The Board of Governors of the Oklahoma Bar Association met at the OU College of Law in Norman on Friday, August 27, 2004.

Report of the President

President Woods reported he attended meetings of the Access to Justice Commission Task Force, Executive Director Evaluation Committee, Tenth Circuit Judicial Conference, Southern Conference of Bar Presidents, National Conference of Bar Presidents and ABA Annual Meeting including the House of Delegates as a member representing the Oklahoma Bar Association. He was interviewed by WKY radio concerning the procedure for judicial appointments, presented the Access to Justice Commission concept to the OBA Access to Justice Committee Criminal Law Subcommittee and went on the OBA Centennial Cruise, on which he presented a CLE program on the OBA’s history. President Woods also attended the LRE PACE reception, LRE meth seminar for attorneys, Tulsa University College of Law OBA Centennial event, OBA OCU law school centennial event and OBA OU law school centennial event. He appeared before the Oklahoma County Bar Association Board of Directors to discuss the proposed dues increase.

Report of President-Elect

President-Elect Evans reported he attended the Access to Justice Commission Task Force meeting in Oklahoma City, OBA executive director evaluation meeting, PACE XV reception at OCU, funeral for Judge Franklin D. Rahhal at Okemah, OBA cruise, LRE meth seminar, ABA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, OBA centennial events at the three law school and OBA Budget Committee meeting. He also asked each board member to consider if they would like the board to meet in their county for the upcoming year. He is planning the 2005 meeting schedule and would like to hear from anyone wanting to be part of that schedule.

Report of the Past President

Past President DeLacerda reported she attended the ABA convention in Atlanta and the Thurgood Marshall award dinner. She went on the OBA cruise and has been working on the centennial issue of the Oklahoma Bar Journal and the centennial gala. She gave a speech on the history of the OBA at the Tulsa University centennial event.

Report of the Vice President

Vice President Grimm reported he attended the Oklahoma Access to Justice Commission (OATJC) Task Force meeting, teleconference with Robert Echols, ABA-SPAN Access to Justice Support Project director, OBA executive director evaluation and annual review, an open meeting for Tulsa County Bar Association delegates and members to discuss the dues increase proposal and TCBA annual luncheon at which Governor Smallwood received the TCBA Neil E. Bogan Professionalism Award, and the OBA centennial event at the TU law school. He finalized the application and appendix of the proposed OATJC for consideration by the Board of Governors and Oklahoma Bar Foundation and met with OBF President Bill LaSorsa to discuss the foundation’s role and participation with OATJC.

Report of Executive Director

Executive Director Williams reported he attended the PACE Sunday dinner, Monday welcome and PACE evening reception, staff budget meetings, OBA Centennial Cruise, ABA NABE/NCBP meetings in Atlanta, department review with the Strategic Planning Subcommittee, Tulsa County Bar Association annual luncheon, University of Tulsa centennial event, Oklahoma City University first year class reception, Oklahoma City University centennial event, University of Oklahoma centennial event, CLE in Duncan, meeting with Budget Committee chairperson, staff meeting, committee meeting to work on court rule regarding out-of-state attorneys, planning meeting for Annual Meeting, Access to Justice Commission Task Force, Tulsa County Bar Association dues increase forum and staff meetings to work on out-of-state attorneys registration system. He also reported Public Information Director Carol Manning was absent because her husband had surgery and Information Services Director Rick Loomis’ father had passed away.

Reports of Board Members

Governor Arthurs reported he attended the OBA Law-related Education special seminar on the Oklahoma meth epidemic and the 100-year celebration at the OU College of Law. Governor Beam reported he went on the OBA centennial cruise at which he presented a CLE program, and he spoke about the centennial year at the TU College of Law centennial event. He also attended the ABA convention in Atlanta, YLD delegates dinner in Atlanta, Custer County Bar Association meeting and OU law school centennial event. Governor Bonds reported he attended the OBA centennial celebration at the OU law school. Governor Brown reported he had a wonderful time on the OBA cruise, where he gave a CLE program on the new tort reform legislation. Governor Conger reported he attended a week-long seminar at the Aspen Institute on Justice and Society, a meeting of the Oklahoma County Bar Association Work/Life Balance Committee and spent a substantial amount of time working on a pro bono white paper for submission with the access to justice pleadings. Governor Holmes reported he attended Oklahoma City Association of Black Lawyers luncheon meeting, Oklahoma City University Law School reception for incoming class of first year law students, Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct E2K Subcommittee meeting, retirement reception for U.S. District Judge Wayne E. Alley, Oklahoma County Bar Association Board of Directors meeting and OU law school centennial event. He has also worked on drafting and editing an article regarding Oklahoma African-American lawyers for the centennial publication and participated in the analysis and review of Oklahoma’s Out-of-State Attorney’s Act. Governor Osby reported he attended the ABA Annual Meeting in Atlanta serving in the House of Delegates and YLD Assembly, Executive Director Evaluation Committee meeting, OBA Law-related Education Special Seminar on Meth, YLD board meeting and High School Mock Trial Committee meeting. He also helped pass out bar exam survival kits in Oklahoma City on the first day of the bar exam and donated blood for Judge Woolery. Governor Parsley reported he attended the ABA annual meeting in Atlanta at which he served as a delegate to the YLD House of Delegates and has spoken to several attorneys about the dues increase issue. Governor Thomas reported she attended meetings of the Law Day Committee, Women In Law Committee and Washington County Bar Association. She was on the “Sea”tennial Cruise, where she presented a one-hour CLE program. She spoke with several attorneys and the Washington County Bar Association about the dues increase. She completed plans for the centennial events at the three law schools and attended all three events. She received numerous comments from the Tulsa University guests, who were extremely pleased with the event. President Woods commended Governor Thomas on a job well done.

Report of the General Counsel

General Counsel Murdock reported he attended two meetings of the Disciplinary Task Force, PACE Reception at OCU, funeral services for Jayne Montgomery Looney in Purcell, funeral services for the daughter of Oklahoma County District Judge Virgil C. “Chuck” Black, a director’s meeting at the OBA and the Centennial Reception at OCU. He presented CLE programs to the Sooner Association of Division Order Analysts in Tulsa, to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission at the bar center and to the Municipal Attorneys Association in Oklahoma City.

OBA Finances Commission Recommendation on Dues Increase

President-Elect Evans reported that each board member received a copy of bar member comments received regarding a proposed dues increase for their review. He noted that the Subcommittee on Members Categories met to discuss concerns from government-employed attorneys and asked that Subcommittee Chair Guy Clark give a report to the board. Mr. Clark reviewed the subcommittee’s research information and explained the points investigated. He said the subcommittee recommends that a separate dues classification for government lawyers or judges is not supported by the underlying evidence nor justified when all of the factors are considered.

The Board of Governors voted unanimously to adopt the Finances Commission report recommending a dues increase of $100 for active members and $50 for active members in practice less than three years and to send a resolution to the House of Delegates for consideration. It was noted that the House of Delegates action will be a recommendation to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Governor Holmes stated that some bar members thought Board of Governors members have already made up their minds about the dues increase, and he wanted to assure bar members that comments were given careful consideration. President Woods noted that board members were supplied with a complete set of correspondence from 92 members well in advance of the board meeting in order to allow sufficient time to review each comment. There were also public hearings in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa for members to attend. He stated it was important that active members be encouraged to run for the House of Delegate seats for good representation. Vice President Grimm reported that to summarize the 92 responses received, 38 were against the increase in general (41%); 19 asked for an inactive status for out-of-state attorneys (21%); 27 requested separate categories for government attorneys (29%) and 8 were in favor of the increase (9%). Joe Crosthwait, subcommittee chair for the Finances Commission, reported the subcommittee considered amounts lower than $100 for a dues increase. He said after reviewing projected revenue and expenses, the subcommittee found the OBA could be back in its current financial situation within three years if the increase was less than $100. President Woods thanked Mr. Clark, Mr. Crosthwait, President-Elect Evans and James Golden for their outstanding contributions.

Centennial Task Force Report

Governor Beam reported that 85 attorneys and their families attended the Centennial Cruise. He said the CLE events were very well attended and that feedback showed almost all attendees would be interested in going on a cruise to Alaska. CLE Director Douglas is researching that cruise for next summer. CLE Director Douglas and her staff were commended on doing an excellent job. Governor Beam also commended Governor Thomas on the excellent job she has done coordinating the law school events. Past President DeLacerda recapped the Sept. 17 events. She asked that any ideas for items to be inserted into the time capsule be sent to her. President Woods commended the Centennial Task Force for its work. Governor Beam complimented Past President DeLacerda on her efforts to recruit volunteers to write the chapters for the special centennial edition of the Oklahoma Bar Journal. No dues money is being spent on the publication, just the support of Oklahoma attorneys and other advertisers.

Law Student Division Resolution

Governor Conger introduced Ashley Bowen, OCU law student, to review a recommendation to implement a law student division within the OBA. Ms. Bowen stated that she has visited with representatives at each Oklahoma law school who have indicated an interest in the idea. The board voted to establish an OBA Law Student Division and to the take the necessary steps to implement the recommendation. President Woods will create a Law Student Division Task Force with Governor Conger as the board liaison. Ms. Bowen and the deans from the law schools will also be appointed as members.

Application to Create an Oklahoma Access to Justice Commission

Vice President Grimm reviewed the proposed application to amend the Rules Creating and Controlling the OBA to create the Oklahoma Access to Justice Commission and reviewed other supporting materials. Executive Director Williams, Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma Inc. Director Gary Taylor and OIDS Non Capital Trial Division Chief James Drummond were thanked for their contributions. Vice President Grimm said the Oklahoma Bar Foundation will meet Sept. 3, 2004 to review the same materials. The board approved the application and appendices and to grant the executive director authority to submit the recommendation to the Supreme Court.

Solo and Small Firm Conference

Management Assistance Program Director Calloway reported that because an additional amount of space was available to accommodate extra vendors, the conference will make a profit this year. A motion to earmark the net funds for next year’s Solo and Small Firm Conference was tabled. President Woods commended Director Calloway on the good job he is doing.

Consent Items

The board approved the following items: Oklahoma Bar Foundation Trustees - Reappointment of Renee DeMoss, Tulsa; Hal William Ellis, Stillwater; Jerry L. McCombs, Idabel and Roger R. Scott, Tulsa to three-year terms expiring on Dec. 31, 2007.

Travel expenses for President-Elect Evans to attend the National Symposium on the American Jury System on Oct. 15-16, 2004.

Travel for Gail Strickland, National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board chairperson, to attend annual meeting in Delray Beach, Fla.

Report of ABA Annual Meeting

President Woods reviewed event highlights from the ABA Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Ga. including Southern Conference of Bar Presidents functions, the Thurgood Marshall award presentation to Fred Gray and House of Delegates meeting. He stated that Tulsa attorney Jim Sturdivant was elected to the ABA Board of Governors. President Woods will serve as the interim ABA Oklahoma delegate until the position is filled in the spring. He commended Governor Osby for planning the delegation dinner for the group in Atlanta.

CLE Department Review

CLE Director Douglas discussed the difference between mandatory continuing legal education and CLE. She reviewed Continuing Legal Education Department objectives, programs, budget, staff and membership benefits.

MCLE Department Review

Administrator Petry reviewed the MCLE staff, MCLE Commission and the new online reporting procedure that will eliminate submitting a report for many bar members.

President Woods commended both departments on the excellent job they do. Executive Director Williams also commended the dedication and excellent customer service that each of these departments have.

Resolutions of Appreciation

The board voted to send resolutions to the OU College of Law and Cleveland County Bar Association in appreciation for their hospitality.

Executive Session

The board voted to go into executive session to discuss the executive director’s annual evaluation and out-of-state attorney registration action. The board met in executive session and voted to come out of executive session.

Next Meeting

The board will meet 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 17, 2004, at the Oklahoma Bar Center in Oklahoma City.