I know this sounds very cliché but it really is hard to believe that I am nearing the end of my second year as WDALA President. I am writing my final column as I sit #hamiltoned at the Orlando airport – we were originally supposed to fly home at 12:15 p.m. but the travel powers that be at Delta had a flight change so we were rebooked to 2:18 p.m. After we had returned the rental car and cleared security (minus my wine opener my bad) we received notice that our flight was delayed and we are now leaving Orlando at 4:14 p.m. I have confirmed that we are protected on the last flight to Bismarck tonight…but we will see. As always, it is a lesson in adapting and staying calm – basically what we paralegals and legal assistants do day in and day out!
WDALA has entered into a partnership with Zuger, Kirmis, and Smith in Bismarck to use their offices as a testing site for the NALA Certified Paralegal (CP) exam. I served as a proctor for the May testing window and will also be proctoring for the September testing window. If you are interested in sitting for the CP exam, please contact WDALA NALA Liaison Alice Johnson, ACP, or me with questions. The CP Exam will be changing formats starting in January 2018 and information regarding the changes can be found on the NALA website – www.nala.org.
Membership renewals will be coming to you soon. Membership dues are due and payable by September 1, 2017. If dues are not received by October 1, 2017, a $10.00 reinstatement fee shall be assessed. Watch your email for the notice of renewal. Last fall WDALA members approved a bylaw change to add an emeritus status that will start with the 2017-2018 fiscal year. An Emeritus member is an individual who, for at least ten (10) years and within the last twelve (12) years at application date, was an active member of the association but is no longer working as a paralegal/legal assistant. Emeritus status is only available to the category of active membership of the association. Emeritus status will be included on the membership renewal form. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
The WDALA Fall Seminar and Annual Meeting will be held September 19 and 20, 2017, at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck. Please see the seminar brochure and the WDALA website for information regarding speakers and times, as well as the report of WDALA First Vice President, Afton Basden, CP, for further details. If you are not planning on attending the Fall Seminar, I would ask that you consider attending the WDALA Annual Meeting which will be held on September 20, 2017, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. This is your opportunity to be heard as a member and to see the Board in action.
On June 1, 2017, Lindy Gandy; Alice Johnson, ACP; Corrina Pfaff; Charlene Smith, ACP; Laurie Guenther, ACP; and I met with Governor Doug Burgum for the photo opportunity and signing of the Legal Assistant/Paralegal Day proclamation, declaring June 22, 2017, as Legal Assistant/Paralegal Day in North Dakota. Earlier that morning, we also had the opportunity to meet with North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem to discuss WDALA and our work as paralegals. We also got a photo with Attorney General Stenehjem and he let me sit in his chair again!
On June 22, 2017, Nilla Fry, Bonnie Banks, and I met at Los Lunas in Bismarck to celebrate Legal Assistant/Paralegal Day in Region III. We had a good time celebrating and catching up with each other. I would encourage all paralegals and legal assistants to mark the third Thursday in June as Legal Assistant/Paralegal day and do something to celebrate!
The 2017 NALA Annual Conference and 42nd Annual Meeting was held in Orlando, Florida, July 18 to 20, 2017. It was three jam packed days of education and learning. WDALA NALA Liaison Alice Johnson, ACP, attended on behalf of WDALA and Melissa Klimpel, ACP, and I attended as representatives of NALA. We connected with Red River Valley Paralegal Association (RRVPA) President Lisa Kilde, and past RRVPA member Lisa Kasper. There were over 400 paralegals from across the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands in attendance. Please see the report of NALA Liaison Alice Johnson, ACP, for details regarding the conference.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE