April 2010 Newsletter 201o Volume 16 Issue 2

July 2010 Newsletter 2010 Volume 16 Issue 3

September 2010 Special Edition Newsletter 2010 Volume 16 Issue 4

September 27 – Daryl Shetterly, Esq., of LeClair Ryan will be speaking on E-Discovery.

October 25 – speaker TBA; topic: Social Media

November 15 – Tom Spahn, Esq., of McGuireWoods will be speaking on Ethics for Law Office Support Professionals

Please visit their website at www.rlsa.org

When: October 13-16, 2010

Where: Wingate by Wyndam Hotel, Fredericksburg, Virginia – Members this is in driving distance from Richmond.  A short 45 minutes on I-95.  No overnight stay is required if you are watching your budget.

Registration Costs: $75 one day, $125 two days, $175 three days – You will be hard pressed to obtain a better bang for your buck

Please click on the link for the brochure and registration form Brochure/Registration Form

Where:  McGuire Woods, LLP, Frances Hayes Room, One James Center, 901 E Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia

Speaker: Amy Turner, J.D., Adjunct Professor, University of Richmond – Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Henrico County

Topic: Citators: Why Can’t They Just Stamp a Red “Overruled” on the Cases in the Reporter

Sponsor: Forensic Forgery Detection, Anne Smith – Forensic Document Examiner (434) 917-1367

Please RSVP to Dana.Bruce@suntrust.com by August 20, 2010

When:  August 14, 2010 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Where: Kingsmill Resort Beach, Williamsburg, Virginia

Families, children and friends are invited to attend this networking event.  A light lunch and beverages will be provided.  Come enjoy RPA outside of the Richmond metro area and get started on that back-to-school shopping Saturday afternoon at the outlets or enjoy Busch Gardens during your visit Williamsburg.

Please RSVP to myager@spottsfain.com by August 13th.

     The third day of NALA’s 35th Annual Convention in Jacksonville, FL, began Friday, July 16, with the opening of the Affiliated Associations Exhibits and closed with a reception and installation of new officers announced at the afternoon annual meeting.
    The onsite computer polls that opened Thursday morning, closed 30 minutes after the end of morning educational sessions Friday, and results were announced at the 35th Annual Meeting Friday afternoon.
    In the contested offices, Kelly A. LaGrave, ACP, was elected Second Vice President, and Jill I. Francisco, ACP was elected Treasurer. Other new officers are Ann L. Atkinson, ACP, First Vice President; and Cassandra Oliver, ACP, Secretary.
    Region Directors elected for the next year are: Janet L. Holmgren, CP, Region I; Julie D. Hunt, CP, Region V; Melissa Hamilton, ACP, Region VI; Karin M. Scheehle, ACP, Region VII; and Joan Wiley, ACP, Region IX.
    Approved amendments to the NALA Bylaws Article III included a new definition for “Quorum,” and a new dues refund policy for membership resignations.
    Mr. Bob Ross, Chief Development Director, representing the Greater Jacksonville Area USO made a moving address accepting donations of money and items for service men. He stated his USO is working with 4 MASH units in Afganistan who will greatly appreciate the NALA contributions.
    The annual awards presentations were headlined by the Founders Award, NALA’s highest honor, which went to Patricia G. Elliott, ACP, in recognition of a career-long record of service to the paralegal profession. Pat was NALA President from 2000 to 2002 and has served in numerous leadership roles for the association.
    The 2010 Affiliated Associations Outstanding Contribution Award for exceptional achievement in leadership and service to his local affiliated association was made to Lee A. Paige, CLA, of the Los Angeles Paralegal Association.
    There was also a “Special Award” from President Linda J. Wolf, ACP, made to the Arkansas Paralegal Alliance, Inc., for their extraordinary help and compassion shown for an out-of-state paralegal who travelled to Little Rock for life-saving surgery in 2008. The award was in the form of a presidential letter and a cash contribution in APA’s name to the Greater Jacksonville Area USO.
     Karen Greer McGee, ACP, elected NALA President by the Board of Directors last March, officially took office along with the rest of the new officers and directors at the installation ceremonies Friday evening. The new Board of Directors will have their first meeting of 2010 before the beginning of the educational programs on Saturday, July 17.
    The convention educational program of institutes in “Bankruptcy,” “Elder Law,” and “Veterans Law,” and the tracks in “Corporate Law,” “Litigation,” and “Hot Topics” drew to a close Friday morning. The final session of “Essential Skills” will be Saturday morning, along with the prestigious Member Exchange presentations.
    Adjournment of the 2010 convention came at the conclusion of the closing presentation on “Ethics” by Petra H. Mandigo Hulm, an Associate at the firm of Crowley Fleck PLLP, in Bismarck, ND. 

NALA Headquarters

Where: SunTrust Executive Dining Room, 24th Floor, 919 E Main Street, Richmond, VA

Speaker: Jennifer Whitlock, The HelpDesk Company, Inc.

Topic: Law Office Technology – Members will be receiving an email from The HelpDesk Company in a survey format regarding topics of interest on technology.  Please reply to the survey to make sure this meeting is tailored to your needs.

Dessert Sponsor: The Help Desk Company, Inc.

Menu: -Southern fried chicken breast over baby spinach tossed in a warm bacon and honey mustard dressing -Grilled romaine hearts, roasted tomatoes, shaved fennel and goat’s cheese with green goddess dressing -Fajita salad with roasted corn, pico de gallo, black beans, grilled marinated steak and chipotle ranch -tuna nicoise.

Cost $20.00

Please RSVP to dana.bruce@suntrust.com by July 23, 2010.

Where: SunTrust Executive Dining Room

RPA will hold its Annual Meeting and Election of Officers and Directors at this meeting.

Don’t miss a special presentation by  Smokie Sizemore, CPCC!  Smokie is an experienced business and life coach.  She helps professionals ignite their self-esteem, confidence and power, and Smokie will provide RPA members with a 15 minute presentation  ”ALL STRESSED OUT AND NO ONE TO CHOKE!”  before the buisness meeting.  This is a fun participatory talk with tips that can be used right way if you can’t find someone to choke.

Stress is lived and talked about as a sacred condition, worn proudly like a mantle.  It causes more havoc in the work place, home and your health than can be measured.  When you know what happens in your body, why you don’t think well under stress, and how to slow knee-jerk reactions, you have the power to control yourself, create less stress, have a better work and home environment and enjoy a more fulfilling life.   

Smokie understands business from her personal experience starting and building an international flag business.  Burned out after 12 years, she worked with a coach to sell the business and begin life anew with less stress.   Smokie founded the Smart Woman’s Club www.smartwomansclub.com to help professional women ignite their career and lives.

Please RSVP to dana.bruce@suntrust.com by November 5, 2010

Where: McGuire Woods, LLP, Francis Hayes Conference Room, One James Center, 901 E Cary Street, Richmond, Virginia

Speaker: Richmond Gang Reduction and Intervention Progam

Topic: GANGS

Sponsor:  Paragon Commercial Bank

Please RSVP to dana.bruce@sunstrust.com by October 22, 2010

Where: SunTrust Executive Dining Room, 24th Floor, 919 E Main Street, Richmond, Virginia

Speaker: Debra M. Schneider, Professor, University of Richmond

Topic: Legal Writing more details to come

Sponsor: CT Corporation, Barker Harrison

Menu: TBA