The Oklahoma Bar Association Board of Governors met at the Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro, Texas on June 20, 2008.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

President Conger reported he attended the Garfield County Bar Association dinner and board meeting in Garfield County, Bench and Bar Committee meeting and Leadership Academy Task Force meeting. He gave welcoming remarks at the Sovereignty Symposium, conducted an admissions orientation for the Western District admittees, attended an admissions ceremony for the Western District, presented a certificate to Yonne McDaniel for 62 years of service as a lawyer and attended the luncheon and reception in her honor.

REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Vice President Mordy reported he attended the Louisiana State Bar Association convention at Sandestin Resort in Florida as a representative of the OBA. He ran in the three-mile marathon, placing first in the masters category.

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

President-Elect Parsley reported he attended the Board of Governors reception and dinner with the Garfield County bar, the May Board of Governors meeting, Texas County Bar Association meeting and a planning meeting of the Annual Meeting Task Force.

REPORT OF THE PAST PRESIDENT

Past President Beam reported he attended the board and social events in Enid, Custer County Bar meeting and Civil Procedure Committee meeting.

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Executive Director Williams reported that he attended the board social event with the Garfield County Bar Association, Hughes County Bar Association meeting, Leadership Academy meeting, Investment Committee meeting, Annual Meeting Task Force meeting, Lawyers Helping Lawyers meeting, annual Sheep Creek outing in Ada, Solo and Small Firm Conference, staff meeting on simplifying trust account reporting, monthly staff celebration and staff directors meeting. He met with the Corevault president and vice president regarding the OBA/vendor relationship. He also met with Lingo Construction Co., the architect and decorator regarding completing the east wing remodeling, and he met with members wanting to become more involved in bar activities. He reported that he appeared at a Supreme Court Conference on the MCLE change in Regulation 6, Para. 2 and simplification of trust account reporting, participated in a National Association of Bar Executives conference call to plan a program for ABA annual meeting and in a Legislative update CLE webinar.

BOARD MEMBER REPORTS

Governor Bates reported she attended the board dinner hosted by the Garfield County Bar Association and board meeting in Enid, Cleveland County Bar Association meeting, Oklahoma County Bar Association Awards Committee meeting and OBA Bench and Bar Committee meeting. She also attended a luncheon at the OCU Law School. Governor Brown reported he attended the Board of Governors meeting and dinner in Enid with the Garfield County Bar Association, Bench and Bar Committee meeting and the Annual Meeting Task Force planning meeting. Governor Christensen reported she attended the Board of Governors meeting and dinner hosted by the Garfield County Bar Association in Enid, Oklahoma County Bar Association meeting and Bench and Bar Committee meeting. Governor Dirickson reported she attended the dinner with the Garfield County Bar Association, May board meeting in Enid, Custer County Bar Association monthly meeting and worked on a presentation for CLE at the Solo & Small Firm Conference. Governor Farris reported he attended the reception and dinner hosted by the Garfield County Bar Association and the May board meeting in Enid, Tulsa County Bar Association Past Presidents luncheon, Tulsa County Bar Foundation tour of the Oklahoma Air National Guard Base in honor of veterans and service men and women and the Arkansas Bar Association Annual Meeting at Hot Springs as a representative of the OBA. Governor Hermanson reported he attended the Board of Governors meeting in Enid, reception and dinner with the Garfield County Bar Association, Bench and Bar Committee meeting and a Kay County Bar Association meeting. Governor Hixson reported he attended the May board meeting and dinner hosted by the Garfield County Bar Association, Professionalism Committee meeting and Canadian County Community Sentencing Council. Governor McCombs reported he attended the McCurtain County Bar Association luncheon and seminar. He also expressed a concern that the smaller county bar associations are not having regular meetings. He has talked to LSD Representative Janoe who is going to try and get meetings started in Pushmataha County. Governor Reheard reported she and Governor Stuart prepared our presentation for Solo and Small Firm Conference called "Problems, Pitfalls and Punting." She also thanked everyone for their cards of sympathy. Governor Souter reported he attended the OBA Uniform Laws Committee meeting, Work/Life Balance Committee meeting and OBA Investment Committee meeting. Governor Stockwell reported she attended the May board meeting in Enid, Lawyers Helping Lawyers Committee meeting and Cleveland County Bar Association CLE in Las Vegas. Governor Stuart reported he attended the board meeting in Enid, Awards Committee meeting in Oklahoma City, Board of Editors meeting in Oklahoma City, Pottawatomie County Bar Association meeting and worked on a CLE presentation with Governor Reheard for the Solo and Small Firm Conference.

REPORT OF THE YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

Governor Warren reported she attended the board dinner hosted by the Garfield County Bar Association and the board meeting in Enid, YLD Board of Directors meeting in Tulsa and the Pottawatomie County Bar Association meeting. She invited everyone to join the YLD on the moonlight cruise scheduled from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday night.

SUPREME COURT LIAISON REPORT

Justice Taylor reported that the new pilot credit card program would go online with five counties beginning in July and then will expand to the other 72 counties. The court has hired a new MIS director, Jerry Ward, formerly the MIS director with the DA’s Council, and there are plans to integrate all 77 counties into the statewide system.

He commended Executive Director Williams on the MCLE Regulation 6, Para. 2 proposed amendment presented to the court in conference.

He and Bob Burke have been working on a book for the OU School of Law Centennial next year. He has been interviewing the alumni, senior and retired professors and requested e-mails from anyone who has a story or anecdote to share regarding OU’s history or its professors. All gross proceeds from the book will go to OU law scholarships. Authors are volunteering their time.

LAW STUDENT DIVISION LIAISON REPORT

LSD representative Janoe reported he attended the Board of Governors meeting and dinner in Enid hosted by the Garfield County Bar Association, licensed legal intern swearing-in ceremony and had several discussions with various interested parties about the direction of the Law Student Division in the coming year.

GENERAL COUNSEL REPORT

General Counsel Murdock reported he attended a meeting with Executive Director Williams and others concerning dues statement and possible trust account reporting changes, monthly OBA staff celebration, OBA directors’ meeting, a luncheon celebrating the book release of the history of the OCU Law School written by Bob Burke and Von Creel. He participated in an ethics panel CLE at the Sovereignty Symposium and worked with Communications Director Manning to handle press inquiries and on camera TV interviews.

BAR CENTER RENOVATIONS

President Conger advised that the Bar Center renovations are for the most part going smoothly except for some difficulties with the heat and air temperatures in the OBF offices. He also noted that room numbers will be installed shortly, the remainder of the artwork is expected and new wallpaper for the board room has been selected and will be put up soon. Executive Director Williams mentioned that the two niches in the basement now contain a mural of the Talimena Drive in the Ouachita Mountains of Oklahoma and a map of the Indian Territory obtained with the help of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

RECEPTION FOR CHINESE GUESTS

President Conger announced that board members will receive an invitation soon to a reception and dinner hosting 12 members of the Tianjin Bar Association in Tianjin, the third largest city in China, along with 18 law students from the Nankai University School of Law in Tianjin. The students are here for a program at OCU to learn about American jurisprudence and the legal system.

APPROVAL OF SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF 2008 DUES

Executive Director Williams pointed out that the current list of proposed attorneys to be suspended for failure to pay dues has changed as bar members become compliant and would continue to change up until the time that the order is presented to the court. The board voted to submit the proposed suspension list to the court.

APPROVAL OF SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH 2007 MCLE REQUIREMENTS

Executive Director Williams pointed out that the current list of proposed attorneys to be suspended for failure to comply with MCLE has also changed and would continue to change up until the time that the order is presented to the court. In response to a question about the MCLE reporting, Executive Director Williams explained that the deadline to report MCLE is Feb. 15, followed by a penalty phase which is the mailing of the orders to show cause giving members an additional 60 days from the date of the order. The board voted to submit the proposed list to the court.

AMENDMENT OF MCLE REGULATION 6, PARA. 2

The board approved the proposed amendment to MCLE Regulation 6, Para. 2 increasing from three to six hours of CLE credit each year that can be obtained for computer-based or other technology-based programs.

BUDGET COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

President Conger read the list of Budget Committee appointments proposed by President-Elect Parsley. President-Elect Parsley advised the board that Governor Farris’ name is being withdrawn. The board approved the appointment of Jim Stuart, Shawnee; Peggy Stockwell, Norman; Stephen Beam, Weatherford, Melissa DeLacerda, Stillwater; Keri Williams Foster, Stillwater; Mike Mordy, Ardmore; Richard L. Rose, Oklahoma City; Allen Smallwood, Tulsa; Luke Gaither, Henryetta; William Brett Willis, Oklahoma City, and Molly Bircher, Tulsa. All terms shall expire July 31, 2009.

LAWYERS HELPING LAWYERS

Executive Director Williams introduced Wenona Barnes, from LifeFocus Counseling Services, which staffs the Lawyers Helping Lawyers Hotline. She reported that LifeFocus is a confidential service for counseling on any issue and is available free to OBA members. She reported that the number of attorneys using the service is up, and the majority using the service are for issues other than drugs or alcohol. It was noted by Governor Reheard that the response time of LifeFocus is excellent.

LAWYERS HELPING LAWYERS NAME CHANGE

President Conger advised that the LHL Committee proposes to change its name to Lawyers Assistance Program. President-Elect Parsley, Past President Beam and Governor Bates stated their concern that the proposed name sounds too much like MAP, creating some confusion and the reputation of the committee under the new name would have to be rebuilt. The board voted to table the item.

ANNUAL MEETING

President Conger reported that the planning of the Annual Meeting is on track and that Jeffrey Toobin, author of “The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court” has been invited to speak. The task force is in the process of putting together the plenary session, and he has asked Judge Gary Lumpkin if he can get the Marine Corp color guard.

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

President Conger reports that there have been approximately 60 applications for the Leadership Academy, and he is reading every one. He is very enthusiastic about the curriculum, and the task force is almost finished with it. He will choose 25 lawyers to be in the Leadership Academy and was very surprised to find that some veteran bar members also applied to attend the academy.

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

Governor Souter reported that the committee had recently met and that Smith Barney representative Paula Carrigan brought additional documentation to the meeting. After reviewing the Clients’ Security Fund investments, the committee agrees that they need to change the investment policy to add mutual fund(s) to the portfolio allowing them to invest in different segments of the market. While there would be additional costs, the return would be far greater. They discussed the operating account which has performed 5 percent better than the funds. Changes will be recommended as needed.
Governor Souter also reported committee members feel that new appointments need to be made, and Governor Souter will get with President Conger regarding making new appointments.

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