April Message from Sharon Jones, ACP, Affiliated Associations Director

Happy spring, Affiliates! Spring is a great time of excitement! It is baseball opening season and Final Four (college basketball). The weather is perfect for riding bikes, having a nice picnic in the park, enjoying the nice spring breeze, and maybe even planting beautiful flowers in the garden! It is also a good time to start planning and gearing up for conference. 

“Spring is the time of plans and projects. ” ~ Leo Tolstoy 

Just as the first quarter went by like a breeze, conference time will be upon us before you know it. Conference is a time of excitement, anticipation, phenomenal sessions, meeting new affiliates, reuniting with seasoned affiliates, and making fond memories. The Affiliated Association (AA) Team is looking forward to seeing all our affiliates at conference and sharing the excitement of conference with you! The NALA Conference & Expo is July 11-13 in Louisville, Kentucky!    

Speaking of exciting news, Affiliates have a full, impactful day of activities at conference on Thursday, July 11th, from the AA Annual Meeting & Awards, which includes the Affiliate Exchange presentation, to the Affiliate Showcase in the evening. At the Annual Meeting, the AA Team will have the pleasure of welcoming two new Affiliates, the Illinois Paralegal Association and the Volusia County Paralegal Association. We also have a new member on the AA Team. Join us in welcoming Brittney Edgehill, the new Member Services Representative – Partner Relationships.

For the first time in conference history, there will be a Sunday add-on session tailor-made for our Affiliated Associations. The half-day session on “Growing and Strengthening Your NALA Affiliated Association” will be led by Shelley Cadamy, a seasoned facilitator whose wealth of experience spans decades of empowering boards, including the prestigious NALA Board of Directors and numerous boards of Affiliated Associations.

Ms. Cadamy’s session will address the challenges and concerns you have voiced in your annual reports, including topics like Assessing and Elevating Your Board’s Potential, Fostering Committee Dynamics, and Cultivating Future Leaders. She promises invaluable guidance and will offer a transformative journey specifically for present and future leaders of our Affiliated Associations. Get ready to embark on a journey of growth and impact in shaping a brighter future for NALA Affiliated Associations! You do not want to miss it! Register here.

We are in for a special treat with NALA’s Charity of the Year, For Hank’s Sake, where rescued horses become champions for change and literacy. Hank the horse will make a special guest appearance at conference. For more information about conference, Hank, and the Sunday add-on, visit NALA’s website here.

The excitement this year in working with the Affiliated Associations has been simply amazing! It has not only been an exciting year, but it has also been a pleasure to meet many of you and serve as your Affiliated Associations Director. You all never cease to amaze the AA Team with your dedication, commitment, and service to your local associations. Magnificent job! 

Exciting dates to remember: 

May 1	Deadline for nominations for Affiliated Associations Director and Affiliated Associations Secretary
	Deadline to nominate a fellow board member or an outstanding member for the Affiliate Award. For more information, click here.
	Deadline to submit registration to participate in the Affiliate Showcase. This is a great opportunity to showcase your association’s work in advancing the paralegal profession, share information on how your association is impacting the legal community, and meet and interact with your fellow affiliates and NALA members.
May 2	Live session with NALA’s Conference & Expo Ambassador and Hospitality Team. Register here.
May 10	Early Bird registration ends for the 2024 NALA Conference & Expo.
May 15	Deadline to submit your Designated Voter for the Affiliated Associations election
June 1	Election opens for Affiliated Associations Director and Affiliated Associations Secretary
June 8	Mid-Year Reports due
June 11	Virtual Candidate Forum for NALA Board of Directors
June 12	Voting opens for NALA Board of Directors
(open)	Opportunity to serve at conference — The Ambassador and Hospitality Team is looking for volunteers interested in hosting a group dinner to welcome first-time conference attendees, Certified Paralegals/Advanced Certified Paralegals, members and new members, speakers, conference volunteers, and affiliates. For information about hosting a dinner, contact the Ambassador and Hospitality Team by sending an email to nalanet@nala.org.

I am looking forward to seeing all Affiliates at conference in Louisville! 

Affiliated Associations Team:   

Sharon D. Jones, ACP, Affiliated Associations Director
Richard “Rich” A. Hahn, ACP, Affiliated Associations Director
Cate Benge, NALA Membership Coordinator
Brittney Edgehill, Member Services Representative – Partner Relationships