Think Big - Education & Certification

Grants available from the NALS Foundation

June 1st is almost here and with it comes the next NALS Foundation grant deadline.  We know your association is involved with NALS THINK BIG.  As the trustees considered the NALS Foundation strategic plan, it was immediately obvious that, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation working hand in hand with NALS, we needed to focus grants on Education and Certification.  So bring us your THINK BIG education and certification programs and we will provide financial assistance.

Speaking of THINK BIG education programs, we must feature NALS of Central Ohio and their NALS@Noon project.  Winners of the coveted NALS Jett Award, specifically the Founders Award for 2009, NALS@Noon offered CLE and a free lunch to legal professionals in the Columbus, Ohio, area.  Complete program details will soon be available on the Jett Award web page (http://www.nals.org/foundation/jettawards/recipients.html).  Let me share a couple of key THINK BIG ideas from the project:

• NALS of Central Ohio found a venue centrally located to minimize the time it took to get back and forth from offices.
• They found vendors to sponsor each meeting and charged the cost of 50 lunches as the sponsor fee. The first 50 attendees could pick up a box lunch as they entered the room.
• The first 10 minutes of the program was a vendor presentation.  Additionally, vendors could provide written information and offer a door prize (a way for vendors to gather contact information).  The chapter also promoted sponsors on its website and in its publication.
• The vendor was followed by 30 minutes of CLE.  Presentations covered timely legal topics and CLE certificates were provided.  The back of the CLE certificate contained NALS news covering the chapter, state, region, and national association.
• The program concluded with a few announcements – business was not discussed during NALS@Noon.
• It all took less than 60 minutes!
• NALS of Central Ohio maintains an email list of all attendees to announce future NALS@Noon programs.

You can read more about NALS@Noon in the Summer 2009 @Law.  CONGRATULATIONS to NALS of Central Ohio … the 2009 Founders Award recipient!  The NALS Foundation is proud to be a grant sponsor of NALS@Noon.  Your association can also receive a grant for a THINK BIG Education or Certification program!

NALS JETT AWARDS presented at the 2009 Professional Development Conference (March 14, 2009):

Cornerstone Awards:

• Mississippi LPA with www.mississippilpa.org
• RLSA (Richmond, VA) with Lessons in Law

Keystone Awards:

• Houston ALP with Super CLE Saturdays 2008-2009
• Texas ALP with Come Fly Me and Texas Train to Tomorrow (2-year membership drive)

Founders Award:

• NALS of Central Ohio with NALS @ Noon

NALS MEMBERS CONTRIBUTE BIG!

You, the Members of NALS are absolutely phenomenal!  The generosity of members at the 2009 Professional Development Conference resulted in the NALS Foundation being able to raise $9,841.25.  This amount included the Sweepstakes, Circle Donors, General Donations, and a “Dress a Star” entry.

The following contributed items for the Sweepstakes prizes:

Associations:

Austin LSA TX
Black Hills LPA SD
IDALS (Idaho)
Mississippi LPA
NALS of Atlanta GA
NALS of Oklahoma
NALS of Orange County CA
NALS of Pierce County WA
Texas ALP

Individuals:

Julie Abernathy
Mary Burns
Stephanie Burns
Marci Carter
Kathy Cline
Doris Compton
Joanne Davis
Donna Dendy
Mary Jo Denman
Alexis Montgomery
Cathy Hankins
Nancy Harris
September Holmblad
Cindy Lane Hughes
Tina Hurley
Patti Infanti
Brenda Johll
Robin Kunce
Carol Lauder
Mary Lenhart
Meri Nelson
Debbie Nickerson
Marlene Oiler
Marty Olson
Reba Peden
Faynell Poe
Nikkie Rice
Marie Ringholz
Mary Smith
Judith Smith
Gina Suidyla
Peggy Sullivan
Leslie Stokes
Kristy Turner
Betty Wells
Caryn Wolchuck
Helene Wood

*** A THINK BIG thank you from the NALS Foundation Trustees ***

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