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NALA Affiliates
Awards
By: Lisa Vander Weide, CLAS
NALA and its affiliated associations are
beneficiaries of many dedicated members. In each affiliate, there is a
person who has worn many hats, who has been dependable and reliable, and
who has given countless hours of their personal time to their affiliate.
Through the tireless efforts of their members, NALA affiliated
associations are providing quality continuing education, providing more
networking opportunities and job banks, and they are working with state
and local bar associations to bring recognition and credibility to our
profession. Although they don’t ask for it, each one of these hard-working
members deserves recognition.
Since 1995, the NALA affiliate awards have celebrated the achievements and
recognized those that have given their time and energy to other
professionals and the legal assistant/paralegal profession. In 1999, NALA
added two more honors for affiliate members, the National Achievement
Award and the Outstanding Contribution Award.
The recipient of an affiliated association award should be one which their
association feels has contributed and/or participated to the betterment of
the legal community, the association, and our profession.
The Affiliates Award has been given to NALA members who have received a
special award or recognition from an affiliated association. It recognizes
significant achievements of members at the state and local level.
Affiliates submit nominees based on their own selection criteria, and all
nominees for an Affiliates Award are considered for the Outstanding
Contribution Award.
A list of previous honorees by affiliated association appears at the end
of this article. Take a look at this!
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The Outstanding Contribution Award, first offered in 1999, recognizes
exceptional achievement in leadership and service to a NALA affiliated
association. Examples of deserving candidates include contributions to
relationships among our profession, the public and the legal community;
exceptional leadership within an affiliate; and serving as founder of a
NALA affiliated association.
The first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award is Olivia C.
Roleson, CLAS of the Greater Memphis Paralegal Alliance. Libby has
served in multiple offices in GMPA, including 2 terms each as President
and NALA Liaison. Libby also took part in organizing GMPA’s CLA Review
Course. Libby’s contributions didn’t stop in 1999. She has served as
NALA’s Credentials Chair, NALA’s Ethics Chair, and is currently NALA’s
Region III Director.
The 2000 recipient is Sheri Towne, CLAS of the Tri-County Paralegal
Association. Sheri is a founding member and past president of TCPA. In
1999, she was an Affiliate Exchange presenter on “Promoting Your
Association Through a Newsletter and Internet Project.” She has also been
a frequent contributor of articles to NALA’s Facts & Findings. Sheri
served on NALA’s Continuing Education Council, where she was instrumental
in the development of the third edition of the NALA Manual for Legal
Assistants. She also served two terms as Secretary of the South Carolina
Alliance of Legal Assistant Associations, was the original seminar
coordinator for SCALAA, and laid the groundwork for the creation of
SCALAA’s Professional Development Committee.
In 2001, we celebrated another first by presenting the award to two
recipients, Margaret Averill, CLAS, CFLA of the Paralegal Association
of Florida, Inc. and Kathleen H. Miller, CLA, CAS of the Orange
County Paralegal Association.
Margie participated in the organization of the Treasure Coast Chapter of
PAF in 1991 and served as President and Treasurer of that Chapter in its
first two years. She served Margie received her first Affiliates Award in
1997. She served as President of PAF from 1998 to 2000, during which time
she visited all eight chapters throughout the state and attended their
continuing education meetings. She is an instructor for PAF’s CLA Review
Courses in South Florida and was active in organizing and administering
the Certified Florida Legal Assistant program. Margie has been an adjunct
instructor and served on the Legal Assisting Advisory Committee for a
local community college. Margie is also credited with the creation of
PAF’s website. Since receiving the award, Margie has served a three-year
term on NALA’s Professional Development Committee, is currently serving on
the Florida Bar’s Standing Committee on the Unlicensed Practice of Law,
and as NALA Liaison for the Paralegal Association of Florida.
Kathy has served on the Board of Directors of OCPA since 1991, including a
term as President in 2000. Kathy also served as President and Secretary of
the Commission for Advanced Specialization which governs the California
Advanced Specialty examination. Kathy offered testimony before the State
Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote letters to the Governor and state
representatives, and rallied OCPA members to support passage of Assembly
Bill 1761, codifying the requirements and qualifications for paralegals in
California. Kathy also has been the Paralegal Internship Coordinator,
served on the advisory board, and is a member of the faculty of a local
college paralegal program. She is the co-author of a chapter in a
sociology textbook and has written for Public Opinion Quarterly. Kathy’s
contributions have not stopped. She has served as OCPA’s primary
representative to the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations. Kathy
is in her second term as NALA’s Region IX Director.
The 2002 recipient is Kim Cantu, CLA of the Legal Assistants of North
Texas Association. Kim was instrumental in the creation and
development of LANTA, a newly-formed NALA affiliate. Kim served on the
Board of Directors for the Dallas Area Paralegal Association, Metroplex
Association of Corporate Paralegals, and 3 years as District 2 Director
for the Legal Assistants Division, State Bar of Texas. Kim’s contributions
have not stopped. She was chosen as an Affiliates Exchange presenter in
2003 for her presentation entitled “Charge Up 2004”. This creative idea
for increasing member participation is being used by several NALA
affiliates. Kim is currently serving as President of the Legal Assistant
Division of the Texas State Bar. She also serves on the Paralegal Advisory
Boards for Texas A&M – Commerce and Tarrant County College.
Once again, 2 recipients were honored in 2003. The first recipient was
Jean M. Cushman, CLA, CAS of the Paralegal Association of Santa Clara
County. The second recipient was Rhonda Reid of the Los Angeles
Paralegal Association.
Jean M. Cushman, CLA, CAS was a founding member of PASCCO and served in
many leadership positions. She served as PASCCO’s primary representative
to the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations and the Santa Clara
County Bar Association. Jean was named 2001 Paralegal of the Year by Legal
Assistant Today magazine. She has been an instructor in the Paralegal
Studies Program of a local college, and has taught sections for PASCCO’s
CLA study classes. Jean also served 2 terms as NALA’s Region IX Director.
Since receiving the award, Jean served on NALA’s Certifying Board and is
currently serving as PASCCO’s NALA Liaison.
Rhonda Reid is one of only four members of LAPA to serve 3 terms as
President. She was a key force in LAPA’s decision to affiliate with NALA
in 1998. Her contributions included the development of alliances that
resulted in the Internet-based Career Center (legalstaff.com), combining
resources of career centers nationwide. She travels regularly to area
paralegal schools and law firms to educate students and practicing legal
assistants on the benefits of professional associations, the CLA program,
and the California Business & Professions Code. Rhonda received the Five
Star Paralegal Award in 1999. She also volunteers services for the largest
pro bono law office in the U.S., where she helps finalize the adoption of
children in foster care.
The 2004 recipient is Nancy E. Mendenhall, CLA of the Kansas
Association of Legal Assistants. Nancy was credited for her leadership
in increasing KALA’s membership to its highest level in years. She
implemented a plan to encourage early involvement of new members while
appealing to long-standing members to become more active. Nancy also
organized KALA’s CLA Review Course and taught two sections of the exam
during the course. She organized a campaign at area schools to promote
interest in the paralegal profession. Nancy is also a faculty member for
the National Association of Bond Lawyers in their annual National
Fundamentals Seminar. Since receiving the award, Nancy has continued
serving as KALA’s President and is also serving as NALA’s 2004-2005
Credentials Chair.
When the nominations for the 2004 awards were made, Nancy believed the
entire KALA Board had been nominated for an Affiliates Award. But her
board turned the tables and submitted only Nancy’s name for the award.
Needless to say, Nancy was surprised when NALA notified her of her
selection as the 2004 Outstanding Contribution Award recipient.
The National Achievement Award, first awarded in 1999, honors an
affiliated association or an individual member who has had an enduring
national impact on our profession.
The first recipient of the National Achievement Award is Jon Montgomery,
CLA, CAS of the Orange County Paralegal Association. Jon served as
President of the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations from 1997
to 1999. Since receiving the award, Jon has served as the Chair of the
Advisory Board for the Commission for Advanced Paralegal Specialization,
Inc. and is the webmaster for the California Alliance of Paralegal
Associations.
The 2000 recipient is Hazel Lange, CLA of the Paralegal Association of
Santa Clara County. Hazel co-authored several articles in the area of
estate planning, participated in an audio-taped project entitled
Transferring Assets after Death in 1992, and was a two-time recipient of
the Maryanne Pickerell Award which is the highest honor bestowed by PASCCO
on a member. Hazel’s lobbying efforts and testimony before the California
Legislature’s Judiciary Committee in March 2000 were important influences
on the committee’s approval of AB 1761 defining the terms “paralegal” and
“legal assistant.” Hazel served as President and Vice President of the
California Alliance of Paralegal Associations. She has served on PASCCO’S
Board of Directors since 1987. Hazel’s contributions did not stop in 2000.
She has served on NALA committees, as PASCCO’s NALA Liaison in 2004, and
was a recipient of another NALA Affiliates Award in 2004.
The 2001 recipient of the National Achievement Award is Stacy Hunt, CLA,
CAS, of the Orange County Paralegal Association. Stacy is an
instructor in paralegal studies at California Polytechnic State University
and formerly taught Discovery and Trial Preparation at Fresno City
College. She is a writer of professional literature, and has served on the
board of directors of the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations
since 1998. Her book credits include co-authorship of The Successful
Paralegal Job Search Guide, Hot Docs & Smoking Guns: Managing Document
Production and Document Organization and contributions to the third
edition of The Paralegal Career Guide. Stacy continues to write for
professional publications. She has also served as President of the
California Alliance of Paralegal Associations in 2002 and 2003.
The 2003 recipient is Patricia G. Elliott, CLAS of the Arizona
Paralegal Association. Pat is a past president of NALA and APA. She
has been a major force in advancing the paralegal profession in Arizona
and nationwide. Pat worked on the State Bar of Arizona Task Force for
Paralegal Membership. She also served on a State consumer protection task
force investigating the effects of paralegals providing services directly
to the public. She has been honored many times for her contributions to
our profession. Pat’s contributions have not ceased. She is currently
serving as Chair of NALA’s Specialty Task Force which is responsible for
re-shaping NALA’s specialty certification examination program.
Take another look at the list of those who have been honored with
affiliate awards and then determine the names of deserving members who are
missing from this list. No doubt you will find a member who was
instrumental in one of your affiliate’s programs, who has worked with
local school paralegal programs, or has worked with local or state bar
associations to benefit our profession. Show other NALA members and
affiliates what your members have done to assure your association’s and
our profession’s success.
NALA’s 30th Anniversary celebration is the perfect time to recognize the
achievement of your members. Affiliate nominations are due May 1, 2005.
Don’t miss this opportunity to recognize the achievements of your members
on a national level.
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List of Affiliated
Association
Award Recipients
1995-2004
Alabama Association of Paralegals
1996 - Rosemary A. Gilmore, CLA; Linda S. Reid, CLA; Becky Shipes, CLA;
2002 - Juanita P. Ivey, CLAS
Arizona Paralegal Association
1996 - Jodi A. Harrison, CLAS; Patricia H. Steiner, CLA; 1997 - Patricia
G. Elliott, CLAS; Debra J. Frazee, CLAS; Betty Gillis, CLA; Fonda Moore,
CLA; Karin M. Scheehle, CLAS; 1998 - Kelley S. Dalton, CLA; 1999 - Carolyn
Marshall, CLA
2003 – Patricia G. Elliott, CLAS
Legal Assistants of Metropolitan Phoenix
1998 - Alexis D. Quiroz, CLA
Tucson Association of Legal Assistants
1995 - Veronica Angel, CLA; Mary E. Butera, CLA
1998 - Deborah Z. Elkins, CLAS; Linda Patrou, CLA
1999 - Denise Tinsley Bram, CLAS
Arkansas Association of Legal Assistants
1995 - Deborah J. Moon; 1996 - Cyndy Schroeder
1999 - Constance F. Helmich; 2000 - Rhonda Asencio
Inland Counties Association of Paralegals
2004 - Angela N. Yess, CLA
Los Angeles Paralegal Association
2003 - Rhonda Reid; 2004 - Catherine Durgin, CLAS
Orange County Paralegal Association
1996 - Tracy Volk-Bradley, CLA; 1998 - Karl Kumamoto, CLA, CAS; A.E. (Heide)
Maersch; Kathleen Houts Miller, CLA; Jon S. Montgomery; Cyndee Notrica;
Carolyn Yellis, CLA; 1999 - Jon Montgomery; Patricia Logan, CLA;2000 -
Carolyn Yellis, CLA; 2001 - Kathleen H. Miller, CLA, CAS; Stacey Hunt,
CLA, CAS;2002 - Scott R. Moore
2003 - Jeff Sparks; 2004 - Marilyn Dupies, CLA,CAS
Paralegal Association of Santa Clara County
1995 - Tita A. Brewster, CLA; Jean M. Cushman, CLA; Jo E. Floch, CLA;
Hazel Lange; Stefanie B. Wilkins; 1996 - Tita Brewster, CLA; Jean Cushman,
CLA, CAS; Karen Gale, CLAS; Hazel Lange; Anita Sawicki, CLA; Stefani
Wilkins
1998 - Diane Dodd; Constance (Connie) A. Gast
1999 - Stefani B. Dawkins; 2000 - Hazel Lange, CLA; Melisa D. Frick, CLA;
2001 - Diane M. Bogart
2003 - Jean M. Cushman, CLA/CAS
Santa Barbara Paralegal Association
1995 - Lana J. Clark, CLA; 1996 - Dibby Allan Green, CLAS; Lynn DeLoyd
King, CLA; 1997 - Sonja B. Youngdahl
Ventura County Association of Legal Assistants
1997 - Cynthia J. Adams, CLA; 1999 - Delaina Finch
Central Florida Paralegal Association
1998 - Carol A. Cozad, CLA; 1999 - Melissa A. Vander Weide, CLA; 2002 -
Anne M. Iacuzzo, CLA
Northeast Florida Paralegal Association
1995 - Donna A. Hoffman, CLA; Tana J. Stringfellow, CLA; 1998 - Jodi J.
Johnson, CLAS; James V. Orlando, CLA; 1999 - Delores E. Minard, CLA; 2002
- Rebecca L. Rossman, CLA; 2003 - Margaret C. Costa, CLA; 2004 - Mary F.
Greenhill, CLAS
Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc.
1996 - Robert J. Herald, CLA; Carol D. Holler, CLAS; Karen S. McLead, CLA;
1997 - Margaret J. Averill, CLAS, CFLA; Ingrid C. Vogler, CLA, CFLA;
1999 - Penny W. Bell, CLA; 2000 - Karen S. McLead, CLA; 2001 - Margaret
Averill, CLAS, CFLA
2002 - Karen S. McLead, CLA ;2003 - Vera Long, CLAS
Southwest Florida Paralegal Association
1999 - Susan L. Hauck, CLA
Volusia Association of Paralegals
1995 - Rosemary E. Hallman, CLA
Southeastern Association of Legal Assistants of Georgia
2004 - Angie H. Porter, CLA
Central Illinois Paralegal Association
1995 - Karen B. Judd, CLA; 1997 - Debra Monke, CLAS; 1998 - Darlene
Johnson, CLA; Carolyn Pitts, CLA
Iowa Association of Legal Assistants
2004 - Carla Lown, CLA
Heartland Association of Legal Assistants
2002 - Sandra K. Landis, CLAS
Kansas Association of Legal Assistants
1996 - Blanche Bunce, CLA; Milly Cundy, CLA; 2000 - Greta L. Goodwin, CLA;
2004 - Nancy Mendenhall
Western Kentucky Paralegals
2000 - Kathy Grentzer, CLA; 2001 - Sonya D. Rambo,CLA 2002 - Lora L.
Roberts, CLAS 2004 - Joan Hobgood, CLA
Louisiana State Paralegal Association
1995 - Jessie L. Cormier, CLA; Karen L. McKnight, CLA; Jimmie W. Murvin,
CLAS; Sandra A. Smith, CLAS; 1996 - Karen L. McKnight, CLA; 1997 - Sandra
A. Smith, CLAS
Maine State Assoc. of Legal Assistants
1998 - Felicia A. Garant, CLA
Legal Assistants Association of Michigan
1997 - Vicki Voisin, CLAS; 1998 - Sharon A. Sears
2001 - Tina Michelle Hall; 2003 - Marcy L. Jankovich; 2004 - Renee J. Jent,
CLA
Montana Association of Legal Assistants
1997 - LaCinda Williams, CLA; 1998 - Deborah Ethridge, CLA; 2000 - Annette
R. Brown, CLA;
2002 - Terry L. Halstead; 2003 - Christine Shoopman
Clark County Organization of Legal Assistants
1995 - Carolyn J. Embry, CLA
Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals
2002 - Candace R. Jones, CLAS; 2004 - Karen C. Biggs, CLAS
Paralegal Association of New Hampshire
1996 - Merry Sweeney, CLA
Legal Assistants Association of New Jersey
1998 - Dorothy Secol, CLA; 1999 - Kandi Moncelsi, CLAS; 2000 - Suzanne
MacDowell, CLA
Metrolina Paralegal Association (NC)
1997 - Mary F. Haggerty, CLA; 1998 - Mary E. Willard, CLAS
North Carolina Paralegal Association
1996 - Galyle D. Green, CLA; Laura Powell Lee, CLA; Camille Stuckey Stell,
CLAS; 1997 - Sharon (Sherri) L. Wall, CLA; 1998 - Meredith R. Pollette,
CLAS (6/13/35-6/11/90); Mary F. Haggerty, CLA; Sharon G. Robertson, CLAS;
2001 - Sharon G. Robertson, CLAS; 2002 - Sharon L. Wall, CLAS;
2003 - Theresa Irvin, CLA
Red River Valley Legal Assistants
1996 - Jeanine Rodvold, CLA; 1998 - Kathleen Stradley, CLAS; 2003 -
Jeanine Rodvold, CLA
Western Dakota Association of Legal Assistants
1997 - Janice M. Eslinger, CLA
Paralegal Association of Northwest Ohio
2001 - Ruthanne E. Chase, CLAS; 2002 - Claudia D. Sundberg, CLA
Oklahoma Paralegal Association
2000 - Lennis D. Ailey, CLA
Tulsa Association of Legal Assistants
2000 - Anne Croley; 2001 - Cassandra O. Powell, CLA; 2002 - Barbara J.
Lane, CLA; 2003 - Elizabeth Nellis, CLA
Pacific Northwest Legal Assistants
1996 - Mary Pat Piazza, CLAS
Keystone Legal Assistant Association
1998 - Kimberly Houser, CLA; Jean M. Rice, CLAS
Charleston Association of Legal Assistants
2000 - V. Sheri Towne, CLAS
Paralegal Association of Beaufort County
1995 - Cynthia A. McClelland, CLAS
South Carolina Upstate Paralegal Association
1996 - Valeen Goodreau, CLA
Greater Memphis Paralegal Alliance
1999 - Olivia Roleson, CLAS; 2000 - Faye B. Patterson, CLA; 2001 -
Pamela R. Cobb, CLA
Tennessee Paralegal Association
1996 - Lawassa B. Jones, CLAS
Legal Assistants of North Texas Association
2002 - Kim Cantu, CLA
Texas Panhandle Association of Legal Assistants
1997 - Laina Bartlow, CLA
West Texas Association of Legal Assistants
1995 - Ruth H. Bagwell, CLA
Legal Assistants Association of Utah
2000 - Marilu Peterson, CLAS
Richmond Paralegal Association
1995 - Bridgette R. Whitney, CLA; 1996 - Linda B. Liles; 1997 - Mary
Pat Hanson, CLA; Sheila H. Komito, CLAS; Janet Barrack Kouten, CLA; Jane
H. Nuttall, CLA; 1998 - Janet Barrack Kouten, CLA;
1999 - Cynthia M. Pedigo, CLA; 2000 - Patricia C. Anderson, CLA; 2002 -
Patricia C. Anderson, CLAS
2004 - Peggy Walker, CLA
Tidewater Paralegal Association
1995 - Claire Etta Smith, CLA
1997 - Margaret E. Lowery, CLA
Virginia Peninsula Paralegal Association
1996 - Phyllis T. Anderson, CLAS; Victoria L. Quadros, CLA; 1997 - Donna
D. Hull, CLA
2004 - Victoria L. Quadros, CP
Legal Assistants of West Virginia
1999 - V. Jane Lambert, CLA
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