NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS, INC Annual Convention October 22 October 23, 2016 Burlington, Vermont POLICY MEETING MINUTES

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NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS, INC. 2016 Annual Convention October 22 October 23, 2016 Burlington, Vermont POLICY MEETING MINUTES Saturday, October 22, 2016 I.

1 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS, INC Annual Convention October 22 October 23, 2016 Burlington, Vermont POLICY MEETING MINUTES Saturday, October 22, 2016 I. Meeting called to Order at 9:09 a.m. by President, Lisa Vessels, RP, CP, FRP. II. III. Presentation of the Colors by the Girl Scouts and Pledge of Allegiance. Introduction of the Board Members and Special Guests. A. Recognition of Current Board of Directors: President, Lisa Vessels, RP, CP, FRP Vice President and Director of Profession Development, Allen F. Mihecoby, CLAS, RP Vice President and Director of Membership, Yvonne DeAntoneo Vice President and Director of Certification, Juanita (Nita) Serrano, RP Vice President and Director of Marketing, Lisa Lynch, CRP Treasurer and Director of Finance, MaryAnn Ivie, RP Secretary and Director of Operations, Cherylan Shearer Region I Director, Thomas C. Holmes, RP Region II Director, Mianne L. Besser Region IV Director, Donna M. Huntermark, RP, PaCP Region V Director, Josie Estes Board Advisor, Robert S. Hrouda, RP Members of the Board of Directors not present were: Vice President and Director of Positions and Issues, Lynne-Marie Revelotis Region III Director, Barbara O Shaughnessy B. Recognition of Special Guests: Parliamentarian, Daniel Fitzpatrick United States Army Regimental Command 1 st Sergeant Major Joseph Lister United States Army Master Sergeant Jamal Owens United States Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Catrin Wiley Fatima Mahmud from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Enforcement IV. Acknowledgment and Recognition of all RP s and CPR s and other credentialed designations. 1

2 V. Recognition of Associations who have met the President s challenge: A. Obtained at least 2 new RP s: Georgia Association of Paralegals Minnesota Paralegal Association Oregon Paralegal Association Vermont Paralegal Organization B. Obtained the most new RP s: Oregon Paralegal Association with new RP s C. Obtained at least 2 new CRP s: Dallas Area Paralegal Association Oregon Paralegal Association Vermont Paralegal Organization D. Obtained the most new CRP s: Dallas Area Paralegal Association with 7 new CRP s VI. VII. Recognition of all NFPA Coordinators and Committee Members. Board Advisor, Robert Hrouda, RP, presented a memoriam recognizing those paralegals that had passed in the past year. VIII. Roll Call of Associations by Secretary and Director of Operations Cherylan Shearer - there were 40 Associations present and credentialed and quorum was established: Alaska Association of Paralegals Arkansas Paralegal Association Baton Rouge Paralegal Association Bucks County Paralegal Association - first time at Convention Capital District Paralegal Association Central Connecticut Paralegal Association Central Massachusetts Paralegal Association Central Pennsylvania Paralegal Association Chester County Paralegal Association - first time at Convention Cleveland Associations of Paralegals Dallas Area Paralegal Association Georgia Association of Paralegals Greater Lexington Paralegal Association Illinois Paralegal Association Indiana Paralegal Association Kansas Paralegal Association Lycoming County Paralegal Association Maryland Association of Paralegals Massachusetts Paralegal Association Michiana Paralegal Association Middle Tennessee Paralegal Association Minnesota Paralegal Association Missouri Paralegal Association Montgomery County Paralegal Association National Capital Area Paralegal Association 2

3 New Haven County Associations of Paralegals New Orleans Paralegal Association New York City Paralegal Association Northeast Indiana Paralegal Association Oregon Paralegal Association Paralegal Association of Central Ohio Paralegal Association of New Hampshire Paralegal Association of Northern Virginia Paralegal Association of Rochester Paralegal Association of Wisconsin Philadelphia Association of Paralegals Pittsburgh Paralegal Association Rhode Island Paralegal Association Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association Sacramento Valley Paralegal Association South Florida Paralegal Association South Jersey Paralegal Association Tampa Bay Paralegal Association Vermont Paralegal Organization Washington State Paralegal Association Western Massachusetts Paralegal Association Western New York Paralegal Association IX. The Credential Report was presented by Secretary and Director of Operations, Cherylan Shearer The Credential Report was adopted. X. The Standing Rules were presented by Secretary of Director of Operations, Cherylan Shearer The Standing Rules were adopted. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. The Agenda was presented by Secretary and Director of Operations, Cherylan Shearer the Agenda was adopted as presented with the President granted leave to amend as may be necessary. Meeting Minutes Committee was presented by Secretary and Director of Operations, Cherylan Shearer: Region I Ronell B. Badua, Oregon Paralegal Association Region II Megan Barrett, RP, Kansas Paralegal Association Region III Dana Martinez-Jones, Tampa Bay Paralegal Association Region IV - Suellen Honeychuck, RP, VARP, Paralegal Association of Northern Virginia Region V Angela Scarpa, Massachusetts Paralegal Association Secretary and Director of Operations, Cherylan Shearer stated that the 2015 Annual Meeting Minutes have been approved and posted to the NFPA website. The 2016 Convention Report was presented by Carie Tarte, AIC, RP, Vermont Paralegal Organization. Convention Business: A. State of Federation Report was presented by Lisa Vessels, RP, CP, FRP. 3

4 B. Parliamentary Procedures and Robert s Rules of Order were presented by Parliamentarian Daniel Fitzpatrick. C. Thursday Board Meeting Report was presented by Secretary and Director of Operations, Cherylan Shearer: Convention will be hosted by Minnesota Paralegal Association. D. Consent Calendar was presented Secretary and Director of Operations, Cherylan Shearer. The following items were placed on the Consent Calendar as approved by the NFPA Board of Directors: 1. Administrative Topic No. 1 on Board Dispute Resolution. 2. Administrative Topic No. 2 on the addition of Regulation Coordinator to the Leadership Directory. Administrative Topic No. 1 on Board Dispute Resolution was removed by the delegates by a vote of 25 yes and 15 no. Administrative Topic No. 1 will now become an Agenda Topic and can be brought to the Policy Floor for discussion. Administrative Topic No. 2 on the addition or Regulation Coordinator to the Leadership Directory remained on the Consent Calendar. The Consent Calendar was adopted. E. Nominations were presented by Nominations Coordinator, Patricia Lyons - the slate of candidates comprise of: President - Lisa Vessels, RP, CP, FRP and Valerie Wilus, RP, PaCP Vice President and Director of Positions and Issues - Lori Boris, RP, MNCP, and Donna Huntermark, RP, PaCP Vice President and Director of Certification, Nita Serrano, RP Secretary and Director of Operations, Cherylan Shearer American Bar Association Representative - No current nominations Two nominations from the Policy Floor were presented: 1. Mary McLaughlin, RP, Sacramento Valley Paralegal Association nominated Theresa Prater, RP, as American Bar Association Representative. Theresa Prater, RP, accepted the nomination. 2. Lori Wagner, RP, IRP, Northeast Indiana Paralegal Association - nominated Tammy Smith, as American Bar Association Representative. Tammy Smith accepted the nomination. The election results were as follows: President - Valerie Wilus, RP, PaCP Vice President and Director of Positions and Issues - Lori Boris, RP, MNCP 4

5 Vice President and Director of Certification - Juanita (Nita) Serrano, RP Secretary and Director of Operations - Cherylan Shearer American Bar Association Representative - Tammy Smith F. Strategic Planning Committee Presentation was presented by Becky Kerstetter, OSBA Certified Paralegal. G. Jessica Mieles, a Member of the Ad Hoc Committee on the State of the Paralegal Profession requested a one-year extension to complete and present the Committee s report. There being no objections or comments the request for a one-year extension was approved. H. Budget for 2017 was presented by Treasurer and Director of Finance, MaryAnn Ivie, RP the Budget for 2017 was adopted. I. Award Winners was announced by President Lisa Vessels, RP, CP, FRP: NFPA Certification Ambassador Award Kristy Geron, RP, Dallas Area Paralegal Association NFPA Individual Pro Bono Award Angela Wilson, Dallas Area Paralegal Association NFPA Association Pro Bono Award Dallas Area Paralegal Association Thomson Reuters/NFPA $3,000 Scholarship Tracy Taplin, a student at Pellissippi State Community College Thomson Reuters/NFPA $2,000 Scholarship Jamese Hawkins, a student at Duquesne University School of Law Paralegal Institute NFPA PACE Scholarship Brittany L. Hays, Paralegal Association of Central Ohio NFPA PCCE Scholarship Kimberly P. Morton, National Capital Area Paralegal Association NFPA Paralegal of the Year Janet Wilson Williams, RP, Georgia Association of Paralegals NFPA Outstanding Local Leader Sabrina D. Henry, Georgia Association of Paralegals NFPA William R. Robie Award Christine M. Flynn, Philadelphia Association of Paralegals XVI. Present Agenda Topics: A Motion was made to approve Agenda Topic No. 2 (Position Statement on Regulation of the Paralegal Profession). Agenda Topic No. 2 was approved (37/1/2) Resolution A Motion was made to approve Agenda/Discussion Topic No. 1 (Use of term Paralegal ). A Motion was then made to charge the Vice President and Director of Positions and Issues and the Vice President and Director of Marketing to develop a Marketing Plan for the paralegal profession and NFPA s definition and preferred term paralegal. Such Marketing Plan is to include educating the legal profession and community at large of the qualifications, education, and utilization 5

6 of paralegals. This includes the development of a letter to the ABA. The Marketing Plan shall be submitted to the Board in time for vote and implementation at the 2017 Spring Board Meeting. - Resolution A Motion was made to approve Bylaw Resolution No. 2 (Executive Sessions). Bylaw Resolution No. 2 was approved (40/0/0) Resolution A motion was made to bring Agenda Topic No. 3 to the policy floor (Position Statement on LLLT-Non-Lawyer Practice). Motion passed (30/9/1). A Motion was made that the Statement on Non-Lawyer Practice be referred back to the Ad Hoc Committee for further revision, with a final Statement to be prepared within six (6) months of Convention. The updated Statement shall be posted electronically for delegates to comment for a period of twenty (20) days. At the end of the twenty (20) day period, the final Statement, as revised, will be sent to the delegates for an electronic vote pursuant to Section 5.7 of the NFPA Bylaws. - Resolution A Motion was made to approve Bylaw Resolution No. 1 (Membership Categories). Bylaw Resolution No. 1 was approved (40/0/0) Resolution XVII. Nominations for Region Directors were presented by Nominations Coordinator Patricia Lyons - the slate of candidates comprise of: Region I Director Thomas C. Holmes, RP, Ronell B. Badua, and Linda Odermott, RP Region II Director Mianne L. Besser Region III Director Lori Wagner, RP, IRP Region IV Director Monique Luck, PaCP Region V Director Josie Estes Announcement of Region Directors by Nominations Coordinator Patricia Lyons: Region I Director Ronell B. Badua Region II Director Mianne L. Besser Region III Director Lori Wagner, RP, IRP Region IV Director Monique Luck, PaCP Region V Director Josie Estes The Policy Meeting was adjourned at 5:09 p.m. Sunday October 23, 2016 I. The meeting was called to order at 9:05 a.m. by President, Lisa Vessels, RP, CP, FRP. II. III. Pledge of Allegiance and Retirement of the Colors by the Girl Scouts. Convention Business: A. Vice President and Director of Membership, Yvonne DeAntoneo, conducted a drawing for the First Timers scavenger hunt. The winner was Tracee Zubic from the Cleveland Association of Paralegals. 6

7 B. Passing of the Torch Corinne M. Deering, RP, and Carie Tarte, AIC, RP, Vermont Paralegal Organization, passed the torch to Sonjanita Jordan, President and Gayle Green, PLS, CLS, Primary, of the New Orleans Paralegal Association the 2017 Convention will be held at the Astor Crowne Plaza in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 12-15, VI. Installation of Officers by Parliamentarian, Daniel Fitzpatrick. Board for : President, Valerie Wilus, RP, PaCP VP/Director of Profession Development, Allen F. Mihecoby, CLAS, RP VP/Director of Positions and Issues, Lori Boris, RP, MNCP VP/Director of Membership, Yvonne DeAntoneo VP/Director of Paralegal Certification, Juanita (Nita) Serrano, RP VP/Director of Marketing, Lisa Lynch, CRP Secretary/Director of Operations, Cherylan Shearer Treasurer and Director of Finance, MaryAnn Ivie, RP Region I Director Ronell B. Badua Region II Director Mianne L. Besser Region III Director Lori Wagner, RP, IRP Region IV Director Monique Luck, PaCP Region V Director Josie Estes Board Advisor Lisa Vessels, RP, CP, FRP V. Final Announcements: A. Valerie Wilus, RP, PaCP, stated that the coordinator interest forms are due November 6, B. President Valerie Wilus, RP, PaCP, issued a President s Challenge as follows: 1. Two new RP s and four new CRP s for associations 2. The most new RP s and CRP s for associations 3. The addition of ten new members to your association 4. Most referrals to NFPA C. Joint Conference will be in New York City, New York, April 28-30, The Policy Meeting was adjourned by President Valerie Wilus, RP, PaCP, at 9:35 a.m. 7

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS, INC. Thursday, October 20, 2016 Burlington, Vermont BOARD MEETING

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS, INC. Thursday, October 20, 2016 Burlington, Vermont BOARD MEETING Board Members in Attendance: President, Lisa Vessels, RP, CP, FRP VP/Director of Profession