In Memory
2008 began on a sad note for our Section in mid December an ice storm crippled Tulsa and the city was without electricity for about four days. During this time, one of our most cherished members, Sharon Corbitt, and her husband, Jim Lang, were both killed in a house fire. Sharon’s contributions to our Section and on the national level, to the ABA Family Law Section are enormous. Her professional achievements and her zealousness for life inspired all who had the good fortune of knowing her. A dear friend and an incredible lawyer she will be sorely missed. The FLS donated $1,000 to the scholarship fund created in her memory.
CLE’S
The FLS continues to provide cutting edge continuing legal education for our members with a minimum of 12 free hours offered throughout the year at the monthly meetings and annual meeting. Additionally, we continue to co-sponsor CLE’s with the OBA and DHS in an attempt to educate as many members of the bar as possible.
| January |
Prof. Spector -the “Hidden Law Revisited” for our monthly CLE. |
| February |
Rees Evans -“Support Alimony Overview” for the monthly CLE. |
| March |
Laurie Phillips “Family Law Immigration Issues” for monthly CLE. |
| April |
Julie Rivers- “Custody Plans: Review and Revolution” for monthly CLE. |
| May |
Hap Fry “Cross Examination on Drug/Alcohol Testing and Experts” monthly CLE. |
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ABA Mid-Year Conference in Chicago “Reconceptualizing Child Custody” (4/30-5/3) |
| June |
Solo and Small Firm at Tanglewood, TX |
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Amy Wilson-“Child Support Guideline Changes and DHS” monthly CLE |
| July |
David and Eileen Echols and Associates presented “Relative Involvement & Intervention in DHS Placement in Juvenile Court” for monthly CLE. |
| August |
the Section co-sponsored “Child Support Enforcement for Private Attorneys” with DHS. |
| September |
annual co-sponsored CLE with the OBA titled “Building Blocks/Basics CLE”. |
| October |
Amy Wilson “Uniform Parentage Act Update” for monthly CLE. |
| November |
Annual Meeting - co-sponsor with the OBA the “Family Law Track” on Wednesday; Thursday - national speaker Lisa Bloch from New York City present on Domestic Violence; our own Prof. Robert Spector and his wife Carolyn, will present the Hidden Law and the Unpublished Law. |
| December |
12/12 and 12/19 we will present our “Last Chance” CLE for all those folks who need some hours before years end it will be the usual potpourri of family law topics with an emphasis on hearsay. |
Social. FLS continues to provide social hours after the monthly meetings for people to mingle, mentor and share war stories. In addition to this we had a CLE Brainstorming Dinner at the Polo Grill in Tulsa in February this yielded fresh ideas on new topics to develop for CLE presentations and for the practice manual. The Practice Manual Committee had a work session the next day to work on our two-year update for the PM. In June, at Solo & Small Firm, the FLS hospitality suite rocked thanks to Deborah Fortune and her crew we have found the consummate entertainer in our midst! Attendance was high and a relaxing time was had by all and it was great to spend time with members of other sections. In September, following the monthly meeting, the annual leadership retreat at Jon Ford’s plantation in Enid was held. Attendance was great and Amy Wilson did an outstanding job! We anticipate a phenomenal hospitality suite for the Annual Meeting in November and will have a social holiday event in conjunction with the Last Chance Seminar in December.
Technology. FLS continues to work on traveling down the technology highway as it relates to the newsletter, Web site and communication between the members. The OBA has made it evident that they are there to assist us in the process and to that end, a meeting was attended in September by several FLS members with Jim Calloway and staff at the OBA center regarding Web site development; and in October Jon Ford, Phil Tucker and Keith Jones also met with Executive Director John Williams on technology issues relating to the Practice Manual and how the OBA can help the FLS with this transition and journey.
Practice Manual. The PM continues to be one of the pillars of the FLS. Sales continue to increase with the milestone reached this year of sales topping the agreed upon minimum amount needed to commence with the development of the Trial Advocacy Institute. 2008 is an update year for the PM and the editors and committee members have worked diligently all year on getting this done for the November deadline.
Membership. In April our membership chairman sent out the annual letter to recoup former members who forgot to re-up their membership in the section. Membership has remained constant for the past two years at approximately 1,200 members. Many new faces have been presenting at our CLE’s and are active on the executive board which was one of this chair’s main goals for this year getting new people involved strengthens us all.
Goals for 2009
- Better communication between the board and the members on meetings and CLE’s
- Converting of the FLS Journal into a monthly, online newsletter
- Development of the OBA-FLS Web site
- Create a resource through volunteer and low cost private attorneys so that children in all family law cases will be represented by a guardian ad litem (“GAL”)
- Adoption Task Force creation and development
- Advanced GAL Training
- Practice Manual converting to on-line resource
- Trial Advocacy Institute creation and development
- Fostering of involvement and participation at the national, ABA level,
The FLS board remains committed to its role of leadership and mentoring within the section. The FLS board looks to create a long-term strategy, as more new members join and new leadership evolves.
Lynn S. Worley
Chairperson
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