Certification Giving
by Karen McElroy,
PP, PLS
Certifying Board
While attending the NALS conference in St. Louis this
year, it became apparent in both focus group sessions that
one of the most important qualities setting NALS apart
from other professional organizations is how we welcome
everyone and make them feel at home with NALS. Any
one of us attending a national conference or local, state
or regional meetings knows how this positive attitude assures
our continuing success as a professional association. And,
frankly, “success” in terms of achieving, winning or getting
ahead is made simple when NALS continues to share knowledge
through open forums of warmth and kindness.
NALS members are talented and generous and during this
holiday season and throughout the year it’s an opportunity
to share with others. Education and certification
are continuing missions and goals at NALS. Studying and
preparing to take a certification exam is a personal commitment
to excellence, and perhaps we should consider lending more
support to our members through gifting, which may assist
them in their quest to achieve certification. Stepping
outside the box to realize a gifting program in your local
and state chapters is possible and rewarding.
Implementing incentives to achieve certification can be
accomplished in local and state chapters by offering scholarships
to members, which will assist with the cost of books, reference
manuals, and the fee for the exam. This concept gives
financial assistance right back to members and truly makes
a difference. Another concept is creating gift certificates
for certification. There are many steps leading up
to achieving this goal, and gift certificates can be created
to donate your time and knowledge. For example, you
could donate an hour of your time to schedule a one-on-one
teaching session regarding a specific topic
with an individual or study group. Gift cards from
major stores and businesses are often donated to raffles
and silent auctions, so why not create ways to gift our
time or money in the same way to help others achieve their
certification goals. Again, gift cards with various
values could be designed to assist with the purchase of
a book or reference manual for the ALS, PLS or PP. Another
way to make a monetary donation to interested members is
to implement a gifting program for the cost of conference
registration. This idea can be an indirect way of
creating interest in obtaining certifications through NALS
because the conference forum helps to make everyone feel
accepted, challenged, and can be an example of personal
goals and possibilities for the future.
Gifting and assisting with the achievement of a NALS certification
is rewarding for everyone. It’s a great way to create interest
for current members, interested potential members, and
our newest members (most are so impressed with NALS and
the conferences that they are hooked for life). NALS
is fortunate to have members with charitable hearts, and
why shouldn’t we think first of our own members and professional
organization when it comes to gifting.
This year has been an exceptional year for NALS gifting.
Giving generously to the NALS building fund has made a
dream of owning our own home a reality, and this “house
of dreams” will continue to make it possible for NALS to
promote legal education and certification. Let’s
dream of ways to make a gift of education and certification
to our members who strive for excellence. Gifting
always makes a difference for the person giving and receiving
and ideas for gifting are only limited by our imaginations.
The NALS Certifying Board wishes everyone a peaceful and
joyous holiday season.
