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Advice
to the Workworn |
Dear
Weary Administrator:
Your invitation struck a chord. A myriad of ideas came flying
through my mind. One suddenly grabbed me. From time to time
I have thought of a bit of advice for my friends still active
in legal administration. Instinct tells me to accept this opportunity
to render it.
A career in legal is all about your three well-chosen words,
“achievements, challenges, rewards.”
Each time I think of a fourth word I realize it is already covered
by one of those three.
I remember a smiling administrator saying goodbye and smugly
announcing to some of us his happy news. He was about to escape
the demands and stresses of the legal environment and begin
a new position at “XYZ Company.” I sensed a degree of sympathy
for those of us left behind. A few months later that same administrator
attended a Chapter meeting, again smiling, and again employed
within the legal community. More than once I have known a legal
administrator to leave the profession, only to return.
Take pride in the knowledge that today you diffused a bad situation,
salvaged a good plan, or solved a problem that most people would
be unable to solve. I retired from what I often referred to
as the best job in town. I hope most ALA Chapter members are
fortunate enough to feel that their own job is the best job
in town. It’s a great feeling.
I do enjoy retirement. I have enjoyed taking courses at local
schools, travel, participating in Elderhostal programs such
as a weeks study of the Dead Sea Scrolls in San Francisco, living
for a week in a dorm at the University of Southern Oregon, studying
Shakespeare and attending the Shakespeare festival in Ashland,
playing bridge, and building closer bonds with my grandchildren.
My son is a single parent. He told me I was a Godsend when I
spent two weeks in his home while he was away for serious back
surgery and rehab. I was glad I could relieve some of his concerns,
although I did not enjoy nagging my grandson until he finally
dragged himself from the bed and got ready for school. Neither
did I enjoy constantly chasing the cat away from the kitchen
cabinets. She seemed to win every race I had with her.
I am active in a 110-member woman’s club which raises money
for charity and conducts organized bridge play. A former Chapter
member told me she could not believe I would join a woman’s
club. I did, and I enjoy it. But we have things to do and to
talk about other than how our husbands like their eggs.
None of this sounds very bad. The simple truth is I miss working,
and not only on the 1st and the 15th. I miss sharing ideas and
solutions to common problems with members of ALA. One may grow
weary, but legal administration is a challenging profession.
We have the energy and ability to meet the challenge. Go ahead
and dream of plans for retirement. Most of the fun is in the
anticipation anyway. My advice to you is to consider the timing
carefully. Retirement can be boring.
Eunice is a Life member
of the Dallas Chapter. She served as Administrative Manager
of the Law Department at Dresser Industries from 1959 to June
1985, when she became eligible for one of many early retirement
offers made by Dresser prior to its acquisition by Halliburton.
She joined Strasburger and Price as Human Resources Manager
in January 1986, and retired once again at the end of 1995.
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Presidential
Pencilings Board Meeting Minutes |
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Board Meeting Minutes
by Patty Stewart |
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It’s been a full quarter
since the new Board took office so it seems like
an appropriate time for an update of what’s been
happening behind the scenes.
First, let’s review who makes up the “Board.” It’s
the President (me), President-Elect (Joe Offutt),
Vice President of Programs (Deborah Carlton), Secretary
(Lily Bussey), Treasurer (Sandy Reinhardt), Director
– Past President (De Lyla Alexander), Director at
Large (Jeff Gill) and Director at Large (Brenda
Homan). We meet the fourth Wednesday of each month
to review the financials, approve new |
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members and make operational and other decisions on behalf
of the Chapter.
At every Board meeting, we review the minutes from the
past month as well as the Treasurer’s Report. The Board
is also provided with a report on the monthly (or bi-monthly)
meetings of the Sections. Each Section/Committee has a
Board liaison and that individual typically attends the
Section/Committee meeting and is available to provide
guidance and/or assistance to the Section Chair(s). The
Board liaison is also responsible for making the Section/Committee
report to the Board. It is through this process that the
Board considers and approves requests made at the Section/Committee
level.
Here are some of the highlights of what’s been discussed
or approved at Board meetings to date:
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APRIL |
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2006
Budget was discussed but it is still a work in progress.
Sandy has been in contact with the officers and
section/committee chairs to get their input with
regard to their individual budgets. |
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Gifts
for guest speakers were discussed and approved. |
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An
honorarium for Susan Koran (March speaker) and Sue
Umbdenstock (May speaker) was approved. The honorarium
is a $100 donation to FALA. |
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Guidelines
and parameters for the Job Bank were discussed and
approved. |
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The
roll-out of the salary survey was discussed and
fees approved. |
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A
report was given regarding the Silver President's
Award presented to the Chapter in San Francisco. |
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Patty
Stewart gave a report to the Board regarding the
Region 4 Council Meeting which was held at the Conference
in San Francisco. |
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It
was reported that the Chapter has been contacted
by the Law Firm Financial Management Conference
Committee to provide assistance in finding speakers. |
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MAY |
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Deborah
Carlton reported on speaker suggestions for upcoming
meetings: Dr. Helen Harkness is scheduled for the
July 14 meeting. Dr. Harkness' speaker fee is $150
per hour (estimated to be two hours which includes
travel time). |
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Approval
was given to the Newsletter Committee to purchase
a digital camera. |
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Jeff
Gill presented suggestions for the Chapter's community
challenge efforts. In July, Jeff will be presenting
"Support the Troops" to the membership. |
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The
Golf/Vendor outing was approved for October 6 at
the Oak Cliff Country Club. |
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The
website is still under construction. |
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A
full scholarship to the Law Firm Financial Management
Conference to be held September 29 – October 1 was
approved. It will be awarded via a drawing at the
July membership meeting. |
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JUNE |
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$4,000
was approved as the speaker’s budget for the 2005-2006
chapter year. |
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Logo
gifts for the speakers were ordered. |
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Approved
a Happy Hour to be held July 21 at Campisi’s. |
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Approved
the location (Hotel Za Za) for the Holiday Party. |
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Approved
offering the salary survey to employment agencies
for purchase. |
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Approved
distributing the newsletter via e-mail effective
in July until the website is totally up and running. |
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Reported
that the Bylaws, as well as the Policies and Procedures
of the Chapter, are currently under review by Patty
Stewart, Joe Offutt, and De Lyla Alexander. They
will be presented to the Board for discussion in
July and to the membership for approval in September. |
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A
report was given by Joe Offutt and Patty Stewart
regarding attendance at CLI in Denver. (Detailed
information was provided to the membership via the
President’s Report of the June newsletter.) |
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Discussion
regarding the registered agent of the Chapter. |
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There’s never a dull moment at a Board
meeting. We’re always hard at work for you but we have
a lot of fun doing it. Thanks for the privilege.
EDITORIAL POLICY: The
Lonestar Administrator is
published by the Dallas Chapter of the Association of
Legal Administrators ("Dallas ALA"). The
Editor welcomes articles, letters, suggestions, and comments.
Reprint requests and articles should be directed to the
Editor. Vendors interested in advertising in the newsletter
should contact the Advertising Manager. Opinions expressed
in articles and advertisements contained herein are strictly
those of the contributors and advertisers and do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of Dallas ALA or its members. Reprinting
of any portion of this newsletter by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any
information storage and retrieval system, is prohibited
without permission of both the Editor and the Author.
Newsletter Editor: Nita Starnes - Law Department Administrator,
Centex Corporation,
2728 N. Harwood, Dallas, TX 75201-1516,
Voice: 214.981.6531,
Fax: 214.981-6849,
E-mail: nstarnes@centex.com.
Advertising Manager: Cindy Stanley - Office Manager,
Little Pedersen Fankhauser LLP,
901 Main Street, Suite 4110,
Dallas, TX 75202,
Voice: 214.573.2302,
Fax: 214.573.2323,
E-mail: cstanley@lpf-law.com
Article Deadline 11th of Every Month
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Section
Meetings |
All ALA Section Meetings are held at the Belo
Mansion, unless otherwise noted.
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The
Small Firm Section will meet at 12:00 noon, August
2nd, at the Belo Mansion, Carrington Coleman Room.
Our speaker will be Jon Karp, CPA, PFS, CHCC with
Lane Gorman Trubitt, LLP Certified Accountants.
Jon’s topic will focus on Fiduciary Responsibility
and Retirement Plans. Emily Carrington Julie Bagby
David Stine Robin Gavitt
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