DJ Wars – Part 2: Insurance Declaratory Judgment Actions (NY Academy of Trial Lawyers, Mar 19)

  • PJI Backstage Pass: Strengthening Your Case (NY Academy of Trial Lawyers, Mar 25)

🌍 Immigration & International Law

  • Asylum and Climate Change (Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, Dec 3)

  • Lost Canadian? Citizenship Claims (WSBA, Dec 4)

  • Immigration Year in Review — Trump 2.0 Edition (Cozen O’Connor, Dec 16)

  • Global Public Health Law (Case Western, Jan 14)

  • International Justice: Past, Present, Future (Case Western, Jan 14)

🧑‍💼 Professional Skills & Ethics

  • Behind the Mask: Implicit Bias & Mental Health (Minnesota State Law Library, Dec 9)

  • Cybersecurity: An Attorney’s Ethical Duty (LexisNexis, Dec 10)

  • Analytics & Ethics for Civil Litigation (LexisNexis, Dec 12)

  • Barriers, Biases, and Breakthroughs in Mediation (National Conflict Resolution Center, Jan 22)

📚 Legal Research & Practice Tools

  • Performing Effective Securities Law Research (LexisNexis, Dec 3)

  • Search Smarter, Not Harder: Digital Research Hacks (NY Academy of Trial Lawyers, Dec 10)

  • Forms Forms Forms: Templates at Alameda County Law Library (Dec 10)

  • Advanced Online Legal Research Concepts (LexisNexis, Dec 19, Dec 23)


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Once again: best of luck in the year upcoming!
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Friday, October 31, 2025

November 2025+ Free CLE

 Dear Friends and Colleagues,

As Autumn turns the leaves and year-end deadlines approach, I’m happy to share this month’s lineup of Free CLE Webinars for you to explore and pass along to your networks. Every listing is free to attend, though credit approval varies by jurisdiction. If your state isn’t listed, you might still be able to self-apply depending on local rules.
LMK if you hear of a program not listed - the calendar is a living resource, updated throughout the month at http://4freeCLE.blogspot.com.

November 2025 Free CLE

November 3:
* Building Time Affluence for Attorney Well-Being. By the University of Minnesota Law School.
November 4:
November 6:
November 7:
November 10:
November 11:
November 12:
* After the Verdict – The Essentials of NY Judgment Enforcement. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
* Protecting Your Firm from Email Scams. By LEAP Legal Software.
November 13:
* Home Economics: The Value of Family Services. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
* Nine for Nine: Supreme Court Review of 2024-2025 Term. By Minnesota State Law Library.
November 14:
November 18:
* Connect Four: A View from the Bench. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
November 19: 
* Mediation Station: Making ADR Your Next Stop. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
November 20:
* OurFamilyWizard. By Dakota County Law Library.​
November 21:
* Advanced Appellate Advocacy Seminar. By CSU College of Law.
November 25:
* Protected or Concealed? A Review Quality Assurance Privilege in NY. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
November 26: 

December 2025 Free CLE


December 2:
* The Sidewalks of New York: Trip, Slip and Fall Cases in the Five Boroughs. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
* Breached! Cybersecurity 101. By LexisNexis.
December 3:
* Ghosts of Coverage Past: Benefit Issues in PI Actions. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
December 4:
* Lost Canadian? A Guide to Canadian Citizenship Claims. By WSBA International Practice Section.
December 5:
December 8:
December 9:
December 10:
* Search Smarter, Not Harder: Digital Research Hacks for Real Lawyers. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
December 11:
December 12:
December 18:
December 19:
December 23:
January 8:
January 13:
* New York Settlement Math Made Easy. By New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
January 22:

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That's it for now! Share this information freely, send me any updates, and best of luck to you and yours in the year upcoming - REW.



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Monday, October 27, 2025

Postage Stamps That Don’t Show Their Value

Some U.S. stamps don’t display a dollar amount, but they’re still valid for mailing—as long as the total postage meets or exceeds the current rate. I need this information for my postcarding groups.

🕊️ Forever and Postcard Stamps

  • Forever stamps: Always valid for 1 oz First-Class Mail, including standard postcards, regardless of the current rate.

  • Postcard stamps: Always valid for mailing a standard postcard, regardless of the current rate.

📆 First-Class Mail 1 oz Rates (1980–2025)

These include stamps marked “Christmas” with a year number. Years with no rate change are skipped.

  • 1981 – $0.18 Note: 1981 Christmas stamp = $0.20

  • 1982 – $0.20

  • 1985 – $0.22

  • 1988 – $0.25

  • 1991 – $0.29

  • 1995 – $0.32

  • 1999 – $0.33

  • 2000 – $0.33

  • 2001 – $0.34

  • 2002 – $0.37

  • 2006 – $0.39

  • 2007 – $0.41

  • 2008 – $0.42

  • 2009 – $0.44

  • 2012 – $0.45

  • 2013 – $0.46

  • 2014 – $0.49

  • 2016 – $0.47 (rate decrease)

  • 2017 – $0.49

  • 2018 – $0.50

  • 2019 – $0.55

  • 2021 – $0.58

  • 2022 – $0.60

  • 2023 – $0.63 (Jan), $0.66 (Jul)

  • 2024 – $0.68

  • 2025 – $0.78 (as of October)

🔤 Letter-Denominated Stamps

These stamps were issued during rate transitions and represent the following values:

  • A stamp (1978) – $0.15

  • B stamp (1981) – $0.18

  • C stamp (1981) – $0.20

  • D stamp (1985) – $0.22

  • E stamp (1988) – $0.25

  • F stamp (1991) – $0.29

  • G stamp (1994) – $0.32

  • H stamp (1998) – $0.33

🧩 Rate Makeup Stamps

Used to supplement older stamps when rates increased:

  • D rate makeup stamp (1985) – $0.01

  • E rate makeup stamp (1988) – $0.02

  • F rate makeup stamp (1991) – $0.04

  • G rate makeup stamp (1994) – $0.01

  • H rate makeup stamp (1998) – $0.01


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