Ab Initio. From Your President. In This Issue:

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1 Ab Initio Fall 2014 Volume X Issue 3 The official newsletter of the Legal Assistants/Paralegals of Southern West Virginia an Affiliate of the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. In This Issue: From Your President Executive Committee From Your President Standing & Special Committees Current Membership Statistics...3 LAPSWV s Newest Members...3 LAPSWV Fall Meeting Student Chapter of LAPSWV Started at BridgeValley Community and Technical College LAPSWV Mentoring Program Upcoming Events & CLE....8 LAPSWV Member Birthdays....8 Thanks Extended to Our Sponsors.9 Seasons Greetings 10 About LAPSWV The 2014 Fall Meeting of LAPSWV was a great success. Members enjoyed a social hour, an Italian buffet and wonderful presentation by the Honorable Judge Paul T. Farrell of the Sixth Judicial District. The Executive Committee has also been busy planning a wonderful Christmas Social for LAPSWV. The Christmas Social is going to be held on December 4, 2014 at The Masters Law Firm. Mr. Masters is graciously opening his office for LAPSWV members to socialize and networking. LAPSWV is also extending invitations to this social event to law firms, clerks offices, and paralegal students in the Charleston and Huntington area. This is an event that you do not want to miss so mark your calendars! The Student Chapter of LAPSWV has the initial five students needed to schedule its organizational meeting and begin drafting by-laws. This is an exciting time in the lives of the students as well as LAPSWV. Fresh faces and new ideas lead to growth in any organization. The LAPSWV Mentoring Program is also in its initial stages with several members volunteering to be mentors. Our initial goal is to pair mentors with students to provide guidance as the students finish their degree and enter the workforce. The Mentoring Program can also help new Paralegals with adapting to their role in a Paralegal position. If you would like more information, please visit LAPSWV s website or contact me at [email protected]. The LAPSWV website is in the process of being updated so stay tuned for more information on that front. If you are interested in joining the website committee and learning how to maintain the website please contact Cindy Kline at [email protected]. The Executive Committee would like to encourage all of our members to get involved on a committee of your choice. We are already looking into the New Year for the CLA Review Course and Annual Meeting and it is never too late to participate in planning these events. V ISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW. LAPSWV. ORG Continued on Page 2

2 Continued from Page 1 As the holidays approach, I can t help but wonder if time will ever slow down so people can enjoy the simple things in life. The balance of work and personal lives seems to become more difficult as times goes on, and everyone I talk with shares the same struggle to find the right balance. I encourage you all to take some time this holiday season to enjoy the little moments that so often escape unrecognized by us all! Melanie Hicks, CP 2 End

3 LAPSWV Executive Committee Melanie Hicks, CP President Paralegal Solutions, LLC Karen Nichols, ACP First Vice President Jackson Kelly PLLC Cynthia L. Kline, ACP Second Vice President Jackson Kelly PLLC Mica Spratt Secretary Lamp Bartram Levy Trautwein & Perry, PLLC Sherri L. Rasmussen Treasurer The Masters Law Firm, LC NALA Liaison Tammy Welch, ACP Parliamentarian/Historian West Virginia Mutual Insurance Company Bylaw Review Tammy Welch, ACP Chair Walter Ice Cynthia Kline, ACP CLA Study Group Karen Nichols, ACP Chair Renee Clay, ACP Walter Ice Heather Jordan Cynthia Kline, ACP Community Service V. Jane Lambert, CLA Chair Deborah Butler-Case Evie Cooper Susan Knight Arnold Mason Paula Pauley Kristi Smith Educational Karen Nichols, ACP Chair Renee Clay, ACP Wynona Maynor, CLA Cindy Spreaker Walter Ice Ethics Melanie Hicks, CP Chair Tammy Welch, ACP Finance Sherri Rasmussen Chair Fund-Raising Sherri-Rasmussen Chair Kristi Smith Johanna E. Stiltner Robin Martin Legislative/Regulatory Tammy Welch, ACP Membership Cynthia Kline, ACP Chair Deborah Butler-Case Donna Hughes Katie Kendall Wynona Maynor, CLA Paula Pauley Tonya Skeens Loretta Walker, ACP Newsletter Paula Pauley Editor Deborah Butler-Case Michael Edwards Donna Hughes Public Relations Melanie Hicks, CP Chair Deborah Butler-Case Heather Jordan Kristi Smith Seminar Planning Executive Committee Walter Ice Jane Lambert Christie Shaffer Standing Rules Tammy Welch, ACP Chair Renee Clay, ACP Cynthia Kline, ACP Donna Hughes Karen Nichols, ACP Loretta Walker, ACP Website Cynthia Kline, ACP Chair Tammy Welch, ACP Pat Schoolcraft, CLA WELCOME TO LAPSWV S NEWEST MEMBERS Jennifer Bailey Crayton Active Stacy Mosley Student Lindsay Randolph Student Joseph Staup Student Anastacia Young Student 3 CURRENT MEMBERSHIP STATISTICS Active Members: Sustaining Members: Student Members: Provisional Members: TOTAL: Pending Renewals: Pending Student Applications: ACPs: AACP: CLAs and CPs: New Members as of 11/24/

4 LAPSWV FALL MEETING 2014 By Melanie Hicks, CP LAPSWV held its Fall Meeting at the historic Huntington House in Huntington on October 27, The Huntington House was built in 1888 by Colis P. Huntington and Delos Emmons for Center Land Company. It was opened for public use in 2010 by the Stafford family and provided a wonderful venue for LAPSWV s Fall Meeting. The social hour kicked off at 5:30 with hors d oeuvres and drinks for members to enjoy while mingling with other members. Dinner catered by Rocco s began at 6:30 with members enjoying a wonderful Italian buffet. 4 Continued on Page 5

5 Continued from Page 4 The Honorable Judge Paul T. Farrell shared his experiences as judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Cabell County, West Virginia. Judge Farrell has practiced in defense litigation, plaintiff litigation and as Assistant United States Attorney. His experience in various legal fields provided an interesting presentation to members in all practice areas. Judge Farrell also answered questions from members regarding his current case load and drug issues affecting our region. CWS Document Solutions sponsored LAPSWV s Fall Meeting and two representatives attended the meeting. CWS has become a sustaining member and business partner of LAPSWV. It was wonderful for representatives to attend and support the members. Please keep CWS Digital Solutions in mind for all of your copy, print and software needs in the future. There were 20 members and 1 non-member present at the 2014 Fall Meeting. 5 End

6 Student Chapter of LAPSWV Started at BridgeValley Community and Technical College in South Charleston, WV On Thursday, November 20, 2014, LAPSWV Past Presidents, Cindy Kline, ACP, Karen Nichols, ACP, and Rhonda Swartz, CP, met with students in the Paralegal Studies program at BridgeValley Community and Technical College to hold an organizational meeting and to elect officers. Following an explanation of the expectations LAPSWV has for the student chapter, the floor was opened for nominations and the following student members were elected to the Executive Board: President: Joseph Lewis Vice President: Joseph Staup Treasurer: Samantha Feazell Secretary: Lindsay Randolph LAPSWV Liaison: Anastacia Young These officers will serve until May 2015, at which time, nominations and elections will be held for the Executive Board officers. Dr. Craig Giffin, Assistant Professor/Program Director of the Paralegal Studies Program, will serve as the Faculty Advisor. Cindy Kline, ACP will serve as Chair of the organization. The newly elected officers received copies of the LAPSWV Bylaws and the NALA Code of Ethics, along with a draft Constitution for the Student Chapter of LAPSWV at BridgeValley. Officers were asked to review the documents and be prepared to discuss any additions or revisions that may need to be made to the draft Constitution at the next meeting. I am honored to be the inaugural President for the student chapter. I am looking forward to serving the student paralegal body through this role. My goal as President is to create a strong foundation for this chapter to stand on. This will come in the form of increasing our membership and providing support to the paralegal student body. The executive committee will be having its first meeting on Friday the 12 th to ratify our constitution, set goals for the upcoming semester and for this organization. Several goals that we will pursue is the increase in student tutoring/support, promoting the paralegal program in the community, establishing internship opportunities within the legal community, and other items of interest to the student body. I am very excited about our organization and the bright future ahead of it. Joe Lewis, President LAPSWV Student Chapter LAPSWV currently has 10 student members from BridgeValley Community and Technical College, which includes three applications received at the organizational meeting. LAPSWV s goal for its student members is to provide mentoring, assist in network building, and to ease the students transition into the legal community work force. The next meeting of the Student Chapter of LAPSWV is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2014, in Room 006 on the South Charleston campus of BridgeValley. For more information on the Student Chapter of LAPSWV, contact Cindy Kline, ACP at [email protected]. Cynthia L. Kline, ACP Second Vice President 6

7 Cindy Kline, ACP has been working diligently to organize a student chapter of LAPSWV and has received approval to start a Bridge Valley Community and Technical College Student Chapter. The success of the student chapter is an integral part of the growth of LAPSWV. Mentoring a student or a Paralegal new to the legal field is an important aspect of growth of our organization as well. It is with the goal of growth in mind that LAPSWV is implementing a Mentoring Program. As Legal Assistants and Paralegals, we understand the demands of balancing work and home and remember the stress of starting out in the legal field! The goal of LAPSWV s Mentoring Program is for experienced Paralegals to become a resource for students and new Paralegals for encouragement, gaining knowledge, networking and building confidence. The wonderful part of this program is that most communication can be done by or phone conferences. Although we are all busy, the time we dedicate to being a mentor can guide a person s career and give you the personal satisfaction of being a role model for the Paralegal profession. Please consider taking on the role of mentor and be the person we all wish we had known when we were starting out in the legal field, or for the lucky few, pay if forward in honor of your mentor. If you are interested in being a mentor, please return the application to me at [email protected] or Cindy Kline, ACP at [email protected]. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you, Melanie Hicks, CP 7

8 Upcoming Events & CLE Wishing LAPSWV Members A Happy Birthday November Birthdays Rebecca S. Hopkins Donna G. Myers, ACP Sherri L. Rasmussen Teresa L. Williams, CP December 2014 Estate Planning When Beneficiaries are Receiving SSDI and SSI December 2 Freedom of Information Act December 2 Applicable Exclusion Amount to Offset Federal Gift Taxes and Federal Estate Taxes December 3 How to Help Your Client When the EPA Comes to Regulate December 4 Written Communications December 5 Ethics and Movies: What We Learned from A Civil Action December 8 Basic Business Organizations December 9 How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Social Media December 10 Judgment and Legal Analysis December 12 December Birthdays Dean Boerger Donna S. Hughes Heather M. Jordan C. Ann Nolan Joseph Staup Tonya R. Taylor Heather Vilain January Birthdays Deborah M. Butler-Case Renee Clay, ACP Jennifer Honaker Stacy L. Johnson Karen S. Nichols, ACP Christie Ann Shaffer Cheryl Sharp, CP View the full NALA Campus LIVE! Schedule at You Are Cordially Invited to Legal Assistants/Paralegals of Southern West Virginia s Christmas Social Event December 4th 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm The Masters Law Firm 181 Summers Street, Charleston, WV Please RSVP by November 28th to Melanie Hicks [email protected] or Sherri Rasumssen [email protected] 8

9 Thank You Our Sponsors Thank You For Your Continued Support and Contributions The Masters Law Firm 9

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11 About Legal Assistants/Paralegals of Southern West Virginia Legal Assistants/Paralegals of Southern West Virginia ( LAPSWV ) is a non-profit organization established in 2004 in Charleston and Huntington, West Virginia. LAPSWV promotes high standards in the legal assistant profession, establishes networking resources for legal assistants/paralegals, and provides integrity in the legal community. LAPSWV also contributes to the community by participating in a number of charitable programs. LAPSWV strives to raise professional standards in the legal assistant/paralegal profession by providing opportunities for personal growth and development through educational experiences and the networking with other professionals. Legal Assistants/Paralegals of Southern West Virginia was founded: To further education among members of the legal assistant/paralegal profession; To provide a forum for the exchange of viewpoints on matters involving the legal assistant/paralegal profession; To promote and involve the legal assistant/paralegal in the development of guidelines on the standardization of the legal assistant profession; To establish good fellowship among association members, the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. ( NALA ), and members of the legal community; To encourage a high order of ethical and professional attainment; To cooperate with bar associations and other law related organizations; and To support and carry out the programs, purposes, aims and goals of NALA. Legal Assistants/Paralegals Of Southern West Virginia P.O. Box Charleston, WV Website: Direct Comments/Questions concerning this newsletter to: Paula Pauley - Chair LAPSWV Newsletter Committee [email protected] Ab Initio is a quarterly publication of Legal Assistants/Paralegals of Southern West Virginia (LAPSWV). None of the information contained herein is intended to be, nor should it be construed as legal advice. 11