OBA E-News
October 26, 2009

OBA Annual Meeting Next Week
There’s still time to register for the bar convention in downtown Oklahoma City, Nov. 4-6 at the Sheraton Hotel. Luncheon tickets are going fast to hear luncheon keynote speaker Gene Kranz. Yes, bar members attending the luncheon only must register for the meeting. Remember, multi-track CLE with lots of options combined with the fun social events make it worth the time out of the office.

The Thursday morning Plenary Session will focus on our 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln. This year marks the 200th anniversary on his birth. Registering online is easy. Details on all the events, resolutions, board candidates, free mental health CLE and award winners are just a click away - at the OBA’s special Annual Meeting Web site.

Wondering about Your 2009 CLE Credit?
Last week, you should have received an e-mailed Interim MCLE Report. If you are not exempt, you have until Dec. 31, 2009, to earn any remaining credit you need for 2009.

Members can also make corrections or additions to their MCLE record for seminars attended from Jan. 1, 2009 to Sept. 15, 2009. Send something in writing to the MCLE Department that verifies your hours of attendance for Oklahoma-approved seminars. If your seminar has not yet been approved by the MCLE Department, applications for accreditation can be obtained at the MCLE portion of okbar.org.

If we can help you, e-mail the MCLE Department at mcle@okbar.org or call (405) 416-7009, (800) 522-8065. The large volume of questions we receive at this time of year could result in some delays. We will do our best to answer everyone as quickly as possible.

Free Mental Health CLE Seminar
“Courage to Change: Lawyers Helping Lawyers” is the name of the program offered Thursday, Nov. 5, from 3 – 4:15 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel in Oklahoma City. Although it’s an Annual Meeting event, registration is not required for the seminar that is 1 ½ hours of free CLE including ½ hour of ethics. Click this link for program details.

Still Need to Book Your Room for the Convention?
Administration Director Craig Combs may have a limited number of rooms at the Sheraton available at the OBA’s discounted convention rate of $97/night. Contact him ASAP at craigc@okbar.org or (405) 416-7040; (800) 522-8065.

The OBA Needs You – To Serve on a Committee
Committees and the work they do are vital to the association. Your volunteer service is needed for 2010. Learn more about the committees, see their aims/objectives and read their reports by going to the committees page online.

To sign up online for 2010 committees, go to myOKBar committees..

OBA/CLE Presents:
Client Development Strategies to Weather a Stormy Economy - Find New Clients Professionally and Ethically (a.m. program)

-and-

Legal Career Make Over: How to Refresh and Refocus Your Future (p.m. program)
Oct. 29 – Oklahoma Bar Center, Oklahoma City
The morning program will give you practical tips and ethical guidance in finding new clients.  The afternoon program will inspire and guide you in a legal career makeover.  Featured speaker Roy Ginsburg is an experienced attorney coach who speaks nationally on best practices and ethics of business development and client service.

A.M. program – 3 hours of MCLE /3 hours ethics
P.M. program – 3 hours of MCLE/0 hours ethics

Follow this link for program details and to register for all day, half day or webcast.

New Location Announced for 2010 Solo & Small Firm Conference
The Downstream Resort & Casino in Quapaw in northeastern Oklahoma will be the location of the OBA 2010 Solo & Small Firm Conference on June 24-26, 2010. “We are very excited to bring our members to this new resort location in Oklahoma with its sparkling new facilities,” said Jim Calloway, OBA Management Assistant Program director. The conference content focuses on legal education of special interest to solo and small firm lawyers, including general practice topics, lawyer’s quality of life, law office management and technology suited to smaller firms. The resort’s Web site is www.downstreamcasino.com, and it is owned by the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma.

OBA Employees Honored with Awards
OBA Communications Director Carol Manning was presented the National Association of Bar Executives E.A. “Wally” Richter Leadership Award at the NABE Communications Section workshop Oct. 23 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Richter Award is the section’s highest honor and is presented annually for outstanding achievement in the field of communications, extraordinary service to colleagues in NABE and distinguished leadership of the Communications Section. Additionally, OBA Law-related Education Coordinator Jane McConnell was awarded the 2009 OCSS Service Award at the Oklahoma Council for Social Studies Annual Conference held Oct. 1. The award acknowledges her commitment to the advancement of civics education. OBA Law-related Education programs were exhibited at the conference, showcasing the wealth of free civic education resources available to educators.

Law Practice Tip: Read Out Loud
Adobe Acrobat Standard or Professional will read PDF files to you! This feature is called Read Out Loud and it is easy to use. Using the feature is a two-step process. First the feature is activated; next you command it to read.

To use the feature open a PDF:
1.     Click on View > Activate Read Out Loud.
2.     Click on View > Read Out Loud > Read This Page Only or Read To End of Document. 

The Read feature will remain activated until you close Acrobat. If you have voices installed (SAPI 4 or SAPI 5) you can choose your voice. If not, the voice will be the rather mundane Microsoft voice.

The following keystrokes will also control the Read Out Loud feature.

This Adobe link provides additional information and instructions to change the default settings for Read Out Loud. The voice is not stimulating, and the listening comprehension process requires some extra level of concentration. Even so, listening to a PDF document while driving is far superior to trying to read one!

Know a Creative Kid? Enter Them in the OBA Law Day Contest
Oklahoma students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to enter the OBA’s Law Day art and writing contests with the opportunity of winning cash prizes up to $500. The YouTube video contest is back again this year too. The theme for this year’s contest is “Our History: Milestones in the Law,” and the contest deadline is Dec. 18. Get the details here.

Need a Flu Shot or Health Checkup?
Get your flu shot and have your cholesterol and blood pressure checked during the OBA Annual Meeting. Diabetes and stroke screenings will also be provided. Beale Professional Services and Aetna are sponsoring a Health Fair Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel in Oklahoma City.  

Flu shots will be given on Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 1 – 3 p.m. Shots are available at NO COST to members when they show their Aetna ID card. For those not covered by Aetna, the vaccination will cost $30. Please note that H1N1 immunizations will NOT be available.   

The cholesterol and blood pressure checks will be provided by volunteers from the Health Alliance for the Uninsured. The Health Alliance for the Uninsured's mission is to provide a medical home for the uninsured and works with free or charitable health clinics to improve access to health care through collaboration and coordination of resources.   

If you have any questions, please call Beale Professional Services at (405) 521-1600 or (800) 530-4863 or e-mail beale@bealepro.com.

For Estate Planners – The Big Bang!
Presented by OBA/CLE; the OBA Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Section; and The Trust Company of Oklahoma

Nov. 12, Oklahoma Bar Center, Oklahoma City
6 hours of MLCE, including 1 hour of ethics
This program has also been approved for Texas credit: 4.5 hours of MCLE, including 1 hour of ethics.

Featuring national experts Roy M. Adams and Charles A. Redd:  Mr. Adams conducts an extensive national and international practice in the areas of estate and tax planning and administration. He lectures nationally and internationally and is a greatly sought-after speaker. Mr. Redd concentrates his practice in estate planning, estate and trust administration, and estate and trust-related litigation. He has worked on estate and estate planning projects each involving assets valued at several hundred million dollars.

Follow this link for program details and to register.

Calendar of Events
The Oklahoma Bar Center will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11 for Veterans Day. For meetings and other events, visit www.okbar.org/news/calendar.htm.