Great Lakes Paralegal Association

Transcription

1 Great Lakes Paralegal An Affiliate of the National of Legal Assistants, Inc. Website: MONTHLY NEWSLETTER APRIL 2017 GLPA FEATURED MEMBER: Wendy Cusenza, CP This month, our spotlight is on Wendy Cusenza, CP, GLPA s NALA Liaison and Board member. Wendy is employed by Roush Enterprises, Inc., a company with international recognition in the automotive industry and In This Issue: GLPA Declaration of Candidacy Information and Form linked to the successful NASCAR team of Roush Fenway Racing. Read more about Wendy, below. I became a paralegal because I had an opportunity to work with an estate planning/trust attorney at Old Kent Bank (now known as Fifth Third Bank) and really liked the legal environment and the type of work involved. I began taking courses at Macomb Community College in its Legal Assistant program and earned my associates degree in I then obtained my professional certification through NALA to get my CP designation. After that, I transferred to Madonna University and had almost completed my Bachelors in Paralegal Studies when I made the decision to transfer to the University of Michigan-Dearborn (although in doing so, I was only able to transfer 33 credit hours, so I practically started over). My hopes were to attend an out-of-state law school at that time, so it was a strategic move at the advice of a few attorneys to get a more recognized university name and a slightly more diverse degree. I have pursued my education on a part-time basis, and a few life events delayed my progress, but I am FINALLY in my last semester at UM-D, majoring in Political Science with a minor in English. As a next step, I will attend law school this May at Western Michigan/Cooley Law School in Auburn Hills. I will still work full-time as a Paralegal and attend classes on the weekends and in the evenings for the next four years. I presently work at Roush Enterprises, Inc. in Livonia, Michigan as an Executive Legal Administrative Assistant reporting to the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, and have been there for 14 years now. It is a dream job for me, not only because all three attorneys I work for are the best and most intelligent people I know, but also because within the corporate environment I am able to work in a variety of areas. My job involves not only legal work, but also includes insurance, risk management, real estate, corporate filings and records, employment and other matters. I found the position posted on Monster online, so that is how I applied. They were seeking someone with legal and insurance in their background (I worked as an underwriter assistant at two large insurance companies previously), and I was fortunate to have both. I remember during my interview, my boss asked me if I was a "weekend racer" because they sometimes had people apply for positions they were not suited for simply to get in the door at Roush for racing opportunities. It was obviously in jest (I am not the racecar-driving type), but it was a comical part of the interview. Working at Roush has been a rewarding and enjoyable career for many years, and I hope to continue with Roush even after getting my law degree. (continued on page 2)

2 I am definitely a NASCAR fan and enjoy cheering on Roush's drivers whenever I have time to watch the races on television. I work in the same building as Jack Roush (our founder) and have a lot of respect for him. His background is amazing and I am in awe of what he has built and accomplished in his lifetime. He knows me on a first-name basis and has always treated me kindly. I enjoy interacting with him, although with his hectic schedule and amount of required travel, it is only a few times throughout the year. In my free time, I enjoy traveling around Michigan to see beautiful places here that I have never seen before. I have always lived in Michigan and love this state. It is an incredible place to live and although I have not had the time to explore very much or go many places, I hope to do more of that in the coming years. Another thing I enjoy is playing the organ and piano, which I do for my church and have a lot of fun with that. I volunteer and give free piano lessons to children when time allows in my schedule, and that is rewarding and precious hours spent. In my personal time, I like to organize things. Home projects give me the most satisfaction in that area. I like taking something completely unorganized and making it look clean and neat - and as a bonus, being able to find things when you need them! Although progress in my educational endeavors has taken much longer than I would have expected, I am happy where I am today at 45-years-old. The paralegal profession has brought me years of happiness and provided opportunities to grow in a number of areas. You meet wonderful people along the way and networking with them is invaluable. In my opinion, there is no greater area to work than in the legal field and I would encourage anyone interested in this career to pursue it wholeheartedly. Wendy Going to Florida? Did you know the Florida Bar has its own requirements for becoming a Registered Paralegal? Rule (b)(2) allows for registration based on Certification through NALA! RULE REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION To be a Florida Registered Paralegal under this chapter, an individual must meet 1 of the following requirements. (2) successful completion of the Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal examination (CLA/CP certification as offered by the National of Legal Assistants NALA ) and good standing with NALA. Source:

3 More about NALA s Paralegal Certification Program Firms, corporations, and agencies recognize the Certified Paralegal credential as a credible measure of paralegal competence. The credential has been acknowledged by the American Bar as a mark of high professional achievement, and more than 47 paralegal organizations and numerous bar associations also acknowledge the CP as the definitive paralegal certification. Currently, over 8,900 paralegals may use the Certified Paralegal (CP) designation. The CP credential has been awarded to over 18,000 paralegals in its span of almost 40 years. The Certified Paralegal (CP) program is the first certification program accredited by NCCA which serves the legal community. See the complete information about the CP, and changes coming to the exam in 2018, at: nala.org/certification Save the Date!!! GLPA Annual Meeting Wednesday, June 7, at 6:00 p.m. Location to be announced ADVERTISING RATES: Full Page - $100/issue ½ Page - $65/issue ¼ Page - $35/issue Business Card - $20/issue Contact Cheryl at cnodarse@woodworthlawpc.com

4 Great Lakes Paralegal An Affiliate of the National of Legal Assistants, Inc. Website: March 29, 2017 Dear GLPA Members: Attached is a Declaration of Candidacy form for officer, director and liaison positions that will be filled by election of the members at our Annual Meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, June 7, In order to be considered by the current board of GLPA for placement on the slate of candidates, a member must submit one of the attached declaration of candidacy forms by the deadline noted on the form of April 21, Please note that the declaration form asks that a brief biography of the candidate be attached, so that potential candidates can be introduced to the membership. The current Board of Directors of GLPA will be presented with a slate of candidates from the submitted declaration forms at their next board meeting. Elections for officer, director and liaison positions listed on the declaration form will occur at the Annual Meeting on June 7, If there are any contested positions, members in attendance at the meeting will be asked to cast their votes at the meeting and members who are unable to attend the Annual Meeting in person will be given an opportunity to vote by proxy. Please consider serving the association in one of these capacities. Our association is only as strong as the commitment of individual members to keep it robust through service and leadership. Please note that active members are eligible to fill any of the open positions listed on the declaration with the exception of Student Liaison, which is limited to student members. Thank you for your attention and consideration, David Bowker, ACP Chair, Nominations and Election Committee

5 Great Lakes Paralegal An Affiliate of the National of Legal Assistants, Inc. Dated: March 29, 2017 Notice of Call for Declaration of Candidacy for Officers and Members of the Board of Directors To: All Members of the Great Lakes Paralegal Officers and Directors of the Board of Directors, listed below, will be elected by the members of the, voting either by mail or in person at the annual meeting in Lansing on June 7, All ballots cast, whether by mail or in person at the annual meeting, will be tallied and the election results will be announced at the annual meeting. A term year runs from the end of the annual meeting to the end of the following annual meeting. DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY I hereby declare my candidacy for the position checked below: as President as President-Elect as Treasurer as Secretary ---- as NALA Liaison as Director of the Board of Directors of the Great Lakes Paralegal and consent to the placing of my name and information about me on the slate of candidates to be prepared prior to and in conjunction with the elections at the annual meeting in Lansing on June 7, Name: Address: The positions to be filled are: President President-Elect Treasurer Secretary NALA Liaison Telephone No.: Signed: Dated: All members submitting a declaration of candidacy should include, on a separate page, a brief bio (200 words maximum) describing the qualifications of the candidate. The bios submitted will be published with the ballots at the time of election. 4 Directors of the Board This is a notice of call for declaration of candidacy. Any member of the who wishes to declare himself or herself a candidate for an office or a member position on the Board must complete and submit the Declaration of Candidacy form. I would like to serve on the following committees. CHECK as many as you wish. You DO NOT need to run for office to serve on a committee. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FINANCE MEMBERSHIP PUBLIC RELATIONS AUDIT NOMINATIONS & ELECTIONS Return by April 21, 2017 to: Great Lakes Paralegal Foster Swift Collins & Smith c/o Terri Bolyard 313 S Washington Square Lansing, MI (or by to: glpa.michigan@gmail.com)

6 BECOME A GLPA MEMBER TODAY! Networking is a key element in the success of your career. The Great Lakes Paralegal 's goal is to foster professional and personal growth of paralegals in Michigan. This includes paralegal students who are entering the work force and those paralegals with experience who have been working in all areas of the law. The will provide networking opportunities, mentoring, continuing education programs, and assistance with national certification. Member Benefits Up to date information on issues and trends in the paralegal profession, both locally and nationally. Continuing legal educational opportunities. Discounted rate on all GLPA programs and events. Networking opportunities to meet with legal professionals in your local community. Waiver of initiation fee to become a NALA member. NALA "Facts & Findings" subscription is available at a discounted rate of $25 per year. Visit to complete the membership application GLPA BOARD & COMMITTEE MEMBERS POSITION NAME President Cheryl Nodarse, ACP cnodarse@woodworthlawpc.com President Elect Melissa Vela melissavela78@gmail.com Secretary Telisa Ahn, ACP Telisa.Ahn@dematic.com Treasurer Terri Bolyard tbolyard@fosterswift.com NALA Liaison Wendy Cusenza, ACP wendy.cusenza@roush.com Director Kelly LaGrave, ACP Kelly.lagrave@sparrow.org Director David Bowker, ACP daveb0422@comcast.net Student Liaison Jenna Peterson jpeterson2@adrian.edu Director/Newsletter Editor Amy Cumbow, CP acumbow@fraserlawfirm.com LEGAL DISCLAIMER: We at Great Lakes Paralegal (GLPA) are not lawyers and we do not provide legal, business, or tax advice. Our sites, services, and publications are not intended to substitute for the advice or services of an attorney. We recommend you consult an attorney or other appropriate professional if you need legal, business, or tax advice.