News from NOPA
Please see the calendar for upcoming events such as the Holiday Party on December 21st and the General Membership meeting on November 16th.
“Comfort For Kids”
This year NOPA is collecting Teddy Bears and small toys to benefit the Comfort for Kids Program. They will be collected at the Holiday Party. If you wish to contribute but will not be attending the Holiday Party, please contact any Board Member to arrange for a pick up of the Teddy Bears.
Volunteer to Serve on a NOPA Committee – 2012 is Fast Approaching – Why not make it your “2012 New Year Resolution” to become more involved with NOPA and volunteer on one of NOPA’s Committees. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make friends with others in our profession and help move the profession forward. See the “Committee Descriptions” to determine which one suits your interests. Contact any current Board Member or Committee Chair to get involved.
Become a NOPA Board Member – It’s time to begin thinking about the 2012 Board of Directors. If you are interested in serving on the Board, please complete the Declaration Form below and mail to NOPA before December 16, 2011.
The Board positions are: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, NFPA Primary Representative and NFPA Secondary Representative. The duties of each position is set forth in Section 7 of NOPA’s Bylaws as follows:
7.2(a) President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and Board of Directors of the Association; have general and active management of the business of the Association; see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect; sit in an advisory capacity to all elected officers and directors and to all Committee, and shall perform such other duties as may be requested from time to time by the Board of Directors.
7.2(b) Vice-President. The Vice-President shall act as advisor and liaison to the Membership, Seminar Planning Committee, and Marketing Committees, shall provide quality speakers at meetings of the members of the Association, and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe or the President may determine.
7.2(c) Secretary. The Secretary shall respond to or forward all incoming correspondence to the appropriate officer or committee chair; give, or cause to be given, notice of all meeting of the members and of the Board of Directors; maintain a correspondence file; act as an advisor and liaison to the Newsletter Committee; shall act as advisor and liaison to the Job Bank Committee. Attend all sessions of the Board and all meetings of the members, shall keep or cause to be kept a record of all votes of the Association and the minutes of all transactions in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the president.
7.2(d) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds of the Association; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Association; shall deposit all funds in such places of deposit as may be designated an Article VIII hereof; shall render financial reports to the President and the Board of Directors of the Association upon request; shall serve as an advisor and liaison to the Finance and Budget Committee, and shall perform such other duties as may be requested from time to time by the Board of Directors or the President.
7.2(e) NFPA Primary Representative. The NFPA Primary Representative shall represent the Association at the meetings of the NFPA Region in which the Association is a member and at all Annual Meetings of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations; shall report annually to the members and from time to time to the Board of Directors all NFPA matters and shall maintain such correspondence with the NFPA Region in which the Association is a member and with The National Federation of Paralegal Associations and shall perform such other duties and have other such powers as the Board of Directors shall establish.
7.2(f) NFPA Secondary Representative. At the request of the NFPA Primary Representative or in the absence or disability of the NFPA Primary Representative, the Secondary Representative shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the NFPA Primary Representative and shall perform such other duties and have other powers as the Board of Directors shall establish.
The 2012 Board of Directors will be elected or confirmed at the General Membership Meeting to take place on January 18, 2012.
NOPA 2012 Officer Declaration Form
News from NFPA
The next AIPS PACE® Review Course begins January 23, 2012. The review course, which runs for seven weeks, will assist paralegals to prepare to take PACE by covering the five domains and uses PACE Study Manual 5th edition as the textbook. The courses are taught through computer-mediated distance learning. Students may communicate with instructors or classmates around the clock from their home or office computer.
The 2012 Joint Conference will be held April 20 to 23 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Holiday Inn Express Nashville Downtown.
Paralegal CORE Competency Exam™ News
The PCC Exam is on schedule to be available November 14, 2011. The handbook has been released as a PDF download and the study guide is nearly ready to send to the printers! The test will be administered by computer at Prometric Test Centers throughout the United States and Canada.
The application fee will be $215, payable by credit card (only) through the application website. Applicants have 90 days to take the test from the date the application is accepted.
On June 11, 2011, 188 paralegals took the Paralegal CORE Competency Exam™ pilot test at 12 test sites across the country. Of the paralegals who completed the test, 146 achieved a passing score of 550 or better. Those paralegals are the very first CORE Registered Paralegals™ and have earned the right to use the CRP™ credential. Congratulations to all who passed!
Please address any questions on this topic to pcce@paralegals.org.