Gotta Have It . . . NALS
by Betty Wells, PP, PLS, TSC-RE

Can you think of any better bargain than NALS membership?  NALS members “get” the excitement of membership almost as much as many of them “get” the excitement of shopping.  Some get the excitement of NALS membership more than shopping; however, nothing motivates most women more than a chance to go shopping, especially when there is the thrill of finding a bargain. 

With a presence all across the country with state and local chapters and members at large, there is really no where you go that you don’t have a potential for recruiting a new NALS member.  When was the last time you put on your membership pin – other than when you were going to a meeting?  Pins are our “brand” and they are wonderful conversation starters.  Prepare an elevator presentation you can give whenever you are asked about the pin you are wearing.  You might want to just cover the highlights: we are an association for legal professionals complete with affinity programs, continuing legal education and certification, award winning publications, an online learning center, all that and more at a very reasonable cost.

Now that you have their attention, offer them the opportunity to go with you to a local meeting where they can do a little shopping.  They may want to check out the feel of the meeting – are the other attendees friendly and encouraging?  Is the speaker professional and knowledgeable?  Will they get the “I must have this now” feeling?  Perhaps their first meeting, like many of our first meetings, may leave them feeling a little unsure about joining.  That is your opportunity to go to your NALS closet (we all have one filled with a wealth of “products”) and find the one thing they need to help them see the benefits of NALS membership.

What might that one thing be?  For them, it might be certification that could help them advance in their position at work.  Or perhaps it might be E-News or E-Learn.  It might be having someone in another state that is able and willing to help them get documents or local rules they need.  Or perhaps knowing you will be there to help them with questions they may have about anything association related is what they need.  Think back to when you joined and try to remember the one thing that made you realize you simply could not pass on this opportunity.  Perhaps that is their one thing as well.

There are many opportunities for professional and personal development in our association.  There is top-notch quality education offered at local, state, regional, and national meetings.  There are NALS certifications for support professionals with little or much experience.  NALS offers training, education, and resources to employers as well as members.  There are affinity programs that offer discounts to firms where members work.  Show your employers the benefits of your NALS membership and how it can help them as well as helping you.  Let them know when a fellow member was able to help you complete a project timely and accurately.

We share more than similar interests.  We want to be the best we can be in our profession, we want to continue to learn more, we want to share with our friends in the legal profession.  We become friends along this journey we call NALS membership.  We genuinely care about our friends and we do all we can to help them reach their personal and professional goals – whatever they may be. 

Put on those pins, start the conversations, and share the bargain of NALS membership because . . .
they’ve just gotta have it . . . NALS!