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NFPA Rolls Out New Website - 6/1/12

www.paralegals.org

The new NFPA website is a complete redesign.  Here are some highlights:

• Reorganized menus make it easier to find topics
• Image links for the most popular topics appear in a column on the left of every page
• Many content sections have been restructured and condensed
• Explanations for jargon and confusing terms have been added
• Old information has been either updated or eliminated
• Duplicate and conflicting information reconciled
  We designed for both the technology of today and tomorrow:
• The new site will expand to utilize all the screen real-estate you have available so you don’t need to scroll as much
• For smaller displays such as smartphones and some netbooks, the site will prioritize the main content area – making the site usable even on the go
• Announcements and upcoming events columns on the home page will also show members-only information so there is no need to navigate to a special members-only page to see them (the menu bar will have additional links based on the visitor’s permissions)
• The members-only content on the old site was hidden behind a single password that was shared by the entire membership – hardly secure - now, each member signs in using the email address they have given to their association
• The leaders-only content was behind a password shared by nearly 200 people - the site uses the Leadership Directory database to determine whether that individual gets leadership access in addition to their member access
• For leaders, the leaders2 listserv is being replaced with a web-based message system - in addition to receiving announcements in email, you will also be able to look back on past messages using a special page of the website
  Behind the scenes, there are many ways the new website design will help NFPA HQ be better able to serve you and many more additions will be worked on over the summer.

Moreover, the new site’s technological underpinnings have a greater capacity for expansion.  We will be able to add new features and enhance existing ones using HQ resources, not expensive web design firms.  We feel that what we are unveiling is great in its own right, but more than that, we see it as a foundation to build upon for even more member value in the future.

Members:  If you’re having difficulty signing in please call HQ at 425-967-0045 to verify we have the correct email address for you.  Individuals should also set their preferences regarding the broadcast NFPA e-mails, whether or not to receive a paper or online copy of the National Paralegal Reporter, and/or how their entry in the Leadership Directory, if they have one, should appear.  Associations should also continually update the Leadership Directory as to Board members so that the Leadership Directory is - at all times - up-to-date.

NFPA DEADLINES

Scholarship and Award Nominations - all nominations for NFPA awards including Individual and Association Pro Bono, Paralegal of the Year, Outstanding Local Leader and Robie, as well as applications for the two Thomson-Reuter's Scholarships must be postmarked on or before July 1, 2012.  Click HERE to access the Awards Nomination Brochure.  The Awards Procedures are in Section 25 of the NFPA Procedures Manual, or contact the Vice President and Director of Profession Development at vppd@paralegals.org for more information.
 
NFPA REMINDERS

Convention Registration - Registration will be open to all members, delegates and Association as of July 1, 2012.  Please review the Convention website page for more information, or contact HQ for more information.

I also just wanted to introduce myself as the new Secretary and Director of Operations.  I look forward to serving you all to the best of my ability.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
_______________________________________
Valerie A. Dolan, RP®, Pa.C.P.
NFPA Secretary and Director of Operations

NFPA - The Leader of the Paralegal Profession®
PACE - The Standard For Excellence™

All Voting Members of IPA:

Below is a link to the 2012-2013election ballot which includes short biographies of the members on the ballot. As this is an online election and we will need to verify all persons submitting a completed ballot are voting members of the association, you will need your username and password for the IPA members only website. 

Your ballot also include proposed bylaw changes. Please review these changes using the link on the ballot.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VOTE: 
http://www.indianaparalegals.org/election
Please complete your ballot by June 27, 2012 Ballots will also be made available at the June 20th monthly meeting. If you have any questions about the election process, please contact Denise Holaday, IPA's Election Chair, at elections@indianaparalegals.org

To Voting Members:

Nominations are open for 2012-13 IPA's Officers and Directors.  If you would like to submit a nomination, e-mail elections@indianaparalegals.org with the name of the nominee and the position for which that person is being nominated.  Please submit any nominations as soon as possible, but no later than May 18, 2012. 

 

Positions for nomination are:

Officers

President                                                           

Vice-President                                 

Secretary                                                            

Treasurer      

                                                     

Directors

Continuing Legal Education                         

Education                                                           

Ethics                                                                   

Fundraiser                                                         

Job Bank                                                             

Marketing/Public Relations        

Membership                                                     

Monthly Meetings         

Newsletter Editor                                           

NFPA Primary Representative   

Parliamentarian                                               

Technology      

  

Pam Retherford, President; Denise Holaday, Election Chair

Join us in "Music City - USA"
and hit all the right notes!

The third annual NFPA Joint Leadership/Regulation and Certification Ambassadors' Conference is definitely not the same old song and dance. As many paralegal professionals are continuing to recover from the changing times, many individuals are determined to restore growth and re-embark on a positive mission of expansion.  Attendees will have the opportunity to share and network with professionals regarding association leadership, the PACE and PCC exams, and regulation within the paralegal profession.  

Friday, April 20
Regulation Conference
9:00am - 5:00pm
The Regulation Conference will cover lobbying, the history and operations of the North Carolina Certified Paralegal Program, regulating non-lawyers in a legal profession, a workshop on legislation/proposal drafting and statewide alliances.  Click here for the Regulation Conference Agenda.
 
 
Saturday, April 21
Leadership Conference
8:30am - 6:00pm
The Leadership Conference will help local leaders deal with day-to-day operations.  Topics at this year's conference include how to develop your leadership styles, building consensus, committment and cooperation, learning skills to become an effective leader, tips on leading productive meetings, and how to motivate others to step up to leadership roles.  Click here for the Leadership Conference Agenda.
 
 
Sunday, April 22 and Monday, April 23
Certification Ambassadors' Conference
8:30am - 5:00pm/Sunday and 8:30am - Noon/Monday
Certification Ambassadors will be provided with the necessary resources and information to guide and mentor RPs and CRPs, as well as the duties of the PACE and PCC Ambassadors.  Items for discussion will include marketing of the exams, studying for certification exams, tips on how to navigate through the renewal process, budgeting for review courses and/or study groups, webinars and scholarships, and much more.  Click here for the Certification Ambassadors' Conference Agenda.

The 2012 Joint Conference is free to NFPA Members.  The Regulation Conference is open to Non-Members at a cost of $75 per person.

Network with other attendees during lunch on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
$25 per person/per day
 
The deadline to register is April 13, 2012

Register Online Now!

Group: National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.Subject: Announcement from National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. - PRO BONO WEBINAR - MARCH 29 -- REGISTRATION OPEN Here is the link to the registration form for the first NFPA Pro Bono Webinar to be held on March 29: http://paralegals.org/displayemailforms.cfm?emailformnbr=175366

Our speaker is Michael Adler of Philadelphia, whose topic is "Meaningful Giving: The Benefits of Helping Others While Networking Through Pro Bono Work." This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about networking opportunities while giving back. There is no CLE credit for this webinar.

This is a free event for NFPA members; there is a small charge for non-members. We hope to make pro bono webinars available throughout the coming year.

NFPA has received an anonymous one-time donation for a PCCE Scholarship; it is an essay and must be 2,000 words or less; deadline is July 1; the topic is:  

“Why is paralegal certification important to the paralegal profession?”  

For more details contact Edna Wallace, RP, Primary (nfpa@indianaparalegals.org) or Cari Bonty, RP, Credentials Coordinator (pace@indianaparalegals.org)

The Macy's Smart Pass is now available on the NFPA website under the Members Only section.  The pass is good for the month of February, 2012.  You receive 15% off your Macy's purchases for a whole day!  (exclusions apply). To redeem the benefit, download the flyer from the NPFA members only page, print it and take it into your local Macy's store.

Due to the resignation of IPA's Marketing and Public Relations Director, there is an opening on the Board of Directors for this directorship starting January 1, 2012. Teri Tegeler is accepting a position outside the paralegal field and unable to remain a member of the association. Teri has been an outstanding board member and will be greatly missed. If you are interested in this directorship, please contact Vice President Diana Miller at vicepresident@indianaparalegals.org or me at president@indianaparalegals.org.

Fios, Inc., an NFPA Corporate Partner, is hosting a FREE webinar on December 8, 2011 that has qualified for 1 hour of CLE.

Topic:   5th Annual State e-Discovery Update  
This informative session covers the following topics:

The impact of the 2006 amendments on state e-discovery rule-making
Key e-discovery issues with special relevance for states The status of preservation and spoliation rule-making efforts

Speaker:  Thomas Y. Allman, Esq., Attorney and Consultant, Cincinnati, OH   
Tom served as senior vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer of a major corporation from 1993 to 2004, after a distinguished career as a litigator in private practice in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is Chair emeritus of the Steering Committee of The Sedona Conference® Working Group on Electronic Document Retention and Production (WG1) and an active speaker and consultant and resides in Cincinnati and New York City.

When:  December 8 - Thursday at 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT
Register now to attend and learn about particularly crucial state case developments, including an increasing number of examples that diverge from federal precedent.
Thanks to FIOS for their continued support of NFPA.
 
Melissa M. Leslie
NFPA® Vice President and Director of Marketing
NFPA – The Leader of the Paralegal Profession®

Please consider taking a few minutes to complete the survery below. We are currently seeking the opinion of the membership regarding attendance at the monthly meetings. Your responses will be evaluated and considered when planning future meetings.

Please complete the survey by November 30, 2011. Thank you for your assistance.

https://docs.google.com/a/indianaparalegals.org/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGNjcW43Q1EzdWNPM0RZbGowQm9sSmc6MQ