The Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors met at the General Thomas P. Stafford Museum in Weatherford on Friday, Oct. 19, 2007.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

President Beam reported he attended the September board meeting and social activities in Eufaula, two Custer County Bar Association meetings, Clients’ Security Fund meeting, Women in Law Conference, Boiling Springs Institute, Southern Conference of Bar Presidents meeting in Little Rock, Ark. and new admittees reception. He planned the October board meeting in Weatherford. He spoke at the new admittees swearing-in ceremonies and at the New Lawyer Experience seminars in Tulsa and in Oklahoma City.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

President-Elect Conger reported he chaired the Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting and two Budget Committee meetings. He attended the Southern Conference of Bar Presidents in Little Rock and spoke on a panel at the Women in Law Conference.

REPORT OF THE PAST PRESIDENT

Past President Grimm reported he attended the OBA Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting, Tulsa Title and Probate Lawyers Association meeting and Southern Conference of Bar Presidents in Little Rock.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Williams reported he attended meetings of the Family Law Section, Bar Center Facilities Committee to finalize contract bids, MCLE Commission, Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee, Budget Committee and Leadership Conference Task Force. He also attended the budget hearing, new admission ceremonies, swearing in of Judge Timothy DeGiusti, Southern Conference of Bar Presidents in Arkansas, staff computer training and the monthly staff celebration. He was involved in meetings with DHS Aging Services, LifeFocus Counseling to discuss Lawyers Helping Lawyers services, OBF officers regarding a new server for document scanning, IS Director Loomis regarding technology for the new Board of Governors meeting room, staff regarding the Communications Task Force report, an employee policy group, LSD Chair Pappy and LSD officer Jodi Cole regarding Annual Meeting planning. He also reported he met with a representative of the Hanoi Bar Association who was in Oklahoma City on a trade mission. He said at some point there may be a presentation and a request to formalize some type of relationship with the association.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

Governor Caudle reported he attended the September board social events and meeting in Eufaula, Clients’ Security Fund Committee meeting, Professionalism Committee meeting and Comanche County Bar Association monthly meeting. He coordinated the State Legal Referral Service Task Force presentation and recommendations. Governor Christensen reported she attended the September board social with the McIntosh County Bar Association, board meeting in Eufaula, Bar Center Facilities Committee meeting, OBA Bench and Bar Committee meeting, Oklahoma County Bar Association meeting, OBA Women in Law Conference and YLD new lawyer reception at Mickey Mantle’s in Bricktown. She taped a segment for the weekly TV show “The Verdict” in which she discussed the Women in Law Conference and appeared before the Oklahoma Judicial Conference Executive Committee with Jack Brown and David Swank to discuss the proposed Model Code of Judicial Conduct. Governor Dirickson reported she attended the September board social event with the McIntosh County Bar Association, September board meeting in Eufaula, Budget Committee meetings at the Oklahoma Bar Center, Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee meeting and the Custer County Bar Association monthly meeting. Governor Farris reported he attended the September board dinner with McIntosh County Bar Association members, September board meeting in Eufaula, Tulsa County Bar Association Community Outreach Committee meeting and TCBA “Lunch Buddy” orientation. Governor Hermanson reported he attended the board dinner with McIntosh County Bar Association members, the board meeting in Eufaula, two Budget Committee meetings in Oklahoma City and ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division’s fall meeting in Philadelphia. At the ABA meeting he reported Management Assistance Program Director Calloway was presented with the section’s Star of the Quarter award for co-chairing the second annual Solo and Small Firm Conference. Governor Hermanson finalized the report and the plans for the OBA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section’s Annual Meeting activities and wrote an article for Law Trends for the ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division. Governor Hogan reported he attended the evening events in McIntosh County as well as the September board meeting and luncheon, in addition to a Pittsburg County Bar Association meeting. He assisted with planning a CLE for the November bar meeting in Pittsburg County. Governor Kennemer reported he attended the September board social event and dinner in Eufaula, Seminole/Hughes counties bar luncheon and the task force meeting to create a Uniform Residential Sales Contract in OKC/OREC. Governor Stockwell reported she attended the September board dinner and meeting, Cleveland County Bar Association luncheon and the CCBA Executive Committee meeting.

REPORT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

Governor Camp reported the Wills for Heroes program is hosting a training session at the bar center in Oklahoma City today and in Tulsa tomorrow. The next will-signing ceremony will be at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge in downtown Oklahoma City, with an estimated 60 B 75 police officers attending to have their estate planning documents prepared by the YLD Wills for Heroes team. He said YLD leaders attended the national Wills for Heroes meeting in Charlotte, NC. He also reported that Wills for Heroes has been selected as the national ABA project. He attended two OBA Budget Committee meetings, September board meeting in Eufaula, September OBA/Young Lawyers Division Board of Directors meeting, OBA/YLD Seniors Committee planning meeting, OBA Leadership Conference Task Force post-conference meeting and Wills for Heroes planning teleconference. He met with OBA/YLD Children and the Law Committee Chairperson Carol King, spoke at each of the three admission ceremonies for new attorneys at the Capitol and hosted a reception and happy hour for newly admitted attorneys at Kampai Lounge in Tulsa. In addition, Governor Camp wrote all 296 lawyers sworn in on Sept. 27 and invited them to become involved in the OBA and YLD, telephoned the 76 newly admitted lawyers from the Tulsa area and coordinated the calling of the remaining 220 new admittees from the Oklahoma City area and out-of-state.

REPORT OF THE SUPREME COURT LIAISON

Justice Taylor reported Gov. Brad Henry appointed Judge John Reif to the Supreme Court District 1 position previously held by Justice Lavender. He thanked President Beam and his wife, Elizabeth, for their hospitality in hosting the board for breakfast in their home.

LAW STUDENT DIVISION LIAISON

LSD Chair Pappy reported she attended the September board meeting and social event in Eufaula, Women in Law Conference and YLD new lawyer reception at Mickey Mantle’s in Bricktown. She held a division executive board meeting, and met with Executive Director Williams, Administration Director Combs and LSD Annual Meeting Coordinator Jodi Cole to coordinate the division’s itinerary for the 2007 Annual Meeting. She worked with Administration Director Combs and Jodi Cole to organize a luncheon for division members at the Petroleum Club, confirmed five speakers for LSD roundtable sessions, facilitated communication and work product between the YLD and the law students for participation in the elder care law handbook, worked at the LSD membership drive table for two weeks, coordinated and publicized an LSD informational meeting with Professor Bill Conger as the guest speaker, and created several fliers and advertisements for the OBA Annual Meeting.

COMMITTEE LIAISON REPORTS

Governor Dirickson reported the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee is becoming more active. They want to recruit bar members who would serve as sponsors with the goal to have sponsors across the state. The committee will offer a program at Annual Meeting that will feature a powerful video from Texas and a speaker from Dallas.

REPORT OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

General Counsel Murdock shared a status report of the Professional Responsibility Commission and OBA disciplinary matters. He reported he attended a luncheon at Rogers State University in Claremore at which former OBA President Tony Massad received the 2007 Constitution Day Award. He also attended the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs conference and monthly staff celebration. He was a presenter at the New Lawyer Experience CLE seminar in Tulsa.

BAR CENTER RENOVATIONS

President ‑Elect Bill Conger reported a meeting was held with builder Stan Lingo to negotiate the proposed construction contracts. Executive Director Williams reported Nov. 1, 2007, is the deadline for abatement to be completed, and progress is on track to meet that deadline. The board approved both contracts.

COMMUNICATIONS TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS

Task Force Chairperson Melissa DeLacerda reviewed the background of the task force recommendation to cease publication of tribal materials, mandates and assignments in the Oklahoma Bar Journal. The board voted to cease publication of the mandates effective immediately. The board voted to cease publication of assignments effective immediately. The board rejected the recommendation to cease publishing tribal opinions. Ms. DeLacerda reported the task force noted from the recent bar member survey that a majority of members want to continue receiving printed court materials and therefore the task force recommends the publication be improved by indexing the court cases, organizing them by subject material and creating highly abbreviated summaries. Placing the index on the front cover was also suggested. Discussion followed, and staff was asked to submit a report with more details for the December meeting. The board tabled action. Ms. DeLacerda stated the monthly electronic newsletter called E-News was created but no policies and no set publication schedule exists. Because a copy of the proposed policy and publication schedule was not included in the board packet, the board decided to consider action on this recommendation at the November meeting.

STATE LEGAL REFERRAL SERVICE TASK FORCE REPORT

In his role as task force chairperson, Governor Caudle reviewed the task force’s mission to study the feasibility of a statewide referral service and the research conducted. He said the ABA recommended a business of public policy. Board members were asked to review the report. Task force member Faith Orlowski from Tulsa explained the financial aspect of the Tulsa County Bar Association operating the program on behalf of the OBA. TCBA Executive Director Sandra Cousins explained the referral process that currently exists at the county bar. The board tabled action until the November meeting.

PROPOSED 2008 OBA BUDGET

President Elect ‑Conger reviewed several significant changes from last year. Administration Director Combs added details. The board went into executive session. The board approved the proposed budget.

CIVIL PROCEDURE RESOLUTION

The board recommended the civil procedure resolution submitted by Oklahoma City attorney Ray Vaughn not be approved when it is considered by the House of Delegates.

RESOLUTION FROM TAX SECTION

President-Elect Conger reported Rick Kells with his law firm has coauthored a proposed resolution recommending the creation of an independent tax tribunal and that he was not able to attend this meeting. Ashley Williams, Taxation Law Section treasurer and Oklahoma Tax Commission attorney, said she will represent an opposing view when the resolution is considered by the House of Delegates. She reviewed how the commission operates and why it will oppose the resolution. The board voted to recommend the resolution not be approved.

PROPOSED LAW FIRM MERCHANT PROGRAM

MAP Director Jim Calloway, representing the Member Services Committee, reviewed the proposal recommended by the committee to enter into an agreement with Affiniscape Merchant Solutions to offer OBA members a credit card service that members can use in their private practice. Affiniscape Merchant Solutions CEO Amy Baker shared more details about the service and explained the Oklahoma County Bar Association currently offers this program. She said there would be no conflict, and referral fees would be paid to both associations. The board approved entering into an agreement to offer the program to OBA members.

ELECTION OF FOURTH ABA DELEGATE

The board voted to designate the past president to serve as the fourth ABA delegate and approved funding expenses up to $5,000.

CLIENTS’ SECURITY FUND APPOINTMENT

The board voted to appoint Dwight Smith, Tulsa, to the Clients’ Security Fund.

CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION

The board voted to issue certificates of appreciation to the Custer County Bar Association, Elizabeth Beam and Deborah Reheard for their hospitality in hosting the OBA Board of Governors.

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