OBF President Judy Hamilton Morse, Oklahoma City

Dear Friend and Colleague:

Why should you care about the Oklahoma Bar Foundation? Why even spend the time necessary to read this message? The foundation is the charitable arm of your Oklahoma Bar Association, and if you are an OBA member you are automatically a member of the foundation. But that isn’t the end of the story and shouldn’t be the extent of your involvement.

Many of you actively support the foundation by participating as a Fellow of the OBF, but most members of the OBA do not. Is this because lawyers are cold and uncaring people like the conventional wisdom would say? I don’t think so. I believe that the OBA members who do not participate in the Fellows Program are simply unaware of the program and of the value the Oklahoma Bar Foundation provides. Please spend a few minutes reading this message so we can acquaint you with the Oklahoma Bar Foundation and the Fellows Program. Then I hope you will accept my invitation to you to become a Fellow of the OBF.

OBF granted a total of $409,750 this year to the recipients listed at the end of this article. Included in those grants were awards totaling $109,500 for programs benefiting children and helping to prevent domestic violence without consideration of the $200,000 that was given to Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma. With these, the grand total of grants by the OBF has reached $6,188,126 with most of that given since 1986 when IOLTA was first adopted.

We were fortunate that our Oklahoma Supreme Court took an important step last year to adopt a mandatory Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Account rule. As a result, the OBF
has experienced an increase in IOLTA remittals that have made additional awards possible this year. Implementation of the new rule has gone very smoothly and OBF thanks all members of the bar for their cooperation. In addition, OBF is extremely grateful to the banks of Oklahoma that voluntarily support the IOLTA program by waiving or reducing fees and minimum balances so that interest on IOLTA accounts can support the OBF mission of “advancing education, citizenship and justice for all.”

The increase in IOLTA funds helps greatly but OBF still has many worthwhile grant requests that it is unable to fund. This is why you should accept our invitation to do your fair share and support the mission of the OBF by becoming a Fellow.

A list of OBF Fellows, Sustaining Fellows and Benefactor Fellows can be viewed at www.okbar.org/obf/fellows. When you look at the list, you will notice that all those who participate are leaders of the bar and leaders of their communities. Fellows are lawyers that people look up to and admire. Why? Because in many ways, they demonstrate the best our profession has to offer. They care enough to give of their time and their funds to support programs that benefit, among others, children, the elderly and those who are in need of legal help but who have no means to obtain it without assistance.

It’s a simple process to become a Fellow of the OBF. A contribution of $100 per year is all that it takes to be a Fellow and join with others in supporting the work of the OBF. Recently admitted attorneys can take advantage of a special reduced contribution plan. After completion of the initial Fellow’s pledge, you can receive special recognition as a “leader among leaders” by becoming a Benefactor Fellow and contributing $300 per year or you can become a Sustaining Fellow by continuing with an annual $100 contribution.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. I hope you will continue to support the OBF if you are already involved in the Fellows program. If you haven’t yet become involved, please accept this invitation to join the special community of Fellows of the OBF by becoming a Fellow today.

Fellows are lawyers that people look up to and admire. Why? Because in many ways, they demonstrate the best our profession has to offer.

Sincerely,
Judy Hamilton Morse