The Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors met at the Oklahoma Bar Center on Friday, Dec. 14, 2007.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

President Beam reported final Annual Meeting numbers were a total of 769 people registered, and 418 tickets sold to the Annual Meeting luncheon, which was the highest ever for the luncheon. In the haste of trying to work through the agenda at last month’s board meeting during the Annual Meeting, President Beam said he didn’t think the State Legal Referral Service Task Force was sufficiently recognized for its work. He commended task force members for their dedication and hard work in researching a potential referral service, preparing the report and making the recommendation. He reported he attended many OBA Annual Meeting events, the Oklahoma Bar Foundation meeting, Custer County Bar Association meeting and Christmas party, Canadian County Bar Association Christmas party and Oklahoma County Bar Association Christmas party. He met with Chief Justice Winchester and met with Executive Director Williams on several occasions. He also planned the Board of Governors Christmas party.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

President-Elect Conger reported he attended the OBA Annual Meeting, Oklahoma Bar Foundation meeting, Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting and staff appreciation luncheon. He gave the commencement address at the OCU School of Law and also presented the OBA 2008 budget to the Supreme Court.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Williams reported as a result of the ice storm that caused the Tulsa County Bar Association to be without power, the OBA stepped in to assist by e-mailing Tulsa County lawyers. He attended many of the Annual Meeting events, Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting, staff directors meeting and the Lawyers Helping Lawyers seminar. He met with President‑Elect Conger on appointments and with President Beam to plan for the December board meeting. He attended the Tulsa County Bar Association holiday party and the staff appreciation lunch.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

Governor Caudle reported he attended the OBA Annual Meeting, Resolutions Committee meeting and Mentoring Task Force meeting. At the Annual Meeting, he hosted Missouri Bar Association Vice President Skip Walther and attended most of the social events. He attended the Comanche County Bar Association CLE and monthly meeting in addition to the staff appreciation luncheon at the Oklahoma Bar Center. Governor Christensen reported she attended the Tuesday night dinner at Abuelo’s with the Board of Governors, OBA Annual Meeting, House of Delegates and Oklahoma Bar Foundation trustees meeting. She attended the Oklahoma Bar Foundation reception, OBA staff appreciation holiday luncheon, and she met with Director Douglas to coordinate the Women in Law Committee holiday networking function. Governor Dirickson reported she attended the OBA Annual Meeting, House of Delegates meeting and the Custer County Bar Association meeting and Christmas party. Governor Farris reported he attended the Tuesday night Board of Governors dinner, OBA Annual Meeting, House of Delegates meeting, Tulsa County Bar Association Probate/Estate/ Elder Law Section meeting, Legal Intern Committee meeting and the TCBA meeting and holiday party. He also attended the TCBA Community Outreach Committee clothes sorting for “Santa Brings A Lawsuit” project. Governor Hermanson reported he attended the Tuesday night governors dinner, OBA Annual Meeting, Kay County Bar Association meeting and the joint KCBA and Kay County Medical Association Christmas party. He participated in an ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division teleconference to brainstorm projects for the GP Swat Team and programming. He also wrote an article for the Criminal Law Section newsletter. Governor Hogan reported he attended the Annual Meeting and Pittsburg County Bar Association meeting. He also attended the OBA staff appreciation lunch at the bar center and worked on a Christmas project for children in rural Pittsburg County. Governor Kennemer reported he attended the November board dinner, Annual Meeting, December Mentorship Task Force meeting and December board dinner. He also attended the Seminole/Hughes Counties Bar Associations luncheon and OBA staff appreciation luncheon. He also audited the plenary panel discussion. Governor Reheard reported she attended the OBA Annual Meeting, House of Delegates and Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association annual meeting. Governor Souter reported he attended the OBA Annual Meeting, House of Delegates, Paralegal Committee meeting and November Creek County Bar Association meeting and annual Christmas party.

REPORT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

Governor Camp reported he attended the OBA Annual Meeting and most of the social events, House of Delegates, November OBA/YLD Board of Directors meeting and the Tulsa County Bar Association Membership Committee meeting. He hosted the YLD Friends and Fellows Breakfast and participated in a conference with the ABA/Young Lawyers Division district representative. President Beam noted that a positive editorial was published in The Daily Oklahoman regarding the YLD’s Wills for Heroes program.

SUPREME COURT LIAISON REPORT

Justice Taylor reported the Supreme Court approved the 2008 OBA budget.

LAW STUDENT DIVISION LIAISON REPORT

LSD Chair Pappy reported she attended the OBA Annual Meeting and the Oklahoma Law School Division dinner at the Petroleum Club with Mike Turpen.

GENERAL COUNSEL REPORT

General Counsel Murdock shared a status report of the Professional Responsibility Commission and OBA disciplinary matters. He reported Office Manager Dana Shelburne has taken a position with the Board of Bar Examiners, and Debi Lowry has been hired to replace her. He attended the monthly meeting of the Professional Responsibility Commission, an OBA directors meeting, OBA employee monthly celebration and OBA staff appreciation luncheon. He spoke to a professional responsibility class at the OU law school, participated in a fundraising auction at the OU law school for the Organization of Women in Law and participated in a seminar sponsored by Integris Foundation at the University of Central Oklahoma, attended by more than 600 participants. He participated in the professionalism CLE for the Tulsa County Bar Association and participated in two Atticus Finch CLE programs, one in Oklahoma City and one in Tulsa. He attended rehearsals for the annual ethics musical presented in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, presented an evening ethics seminar sponsored by BancFirst in Oklahoma City, presented an ethics CLE at Remington Park and presented a noon ethics CLE to both the McCurtain County Bar Association in Idabel and the McClain County Bar Association in Purcell. He met with a UMB Bank representative concerning the new automatic trust account overdraft notification rule, conducted interviews for office manager and hosted the OBA office Christmas party at his home.

CLIENTS’ SECURITY FUND REPORT

Client’s Security Fund Chairperson Micheal Salem reviewed the committee recommendation to reimburse clients $103,471.54. The board approved the recommendation and authorized distribution of a news release. Mr. Salem reported that possible rule changes may be requested next year to assist with the collection of funds.

BAR CENTER RENOVATIONS

President‑Elect Conger reported abatement is finished in the bar center building, and the construction schedule continues to be on track. He showed a small model of the custom table to be built for the board room that will seat 26 people. The table will be constructed in seven sections although the top will appear seamless. Referred to as a “smart table,” it is designed to accommodate computers.

LEGAL INTERN RULE 7.6

As Legal Intern Committee liaison, Governor Farris reported an early draft was incorrectly submitted to the board last month, and the final draft of the committee’s recommended change is presented at this meeting for consideration. The board approved the change.

COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE

President Beam reported he visited with Chief Justice Winchester regarding the task force’s recommendation to provide bar members with case summaries in the Oklahoma Bar Journal. President Beam said the task force also suggested indexing the cases. Executive Director Williams explained the changes in production that would be needed if cases were indexed in each issue and the additional cost that would be incurred. The board voted to withdraw the recommendation for summaries and indexing. The Communications Task Force recommended hiring a Web consultant. Executive Director Williams reported staff agreed a consultant would be helpful.

The board requested that staff research hiring a consultant. The Communications Task Force recommended a staff realignment. Executive Director Williams reviewed the impact of moving the employee. The board decided to hold taking action on the staff realignment recommendation until a consultant is hired and issues a report.

APPEAL OF LEGAL ETHICS ADVISORY OPINION 2007‑OK LEG ETH 01

The board voted to hear the appeal requested of Legal Ethics Advisory Opinion 2007‑OK LEG ETH 01.

CRIMINAL LAW SECTION BYLAWS AMENDMENTS

President Beam reported the Criminal Law Section approved changes to its bylaws that clarify that law students do not have a vote but are welcome to participate in section activities. The board approved the amended section bylaws.

BUDGETED BUT UNEXPENDED FUNDS

The board approved the Communication Committee’s request to carryover $15,000 in budgeted but unexpended funds for consumer legal brochures. The board also voted to carryover Mentoring Task Force budgeted but unexpended funds and Women in Law Committee unexpended funds.

HATTON W. SUMNERS FOUNDATION INC.

Executive Director Williams announced the OBA has received a $50,000 grant from the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation to support the 2008 Foundation of Democracy teacher training program that will be implemented by the OBA’s Law-related Education Department.

SWEARING-IN CEREMONY

Board of Governors officers and new board members will take their oaths of office at 10 a.m. on Jan. 18, 2008, in the Supreme Court Courtroom at the State Capitol. The board meeting will follow the ceremony.

APPOINTMENTS

President‑Elect Conger announced the following appointments:

MCLE Commission — reappoint Margaret Hamlett, Tulsa, as chairperson for a one‑year term (expires 12/31/08)

Board of Medicolegal Investigations — reappoints Shanda McKinney, Oklahoma City, to a one‑year term (expires 12/31/08)

Legal Ethics Advisory Panel Coordinator/Chairperson — reappoint Roger R. Scott, Tulsa, to a one‑year term (expires 12/31/08)

Legal Ethics Advisory Panel (Oklahoma City panel) — reappoint Andrew Karim, Oklahoma City, and James Drummond, Norman, for three‑year terms (expires 12/31/10); appoints Peter Bradford, Oklahoma City, to a three‑year term (expires 12/31/10)

Legal Ethics Advisory Panel (Tulsa panel) — reappoint Jon Prather, Tulsa, Steve Balman, Tulsa, and David Butler, Enid, to three‑year terms (expires 12/31/10)

Audit Committee — appoints W. Mark Hixson, Yukon, to a three‑year term (expires 12/31/10)     

NEXT MEETING

The board will meet in Oklahoma City on Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City following the swearing-in ceremony that begins at 10 a.m.