It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - NALS Fiscal Year, that is!

Can you hear the song? The one we often hear in August when students are getting ready for school? It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

And it is - for NALS!

This is the time when the newly-elected officers are installed and take the reins of their chapters and state associations.

My sincere Congratulations to all of you! And I'm curious. I started a discussion on the NALS Forum (http://www.nalsnet.ning.com/) because I want to know what special events are connected to your chapter or state association's annual event. Inquiring minds want to know!

Since I am inspired by all of you, I thought I'd give you a thought or two during these momenteous occasions:

The Journey of Possibilities begins with a first step in any direction. All steps are part of the journey, regardless of where you stop along the way. Embrace the journey, stop and smell the sweet smell of successes (no matter the size or the impact), Keep It Simple, Sweetie, and have FUN. The "Possibilities" will make themselves known - just be open to them all.

Congratulations to all Chapters and State Associations as you begin your very own Journey of Possibilities.

Patti
Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS
NALS President
president@nals.org

And The 2010-11 Fiscal Year is Off and Running

Wow! It's hard to believe that I was in Tulsa this time last week. How quickly everything went by. And, of course, there was no time to quietly reflect before I had to jump right back into work. I'm sure many of the other attendees feel the same.

We made some important announcements in Tulsa. First of all, the Online Learning Center will now be available to members only. Members will need to log in to get into the OLC for education/professional development sessions, for the Online Study Group, and for national committee meetings. Follow the instructions on the Member Log in page.

Lots of terrific stuff is planned for NALS trip to Branson. Conference information is being posted to the web site and registration forms will be there soon. Don't miss out and don't wait to book your room. The room block is filling up fast.

[Drum roll, please] The 2011 Annual Educational Conference and National Forum will be held in [sound of cymbals crashing] Cincinnati, Ohio. Keep watching for more information.

The Life Membership option for national dues has been reopened at the bargain price of $1,500.

Don't forget to recruit five (5) new members in your membership category and NALS will waive your national dues. And be sure to Pay It Forward and give each of those five new members membership applications for them to recruit and get their dues waived too.

Send your suggestions and comments to thinktank@NALS.org. Be proactive and help steer the future of NALS.

Yes, it is thrilling being NALS President,but it's also a little scary and overwhelming too. I am proud and honored to serve you as your President. I am always available to members and I'm happy to answer nonmembers' questions. Email me any time at President@NALS.org.

Remember to Keep It Simple, Sweeties and THINK BIG!

PattiPP
Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS
NALS President

IS IT TRULY OVER?

One year ago, I was frantically finalizing everything to travel to Tulsa, OK to begin my term as NALS president. The 39th president at that. Jack Benny and I have a lot in common! (Ok, some of you younger members have no idea what that means, but that's okay.) Many of the past presidents before me said how fast the time will go, and as I was traveling throughout the United States during the months of April, May, June, July, August, October, and even November, I kept thinking it was going just fine -- until about a month ago when I realized everything I was doing in preparation for the Tulsa conference next week was all as "past president" and not as president.

During my installation speech, I spoke on change and how change needs to happen to us personally, professionally, and in our careers. I have seen a lot of change this past year. Many changes to how local and state chapters are now spending their energies and resources to suit the needs of their members (and future members). I encourage you to continue to seek ways to improve your services and opportunities to your members.

It has been a tough economic year, and NALS too has felt the repercussions. Many members lost their jobs or left the legal field to pursue employment in another field. NALS jumped in and offered waivers for dues for unemployed members, and many members took advantage of that waiver. NALS wants to continue to give its members "value" for your membership.

Now that the economy is bouncing back (and NALS membership numbers have been in a steady rise these past 3 months), NALS will continue to focus on value for its members. Obviously, value does not always mean monetary value, but many other ways to give you value as members of NALS.

I am composing this blog message exactly one week prior to the new installation of the 2010-11 Board of Directors of NALS. The incoming board is going to continue to think strategically and THINK BIG this coming year. I am sure more exciting announcements will be forthcoming. Watch the E-News and the e-zine "NALS docket" for details.

I want to thank each and every member of NALS for allowing me to serve as your President. I also want to express a warm heartfelt thank you to Tammy, Jay, Saundra, Diana, Jenni, and Shirley -- NALS staff. Without the staff members working hard and diligently, NALS would NOT be what it is today.

What an awesome association we all have in common. I have thoroughly enjoyed my term as your NALS president and look forward to many, many years of continued service to NALS as your past president.

Julie Abernathy, PP, PLS
NALS President 2009-10

I wonder what Eula Mae would think now?

I love tradition. I’m steeped in it. I have roots, big thick roots, in where I grew up. So deep that I built my house next door to my parents’ house. Every Christmas at my house; every Thanksgiving at my cousin’s. As Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof shouts, “Tradition!” – I’m right there with him. I get it.

Tradition is comfortable. We know exactly what is expected to happen. We know our roles and we understand our duties and responsibilities. No questions asked.

Tradition plays and important part in NALS too. Let’s face it though, not every member, and particularly our newer members, are interested following tradition. They often buck it at every turn -- as we did at one time.

Tradition, while worthwhile, can also be crippling. The NALS of Eula Mae’s time most certainly is not the NALS of today. Do we expect the NALS of the future to look the same as it does now? Eula Mae never in her wildest imagination thought we’d be corresponding by e-mail and filing documents over the Internet! It is a new age and change is constant.

I am the first one to admit that I readily fall into the “always done it that way” syndrome. I have promised myself to stop doing that. To allow each new (and what may seem in my estimation, wacky) idea to have its day. To permit new members to experience the excitement and the thrill of bringing their ideas to life. To grow in their NALS career through their triumphs and their failures. To have the change to experience NALS as I have experienced NALS. I believe that we owe our new members that and I’m sure that you believe it do too.

I think Eula Mae would be proud and happy at where NALS is today and excited to see how NALS of the future turns out.

Come to think of it, I’m pretty excited myself! How about YOU???

Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS

2009-10 NALS President-Elect

BRRRRRR, it's C O L D outside!

A co-worker mentioned earlier today that out of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, 47 states are either receiving snow, ice, sleet, or other frozen precipitation today (February 10, 2010). Yikes! While it's a balmy 42 in Austin today, it is raining with occasional sleet pellets coming down. But - I definitely don't envy any of the members who live in the Northeast. I'm sure you are all very tired of that pretty white stuff.



One good thing these bad weather days does for us NALS aholics, is that it gives us 8 hours of uninterrupted time to catch up with our NALS responsibilities. Especially this time of year when many of us are gearing up for the sessions we're presenting to NALS members at the Professional Development & Education Conference to be held in Tulsa next month.



Yikes - where has my year gone as NALS president. Can I turn the clock back and have a "do over?" Seriously - this has been the best year of my adult life, and I wouldn't trade a day of it for anything. I'm sure my employer will be very happy to have me "back" - focused on my real job, but I sure will miss my NALS travels and daily emails to/from many members.



It's been a blast - but beware - you haven't heard the last from me!



Julie Abernathy

NALS President 2009-10

The Professional Development Conference is almost here!

Holy Moly! Is it really only six weeks until the 2010 Professional Development Conference? That can’t be right! I still have a ton of things to do to prepare for it. Are you prepared? There is still time to register for the extended rate of $279. This registration extension is only good through February 1^st. This is also the last day to get the NALS room rate of $99 at the DoubleTree Warrenplace, where the conference will be held.

CLE sessions start on Friday, March 12, 2010. Prior to the meeting, a certification cram session for the ALS, PLS, and PP exams will take place on Wednesday, March 10. On Thursday, March 11, you can sit for the exam for which you have been studying. All day Thursday, Top Dollar Jewelry will be shuttling, via a limo, to their store. On Thursday evening, there will be a reception and prize drawing. You don’t want to miss out on this! If you have not seen the Resource Center and would like to see it or want to see it again, contact me at king@nals.org and reserve a spot.

What are you waiting for? If you haven’t registered, you’ll be missing out on great education and a chance to network with friends and others in your profession. If you have registered, I look forward to seeing you!

A Question of Value . . .

What is value and why do we scrutinize and prioritize the value of everyone and everything about us?

Why is it that we will buy the store brand cereal, but wouldn’t dream of buying the store brand coffee? What is it that determines the value of spending more for basically the same thing?

Some would argue that it isn’t the same. That the "store brand " is not quite as good. That the special brand has more value for your dollars. This is also true of NALS membership.

Why is NALS membership valuable now more than ever? In an age where we can access just about anything on the Internet, why do we value our connection to NALS?

Is it possible that membership in NALS, with its education and certification opportunities, has provided us with an edge over other employees during this economy? Could it be that NALS consistently provides the knowledge needed to move forward in our careers?

OR could it be that NALS fulfills something sorely lacking in our professional lives?

No other professional association will support you in your view of who you are in the legal services industry and how your expertise and professionalism matter in your job. It won’t come from your family. Not from your co-workers who will not understand the value of belonging. It probably will not come from your office or your attorneys, so overworked and inundated with the financial concerns of firm or the practice in general that they barely notice your existence (except when you aren’t at your desk).

Only through NALS will you come to know and understand your true value and worth as a legal professional – your rightful place within the law firm structure.

Is NALS of value? Is it worthy of your dollars and your time? I believe that it is. Do YOU?

If you value yourself as a professional, then you will also value what NALS has to offer at its Professional Development Conference, March 11-13, 2010. http://www.nals.org/conferences/professionaldevelopment/registration.html

THINK BIG! Change yourself. Give yourself the value you deserve.

Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS
NALS President-elect