OFFICERS' REPORTS
Alice Johnson, ACP
WDALA NALA Liaison
My report for this article is about the 2017 NALA Conference and Expo! All I can say is … WOW! The conference was held from July 19-21 at the Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando. Those Florida paralegals sure know how to put on a conference!
The accommodations were absolutely beautiful and the conference center at the resort provided everything a participant could have wished for. The proximity was close to not only the airport (a short uber ride away), but also to some of the various theme parks located nearby. There were also a number of shops and restaurants located on the grounds within a short walking distance.
But Conference isn’t all about going somewhere new and doing all the fun stuff you can pack into a day. It is about renewing old friends and meeting new ones, making new contacts (aka networking), learning how our affiliate association’s involvement is so important and learning how NALA helps to make what we do an important and recognized part of the legal profession. It is also at the Conference where our Affiliated Associations and NALA officers and directors are elected. And, of course, the CLE courses throughout the conference allow us to further our education, refresh things with which we are already familiar, and expose us to areas where we have no practical knowledge.
A number of the CLE classes this year were CP prep classes. I found the CP prep classes I took to be very useful – picking up a trick or two to add to my toolbox – even though I have already passed the exam. Between the opening session with the keynote speaker teaching us how to live our lives “Motivated by Chocolate”, the affiliated associations and NALA Annual member meeting, the roundtable discussions held during the luncheon, the CLE courses, the vendor exhibits, and the association exhibits, our days were filled from sunup to sundown!
Attending the NALA Conference and Expo is an experience I would suggest every paralegal, whether or not you have your CP, strives to participate in. Yes, there are the friends – old and new – you make. Yes, there are the highly informative meetings in which you shape our organization. Yes, there are the CLE credits and educational courses which further us all. But most of all, the experience fills you with a renewed sense of WHY you do what you do and infuses you with a vigor to come back with the tips, tricks, and information to do your job just a little bit better! And there is so so much more to Conference that I haven’t covered in this article. Come see for yourself how fantastic Conference can be!
Next year, the NALA Conference and Expo will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 11-13. Save the date and start planning your trip. It is more than worth your time and money to invest in your career to attend the conference!
I want to express my sincere gratitude to the members of WDALA for allowing me to attend the Orlando NALA Conference and Expo. The experiences and knowledge gained at Conference allow me to better do my job as your NALA Liaison as well as my job as a paralegal! Thank you!!!