The Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors met at the University of Oklahoma College of Law on Friday, Oct. 20, 2006.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

President Grimm reported he attended the Tulsa County Bar Association judicial reception, Boiling Springs Institute in Woodward, Missouri Bar Association annual meeting in St. Louis, board social event with the Comanche County Bar Association in Lawton, Southern Conference of Bar Presidents in Charleston and OBA/OBF joint reception at the Sam Noble Museum in Norman. He met with Chief Justice Watt to discuss various OBA pending matters, prepared a board memorandum to the OBF with materials, spoke to new admittees at the swearing-in ceremony, attended the reception following ceremony and participated in a conference call with President-Elect Beam and Vice President Conger to discuss various Access to Justice Committee issues. He attended meetings of the OBA Bar Center Facilities Committee, OBF meeting in Norman and OBA Communications Task Force.

REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Vice President Conger reported he attended two OBA Bar Center Facilities Committee meetings, board meeting and luncheon in Lawton. He gave a presentation at the Conference on Higher Education Law at OU.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

President-Elect Beam reported he attended the board meeting, lunch and Thursday evening social event in Lawton, Custer County Bar Association meeting, Boiling Springs Institute, Custer County fall bar party, Women in Law Conference in Tulsa and Southern Conference of Bar Presidents. He began working on 2007 appointments and met with Executive Director Williams and President Grimm on various matters.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Williams announced the OBA Public Information Department won a Luminary Award from the National Association of Bar Executives for its public relations campaign for The Jim Gassaway Justice House project. He reported he met with Family Law Section leadership, presented a legislative update to the Comanche County Bar Association, participated in the Law School Committee visit to the OU College of Law, met with the court administrator regarding 2007 and 2008 OBA Annual Meetings and met several times with the the construction manager and architect. He attended the Boiling Springs Institute, swearing in of new members, Women in Law Conference, Southern Conference of Bar Presidents, Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting, OBF meeting, public hearing on the OBA budget and joint OBA/OBF reception.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

Governor Caudle shared highlights of his trip to the national Legal Referral Information Services workshop in Albuquerque, N.M. He helped host the board reception in Lawton and attended the Lawton board meeting, Comanche County Bar Association luncheon and CLE, and Clients’ Security Fund Committee meeting at the Oklahoma Bar Center. Governor Christensen reported she attended the board meeting and luncheon in Lawton. She also attended meetings of the OBA Bar Center Facilities Committee, Bench and Bar Committee and Bench and Bar Subcommittee on Revisions to the Model Code of Judicial Conduct. She participated in a presentation to the Executive Council of District Judges regarding the model code in addition to attending the new lawyer experience seminar and Women in Law Conference in Tulsa. Governor Farris reported he attended the OBA Legal Intern Committee meeting, Tulsa County Bar Association board meeting, Tulsa County Bar Foundation meeting and a reception for Tulsa County judges and legislators hosted by the TCBA. Governor Hogan reported he attended the Lawton board meeting, board luncheon and Pittsburg County Bar Association meeting. Governor Kennemer reported he attended the board reception with the Comanche County Bar Association, board meeting in Lawton and ABA National Lawyer Referral Workshop in Albuquerque, N.M. Governor Mordy reported he attended the Carter County Bar Association luncheon and spoke at the fall meeting of the Oklahoma Association of Tax Representatives. Governor Parsley reported he attended the board meeting, lunch and Thursday night social event in Lawton, Boiling Springs Legal Institute and Communications Task Force meeting. Governor Reheard reported she attended the Budget Committee meeting in Oklahoma City and met with Educational Programs Director Douglas regarding the Annual Meeting plenary session.

REPORT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

Governor Williams reported she presided over the division’s September board meeting in Tulsa. Topics discussed at the meeting were YLD events at the OBA Annual Meeting, nominees for YLD Friends and Fellows for this year, ABA/YLD Fall Conference in Baltimore and YLD committee work that has occurred over the past month. She met with the YLD Membership Chair about the new attorney CD being developed. She spoke at the new attorney swearing-in ceremony at St. Luke’s in Oklahoma City and at the new lawyer experience seminar in Oklahoma City. She reported the YLD hosted a reception for new admittees, their family and friends immediately following the swearing in. Fliers regarding upcoming new attorney parties and committee involvement were passed out during the reception. She noted the YLD-hosted parties to honor the fall new admittees in Tulsa and Oklahoma City were very well attended and provided a good networking and informational tool for the new lawyers.

LAW STUDENT DIVISION LIAISON

LSD Chair Robben reported she attended the board meeting and luncheon in Lawton in addition to several internal meetings with other division Executive Board members. She said division membership numbers for the year recently reached 100 members.

REPORT OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

General Counsel Murdock, absent from the meeting because he was conducting a CLE seminar, submitted a status report of the Professional Responsibility Commission and OBA disciplinary matters.

PROFESSIONALISM COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR OBA SLOGAN

President Grimm reported consideration of the committee’s recommendation to adopt a slogan will be held until next month.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONTRIBUTION

The board approved the committee’s request to contribute $5,000 to Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Inc. for a statewide needs assessment.

ETHICS 2000 REPORT

Ethics Council Hendryx reviewed proposed changes to Rule 1.6 and Rule 1.15, and the board approved the proposed changes that will be considered at the House of Delegates meeting.

CIVIL PROCEDURES COMMITTEE RESOLUTION FOR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Executive Director Williams reviewed the committee’s proposal, and the board approved the proposal with a recommendation for the House of Delegates to adopt the resolution.

MEDAL OF VALOR CREATION AND 2006 RECIPIENT SELECTION

President Grimm reported the OBA is honored to have a war hero among its members. He said Capt. Scott Ryan, who recently returned to the Tulsa law firm of King, Taylor and Ryan, received the Bronze Star Medal for exceptionally meritorious service and dedication to duty during combat operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom. President Grimm proposed that the OBA Board of Governors create the OBA Medal of Valor, designated for OBA members who demonstrate individual and exemplary courage in settings and situations outside the practice of law. The Medal of Valor is to be given and is reserved for members whose personal actions and character far exceed the call of duty and individual responsibility. Selection for the OBA Medal of Valor would be by unanimous vote of the OBA Board of Governors or the unanimous vote of the OBA House of Delegates. The award would be presented as merited and not considered to be an annual award. The board approved the creation of the new award with the criteria as stated and to bestow the first Medal of Valor to Capt. Scott Ryan.

2007 OBA BUDGET

President-Elect Beam thanked committee members for their work on the Budget Committee and reviewed its recommendation for the 2007 OBA budget. The board approved the budget that will be submitted to the Supreme Court for its approval.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY PANEL ON JUDICIAL ELECTIONS

President Grimm reviewed the history of the panel and said no terms of office were specified for the two lawyers and one layperson, who comprise the panel. The board approved the adoption of six-year staggered terms for panel members.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY PANEL ON JUDICIAL ELECTIONS APPOINTMENT

President Grimm reported he recommends appointing John R. Woolman of Tulsa to fill the layperson vacancy on the panel left by the resignation of Dr. Gilbert Gibson. He shared background information about Mr. Woolman. The board approved the appointment.

BYLAWS AND RULES COMMITTEE REQUEST TO PRESENT PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENTS TO THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES

President Grimm reported the proposed amendments to the OBA bylaws address clean-up issues including making pronoun references gender neutral. The board approved the draft of amendments being submitted to the Bylaws and Rules Committee for consideration at the House of Delegates and to endorse adoption.

LEGAL INTERN COMMITTEE REPORT TO THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT

The board approved the Legal Intern Committee’s annual report to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

BUILDING RENOVATIONS

Executive Director Williams reviewed the plans for the plaza dedication on Oct. 26, 2006. He said the hand railing, spout for the water feature and electrical lighting were being installed this week. Landscaping has already been completed, and the John Shipp commemorative bronze plaque looks very impressive. He also reported during construction the parking lot was damaged, and the builder will resurface the lot.

ANNUAL MEETING

Executive Director Williams reported current Annual Meeting registration numbers are low, although the deadline for the early-bird discount is coming up Monday. Administration Director Combs shared information about upcoming hotel renovations.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT

The board reviewed the report of 2005-2006 objectives accomplished by the Access to Justice Advisory Committee’s Criminal Law Subcommittee. Discussion followed. The board voted to recommend to the Supreme Court that the Access to Justice Advisory Committee be temporarily suspended pending restructuring and that the OBA, through its existing Access to Justice Committee, be charged with the responsibility to develop an access to justice plan. It was noted the duality of the two committees was a concern.

STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

President Grimm announced the Board of Governors will host a luncheon to express appreciation for the hard work of bar association staff members at noon on Dec. 5, 2006, in Emerson Hall at the Oklahoma Bar Center. Board members are invited to attend.

NEXT MEETING

The board will meet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tulsa on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, as part of the OBA Annual Meeting.