The Board of Governors of the Oklahoma Bar Association met at the Oklahoma Bar Center on Friday, Feb. 17, 2006.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

President Grimm reported he attended meetings of the OBA National High School Mock Trial Task Force, OBF Trustees, OBA Rules of Professional Conduct Committee, OBA Bar Facilities Committee and OBA Communications Task Force. He also attended the American Board of Trial Advocates annual meeting and awards ceremony where Judge Jane Wiseman received the ABOTA Judge of the Year Award. In Chicago he attended the luncheon at which the OBA’s Law Day Committee chairs received a national Law Day award as well as the Southern Conference of Bar Presidents, National Conference of Bar Presidents and ABA House of Delegates. He was involved in two meetings with Rep. Fred Perry to provide information regarding pending legislation affecting the judiciary. He attended the Board of Governors “has been” dinner in Edmond, OBA Annual Meeting planning session and OBA Law-related Education “We the People” awards presentation. He met with Phil Fraim and Phil Eller with Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Co. to discuss directors appointments. He also met with Judge Lumpkin to discuss the new rule for the Access to Justice Advisory Committee and met with OBF President Hal Ellis regarding the status of a tax opinion. He reviewed revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct for the board meeting.

COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE FUNDING REQUEST

President Grimm reported he attended the first meeting of the Communications Task Force, which is requesting funding of an estimated $2,500 for two ABA representatives to come to the OBA to conduct a communications audit and to prepare a report. The purpose is for professionals who are familiar with bar association operations to review how the OBA communicates with its members and to offer suggestions for improvements based on comparisons with similar-sized associations. The board approved funding for the audit.

REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Vice President Holmes reported he attended a Board of Governors dinner event, swearing-in ceremony, January board meeting and “has been”event. He also attended the Young Lawyers Division roast of Luke Gaither, William J. Holloway Jr. American Inn of Court winter social and its January meeting. He served as a judge and awards presenter for We The People: The Citizen & The Constitution State Competition and conducted multiple coaching sessions with the Douglass High School mock trial team, which was successful in advancing to the quarter final round. He traveled to Chicago for the ABA Mid-Year Meeting in Chicago, where he attended the business meeting of the ABA Commission on Homelessness & Poverty. He also was an award presenter at the Supreme Court School and Teacher of the Year ceremony. President Grimm announced Vice President Holmes has been nominated by President Bush to succeed retired federal Judge Sven Erik Holmes in the Northern District. Board members congratulated Vice President Holmes.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

President-Elect Beam reported more bar members are needed to serve as scoring judges for the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Oklahoma City. Governor Christensen said she is also working on recruiting judges, who must have experience judging mock trials at the state level, and she reported progress is being made. President-Elect Beam encouraged board members to stay over from the May 12 board meeting to help. He attended the board’s Thursday evening dinner, swearing-in ceremony, January board meeting and “has been” party. He attended the YLD post-roast activities in addition to meetings of the Oklahoma Bar Foundations and National High School Mock Trial Task Force. At the ABA Mid-Year Meeting in Chicago, he attended various GPSOLO section meetings, Southern Conference of Bar Presidents meetings, National Conference of Bar Presidents meetings and House of Delegates. He met with Administration Director Combs regarding the Strategic Financial Planning Task Force and also met with President Grimm, Executive Director Williams and Past President DeLacerda about various OBA committees and task forces.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Williams reported he attended the board’s “has been” party, YLD Retreat and past chair dinner, Supreme Court Conference for the amendment to the Code of Judicial Conduct, MCLE meeting, National High School Mock Trial Task Force meeting, National Conference of Bar Executives and National Council of Bar Presidents meetings in conjunction with the ABA meeting in Chicago, Board of Governors dinner and legislative committee meetings. He served as a scoring judge for the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial competition, met with legislators on pending bills and spoke at the “We the People” competition at the State Capitol.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

Governor Bates reported she attended the Board of Governors Thursday evening social event, swearing-in ceremony, January board meeting, “has been”dinner, Ginsburg Inn of Court meeting and CLE presentation. She reviewed HB 2881, discussed it with attorneys in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, contacted the House calendar docketing clerk regarding the bill's committee assignment, met with National Mock Trial Task Force Awards Subcommittee at Midwest Trophy, gave a presentation to 100 students at Brink Junior High about the law and the legal profession and spoke to Professor Smith's practical skills class at the OU law school about adoption law. She also met with Turner Inn of Court President Shannon Edwards and administrator Joan Renegar regarding a joint meeting and CLE presentation. She discussed upcoming Oklahoma County Bar Association events with Melanie Jester, Work/Life Balance Committee chair, and Hugh Baysinger, Law Day Committee chair, reviewed proposed changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct and reviewed January board minutes. Governor Caudle reported he attended the Professionalism Committee meeting in Oklahoma City, January board meeting, swearing-in ceremony and Comanche County Bar Association meeting CLE that featured a presentation on patent law. He served as a scoring panelist for the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Program at the Comanche County Courthouse and signed up as a scoring judge for the National Mock Trial Championship at the Oklahoma County Courthouse on May 13, 2006. He met with present and past officers of the Comanche County Bar Association to formulate plans for the upcoming year to include monthly CLE presentations, Law Day events and the September board meeting in Lawton. Governor Christensen reported she attended the Board of Governors Thursday evening social event, January board meeting, swearing-in ceremony, “has been” dinner, Professionalism Committee meeting, Young Lawyers Division Leadership Conference to speak about the National Mock Trial program, Bench and Bar Committee meeting, Bench and Bar Committee's Subcommittee on Revisions to the Model Code of Judicial Conduct and OBA Facilities Committee meeting. She continued to work securing scoring judges and presiding judges for the National Mock Trial Competition. Governor Farris reported he attended the Board of Governors function the night before the board meeting, Board of Governors swearing-in ceremony, January Board of Governors meeting in Oklahoma City and “has been” party. Tulsa County Bar Association meetings he attended were Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Tulsa County Bar Foundation, Probate and Trust Law Section, Law Day Committee and Children and the Law Committee meeting concerning children’s mental health issues at OSU Tulsa. He chaired the Tulsa County Bar Foundation meeting. Governor Hermanson reported he attended the Board of Governors Thursday night dinner, Board of Governors swearing-in, January Board of Governors meeting in Oklahoma City, OBA Family Law Section meeting in Oklahoma City and “has been” party in Edmond. He advised OBA General Practice/Solo and Small Firm Section leadership about the adoption of the bylaws by the OBA Board of Governors and the need to make further amendments at this year’s OBA Annual Meeting. He sent an e-mail to the county bar presidents of Judicial District One outlining the actions of the last Board of Governors meeting and telling them about OBA Day at the Capitol. He reported he was named to the West Solo Advisory Board from the ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section for a two-year term. He also appeared on the MSNBC television show “The Abrams Report,” served as a judge at the “We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution” competition at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City and attended the American Board of Trial Advocates Annual Banquet at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa. Governor Hogan reported he attended the January swearing-in ceremony and board meeting. He also discussed plans for the upcoming year with the Pittsburg County Bar Association president and reviewed materials for the upcoming board meeting. Governor Kennemer reported he attended the Thursday evening board dinner, swearing-in ceremony for new OBA officers and governors, January Board of Governors meeting in Oklahoma City, “has been”dinner in Edmond, six-hour monthly task force meeting to create a Uniform Residential Sales Contract, Seminole/Hughes Counties bar luncheon, funeral services for the husband of MCLE Administrator Bev Petry and the first meeting of the Communications Task Force. He submitted a draft of a proposed Uniform Residential Sales Contract to the Title Examinations Standards Committee for review. Governor Mordy reported he attended the swearing-in ceremony, January board meeting and “has been” party. He organized the Carter County Bar Association members to work in a local soup kitchen and spoke at Ryan High School as a guest speaker through LRE's Lawyers in the Classroom Program.Governor Parsley reported he attended the Board of Governors Thursday evening social event before the board meeting, January board meeting, swearing-in ceremony, “has been”dinner, first meeting of the newly created Communications Task Force and two meetings of the Texas County Bar Association. He also reviewed material submitted by President-Elect Beam regarding the Audit Committee. Governor Reheard reported she attended the board’s Thursday evening dinner, board swearing-in ceremony, Board of Governors January meeting and 18th Judicial District Court Rules Committee meeting. Governor Souter reported he attended the Creek County Bar Association meeting that included the presentation of certificates to several bar members related to the recently formed Creek County dispute resolution program. He attended the Uniform Law Committee meeting in the role of board liaison and the board’s “has been” party in Edmond. He also spoke at St. Mary’s School in Tulsa regarding the civil and criminal justice systems.

REPORT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

Governor Williams reported she attended the January board meeting, swearing-in, “has been” party and Communications Task Force meeting. She presided over the YLD January board meeting, leadership retreat and past chair “roast.” She attended the Payne County Bar Association meeting and served as a judge at the LRE high school program held at the Capitol. She also called several county bar presidents for the Law Day Committee and served in the ABA/YLD Assembly, Caucus and ABA House of Delegates in Chicago.

REPORT OF THE SUPREME COURT LIAISON

On behalf of the seven justices who were able to attend, Justice Edmondson expressed appreciation for dinner at the governor’s mansion.

LAW STUDENT DIVISION LIAISON

LSD Chair McGill introduced Kendra Robben, the incoming LSD chair from OCU School of Law who will take office in May. McGill reported the division is preparing for upcoming elections. She said programming events for this semester will be loan consolidation and loan repayment information from graduate leverage and non-traditional legal careers.

REPORT OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

General Counsel Murdock shared a status report of the Professional Responsibility Commission and OBA disciplinary matters. He reported Chief Investigator Tony Blasier has resigned to accept a position with Chesapeake Energy. He distributed 200 copies of the Legal Guide for Young Adults at a local high school where he spoke to seniors concerning the legal ramifications of turning 18. The guide is published by the OBA’s Law-related Education Program and is being translated into Spanish. He participated in interviews for the new LRE coordinator, spoke at a program for prospective law students sponsored by the OCU law school at the state Senate and attended funeral services for an OBA employee’s husband. He participated in the Pro Bono Fair at the OU law school and entertained law students pursuant to an auction item donated to the Association of Women in Law at OU for the benefit of the Women’s Resource Center of Norman. He presented a breakfast CLE to Oklahoma City real property lawyers and a luncheon CLE to the Oklahoma County Bar Association.

DONATION OF CHAIRS

Executive Director Williams said new chairs have been purchased for Emerson Hall. The old chairs have become surplus, and the Tulsa County Bar Association could use them. Because the OBA utilizes the county bar facility often, he asked the board for permission to donate the chairs to the Tulsa County bar. The board approved the donation. Executive Director Williams said he would work out the logistics and the cost of transporting the chairs to Tulsa.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT

President Grimm reported Sen. Perry is advancing a bill regarding changes to the Council on Judicial Complaints, and he reviewed changes being recommended. He said there is also a bill proposed amending the Oklahoma Constitution to expand the Council on Judicial Complaints from three to nine members. With Executive Director Williams, President Grimm has attended meetings on this issue. Executive Director Williams reviewed other legislation pending. A motion was made to authorize funding of activities to encourage passage of a bill to change from judicial elections to judicial retention for district judges in Tulsa and Oklahoma counties; however, the board voted to table action until next month.

EXPENDITURES TO REPLACE OKLAHOMA BAR CENTER HVAC CONTROL SYSTEMS AND FRONT ENTRY MODIFICATION

Executive Director Williams explained the current heat and air problem that needs to be corrected. He explained the controls would be moved to the newer part of the building that would not be disturbed if more renovation is done to the older part of the building. Energy savings are estimated to be significant. Administration Director Combs explained that the computer system installed in 1997 to regulate building temperature ceased operating six months ago. The system is now obsolete and replacement parts cannot be obtained, which has resulted in the inability to conserve energy because the bar center’s heating/cooling system operates 24 hours a day.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The board voted to go into executive session, met in executive session and voted to come out of executive session.

OKLAHOMA BAR CENTER MAINTENANCE

The board approved expenses to fund the replacement of the HVAC controls.

FRONT ENTRY MODIFICATIONS

The board voted to move forward by authorizing revised drawings of the front entry modifications to be prepared for presentation at the next meeting.

OKLAHOMA ACCESS TO JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

President Grimm summarized the order from the Supreme Court amending Article XVIII of the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association that includes a new name for the Oklahoma Access to Justice Commission. The order also clarified the committee will report to the OBA and any staff aiding the committee would be OBA employees.

NEW TASK FORCE CREATED

President Grimm reported that while in Chicago for the ABA meeting he and Executive Director Williams met with a staff person who handles statewide legal referral services. He proposed the creation of a task force to study the feasibility of offering this service in Oklahoma with the understanding it would not compete with the current service offered by Tulsa County Bar Association. Governor Caudle has been asked to chair the State Legal Referral Service Task Force, and Judge Darlene Crutchfield has been asked to serve as a task force member. TCBA Executive Director Sandra Cousins has been asked to serve as an advisory committee member. Governor Bates and Governor Kennemer volunteered to serve. Others will be appointed later. The board approved the new task force.

RESOLUTION

The board issued a resolution of appreciation to thank Gov. Henry for hosting the Board of Governors and Supreme Court.

APPOINTMENTS

The board approved:

Bar Center Facilities Committee — Ratification of e-mail vote to appoint J. William Conger to chair to fill a vacancy (1 year term).

Professional Responsibility Commission — Ratification of e-mail vote to appoint Ken Delashaw Jr., Marietta to fill a vacancy (term expires 12/31/08).

Professional Responsibility Tribunal — Ratification of e-mail vote to appoint Sharisse O'Carroll, Tulsa, to fill the vacancy left by Ken Delashaw's appointment to PRC (term expires 12/31/07).

CLIENTS' SECURITY FUND APPOINTMENT

The board approved the appointment of Elisabeth “Betsy” Blue, senior vice president of BancFirst in Tulsa to fill a lay member position (term expires 12/31/08).

OBA DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Executive Director Williams emphasized the importance for board members to attend OBA Day at the Capitol on April 25. Plans are being finalized, and promotion to bar members has started.

OETA FESTIVAL

Public Information Director Manning briefed the board on the March 15 community service event. More volunteers and donations or pledges toward the OBA’s sponsorship of the PBS TV station are needed. President Grimm will appear live to present the sponsorship donation and to promote the upcoming Ask A Lawyer TV show on OETA.

NEW DATE FOR APRIL BOARD MEETING

President Grimm reported the date for the April board meeting will move to Thursday, April 20, at 2 p.m. in Tulsa to avoid a conflict Friday morning with the swearing-in ceremony for new attorneys in Oklahoma City at which he will speak.

APPRECIATION EXPRESSED

President Grimm shared a thank you note from Law Day Co-chair Scott Pappas expressing appreciation for the opportunity to travel to Chicago to accept Oklahoma’s ABA Law Day Award.

REVISIONS TO THE RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT: ETHICS 2000 REPORT

President Grimm opened up the consent items to discussion. He asked board members to review material to be considered next month two weeks before the meeting and to start e-mailing discussion. The board approved the items subject to the completion of the project.

NEXT MEETING

The board will meet March 17, 2006, at 9 a.m. at Roman Nose State Park in Watonga.