The Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors met at the Oklahoma Bar Center on Friday, Feb. 16, 2007.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

President Beam reported he attended the January swearing-in ceremony, luncheon, January board meeting and party for outgoing board members. He also attended the We The People competition, Annual Meeting Task Force meeting and OBF meeting. At the ABA Midyear Meeting in Miami, he attended meetings of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, Southern Conference of Bar Presidents, ABA GP/Solo midyear meeting, ABA House of Delegates, Oklahoma delegates dinner and YLD delegates dinner.

REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Vice President Dawson reported he attended the swearing-in ceremony, president’s reception, “has beens” party and Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting. He has been working with the Mentoring Task Force and will attend a task force meeting this afternoon. He asked board members for ideas to allow mentoring to work. Methods used in the past have not been effective.

REPORT OF THE PAST PRESIDENT

Past President Grimm reported he attended the president’s luncheon, “has beens” festivities, Tulsa Title and Probate Lawyers Association meeting and funerals for longtime OBA members D. William Jacobus and James Robinson.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Williams reported he attended the “has beens” party, NABE/NCBP ABA midyear meetings, staff directors meeting, Annual Meeting Task Force meeting, Senate Judiciary Committee meeting and the board’s Thursday evening dinner. In separate meetings he met with legislative leaders on OBA legislation, the architect to work on construction contracts, the caterer for OBA Day at the Capitol, OTLA Executive Director Emily Truelove and Oklahoma County Law Librarian Venita Hoover.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

Governor Bates reported she attended Board of Governors January events - Thursday night social, swearing-in ceremony, Friday board meeting, President Beam’s celebration at Rocky’s and the “has beens”party. She also attended the OBA State Legal Referral Service Task Force meeting, OBA Work-Life Balance Committee meeting, Cleveland County Bar Association meeting/CLE and will attend the roast for 2006 YLD Chair Keri Williams. Governor Caudle reported he attended the January board meeting, swearing-in ceremony for new board members, swearing-in ceremony for Chief Justice Winchester and Vice-Chief Justice James Edmondson, lunch at Rocky’s hosted by President Beam, “has beens” party at the Oklahoma Museum Café and Comanche County Bar Association CLE luncheon. He also wrote the access to justice article regarding the status of lawyer referral in Oklahoma for the January bar journal and chaired the January State Legal Referral Service Task Force meeting at the Oklahoma Bar Center. Governor Christensen reported she attended the board dinner in Bricktown, swearing-in ceremony, board meeting, lunch hosted by President Beam, “has beens” dinner, OBA Women in Law Committee planning sessions and OBA Bench and Bar Committee meeting. She also served as a trial site coordinator for the YLD Mock Trial Competition. Governor Farris reported he attended the Board of Governors dinner in Oklahoma City, board swearing-in ceremony at the Oklahoma Supreme Court, January board meeting, luncheon hosted by President Beam, “has beens” party, Tulsa County Bar Association board meeting and TCBA Long-Range Planning Committee meeting. Governor Hermanson reported he will miss next month’s meeting. He attended the governors dinner in Bricktown, board swearing-in ceremony, January board meeting, lunch hosted by President Beam, OBA Membership Services Committee meeting, “has beens” party, American Board of Trial Advocates annual dinner at the Oklahoma History Center and ABA midyear meeting in Miami, Fla. He also served as a judge for the We The People competition at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Governor Hogan reported he attended two meetings of the Pittsburg County Bar Association and will be meeting with the Pittsburg County Bar Association president before the next meeting to help with ideas for a short informative presentation at the next monthly meeting. Governor Kennemer reported since his last report he attended two Seminole/Hughes Counties Bar Association luncheons, OBA staff appreciation luncheon at the bar center, Board of Governors December meeting and Christmas party, two State Legal Referral Service Task Force meetings, retirement party for Associate Judge Lee Stilwell, retirement party for Sue Beets with the Farm Service Agency in Okemah, swearing-in ceremonies for Associate District Judge Timothy Olsen and swearing-in ceremonies of Chief Justice Winchester and Vice-Chief Justice Edmondson at the Supreme Court. He judged the High School Mock Trial competition as a scoring panelist and will also judge the quarter final round in Wewoka. He prepared and disseminated a complete electronic attorneys directory for all attorneys, district attorneys and judges in Seminole and Hughes counties. He also shared the directory with all court house staff. He gave a talk at the Pontotoc County Bar Association luncheon in Ada about OBA updates and accomplishments of the Board of Governors during 2006. Governor Reheard reported she attended the swearing-in ceremony for new Board of Governors officers and members in addition to the ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for the new McIntosh County associate district judge. Governor Souter reported he attended the Board of Governors’ function and meeting in Oklahoma City, board swearing-in ceremony, lunch hosted by President Beam, “has beens” party hosted by outgoing board members and OBA Uniform Laws Committee meeting. Governor Stockwell reported she attended the January Board of Governors meeting, swearing-in ceremony for new board members at the Supreme Court Courtroom and Cleveland County Bar Association luncheon and CLE.

REPORT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

Governor Camp reported as a result of recent promotion efforts more than 100 lawyers have volunteered to participate in the Wills for Heroes program. He attended the Board of Governors swearing-in ceremony, January board meeting, luncheon hosted by President Beam, Board of Governors “has beens” party, Wills for Heroes Project Executive Committee teleconference, Children & the Law Committee planning meeting, ABA Young Lawyers Division Bar Leadership Academy, ABA Young Lawyers Division Assembly, dinner for OBA/YLD delegation, Oklahoma delegates dinner and meeting of the ABA House of Delegates.

REPORT OF THE SUPREME COURT LIAISON

Justice Taylor reported Executive Director Williams has delivered proposed changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct to the Supreme Court, which will review the material soon. He explained the court holds conferences twice a week that produce stimulating debates. He said much of the court’s work is unseen, and one example is that every petition for cert is reviewed by all nine justices. Much time is spent researching issues before the court, which requires a great deal of reading and writing. He said he is looking forward to serving on the Board of Governors that will allow him to spend more time with lawyers. He encouraged board members to ask questions about the court and its procedures.

LAW STUDENT DIVISION LIAISON

LSD Chair Robben reported she attended the board dinner in Bricktown, swearing-in ceremony, board meeting, lunch hosted by President Stephen Beam and “has beens” dinner. She chaired the OLSD Executive Board meeting at which they planned for the upcoming semester and held elections for the next chairperson. She announced that Shiny Pappy, currently a 2L at OCU, will be the next OLSD chair and the next representative to the Board of Governors beginning in May.

COMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS

Governor Hermanson reported Law-related Education held a We The People competition that was won by Enid High School, which will go on to national competition. He said the Member Services Committee will be looking at several vendors offering off-site document storage/back-up services. Governor Christensen reported the Bench and Bar Committee did not utilize the funds approved at the January meeting to send one member to the ABA subcommittee meetings in Miami.

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 a Saturday evening CLE at the Hornets basketball game, a noon CLE in Poteau for the LeFlore County Bar Association, a noon CLE for TU law students and an evening seminar with Dean Fathree on substance abuse issues in the practice of law at the OCU School of Law. He participated in the Pro Bono Fair at the OU College of Law and attended the monthly meeting of the Professional Responsibility Commission, an evening reception at Platt College for their legal assistants program and a meeting of the OBA staff directors.

BAR CENTER RENOVATIONS

Executive Director Williams reported the Bar Center Facilities Committee will meet this afternoon. He said a presentation on a proposed new telephone system will be made at next month’s board meeting, and he described the features the new system would offer. He said he has almost finalized a contract with the architect. Pre-asbestos removal inspections were conducted recently to determine exactly what is needed to be done to remove the existing asbestos, which will facilitate cost estimates to be obtained from abatement companies. He also reported the Technology Committee is working on suggestions for future needs, and some ideas were shared. He has not seen floor plans yet and said the final contract will include provisions to encourage construction deadlines are met in completing the project in a timely manner.

APPOINTMENTS

The board approved:

Child Abuse Training and Coordination Council - nominations to the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth for its selection of one representative - Gina Farris Webb, Sayre; Linda S. Thomas, Bartlesville; and Lisa Birdwell, Weatherford (expires upon resignation or death)

Court on Judiciary - Appellate Division - appoint Bryce L. Hodgen, Woodward, for a two-year term (expires 3/1/09)

Court of Judiciary-Trial Division - reappoint William Brad Heckenkemper, Tulsa, for a two-year term (expires 3/1/09)

Women in Law Committee - appoint Co-Chairpersons Elizabeth Joyner, Tulsa; Cathy Christensen, Oklahoma City; and D. Faith Orlowski, Tulsa

Lawyers with Physical Challenges Committee - appoint Chairperson Melissa K. Sublett, Tulsa

Advertising Task Force - appoint Chairperson Jack Dawson, Oklahoma City, to a new task force being created.

ABA MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

President Beam reported that he, along with President-Elect Conger, Governor Camp and Executive Director Williams attended several meetings in Miami. He said at the meeting of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, other bars indicated an interest in the OBA’s mental health program. He noted that Past President Joe Crosthwait is an NCBP officer. President Beam said some states are conducting a leadership academy and several models for leadership conferences exist. OBA Leadership Conference Task Force Chair Linda Thomas will look at those models to organize an event in Oklahoma. Governor Camp shared information on YLD meetings he attended. He said the YLD Assembly considered two resolutions, and he briefed the board on the issues. In Miami he distributed information on the upcoming YLD regional meeting in Oklahoma City. President Beam reviewed details about the April meeting that will involve activities with the conference participants. Governor Camp suggested a way to encourage YLD involvement is for board members to attend at least one YLD committee meeting this year.

OBA DAY AT THE CAPITOL

Executive Director Williams reviewed the events planned for the day including a photograph of bar members on the steps of the capitol. He explained the caterer previously used by the OBA for several years is no longer doing catering and a replacement will be found. He reviewed current pending legislation. President Beam encouraged board members to attend even if they could only attend the legislative reception in the evening.

OETA VOLUNTEER NIGHT

Public Information Director Manning briefed the board on the annual community service event. She explained OBA members are being recruited to take phone calls for pledges to support the state PBS television on Thursday, March 15, 2007. The TV station is working with the OBA to produce Ask A Lawyer that will air on May 1, 2007. Board members were encouraged to make personal donations to continue the OBA’s high level of financial sponsorship that is recognized in OETA’s monthly program guide.

NEXT MEETING

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