Cheryl Summerhill, PLS
United We Stand
AALS 2011-2012 President

Congratulations to our new slate of AALS officers for 2012-2013:
President – Janet Gordon, PP, PLS
Pres-Elect – Mimi Jumper
Executive Secretary – Kimmi Wiles
Treasurer – Mary Hand, PP, PLS
Past President – Cheryl Summerhill, PLS

Members present at the meeting voted to rename the AALS retreat. The winning entry was from Margarett Wilson, PLS, and the retreat shall now be known as AALS PROFESSIONAL ENHANCEMENT RETREAT. Margarett’s registration to the 2012 AALS Professional Enhancement Retreat will be paid for submitting the winning entry. This Retreat will be held at Lakepoint Conference Center in Russellville, Arkansas on June 1-2. Be sure to watch upcoming emails for final information to register. The CLEC is working hard to present informational sessions that will benefit all AALS members.

The silent auction to benefit the AALS scholarship account was successful, as was the raffle of the $50.00 bill to benefit the AALS Retreat.

Mr. Stark Ligon, who spoke to us on ethics, sent a thank-you to Donna Holloway on Saturday at the conclusion of his session. His email stated: … They are the cream of AR lsp [legal support professionals], and I get as much from their questions as they probably get from my talk. … Do not be surprised if I might call on your group in 2012 for some input into our revision effort on the Rule that now somewhat covers the client file and what to do with it, as we struggle with that here.”

Incoming president Janet Gordon, PP, PLS, is looking for committee chairs, committee members, and workers for 2012-2013. If you are interested in being a part of AALS leadership for 2012-2013, please contact Janet and let her know where your interests lie. Why not step out of your personal comfort zone and try a new position? Challenge yourself!

Our AALS Annual Meeting will be held on April 27-29 in Garland County, who will be celebrating their 50th year as a NALS chapter. Please start making your arrangements now to attend. You won’t want to miss any of the exciting things that are being planned, including the Awards Banquet and the installation of your new officers.

Many, many other great things happened at the Winter Business Meeting and Educational Conference – all of which were to benefit you, the AALS member. If you were unable to attend, please contact your State Director to gain all the beneficial information.

Cheryl Summerhill, PLS
2011-2012 AALS President
UNITED WE STAND

The opportunity for you to play an active role in AALS–your State Association is coming to an end. As reported in The Informer, the name “Leadership” Retreat was a misnomer. This Retreat is NOT for just for leaders—but for the entire membership–SPECIFICALLY YOU!!! It is presented for all members who want professional development – those who want to “get ahead” in your profession, your association, your personal life – to become the you that you are meant to be.

The “NAME THE RETREAT” contest to rename next year’s event ENDS AT 5:00 P.M. ON JANUARY 1, 2012. The submission with the new name that best describes this retreat will receive a FREE REGISTRATION TO THE JUNE 1-2, 2012 RETREAT AT LAKE POINT CENTER IN RUSSELVILLE, ARKANSAS. The name of the 2012 retreat, as well as the name of the member winning the free registration will be announced at the AALS Winter Business Meeting on January 14, 2012—don’t you want that to be YOU???

A few great suggestions have been received. I know that we have MANY clever minds in our association, so use your remaining 2011 brain cells for YOUR association. Bite the bullet, let your voice be heard, and submit your contest entry TODAY.

Please email your submissions to Marie at schoen@cablelynx.com, with copies being sent to President Summerhill at summerhillcheryl@hotmail.com and to President-Elect Gordon at janet@stevejordanlaw.com.

Thank you.

On November 14, 2011, you received an email from Joyce Morgan, AALS publication director, containing the report of Linda Adair, the Nominations and Election Chair, and the ballot for the 2012-2013 AALS officers. You should let your voice be heard by casting your vote. You should consider all applicants, taking into account the time/experience/knowledge/etc. of each name on the ballot, and then place your vote for the fellow member you think will best represent your interests on the state level.

New member? Out of the loop? If you need help or information regarding the names on the ballot, you are encouraged to seek the knowledge of the more “seasoned” members, either in your chapter or in another chapter.

I would like for us to receive 100% participation from all AALS members in this election–please help make that happen by exercising your voting privilege. Ms. Linda, Nominations and Elections Chair, advised me today that she has only received votes from approximately 25% of our membership. There is still time to vote–contact Linda Adair at linadair_91348@yahoo.com or by “snail mail” to P. O. Box 94, Carlisle, AR 72024.

I know you are busy preparing for Thanksgiving and trying to stuff five days of work into three days this week, but we don’t want to miss anyone’s vote and want YOUR vote to count.

Thanks.

General Patton Summerhill

D – dedicated
O – outgoing
R – respected
I – intelligent
S – supportive.

These are just a very few of the great qualities of Doris Compton, PP, PLS. She has so much energy and passion, experience, and forward-thinking ideas to take NALS into the future. Doris’ leadership is beyond reproach. She is the ultimate professional, has devoted much of her life to us as NALS members, and has the honesty, integrity, and commitment to be a successful NALS president-elect. Her ability to communicate, willingness to accept responsibility, goal achievement, and self-confidence will ensure that NALS’ members will have a dependable, reliable, mature and effective President-elect.

NALS 2012-2013 OFFICERS
President Helene L. Wood, PP, PLS—SC Corporate, TSC-RE (TX)
President-Elect Doris Compton, PP, PLS (AR)
Secretary/Treasurer Karen McElroy, PP, PLS (AZ)

Functional Directors:
Certification Director Karen Kuhn, PP, PLS (MS)
Education Director Faynell Poe, PP, PLS (TX)
Marketing Director Brynne Williamson, PP, PLS (WA)
Membership Director Lisa Mitchum, PLS (GA)

Regional Director for Region 6 Reba Peden, PP, PLS (MS)

Immediate Past President Kathleen R. Amirante, PP, PLS (MI)
Foundation Chair Julie A. Abernathy, PP, PLS (TX)
Executive Director Tammy Hailey, CAE

If you are interested in serving on a NALS committee under the leadership of Helene Wood, go to the NALS website for links to join her leadership team.

Cheryl Summerhill, PLS
AALS 2011-2012 President
UNITED WE STAND

Advertising rates: ½ page ad for each issue = $25.00

The deadline for the upcoming issue of The Informer is November 14, 2011.

I encourage each member to seek advertising. All proceeds from this advertising will be used to offset the expenses for the 2012 leadership retreat (which will be renamed as noted previously).

Thank you for your dedication to our association and for your hard work.

UNITED WE STAND!!

In order for our 2011-2012 UNITED WE STAND deployment to continue to be successful, we must continue with the plan—move forward, bursting through enemy lines, breaching the hill, and wining the victory. We are making a united front to be the best that we can be, which is evidenced by being awarded three Future Leaders Scholarships from the NALS Foundation. We must continue to navigate the AALS obstacle course, being responsible for our decisions and be prideful of our accomplishments. Remember the oath that you took at this year’s installation of officers?

I am an AALS Members
I am a member of a team
I will never accept defeat
I will never quit
I am disciplined, trained and proficient in my skills
I stand ready to participate
I am an AALS member

Therefore, in order to comply with this oath, be A MEMBER OF THE TEAM and STAND READY TO PARTICIPATE, you should participate in this giveaway!! I’ve said all along that we need to use the money that we’ve earned to invest in ourselves. This is your opportunity for AALS to invest in you!!

The latest issue of @ Law contained the registration and educational/training material for the conference. You can also find registration fees, hotel information, and all seminar information at nals.org. The early bird registration fee is due by December 1. Therefore, it’s time for us to award this registration fee–all AALS members are eligible!

Rules:

1. You MUST commit to attend. This fee is for registration only, and does not include lodging or travel. If you commit and win this registration fee, then are unable to attend, you are responsible for repaying the $269.00 to AALS.

2. You should contact General Summerhill (summerhillcheryl@hotmail.com) by email, with the words “NALS PD CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEE GIVEAWAY” in the subject line. Your email should include your name, your commitment to attend, and your agreement that your name can be placed in a drawing.

3. Deadline to submit entries is NOON on NOVEMBER 21, 2011. A winner will be randomly drawn from all applications at 5:00 p.m. on NOVEMBER 21, 2011.

Here is your opportunity to play an active role in AALS–your State Association! An article in the last issue of The Informer showed that the name “Leadership” Retreat was a misnomer. This Retreat is NOT for just for leaders—but for the entire membership–SPECIFICALLY YOU!!! It is presented for all of you who want to continue with your professional development – those who want to “get ahead” in your profession, your association, your personal life – to become the you that you are meant to be.

At the AALS Fall Business Meeting, the board members approved a name change, so we are pleased to announce a “NAME THE RETREAT” contest, which will be contest to rename next year’s event. The submission with the new name that best describes this retreat will receive a FREE REGISTRATION TO THE JUNE 2 – 3, 2012 RETREAT AT LAKE POINT CENTER IN RUSSELVILLE, ARKANSAS.

The competition begins now and ends at 5:00 p.m. on January 1, 2012. The name of the 2012 retreat, as well as the name of the member winning the free registration will be announced at the AALS Winter Business Meeting on January 14, 2012.

Please email your submissions to Marie at schoen@cablelynx.com, with copies being sent to President Summerhill at summerhillcheryl@hotmail.com and to President-Elect Gordon at janet@stevejordanlaw.com.

Your CLEC committee:
Danny Looney
Kimmi Wiles
Tina Ray
Marie Schoenfeldt, PLS, CLA

On behalf of AALS, we offer our sincerest CONGRATULATIONS to TJ for being chosen for this honor. TJ is very deserving of this scholarship and this is exciting news, not only for her, but for the future of White County LSP and AALS!!! TJ, we are very proud of you and look forward to your leadership!!!

WCLSP President Danny Looney’s response: “This is the second year in a row that someone from White County has won. It is perfect that our newest member take it upon herself to apply. We are excited with her enthusiasm and look forward to great things from TJ.”

Congratulations again!!! Congratulatory messages can be sent to tjmason_simpsonlaw@sbcglobal.net.

General Summerhill’s note: I am thrilled!!! I have been informed by the NALS Foundation that AALS members were awarded THREE of the SEVEN Future Leaders Scholarships for the Tulsa conference in March!!! We are growing future leaders and I am so proud of all of this year’s recipients. UNITED WE STAND!!