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Thank you to all members of the Oklahoma Bar Association. As you know, all members of the OBA are also members of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation. This year is the foundation’s 60th anniversary. It is only with the support of the members of the foundation that it is able to operate. For 60 years, the foundation has been able to work closely with OBA members, staff and leadership. The result of the efforts of so many people who have supported and continue to support the foundation can be seen in such programs as Access to Justice, Law-related Education, CASA and Legal Aid. A complete listing of 2005 grants made by the foundation can be found at www.okbar.org. The foundation has distributed grants and awards in excess of $6,188,000 since its inception.

In July 2004, the Oklahoma Supreme Court adopted mandatory Interest On Lawyers’ Trust Accounts. This rule change brings Oklahoma into the majority, as 31 other states also authorize mandatory IOLTA. Members of the Oklahoma Bar Foundation have overwhelmingly supported this rule change. However, no program of this magnitude is without some initial problems. OBA staff, OBF staff and the respective boards of governance have worked diligently to make the program operate smoothly. The Oklahoma Bankers Association and State Department of Banking have provided valuable input in making the system operational. Mandatory IOLTA is helping to provide much-needed financial resources to address charitable causes that rely on OBF for help and support.

Oklahoma lawyers continue to support the foundation through the Fellows Program. There are three Fellow recognition levels. Fellows agree to contribute $100 per year for 10 years. Sustaining Fellows have completed the initial contribution agreement and continue their annual $100 contributions. The Benefactor Fellows program was initiated in 2004 under the leadership of then-President Bill LaSorsa of Tulsa. Benefactor Fellows are recognized at the highest leadership level and agree to contribute at least $300 per year. OBF also offers reduced Fellow enrollment plans for our newest OBA members; please see the Fellows enrollment form that follows for details.

Hal Ellis of the Stillwater firm Ellis & Drummond leads the foundation as president during 2006. He practices in the area of trusts and estates. In addition to OBF activities, Mr. Ellis is the state chair of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is also currently a member of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. From 1993 to 1995, he served on the OBA Board of Governors. For six years he served on the Appellate Division of the Court on the Judiciary. During the 1980s he served for seven years on the Professional Responsibility Tribunal. Mr. Ellis is a 1974 graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

Mark Curnutte serves as the president-elect. He practices in the firm of Logan & Lowry in Vinita. His practice is concentrated in the area of trusts and estates. Mr. Curnutte is also a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and was recently elected a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Renee DeMoss, vice president of the foundation, practices with Gables & Gotwals in Tulsa. Rick Riggs, of McAfee & Taft, is the secretary/treasurer of the foundation. Judy Hamilton Morse, of Crowe & Dunlevy in Oklahoma City, will serve as immediate past president.

Attorneys come from all across the state to volunteer their time and talents as Trustees on the Foundation Board. Trustees also serve on a variety of committees that oversee various aspects of the Foundation’s work. In 2006, those serving with the members of the Executive Committee on the Board of Trustees are Charles F. Alden III, Oklahoma City; Stephen D. Beam, Weatherford; Jack Brown, Tulsa; Cathy M. Christensen, Oklahoma City; J. William Conger, Oklahoma City; Shon T. Erwin, Lawton; Phil Frazier, Tulsa; William R. “Bill” Grimm, Tulsa; Jacqueline O’Neil Haglund, Tulsa; Kenneth A. Hicks, Wagoner; Steven R. Mackey, Tulsa; A. Edwin McComas, Elk City; Jerry L. McCombs, Idabel; John D. Munkacsy Jr., Lawton; Brooke Smith Murphy, Oklahoma City; P. L. “Pat” Phelps, Durant; David Pomeroy, Oklahoma City; Roger R. Scott, Tulsa; Linda S. Thomas, Bartlesville; John Morris Williams, Oklahoma City; and YLD Representative Brett D. Cable, McAlester.

Nancy Norsworthy is the administrator of the foundation and director of the IOLTA Program. She has been with the foundation for 20 years. Nancy is assisted by Loxi James and April Mitchell. It is only through the efforts of Nancy and her staff that the foundation is able to function. Nancy is responsible for the myriad of day-to-day operations. Despite the increased activities associated with adoption of and implementation of Mandatory IOLTA, the foundation staff has not expanded since pre-mandatory IOLTA. This ability to hold the staff size at pre-mandatory levels is only possible because of Nancy’s dedication.

Advancing education, citizenship and justice for all is the ongoing mission of your Oklahoma Bar Foundation. We invite you to join in our efforts to fulfill this mission by becoming a Fellow of the OBF, which depends in large part on the ongoing support of our Fellows, Sustaining Fellows and Benefactor Fellows. Please take a moment to join with others who want to make a difference by completing the following OBF Fellow application and sending it to the OBF office today. Together we can make a difference in Oklahoma.