Bad
Decision/Good Decision
By
Fay M. Jordan, PP, PLS, TSC
Look
up the word “association” in your dictionary. The
main definition is “an organization of people
with a common purpose and having a formal structure.” Some
other words used to define “association” include: “friendship” and “connection.”
Membership
in this tri-level organization is one of the best
decisions I have made in my life. Believe me—I
have made some wrong decisions. I made the
wrong decision TWICE before making the right one. It
is never too late to make the right decision.
Living
and working as a legal secretary in East Texas in
the early 1980s, I had heard about NALS. I
don’t remember how I heard about the association,
but I knew you could become “certified.” At
that time I was working for a sole proprietor in
a small East Texas law firm who had me running scared
because I was practicing law!! I also knew
that a divorce was in the making (that is not one
of the bad decisions). I checked into membership,
and Waco was the nearest chapter (65 miles away). Well,
I made a bad decision—it was too far away so
I did not pursue joining.
In
the early 1990’s, I moved back to Austin, Texas,
and began thinking about membership in NALS again. I
looked into it, but I was employed by the Office
of the Attorney General and I could not afford it. I
made another wrong decision.
In
1996, I finally made the right decision. I
contacted NALS and was referred to a local member. I
had left the OAG and was employed in the private
sector now and could afford it!! The local
member was working in the same building I was. She
was so nice and encouraging and informed me that
the following week a Basic Legal Secretary Training
Course was starting and urged me to sign up for that
as well. I joined the Austin Chapter, signed
up for the course and in June I sat for the ALS and
PASSED!! This was the first of my four certifications,
and I was hooked.
Let’s
go back to the definition of “association.” I
found that my fellow members in this association
had the same common purpose; to excel in what we
do and to help others excel as well. Along
with membership came the friendship of many wonderful
fellow members, not just in my local chapter but
state and national. When I was preparing for
my other certifications, I was supported not only
by my local fellow members, I also had the support
of my fellow state members and, of course, NALS.
I
firmly believe that I would not be employed where
I am today without my certifications and the confidence
having the certifications gives me. For me,
employment opportunities come with membership in
NALS. My previous position and this position
came to me through my membership in this association,
one position from the Job Bank and one position through
a friend and fellow NALS member.
Several
times over the years my employers have needed something
done in another city, county or state. I pulled
from my network of friendships through NALS and was
able to meet my employers’ needs. There
were times I was asked to do something in an area
of law I had not worked in before and all that was
necessary was an email or a phone call to a fellow
member. If one of my friends did not know the
solution, she knew someone who did. If I was
not a member of NALS, my employers would be missing
a valuable resource. I have “connections.”
If
you are thinking about perhaps not renewing your
membership, please stop to think about what you will
be missing; the opportunity to continue to improve
your personal skills, to continue to excel, to continue
to make new friends, and to remain a valuable resource
to your employer. Do not make a bad decision!!
