The Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors met at the Oklahoma Bar Center on Friday, Jan. 19, 2007.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

President Beam reviewed events for the day. He reported he met with Governor Parsley about the Mentoring Task Force, worked on appointments, met with Jim Calloway and Donita Douglas about the Solo and Small Firm Conference and wrote letters to appointees. He attended the Communications Task Force meeting and swearing-in ceremony for Chief Justice Winchester. He spoke at the Garfield County Bar Association meeting and at the OBA Law School for Legislators in Oklahoma City.

REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Vice President Conger reported he attended the swearing-in ceremony for new lawyers at the western district, Shipp Plaza dedication and Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

President-Elect Conger reported he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Justice Winchester and Vice Chief Justice Edmondson, chaired a meeting of the Bar Center Facilities Committee and taught at two OBA/CLE sessions.

REPORT OF THE PAST PRESIDENT

Past President Grimm re-ported he attended the Tulsa Title & Probate Lawyers Association meeting, OBA Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting and swearing-in ceremony for Chief Justice Winchester and Vice Chief Justice Edmondson.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Williams reported he attended the December board holiday party and meetings of the State Legal Referral Service Task Force, Communications Task Force, Technology Committee and Bar Center Facilities Committee. He participated in meetings with the architect and builder, in addition to Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee Chair Tom Riesen regarding the LHL Foundation. He attended swearing-in ceremonies for Judge Rick Bozarth in Taloga and Supreme Court Chief Justice Winchester. He attended an abbreviated OBA Directors Retreat because of weather and a reception for Sen. Coffee.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

Governor Bates reported she attended the Oklahoma County Bar Association board meeting and Christmas party, Board of Governors Christmas party and December board meeting, two OBA State Legal Referral Service Task Force meetings, swearing-in of Chief Justice Winchester and Vice-Chief Justice Edmondson, Cleveland County Bar Association meeting and swearing in of Cleveland County’s new district attorney and county commissioners and reception. Governor Caudle reported he attended the December board meeting and Christmas party, swearing-in ceremony for Chief Justice Winchester and Vice Chief Justice Edmondson and monthly Comanche County Bar Association luncheon meeting that featured OU Professor Spector. He also chaired the State Legal Referral Service Task Force Committee Meeting at the bar center. Governor Christensen reported she attended the Board of Governors December meeting and Christmas party, Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting at the bar center, Oklahoma County Bar Association Board Meeting and Christmas function, two OBA/CLE functions at the Ford Center and the OCU law school alumni meeting. She also discussed plans for the 2007 Women in Law Conference with other committee members. Governor Farris reported he attended the December board meeting and Tulsa County Bar Foundation meeting. He made a presentation at the TCBA Annual Estate Planning CLE Seminar. Governor Hermanson reported he moderated and was a speaker for an OBA/CLE seminar. He attended the OBA staff appreciation luncheon, Kay County Bar Association meeting, Board of Governors Christmas party, Board of Governors December meeting, two State Legal Referral Service Task Force meetings and Kay County Bar Association Christmas Party held in conjunction with the Kay County Medical Association. He also prepared an article for the OBA Criminal Law Section’s newsletter. Governor Souter reported he attended the board Christmas function and board meeting. He also attended the swearing-in ceremony for Okfuskee County District Court Judge Lawrence W. Parish, Okmulgee County District Court Judges H. Michael Claver and John Maley, Creek County District Court Judges Douglas W. Golden and Joe Sam Vassar, Creek County Associate District Court Judge April Sellers White and Creek County District Attorney D. Max Cook.

REPORT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

Governor Camp reported the YLD sunsetted two committees this year, created a new Wills for Heroes Committee and changed the Volunteer Committee into a task force. He also spoke at an Inn of Court CLE program.

REPORT OF THE SUPREME COURT LIAISON

Justice Taylor reported he appreciated the appointment to the OBA as the Supreme Court liaison, and he said he looked forward to serving.

LAW STUDENT DIVISION LIAISON

LSD Chair Robben reported she attended the Board of Governors Christmas function and participated in a conference call with the OLSD Bylaw Committee to work on revisions to the division’s bylaws. She attended several events at the OBA Annual Meeting, including the division’s panel and board meeting.

REPORT OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

General Counsel Murdock shared a status report of the Professional Responsibility Commission and OBA disciplinary matters. He reported he presented CLE programs for a Family Law Section seminar in Oklahoma City, Tulsa County Bar Association, Christian Legal Society and Oklahoma County Bar Association. He hosted the OBA employees’ Christmas party in his home, attended a Saturday rehearsal for the OBA Ethics Cabaret, participated in the evening OBA Ethics Cabarets in Oklahoma City and Tulsa and attended the OBA directors retreat.

BAR CENTER RENOVATIONS

Executive Director Williams reported demolition is projected to begin in October. A more definite timeline is expected soon. The board will also receive in March more specific cost estimates for the renovation. The Bar Association Technology Committee will assist in making recommendations for technology needs. President-Elect Conger said there will be a period of discomfort; however, a state-of-the-art facility will be the result that will be a legacy of this Board of Governors.

BENCH AND BAR COMMITTEE FUNDING REQUEST

Governor Christensen, as Bench and Bar Committee co-chair, said the committee is asking for funding to send a committee member to the ABA subcommittee meetings in Miami, where revisions to the ABA Model Judicial Code will be discussed. The board approved up to $3,000 to send one committee member to the meetings.

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP FUNDS

Past President Grimm reported all expenses for the national mock trial event hosted by the OBA last year have been paid and an excess of about $99,000 from prior budgets remains. The board voted to consolidate the excess funds into the general reserve and to eliminate the separate line item from the budget.

APPOINTMENTS

The board approved the following recommendations made by President Beam:

Paralegal Committee — appoint David A. Poarch Jr., Norman, as vice chairperson

Professionalism Committee — appoint Steven Dobbs, Oklahoma City, as chairperson

Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee — appoint William R. Grimm, Tulsa, as Board of Governor liaison.

OBA DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Executive Director Williams asked board members to docket Tuesday, March 27, to participate in meetings with legislators during the day and for the evening reception at the bar center.

LAW DAY EVENTS

President Beam reported the Ask A Lawyer TV show will air on May 1 from 7 – 8 p.m. on OETA, and the statewide Ask A Lawyer community service project will also be held on that day.

CRISIS INTERVENTION MEMBER BENEFIT

Executive Director Williams reported the Mental Health Association of Central Oklahoma will be awarding the OBA an innovator award for the establishment of the crisis intervention program for bar members. He reported that sadly the program is out of funding, which increases the importance of setting up the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Foundation to assist in keeping the much needed program going.

WILLS FOR HEROES

President Beam reported the Young Lawyers Division has agreed to coordinate this new signature program for the OBA that will offer first response and law enforcement personnel free will preparation and health care proxy services. Governor Camp handed out information about the program, modeled after a program started in South Carolina. The OBA project will be chaired by Oklahoma City attorney Lindsey Andrews. Governor Camp said many attorneys have already contacted him to volunteer as a result of the initial story recently published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal.

NEXT MEETING

The board will meet at 9:30 a.m. in Oklahoma City on Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at the Oklahoma Bar Center.