The Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors met at the Oklahoma Bar Center on Friday, July 20, 2007.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

President Beam reported he attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference, Oklahoma Bar Foundation meeting, PACE reception hosted by the OBA LRE Department, State Bar of New Mexico annual meeting at the Inn of the Mountain Gods, OBA Annual Meeting Task Force meeting and Custer County Bar Association meeting. He met with a YLD representative about the Wills for Heroes program, spoke at the PACE dinner and worked on the executive director's evaluation.

REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Vice President Dawson reported he attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference and presented one of the CLE sessions. He worked on Mentor Task Force, Advertising Task Force and Bar Center Facilities Committee business.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

President-Elect Conger reported he attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference, June board meeting, OBF Trustee meeting and a meeting with Executive Director Williams and the architect. He also chaired the Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Williams reported he attended the PACE dinner and reception, monthly staff celebration, directors meeting to plan the relocation, Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting and a meeting with the architect and the decorator. He also spoke to the PACE participants at their opening session. His efforts have been focused on details involved in orchestrating the move of bar employees to the modular space.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

Governor Bates reported she attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference, June board meeting, OBA State Legal Referral Service Task Force meeting and OBA Work, Life Balance Committee meeting. She made calls to Canadian, Comanche, Pittsburg, Pottawatomie and Seminole bar associations encouraging them to submit OBA award nominations. She assisted the Oklahoma County Bar Association in its awards work. Governor Caudle reported he attended the May Board of Governors dinner and reception with the Creek County Bar Association, May board meeting and Comanche County Bar Association CLE and bar luncheon. He chaired the State Legal Referral Service Task Force Meeting at the Bar Center. He was not present at the June meeting because he represented the OBA at the State Bar of Texas annual meeting in San Antonio. Governor Christensen reported she attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference, June board meeting, OBA Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting, OBA Bench and Bar Committee meeting, Bench and Bar subcommittee meeting regarding revision of the Model Code of Judicial Conduct and OBA Audit Committee meeting. She also participated in OBA Women in Law Committee discussions regarding the annual Women in Law Conference to be held at the Skirvin Hotel on Sept. 27, 2007. Governor Dirickson reported she attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference, June board meeting and Custer County Bar Association luncheon. She participated in phone discussions with the Lawyers Helping Lawyers chairperson concerning the proposed CLE for the annual convention. Governor Farris reported he attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference, June board meeting, two OBA Legal Intern Committee meetings, Tulsa County Bar Foundation meeting and OBA Audit Committee meeting. Governor Hermanson reported he attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference and June Board of Governors meeting. He presented one of the CLE seminars at the conference. He announced that he has been appointed to the ABA Tech Show 2008 Track Advisory Board for the solo and small firm track. Governor Hogan reported he attended a Pittsburg County Bar Association meeting. Governor Kennemer reported he attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference, June Board of Governors meeting, Seminole/Hughes counties bar luncheon with CLE program by Asst. U.S. Attorney Joe Wilson of the Northern District and monthly task force meeting to create a Uniform Residential Sales Contract--OKC/OREC. Governor Reheard reported she attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference and June board meeting. Governor Souter reported he attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference and June board meeting. At the conference he took part in the golf tournament that involved both board members and conference participants. Governor Stockwell reported she attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference, June board meeting, Cleveland County Bar Association executive committee meeting and CCBA Bench and Bar Committee meeting.

REPORT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

Governor Camp reported he attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference and June Board of Governors meeting. He participated in the YLD bus trip, Wills for Heroes publicity planning conference, meeting with the ABA/YLD district representative, meeting with Loyed Gill regarding the New Attorney Experience seminars and OBA/YLD Seniors Committee planning teleconference. He also chaired the June YLD Board of Directors meeting and conducted an e-mail vote regarding the amendment of Art. 3.3 in the YLD Bylaws and the filling of two board vacancies (District 8 and at-large seats).

REPORT OF THE SUPREME COURT LIAISON

Justice Taylor reported work at the Supreme Court continues. He said Justice Lavender will be honored in a retirement ceremony in the Supreme Court Courtroom at 2 p.m. on July 24 with a reception following. He said the Judicial Nominating Commission's work has begun to fill the position. He said Justice Lavender will be missed. He has been a great contributor to the court.

LAW STUDENT DIVISION LIAISON

LSD Chair Pappy reported she attended the Solo and Small Firm Conference and June board meeting. She worked with Jennifer Beale with Beale Professional Services to offer health and life insurance plans to law students and recent graduates, met with a representative from Yukon National Bank to prepare a debt management seminar, brochure and video for law students, coordinated a project with the Young Lawyers Division to allow law student division members to assist on the latest update of the elder care law handbook. She prepared a slideshow/video about the division as a marketing tool for the upcoming orientation days at OU, TU and OCU. She reported Information Services Director Loomis created online registration for new members that allows new member enrollment to take place at the division booth at the orientations. She is currently working on a public service announcement campaign to remind law students that their "Facebook," "YouTube," "Friendster" and "MySpace" pages are all easily accessible by potential employers and potential clients. The PSA is designed to warn students to be cautious of the pictures and language they and their friends post on their online Web pages.

REPORT OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

General Counsel Murdock shared a status report of the Professional Responsibility Commission and OBA disciplinary matters. He reported he participated in a CLE for Lawyers for Working Oklahomans, spoke to the OU law school class of Kent Meyers, participated in a program for Chinese students at the OCU law school explaining attorney regulation in Oklahoma and assisted in moving OBA items to storage and moving staff to modular offices. He attended two OBA director meetings, monthly OBA staff celebration and reception for PACE program participants.

BAR CENTER RENOVATIONS

Executive Director Williams reported the move has been made to modular space. He said about 1,000 boxes and several hundred feet of shelving had been moved with employees assisting. He said the IS Department used almost 5,000 feet of cable to hook up the phone and computer system. Servers were moved on a weekend so they were not down during business hours. President-Elect Conger reviewed the sample board of materials recommended for interior building renovation. He explained the Bar Center Facilities Committee is recommending a traditional design. The current board room tables will be donated to Oklahoma Legal Aid Services offices. The foundation consulted a used furniture seller, who did not have any interest in purchasing the old furniture. The board authorized staff to dispose of used OBA furniture. Executive Director Williams reported the renovation contract is not finalized, and it would be his intent to provide a bonus provision to encourage prompt completion.

OUT-OF-STATE STAFF TRAVEL

Executive Director Williams reviewed policy on travel and said General Counsel Murdock is interested in traveling to a lawyer assistance conference in Halifax that may offer information that would benefit the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee. The board approved funding to allow General Council Murdock to attend the Halifax conference and to attend his usual National Organization of Bar Counsel meeting in San Francisco if he chooses to go to both. The board approved funding to send LHL Committee Chair Tom Riesen to the Halifax conference.

REVIEW OF THE 2006 AUDIT

As Audit Committee Chairperson, Governor Farris reviewed highlights of the audit that found no problems. He said the committee is charged with reviewing internal financial controls and will schedule more frequent meetings with bar management. The board voted to accept the report. Governor Farris reported the committee recommends changing audit partners and staying with the same firm. The board approved the committee's recommendation.

REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL DELEGATE TO THE ABA HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Executive Director Williams reported under the ABA structure that Oklahoma qualifies for another seat in the House of Delegates. A method to select the representative to fill a two-year term and funding would be needed. It was noted that executing the documents requesting the additional delegate does not require the OBA to fill the position. February 2008 would be the first meeting Oklahoma would be able to send another delegate. The board authorized documents to be filled requesting the additional delegate.

EXPENDITURES FOR VICE PRESIDENT TRAVEL

The board authorized expenditures for Vice President Dawson and his spouse to travel to the ABA Annual Meeting in San Francisco in August 2007. The expense will be within the vice president's budget.

BUDGET COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

The board appointed as Budget Committee members Luke Gaither, Henryetta; Brett Willis, Oklahoma City; Deborah Reheard, Eufaula; Jon K. Parsley, Guymon; Patrick O'Conner, Tulsa; Brian T. Hermanson, Ponca City; Donna Dirickson, Weatherford; Christopher L. Camp, Tulsa; and Kimberly Warren, Tecumseh. President-Elect Conger will serve as Budget Committee chairperson.

STATE BAR OF TEXAS MEETING REPORT

Governor Caudle shared highlights of the events at the meeting in San Antonio.

SOLO AND SMALL FIRM CONFERENCE

President Beam shared highlights of the successful conference at Tanglewood Resort that broke previous attendance records.

OBA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

President Beam encouraged all board members to attend the conference August 23 & 24, 2007, at the Sheraton Hotel in Oklahoma City. Fifty-five lawyers were selected to attend the conference designed to develop future bar leaders.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The board went into executive session to discuss the executive director's evaluation.

NEXT MEETING

The board will meet in Oklahoma City on Friday, August 24, 2007, at the Sheraton Hotel in Oklahoma City at 12:30 p.m. following the Leadership Conference luncheon.