February 2006

The Roasting of Luke Gaither

OBA Young Lawyers Division Immediate Past Chair Luke Gaither was “roasted” by the 2005 and 2006 YLD board members on the evening of Jan. 14 at the Waterford Marriott Hotel in Oklahoma City. Stories were told, accompanied by laughs and tears, as tributes were made for all of his hard work as the 2005 chair.  

After the roast, Mr. Gaither said serving as YLD chair was an incredible honor.

“I thank the division for allowing me to serve as its chair,” he said. “I am also thankful for the many wonderful friends I’ve met while serving the bar. This, in fact, is what I’ll cherish most.” 

Also in attendance at the roast were past YLD Chairs Renée Hildebrant, Lou Ann Moudy, Jon Parsley and Mark Osby, as well as past YLD Board Member Kimberlee Spady, OBA Executive Director John Morris Williams, OBA Past President Melissa DeLacerda, OBA President-Elect Stephen Beam and OBA Vice President Jerome Holmes.

YLD Leadership Retreat a Success

Earlier that day, more than 40 YLD board members, committee chairs and liaisons met at the Waterford Marriott Hotel for a leadership retreat. Following introductions and a brief icebreaker game, YLD Chair Keri Williams presented a program about the structure of the OBA, OBA/YLD and ABA/YLD. She also discussed the responsibilities of each of the YLD leaders. OBA Executive Director John Morris Williams addressed the group about the importance of becoming involved in the YLD and OBA, and OBA Governor Cathy Christensen and OBA National Mock Trial Coordinator Judy Fitzer provided volunteer opportunities to become involved in the National Mock Trial Competition on May 11-14. After the general meeting, committee chairs met with Ms. Williams and Chair-Elect Chris Camp to discuss their plans for the year, while the remaining liaisons and board members joined in a brainstorm session led by Molly Bircher, YLD Membership Committee chair. Following the substantive portion of the retreat, many of the YLD leaders convened at Bellini’s for a happy hour.       

“The buzz among the group was amazing,” Mr. Camp said. “Young lawyers turned out from every corner of the state, bringing with them a visible desire and enthusiasm for making 2006 the year the Young Lawyers Division truly emerges as the public service arm of the OBA.”

Mr. Camp also said plans were already being made to reformat and revitalize the successful CAP (Citizenship/Americanism/Patriotism) scholarship program, while the Children and the Law Committee worked on developing new projects and opportunities for increasing awareness among Oklahoma’s youth about the inner workings of the legal system and its relation to society at large.

This year, the YLD will also see an increased focus on helping ease the transition from law school student to young lawyer.  The Law School, Membership and New Attorney Committees have some exciting proposals in the works, including the “New Lawyer Survival Guide,” an informational CD-ROM that the YLD hopes to produce and distribute to new admittees, complete with forms and helpful pointers from practicing attorneys. As always, the YLD can expect to see the Gift of Life Committee continue its invaluable work benefiting those in need of organ and tissue donation, while the Seniors and Religion and the Law Committees announced their plans to publish newly updated informational booklets targeting legal issues the elderly and religious professionals and organizations face frequently.

“With all the new blood bringing fresh ideas and anxious to knock the dust off of some old ones, I know that those of us already involved with the YLD are optimistic that, under Keri’s energetic leadership, 2006 will see an expansion upon the division’s past achievements,” Mr. Camp said.