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Wednesday, August 20, 2008  
 
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This Month
September Community Service Project - Support Our Troops Overseas
Community Challenge - Susan G. Komen - Race for the Cure
Presidential Pencilings - Success!
Future ALA Conferences - 2006-2009
Section Meetings
November General Meeting The Leadership Secrets of Santa Clause
Job Bank
2005 Annual Chapter/Vendor Golf/Casino Outing
HR Meeting - Scrapbook
Coping With Stress
Holiday Luncheon
New Members
Officers and Committees
Calendar of Events - for complete information log onto .....www.dallasala.org

ALA Partners
Ajilon Legal
Attorney Resource
Denitech
Legal Network
Merrill Corporation
Océ Business Services
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Special Counsel
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Support Our Troops Overseas A great success!
September 2005 Community Service Project by Jeff Gill

Congratulations Dallas Chapter ALA members on a successful “Support the Troops Overseas” effort! The Chapter raised more than $2,400, thanks to your donations and the generosity of several law firms.

The Dallas ALA would like to especially acknowledge the unsolicited contributions from:

 

Baker Botts LLP

 

Glast Phillips & Murray, P.C.

 

Godwin Gruber LLP

 

Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.

 

Sullivan Ave & Holston

During the fund raising phase of this project, Chapter members submitted the names of 16 military personnel, currently stationed in either Afghanistan or Iraq. In late August, a shopping budget was established and on September 1st, a group of Dallas ALA volunteers headed off to the WAL-MART at Central Expressway and Hall Street, to purchase the 38 different items that would represent our gifts to the troops. By breaking into 3 teams and blitzing different quadrants of the store, the shopping carts were filled within 25 minutes and we headed to the checkout counter. More than 500 items were purchased and we stayed within budget! It should be noted that our ALA volunteers were the most enthusiastic shoppers to frequent the store that evening, acknowledging that it was exhilarating to spend someone else's money.


SHOPPING!
Lily Bussey, Patty Stewart, Elizabeth Christman, Cindy Stanley, De Lyla Alexander, Jeanie Brazelton, Sherry Brinlee, Oma Conn, Kim Wood, Mary Lou Weiss, Jeff Gill

On September 15th the Dallas volunteers met again to sort and pack the gifts into the boxes. After completing the necessary customs forms, printing photos of our project activities and preparing the letters to the troops, 48 boxes were shipped off on September 19th to:


 

Jeff Serna;

 

Jesus Hernandez;

 

Steven Fleming;

 

Michael Terlinde;

 

Paul Lovello;

 

Jay Waters;

 

Ronald Kentzel;

 

Michael Johnson;

 

Matthew Welch;

 

Daniel Schwab;

 

Tania Hill;

 

Brian Lassetter;

 

Shane Howeth;

 

Tyler Stinson;

 

David Solis;

 

Ruben Lazarin;

PACKING!
Mary Lou Weiss, Brenda Homan, Lily Bussey, Pam Presley, Denise Hall-Leach, Amy Flowers, Sheri Price, Patty Stewart, Jeff Gill, Kim Wood
PACKING!
Mary Lou Weiss & Brenda Homan

We hope that these brave and dedicated individuals will feel our appreciation and admiration as the packages arrive in the coming weeks. Many thanks to each of you who made financial contributions and a special thank you to each of the 21 Chapter members who volunteered on the project. I think that we can all safely say ”Mission Accomplished!”


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See the following page for some of the heartwarming responses to this terrific effort.
 
Jeff Gill
Hughes & Luce LLP
1717 Main Street,
Suite 2800
2140939-5720
Jeff.gill@hughesluce.com


September 19, 2005

CPT Brian Lassetter
Bco/2~121 IN
Camp Stryker/48th BCT
APO AE 09372

 
Dear Brian,

Greetings from the 190 members of the Dallas Chapter - Association of Legal Administrators (ALA). As a gesture of our support for your military service to our country, we have shipped a variety of items to you in three separate boxes. Our gifts include basic personal items that may be in short supply as well as favorite food items that we all love to eat. It is our hope that these gifts along with our good wishes will make you feel appreciated, remind you of the good life that you are defending for all of us and in some way help to sustain you in your missions ahead.

Who is Dallas ALA? Our members all work in management positions at Dallas law firms or corporate legal departments. While the ALA mission is to improve the quality of management in legal services organizations we also give back to our community by participating in a variety of service projects. You are the beneficiary of a project that we call "Support the Troops Overseas", because you are either a family member or a friend or one of our members, or are a family member of someone working in a Dallas law firm. ( your name was submitted by Mary Driskell)

Our Support the Troops Overseas initiative began in July when we asked our members for cash donations and also collected the names of solders serving in Afghanistan or Iraq, who were family or friends of our members. In August a committee of volunteers went on a major shopping spree at a WAL-MART and in September we packed and shipped the packages to you.

On behalf of the 190 Dallas ALA members, please accept our appreciation for your sacrifices and know that we are inspired by your bravery. We look forward to the day when you have completed your mission and can return to your family, friends and a country that is blessed with freedom and tremendous opportunities.
  Very truly yours,

Jeff Gill
Dallas Chapter ALA – Community Service Chair

   


I’m enclosing a couple of photos from Afghanistan so you can see a little bit of what we are doing and how things are here. I don’t know if you are a football fan, but many of us here are and now that football season began, we have an extra diversion to keep ouselves busy in our limited, but precious free time. I’m a big Dallas Cowboy fan and have enjoyed watching the games (except the Redskins game). Watching football here is grueling though as we are 8 and a half hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (don’t understand that extra half-hour) and it makes for some difficult sleep patterns to watch the games. We also have several football contests and fantasy leagues to keep us busy.

Again, a sincere “thank you” to you personally and your organization. You all may not always hear back from Soldiers who receive packages, but I can assure you that support like this from back home means a great deal to everyone here.



  Thanks,

Jay Waters
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army
Combined Joint Task Force-76
Director of Manpower and Personnel

   


1. Thank you for the care package full of snacks, and know that I’m sharing these precious items with my soldiers to ensure your generosity is appreciated by many. It feels great knowing we’re supported by our fellow countrymen during these trying of times. I promise to ensure that everything you sent goes to someone that truly appreciates the time and effort spent buying and sending the package.

 

BRIAN W. LASSETTER
CAPT, IN,
Commanding

   
 

Hello from Kalsu, Iraq! -

Jeff,
On behalf on all my soldiers here, thanks to you and your firm. I did get two of the boxes the other day. Everything made it with no damage. Just so you know, some of the candy and snacks will find there way into the goody bags I put together to hand out to the local kids when we go on mission. I’m sure we’re rotting lots of teeth here in Iraq but they love the stuff ... they swarm as soon as they see any indication it’s OK to approach and we have something for them.

Thank you again for this project. You have no idea what this kind of support means to the soldiers over here. You and your whole organization are awesome!

Have a great day!
Tania

Tania who works in military intelligence says that it is easier for a soldier to gain the trust of Iraqi parents if he first wins over the hearts of their children. That was communicated to one of the vendors at the recent ALA Financial Management Conference, and he promptly donated 45 beanie babies (that he was using to entice ALA members into his vendor booth) to our cause. The stuffed animals were shipped to Tania on October 18th, for the Iraqi children.


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Dear Jeff,
Today, we received the three boxes of 'goodies' you folks sent us. On behalf of the Kandahar Education Center, I want to express our deep appreciation for your generosity and, more importantly, the fact that we were in your thoughts.

I am a Department of Defense civilian and have worked with the Army for 29 years. Attached is a picture of the Education Center staff. My staff is comprised of Central Texas College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University employees. We provide civilian and military education services and programs to the service members stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

All Americans can be very proud of the outstanding work our men and women of the Armed Services are providing to Afghanistan. From fighting the 'bad guys' to rebuilding the country's infrastructure, their efforts are giving the people of Afghanistan an opportunity to live in peace for the first time in many years. My staff and I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to serve these fine Americans.

Once again, my deep thanks to the members of ALA.

 

Paul Lovello
Director
Kandahar Education Center

   

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For more information,
call 1-800-937-2724 ext.571
, or visit www.oceusa.com/obs.

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THE COMMUNITY CHALLENGE WEEKEND by Nita Stewart
  The Susan G. Komen
  Race for the Cure



Saturday, October 15, 2005
NorthPark Center

Awesome. Energizing. Fun.
Personally gratifying. Rewarding.

Chapter members used these words to describe the Dallas ALA Chapter’s Community Challenge event on Saturday, October 15. Twenty one people walked in the annual Susan G. Komen Dallas RACE FOR THE CURE and contributed over $650 to the Foundation. The funds are used by the Foundation to continue their important mission of advancing research, education, screening, and treatment of breast cancer.

Our sponsors and hosts,
Brad Adams ASI Business Solutions & Jim and Darlene LaBar

Joe and Charlotte Offutt pause for a picture.
Brenda Homan eagerly waits at the start line.
Barbara Seymour is a morning person!

The Chapter team met Saturday morning at the home of the hosts and sponsors, Jim and Darlene LaBar (ASI Business Solutions). Jim and Darlene graciously provided light refreshments to energize the group for the walk.

Back Row: Jeff Gill, Sandra Reinhardt, Joe Offutt, Shari Doidge, Charlotte Offutt, Barbara Seymour.
Middle Row:
Lily Bussey, Tiffany Freeman, Patty Stewart, Pam Breier,
Brenda Homan.
Kneeling: Nita Starnes, Donna Heatherington, Denise Hall-Leech, Kim Wood,
De Lyla Alexander.

Amazing crowds at the Susan G. Komen Dallas RACE FOR THE CURE
And they are off!
Pam Breier and Jeff Gill.
Pam Breier gives a “high five” upon finishing the 3.5 mile event!

We had picture perfect weather for the 5K (3.5 miles) walkathon and half day event. This was several members’ first walkathon and, without exception, everyone agreed that it was a delightful and rewarding experience. Many walkers (outside our group) were wearing pictures of family members or friends who have lost their fight with breast cancer to remind us of the importance of the effort. Many cancer survivors also participated in the walk, providing motivating examples of the Foundation’s positive contributions.

The “Mile” Girls; Barbara Seymour, Pam Breier, Sandra Reinhardt, and Brenda Homan actually walked 3.5 miles in the RACE FOR THE CURE

The Chapter participated in the RACE FOR THE CURE as its ALA Community Challenge
Weekend (CCW) Event. The Dallas ALA Chapter participates in the International Association of Legal Administrators CCW every October. During CCW, all ALA Chapters come together to contribute time, energy, and resources toward improving their communities. While the community benefits from the Chapter’s CCW participation, the Chapter is also a beneficiary. We truly benefit from the camaraderie and feeling of accomplishment experienced from helping others.



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Presidential Pencilings
Success by Patty Stewart

Success comes in a lot of different forms and the Dallas Chapter definitely has a few recent success stories to share:
Bart Allin, along with Shari Doidge and a committee consisting of Denise Noss, Amy Flowers and many volunteers, worked with Chris Smith of Plants at Work and other vendors to put together a fantastic golf/ casino extravaganza. Participation was higher than ever; the weather was beautiful; the food and other refreshments were terrific and, when it was all over, everyone had a smile on his/her face.

Countless hours went into the planning and coordination of this event and it was definitely a success. Thanks to all who helped and to those who supported the event by being there.

Jeff Gill has been awesome as the Community Service Chair. To date, Jeff has coordinated a Support the Troops Overseas initiative. He recruited members to help with the project and together they raised a substantial amount of money consisting of donations from the membership. Jeff then painstakingly researched the needs of the troops and his Committee managed to put together care packages (three boxes -- each filled to the brim!) for 16 military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jeff was not just a coordinator on this project – he was (and still is) an inspiration.

Support the Troops Overseas is not the end of the Community Service story. In fact, by the time you read this article, the Chapter will have participated in the ALA’s National Community Challenge Weekend by walking (or running) in the Susan G. Komen 5K. Again, Jeff has been a masterful coordinator of this event.

In case you haven’t noticed, the Chapter website is awesome. De Lyla Alexander, along with Rob Lovelace from ASP Consultants, has worked hard to put together a website of which any Chapter member would be proud – and they have definitely succeeded. See for yourself at www.dallasala.org.

Section meetings are going great guns. So, if you’re not participating, you are really missing out. Take a look at the section reports for upcoming events and then take advantages of the great educational and networking opportunities.

The November General meeting was fun. Al Lucia, a nationally known speaker, gave a unique presentation regarding leadership challenges.

The Dallas Chapter is all about success but we want our biggest success to be YOU. Come and participate – we’ll all benefit! See you soon.

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Future ALA Conferences - 2006-2009


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