insideNALS

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

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:19:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:07:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Abernathy) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:39:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:30:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Abernathy) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:33:00 +0000

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!

king@nals.org (Jenni King) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:15:00 +0000

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 . . .

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:04:00 +0000

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

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:21:00 +0000

I know it is well into the New Year but I wanted to make sure you were paying attention. Welcome to 2010 NALS! We have some new and exciting offerings coming your way this year and we want you to take advantage of them. First and foremost we are going to be using a new technology to do surveys that will make them shorter and more enjoyable for you and easier on us as well...a win-win situation! If you have not taken the opportunity to participate in the new Value of Membership Survey please do so. These surveys allow us to get a better grip on the needs of you all and also evaluate the effectiveness of our programs and services.

Click here to take survey

The second new feature for you is a new twist on an old idea. We have resurrected the NALS docket and turned it into a high tech digital newsletter. Hopefully you all were able to check it out in the last e-News issue. The NEW NALS docket will be a more relaxed newsletter for you than @Law and we will be sending it out each month. It will contain some columns on blogs and twitter as well as e-Learn and Leading the Way. It will also have one or two industry related articles and it will probably play host to some member profiles and other news as it evolves to suit your needs. We hope you like the first issue and if you missed it you can check it out by visiting the NALS docket page on our site.

We will continue to be active on all our social media fronts so you will have may ways to keep up with what is ongoing and new with NALS. If you are on Facebook join our group and/or fanpage...if you use twitter be sure to follow us!

We are looking forward to you taking advantage of everything we have to offer to you!

Jay Moore
NALS Communications Manager

The 2010-11 New Year’s Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:19:00 +0000

New Year’s is always a time of natural beginnings. We reflect on the previous year and resolve to change things in the next. Perhaps it’s the all-time favorite, the promise to lose 10 lbs. or simply to eat healthy. Perhaps it’s a promise to get your financial life in order.

Or perhaps it is the determination that this year you’ll step up to the plate and take on a project worthy of your time, creativity, and energy. I have an outlet for you. A New Year’s resolution you can finish within a year. A project which is worthy of your precious hours, your inventiveness, and your ingenuity.

I challenge you to THINK BIG! and join a national committee for the 2010-2011 year. Other than periodic evening meetings in the Online Learning Center, the work of the national committees is completed on your own time and at your own pace, online or via e‑mail. Physical presence at a meeting is not a prerequisite. You can expend your energy and find an outlet for your creativity at 2 a.m. if that suits you (with your fuzzy slippers on and a quart of your favorite ice cream next to you).

Interested? Because NALS could use your help. Review the Committee Preference Sheet (http://www.NALS.org/download/NALSPreferenceSheet.pdf), complete page 3, and send it me. All of NALS will appreciate your willingness to give of your time and talents to further the mission and goals of NALS.

Happy New Year!

Patti

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

On Being Snowed In

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:15:00 +0000

Snow is so beautiful, covering the ground and making everything, including my rusty old shed, look pristine and clean.

I had the opportunity during the weekend before Christmas to enjoy a major snowstorm – a “record breaker” in my area. Being snowed in always brings out the domestic in me. I make pancakes in the morning, bake cookies during the day, and pop popcorn in the evening, all while watching the silent accumulation of snow. Luckily, my family was safe and snug in the house with me.

NALS is like that too, a special family that worries about its members, particularly when economic storms set in. NALS supports you in a way no other professional association supports its members. Have you utilized the NALS Career Center www.careers.nals.org? If you are out of work, have you applied for the one-year waiver for your national dues www.NALS.org/download/NALSdueswaiver/pdf?

Have you taken advantage of the one year national dues waiver offered when you recruit five new members (of your class of membership) within a one-year period beginning November 1, 2009 www.NALS.org/download/waiverduesfiveNMs.pdf? That's a $98 savings just for recruiting five new members!

What about the free Online Learning Center sessions and the free Online Study Group (beginning January 5, 2010, to prepare for the March exams)? Have you taken advantage of the WebEd offerings? NALS webinars are provided to you at a reasonable price (check around – NALS’ webinars are a bargain!). The next WebEd on Federal Rules of Civil Procedure presented by Chris Gierymski (DLA Piper, LLP) is scheduled for January 13, 2010, at 7 pm CT.

This is just the tip of the snow drift. As you dig through the layers of NALS services and products, don’t forget that NALS is there for all of us, supporting us while the storm of life rages all around. Don’t break your back shoveling the stuff that is of no use to you in your professional life. Be safe and snug in your NALS family.

Happy Holidays Everyone! Be safe and warm.

President-Elect Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS

(Feel free to leave a comment to this post.)

Happy Holidays! Don't Miss These Important Dates

hailey@nals.org (Tammy Hailey, CAE) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:01:00 +0000

I along with NALS want to wish each of you Happy Holidays and safe travels. The NALS family is so special and I want to thank each of you for being a part of it. You are what makes it so special. I had a vendor once comment on how loyal and giving our NALS members are, how they are always there to help each other and support each other. I think that is only one of the many reasons why our NALS family is so special. We here on the NALS Staff want to thank each of you for your support, and we want you to know that your comments are important to us. So please let us know what we can do to make your NALS experience even better this coming year.

We are already hard at work on some new opportunities for our members so be watching in the months ahead. We do hope you are planning on being in Tulsa this coming March and in Branson in October for our NALS Conferences. Both conferences are going to be great! We already have a very special Leadership Training Session with David Horowitz planned for Thursday morning, October 21st, in Branson. You won't want to miss it! For those of you that were at this past year's Region 7/8 Conference you know what a great motivational and educational speaker David is and we would love it if any of you would like to share in the comments below what you learned or enjoyed about David's session this past summer.

The registration deadline for the March conference is January 15th so don't delay make your plans today to join us. Pam Hemann, CAE will be joining us and will be delivering the keynote address as well as holding a special session with our membership chairs and our presidents. Pam has worked with NALS in the past and is a powerful speaker. Pam is also a past Chairman of ASAE, in NALS terms the past president of ASAE.

For those of you planning on setting for a NALS Certification exam remember your registration deadline is: JANUARY 1st. And you can even register for a special cram course being held in Tulsa right before the NALS Conference on March 10th and take your exam the following day right before the NALS PD Conference begins. This is a great opportunity for you to combine your cram course, testing and NALS Professional Development Conference in one trip. And you can celebrate your completion of the exam with a trip to Top Dollar on Thursday evening or with a special dinner with friends.

Jan 13th at 7:00 pm Central there will be a special webinar on changes to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Have you taken part in one of NALS new webinars? Is this a subject you would like to learn about? Register and attend this special session. Additionally, if there are other subjects you would like to see special webinars offered on please comment and let us know what those subjects are so we can include them in the plan for the coming year.

Don't miss out on the NALS Professional Development Conference

king@nals.org (Jenni King) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:25:00 +0000

The 2010 NALS Professional Development & Education Conference is rapidly approaching. It seems like just yesterday current NALS President Julie Abernathy, PP, PLS was being sworn into office and I was working my second Tulsa conference. In just three short months, Patricia Infanti, PP, PLS will be the new NALS President and I will add another conference to the list.

Those who have been to the Professional Development Conference know what is in store for them when they arrive in Tulsa. Those of you who haven’t been to Tulsa, get ready for a lot of fun and networking with exceptional CLE offerings.

New this year is a certification cram session on Wednesday, March 10, 2010. This will include study sessions for the ALS, PLS, and PP certification exams. The price for the cram session is $99. On Thursday, March 11, there is the opportunity to sit for the exam of your choice. Once the exam is finished, hop on a shuttle to go the Top Dollar Jewelry! Top Dollar Jewelry will be shuttling attendees from the DoubleTree to Top Dollar Jewelry throughout the day with a private after hours wine and cheese reception that night with a prize drawing.

The conference starts on Friday, March 12, 2010 with our opening keynote speaker Pam Hemann, CAE. Professional Development and Education sessions run throughout the day with a break for lunch and the installation of the new NALS board and president that afternoon. On Saturday, March 13, more Professional Development and Education sessions kick off the day as well as the popular NALS University. That evening is the Networking Dinner where a DJ has been booked, so get your dancing shoes ready!

The DoubleTree Warren Place is once again the host of the conference and rooms are $99 a night for singles, doubles, and triples. The room block is filling up quickly so make sure to book your room soon. The deadline for reservations at the NALS rate is February 1. (918) 495-1000

The next registration deadline is January 15, 2010. If you haven’t made your conference registration yet, the rate is $279. This includes two days of CLE, networking and lunches. The networking dinner is a ticketed event and can be purchased for $45.

Register now for the NALS Professional Development & Education Conference and be ready for a fun and enjoyable time with the people around you!

Give Yourself the Gift of Education

noreply@blogger.com (Diana Price) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:31:00 +0000

This is the time of year that many of us are rushing around buying gifts for others to celebrate the holidays but have you ever thought about giving yourself a gift...the gift of education? Whether you are already certified or are thinking about becoming certified, education is a gift that keeps on giving. NALS has a variety of ways to become better educated. Whether you choose to participate in the On-line Learning Center chats held on most Wednesday evenings or you choose to participant in a scheduled webinar, each offers a unique new opportunity to learn and engage in dialogue with other members of the legal profession.

For those who are interested in becoming certified, NALS is furthing its educational offerings by hosting a Cram Course just prior to the Tulsa Professional Development Conference in March. This all-day cram course will offer a full review for the ALS, PLS, and PP certification exams. Interested participants will want to book their hotel room and make flight arrangements to be in Tulsa for this March 10th offering.

I encourage you all to check out the many educational offerings NALS provides and to give yourself something great this year.....the gift of EDUCATION.

Many wishes to you for a safe and happy holiday season!

Exactly What You Ask For

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Imagine that – getting what you asked for.

When I was young, one Christmas fondly remembered is the one where I got exactly the present I asked for (no, I won’t tell you what it was – it was a long time ago!).

Children everywhere ask Santa for exactly what they want and parents everywhere scramble to make it happen.

There is a direct correlation to be drawn from the asking and the getting, and here it is: one of the best things that NALS has going for it is that NALS listens to its members.

Have you noticed that there is a “Suggestions” link (www.NALS.org/suggestions.html) at the bottom left corner of the NALS web site home page? You can: provide a new idea, make a suggestion, tell NALS about a problem, send a note of praise, or ask a question. There are options to direct your comment to specific areas, such as a general comment, conferences, marketing, corporate sponsors, students, etc. Then enter your comment(s), click the Send My Comments button, and your suggestions are received by the Resource Center staff. It is a fabulous way for YOU to impact upon NALS. How can NALS do it (whatever that may be) if NALS doesn’t know what you want?

I challenge you to Think Big! and change your association; change yourself. Post your suggestions and comments. Who knows, perhaps YOUR idea may be the next latest and greatest service NALS will offer its member.

Imagine that! Getting what you asked for . . .

President-Elect Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:17:00 +0000

We here are NALS would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving! We hope that you are able to spend this time with those you love and we hope that you will all be safe in your travels. NALS is excited about everything we have coming up and we want you to remember to take advantage of everything we offer to you as members. Remember to register for the Professional Development & Education Conference...the Early Bird Deadline is DECEMBER 1!

Be sure to check out the upcoming Online Learning Center and WebEd sessions so that you can take advantage of the CLE we offer to you. We also want you to look at the home page and the new incentive that can make your dues free of charge! All you have to do is spread the word about NALS and get 5 of your colleagues to join. If you work together you can pay it forward and get their dues paid as well by recruiting more members to NALS. The more members we have with NALS the more services and benefits we can offer so it pays to recruit and help grow NALS.

I also want to encourage you to give back to your communities this holiday season. It has been a rough time for many in our country and what better time to step up and help those in need than the holidays? This is a great time for your state and chapters to support local charities and work together to help as many people as possible.

We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!

Jay Moore
NALS Communications Manager

Saundra Bates

noreply@blogger.com (Saundra Bates) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:26:00 +0000

My granddaughters, ages 11 and 8, and I were spending some time together this past weekend. We were talking about how the holidays were almost here, with Thanksgiving being four weeks away and Christmas just eight weeks away.

My heart was warmed as they began talking about what they liked most about Christmas. The time of sharing our faith, family dinners and spending time with friends were the most important. My eleven year old mentioned how she enjoyed the toys but that was not the most important to her. Wow! I am a very proud Mimi to say the least.

As I was thinking about our conversation later, I began thinking about our NALS members. I have watched our members at NALS Conferences and talked to them on an individual basis. I am convinced that even though the educational, insurance and other benefits are of great value to our members, that is not what is the most important to them. It is the relationships they have built through the years and are currently building that are the most value.

I believe the success of our association is somehow to tap into that resource and get all of our members connected to each other first at the local level, in the community, regionally and then on the national level.

As our members nurture these friendships, participate in the activities and endeavors, NALS will meet its goals for the future. NALS,… It’s the place to be!

The Change of the Seasons

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:10:00 +0000

Autumn is a beautiful time of the year. In my little corner of the world, the temperatures turn cooler (but not cold), and the leaves of the deciduous trees turn to awesome hues of red, gold, and orange. This change in the seasons draws my attention to the upcoming holidays, then to the new year, and then to the annual Professional Development Conference in Tulsa in March.

NALS experiences change too. The election results will be announce in November and the preparations for transitioning to the 2010-11 year will begin sometime after the first of the year. While I dislike pushing the seasons forward, to ensure a smooth transition, the initial preparations must begin now.

I am searching for NALS members willing to serve on next year’s national committees. The Committee Preference Sheet is available on the NALS website under the Leaders page. http://www.nals.org/download/NALSPreferenceSheet.pdf or contact me and I will e-mail it to you.

Change your association. Change yourself. I challenge YOU to Think Big! and consider serving as part of the 2010-11 Leadership Team. Together, I know it will be an inspiring and remarkable experience!

Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS
2009-10 NALS President-Elect
infanti@ballardspahr.com

VOTE NOW FOR 2010-11 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Abernathy) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:23:00 +0000

If you have not already cast your ballot, do so now. The deadline to mail your ballot is fast approaching. Take advantage of your right as a member by casting your vote today. Check out all the candidate profiles on the website - read their thoughts, ideas, and desires for NALS future. You can also click on the title of this blog and it should take you to the candidate pages. There are fabulous candidates to choose from, and it is imperative that NALS continue to have the best board possible to continue to carry out the goals and purposes of our Association.

I feel a bit melancholy in the fact that my term as your president is on the downward slide toward conclusion. However, I look forward to the next 5 months of service to you as your NALS president and I am anxious to serve on the NALS board (in a non-voting capacity) as its Immediate Past President.

Dig out your ballot and mail it in today!

Julie

How do you feel about Change?

hailey@nals.org (Tammy Hailey, CAE) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:04:00 +0000

Are you one of those people that say I don’t mind change as long as I have control of what that change will be? Or maybe you don’t say that, but you might be thinking it, right? Associations are changing faster now than ever. Let’s face it; we have to if we want to remain relevant in today’s world. So let me ask you, are you a positive force in your association, are you willing to support new initiatives even if sometimes they fail or offer an alternate view rather than your own? Or are you one of the, “I told you so members, the nay Sayers?” Which do you want to be? Sometimes it is simply a mindset that we need to be aware of to open our minds to new possibilities, new opportunities and new developments.

Decisions sometimes have to be made quickly and we all try to make the best and fairest decisions possible. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we wish we could get a do over. Do you support and encourage your leaders at all levels even when you don’t agree 100% of the time? Do you allow them room to grow and change as needed, understanding failures? To grow we must be willing to try new things, to reach new markets, find new ways; we even must be willing to potentially fail to grow. Because if we aren’t willing to change along with the world around us, and position ourselves to be relevant in our marketplaces, then the alternative is that we become irrelevant and obsolete.

Sometimes we have to be willing to give up control, the control of how things change. It can be scary I know, but we have to trust and support the leaders we elected. We have to also realize that to succeed there will be failures as well. Be a motivator even in failures, look at the positive side of issues, help with the adjustments needed, and move on. We all have a voice and we should share our thoughts, our concerns, our comments, even our ideas. However, remember the audience in which you share those comments, and give your leadership as well as members with new and different ideas the respect they deserve. Don’t be a squasher; instead be a motivator. If you feel compelled to share the down side to an idea or opportunity, then make sure you are looking for the upside and sharing that as well. Open your mind to possibilities you might not understand and be willing to try.

We want to engage NALS members as well as potential members in vital conversations about what they want from membership in NALS. What do you want the future of NALS to look like; do you have ideas, thoughts, or goals? We want to be responsive to new ideas and new ways of doing things. You are important to us, relationships are important to us, and your thoughts and comments are important to us as well. So please, as you see questions posted throughout the year ahead, take the time to respond. And if you have something to say, you don’t have to wait for the question. Let us know, we want to hear from you. This blog should be interactive, engage, and let us hear from you.

The September Certification Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Don’t you just love September? The scent in the air changes, the temperatures lower, the lazy days of Summer are over, and the children are standing on the corners waiting for the school bus. The smell of new binders and folders and pencils and backpacks is intoxicating (and not because it simply means our children are back at school). And because of this, it is only natural that we, too, consider our own education.

It was September 1994 when I began studying for the March 1995 PLS exam. It seemed, somehow, a perfect time to do so. While my boys were studying Math, English, and Social Studies, I was pouring over Wills and Estates, Bankruptcy, and Criminal law. While I quizzed my boys on spelling and grammar, I was reinforcing those same rules for myself. While I was studying night and day for the exam, my boys were seeing how hard Mommy worked to pass a test. I hung up my boys’ test papers on my refrigerator, so you better believe that when the letter came with the initials “PLS” after my name – I put that on the refrigerator too!

I hope my boys understood that anything worthwhile in this world was worth working long and hard to achieve. I know you believe it too.

Looking for a short-term challenge for yourself this September?? Now is a great time to accept the challenge to become certified. Get the books, form a study group, use the Online Study Group and the NALS mock exams, and prepare for the certification exams. Think Big! and earn the certification distinction that will set you apart from the rest.

Perhaps next Spring the refrigerator will hold YOUR letter from NALS congratulating you on passing the PP, PLS, or ALS certification examination!

Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS
2009-2010 NALS President-Elect

CALIFORNIA Here We Come!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Abernathy) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:46:00 +0000

As of the date of this posting, we are less than 2 months away from us all convening in Irvine, California for the NALS 58th Annual Forum. There are several discussions going on right now in the NALS Community. Click on the topic of this blog post and it will take you straight to the NALS Community page where you can share tips, ideas, respond to questions, look for a roommate, etc.

If you have never been to a NALS conference before, take advantage of the networking that NALS has through our NALS Community. What do you wear? Ask your questions through the Community and the members are more than willing to assist you with your packing. What to do while you're there? Again - post a question in the community and members from the local area (or other California travel lovers) will assist you with ideas.

See you all soon!

President Julie

Are YOU Connected?

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:26:00 +0000

Been reading your e-News and regional newsletters lately? Are you aware that NALS is on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Have you visited the new NALS Community at Ning or created your own personal profile page?

You may be wondering, “What’s the big deal about Facebook? Who cares about Twitter and tweeting? I don’t have time to fool around with these Internet sites.” I understand your point. However, all of these sites provide you with a means to stay regularly connected with friends and colleagues. For the Millennials, these social networking sites replace the telephone and note cards of the Boomer generation. We Boomers often lament about being unable to stay in touch because we don’t have the time to make a phone call, send a lengthy email, or even compose the yearly family update for our Christmas cards. For the Millennials, without having to dial and speak to each of their friends, they know exactly where their friends are meeting and what they’re doing.

Internet social networks provide an untapped marketing tool for NALS. Think about it. How cool would it be to receive a notice that a member is attending a NALS conference, to get regular updates about the content of an interesting seminar, and then to have a dialogue as the conference is going on? It opens up a whole new way for members to be connected to NALS.

Positively, they are an opportunity to stay in touch more often than ever before. How many of us (me included) think about our long-time friends and extended family that we don't see very often and think, “I really should get in touch with them and see how they are doing.”?

That’s the beauty of being connected through Internet social networks.

Using short sentences, you can view updates about your NALS friends or family members and know exactly what’s going on in their lives. You can post updates of your own, keeping friends and family up-to-date about you too.

I know you’re thinking, “I don’t want to world to know what I’m doing – it’s personal.” Then set your security settings so that only your trusted friends view your personal profile. You have the power to accept or reject people as “friends” thereby restricting access to your personal profile and updates.

Of course, you should always exercise caution about what you post. Never include derogatory statements about anyone or post pictures that you wouldn’t want shown to your mother or to your boss.

Being CONNECTED is all about staying in touch. So send a friend request to me – I would love to be connected with YOU!

PattiPP

Irvine Hotel Room Block 98% Full - EarlyBird Deadline is July 1st

hailey@nals.org (Tammy Hailey, CAE) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:06:00 +0000

If you have not made your hotel reservation for the Irvine meeting the NALS room block is already 98% full. So if you want to ensure you get the NALS rate make your reservations today!

Also don't forget to get the early-bird discounted rate for your meeting registration. Send your registration to NALS by July 1st.

NALS Region Conferences - Here we Come!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Abernathy) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:29:00 +0000

The summer regional conferences are starting up this week. First up is the Joint Region 7/8 Conference to be held in Las Vegas, NV. "What Happens In Vegas Must Happen to You." July is packed full of conferences. Region 6 conference will be held in Little Rock AR. Region 4 conference will be held in Savannah GA. Region 3 conference will be held in LaPorte IN. Region 5 conference will be held in Eau Claire WI. Region 2 conference will be held in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, PA. And the Region 1 conference will be held in September in Warwick, RI. I am excited about my visitations to the conferences this summer. Patti Infanti (President-elect), Kathie Amirante (Secretary/Treasurer), and Tammy Hailey (Executive Director) will all be visiting various conference locations. We are all blessed to be included in your conferences and look forward to meeting many NALS members this summer.

It's not too late to register for these conferences. Click on the title to this blog post and it will take you to the NEW AND IMPROVED NALS website for more information and details.

Speaking of the NALS website - it's awesome. Go on and check it out, click around, and see how easy it is to navigate. Jay Moore has done a fabulous job in getting this online. NALS members ask for improvements - NALS listens!

I'll be seeing y'all this summer.

Julie

Remembering . . .

noreply@blogger.com (PattiPP) — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Remembering those who served our country is the reason for Memorial Day (formerly known as “Decoration Day”). Having a special day filled with parades, speeches, and other forms of celebration prompts us to remember the sacrifices made by those who came before us. That and the war pictures shown continuously throughout the weekend on various TV and cable networks!

Remembering past heroes got me thinking about NALS past – the members who sacrificed their time and worked so hard throughout NALS’ history – the very foundation of NALS today.

NALS is celebrating its 80th Anniversary this year – how cool is that? In 1929 our founder, Eula Mae Jett, a legal secretary in California, invited legal secretary friends to meet and discuss matters of mutual concern in the legal profession. Their mutual goal was to become better secretaries, more proficient, and knowledgeable in their respective positions. From this initial meeting of a few friends in Long Beach, California, in 1929 came the first legal secretaries association. I’m sure that Ms. Jett and her legal secretary friends had no idea that their initial meetings would lead to the NALS of today.

NALS’ 80th Anniversary celebration will take place, appropriately, in California at the 58th Annual Education Conference and National Forum, October 8-11, 2009. It is a chance to be part of NALS’ history by being part of this historic event. Early Bird registration is due July 1. Will I see YOU there making history?

Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS
2009-2010 NALS President-Elect
infanti@ballardspahr.com