NATLE FYI

Good Afternoon and Happy Earth Day!

Thank you to Carla and Tiffany for coming through with what’s been described as “the best one yet”!  The enthusiastic response to our virtual Leadership Symposium is heart-warming and appreciated.  I am putting together the evaluation form to distribute ASAP and will be uploading the 3-hr recording on Monday for registrants. We signed up 43 attendees, though a few were unable to watch live, so they’ll make use of the recording.  Registration is technically still open to give those who missed it a chance to see it.

The Scholarship Committee met on Wednesday to review the four very close applications that were submitted for the Tommy Townsend Memorial Scholarship.  The Committee’s decision is to award the scholarship to Stephanie Malone, ED of the Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association.  All applicants have been notified as of this afternoon.  (The Scholarships are used to cover travel-related expenses for the Annual Meeting.)

The social event sponsored by TrialSmith/Counsel Financial is looking like the venue will be the Aquarium!  NATLE’s Annual Meeting registration page is open if you want to sign up, though I’ll add details about the social event as soon as they’re available.  If you plan on attending our Seattle program, the first priority is to register with AAJ in order to make hotel reservations at the Sheraton Grand…the room blocks are known to sell out.

That’s the NATLE Weekly Wrap.  Have a great weekend!

P.S. in case you’re still here…some of you know that my father has recently moved from NH (2.5 hours away from me) up to an independent living facility that’s 5 minutes down the road.  After living in his own house with 30 acres for the past three decades since before he retired, this is a huge adjustment, but he’s been “driving the bus” once he met the administration and got a tour of the facility.  The bump in the road for the last few weeks, though, has been an outbreak of COVID among the residents.  He wasn’t the vector, thankfully, but it’s definitely made him press pause on the meet ‘n greets!  Helping him with his computer issues is certainly easier now than trying to do it over the phone.

If you missed NATLE's virtual Leadership Symposium on April 21, a recording of the 3-hour presentation will be uploaded the week of April 25.  It was an exclusive opportunity for the top leaders of trial lawyer associations to come together to learn the latest strategies to maximize the influence of their associations and effect successful programs to protect the civil justice system.  Service on a non-profit board is important, and serving on a Trial Lawyer Association board is particularly unique. This session offered an overview of trial lawyer association (non-profit) basics viewed through the lens of a practicing CEO who has had the great benefit of working with, learning from, and collaborating with NATLE’s talented pool of CEOs for over 20 years.  Now more than ever, a dynamic partnership between the volunteer leader and association chief staff executive is critical in ensuring that the trial lawyer association of today is equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Who should view it?  Anyone in a position of leadership and responsibility for a trial lawyer association will benefit from this program, including officers, board members, emerging leaders, committee chairs, CEOs, and staff leaders.  Click here for the Flyer.

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

The final push is on for our virtual Leadership Symposium next Thursday, April 21st.  If you know of anyone who is on the fence about registering, please encourage them to sign up.  Only 25% of the registrants have taken the final step to get the zoom access link, so I’ll be sending out that reminder on Monday.

The Scholarship Committee met on Wednesday to review the four very close applications that were submitted for the Tommy Townsend Memorial Scholarship.  Their decision as to the awardee will be announced by April 22nd.  (The Scholarships are used to cover travel-related expenses for the Annual Meeting.)

The “soft opening” of the NATLE’s Annual Meeting registration page received a handful of entries, though I’m holding off on sending more than the Save-the-Date announcement until we have the TrialSmith/Counsel Financial social event confirmed.  If you plan on attending our Seattle program, the first priority is to register with AAJ in order to make hotel reservations at the Sheraton Grand…the room blocks are known to sell out.  In addition to TrialSmith/Counsel Financial’s social event, Justice Partner Ringler Associates is sponsoring our Membership Business Meeting &  Luncheon.

That’s the NATLE Weekly Wrap.  Have a great weekend!

P.S. in case you’re still here…my desk in my second floor office with floor-to-ceiling windows faces the backyard so I can watch the neighborhood wildlife, as I’ve mentioned before.  Today’s entertainment was two gray squirrels tumbling like proverbial little brothers.  Then again, ‘tis the season, so maybe they’re getting frisky, I’m no expert.  A few weeks ago, they chased each other up a tree to wrestle in the branches when one fell 25 feet, bounced, and shot right back up the tree to go at it with his buddy again.  At least, I'm assuming it was a friendly battle!

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

Our virtual Leadership Symposium on April 21st is gathering steam and Bob Harris has provided “advance” materials for registrants.  To help make attendance more accessible for the TLAs responsible for covering the registration fee, the 20% discount for three or more attendees has been popular.  Executive Directors can register and pay for their group for a reduced fee ($100ea rather than $125).  Before “check-out”, click on “Add to cart” for each additional registrant.  Please share the flyer with your leadership and encourage them to attend.

The Scholarship Committee is planning to meet in the next few weeks to review the four applications that were submitted for the Tommy Townsend Memorial Scholarship by last Friday’s deadline.  Their decision as to the awardee will be announced by April 22nd.  The Scholarships are used to cover travel-related expenses for the Annual Meeting.

The itinerary for NATLE’s Annual Meeting in Seattle (July 16-19) is approaching its final stage, with only a few speakers to be confirmed and the choice of social event finalized.  The NATLE registration page will be open next week, but in the meantime, I strongly suggest that you register with AAJ in order to make hotel reservations at the Sheraton Grand…the room blocks are known to sell out.  Our Justice Partners are registered and looking forward to joining us.  I have reached out to them about opportunities to sponsor the breakfasts and/or breaks, so if you’re in touch with any of them, encourage them to let me know that they’re interested so I can get it into the program brochure.

That’s the NATLE Weekly Wrap.  Have a great weekend!

P.S. in case you’re still here…living in Vermont means never quite knowing when the last snowfall will clog up plans for getting into the spring cleaning spirit.  Heck, I remember one year when the tax return deadline was extended a few days because the IRS office in Andover, Mass, was snowed in.  Well, I took a leap last weekend and siphoned the gas out of my snowblower, added a little Sta-bil to the tank, and fired it up to run out the rest.  That’s my way of saying goodbye to winter.

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

If you are on the fence about attending NATLE’s Annual Meeting in Seattle (July 16-19), I strongly suggest that you register with AAJ so you can make your hotel reservations at the Sheraton Grand…the room blocks are known to sell out.  The Planning Committee is finalizing the speaker line-up and details on the social event, so the brochure should be ready by the end of next week.  Our Justice Partners are registered and looking forward to joining us.  I have reached out to them about opportunities to sponsor the breakfasts and/or breaks, so if you’re in touch with any of them, encourage them to let me know that they’re interested so I can get it into the program brochure.

We are just under three weeks out from our virtual Leadership Symposium and registration has been very positive.  Please share the flyer with your leadership and encourage them to attend.  The program will be April 21st beginning at 1pm ET and cover topics critical for TLA leadership and executive staff.  EDs: if your TLA is responsible for covering the registration fee for 3 or more attendees, please contact me before registering!  We have a discount available!

That’s the NATLE Weekly Wrap.  Have a great weekend!

P.S. in case you’re still here…my guilty pleasure on Netflix has been “Formula 1”.  It’s not like watching a whole race, though there are snippets from the qualifying and race days.  It’s more of an edge-of-your-seat documentary with profiles of the top tier racers.  These men – yes, there are no women drivers in the four seasons covered in the Netflix series – lean toward the spoiled brat end of the scale, but they’re also incredibly calm in otherwise hair-raising situations that would give the rest of us mere mortals a heart attack.  The over-sized go carts regularly exceed 200mph and you get “headset seats” for the communication between the driver and his race engineer, and *spoiler alert* there’s an episode where one driver walks away after being completely engulfed in a fiery crash for what feels like five minutes.  It was actually less than 30 seconds, but that’s the magic of television.

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

AAJ has opened their registration page for the Annual Meeting in Seattle and you are urged to sign up AND make your hotel reservations…I understand the room block tends to sell out.  Our educational programs will be held across the street at the Convention Center.  The NATLE website has the early program information page set up with the links to AAJ -- registering with AAJ ensures you'll have a nametag and tickets to the various receptions, membership luncheon, and events.  The NATLE general program begins on Sunday, July 17 with breakfast and AAJ has generously agreed to sponsor the EC Installation Reception that afternoon.  I have reached out to our Justice Partners about opportunities to sponsor any of the breakfasts, lunches and breaks during the meeting, so if you’re particularly close with any of them, encourage them to let me know that they’re interested so I can get it into the program brochure (which we will finalize as soon as the social event is confirmed).

The topic for the March Zoom Series will highlight the MemberCentral dashboard feature that Kent mentioned in his welcome during the virtual portion of the Winter Meeting last month.  Mauricio Fonseca and Cole Wagner will showcase the top charts and discuss strategies for organizing them.  This is also an opportunity to get your questions answered about other metrics that may be available for you to incorporate or for MC to develop.  Register here first to obtain the Zoom link.

We are just under four weeks out from our virtual Leadership Symposium and registration has been very positive.  Please share the flyer with your leadership and encourage them to attend.  The program will be April 21st beginning at 1pm ET and cover topics critical for TLA leadership and executive staff.  EDs: if your TLA is responsible for covering the registration fee for 3 or more attendees, please contact me before registering!  We have a discount available!

That’s the NATLE Weekly Wrap.  Have a great weekend!

P.S. in case you’re still here…the wrens are once again flitting around my backyard looking for their houses that I haven’t yet hung up.  They’re super cute, have a great song, and definitely let me know when I get too close.  They get used to me after a month or so, especially when they realize I’m the one scaring away the neighborhood cats with my sling shot and acorns.  Don’t call the SPCA on me…I manage to get close, but haven’t scored a direct hit yet.  Besides, if I could do that from my second floor office perch, that would make me an ace!

Is there an Executive Director/CEO in NATLE you'd like to see take a bigger role? Nominate them for a position in NATLE's leadership today. Nominations for the 2022-23 Executive Committee are being accepted through May 13 for consideration by the Nominating Committee. 

ELECTIONS 
Elections take place during the Members Business Meeting at the Annual Meeting in Seattle. The Annual Meeting itinerary is still being determined, so watch your Inbox for the announcement. Only regular members (Executive Directors) nominated by a regular member may be elected to serve, only regular members may vote, and self-nominations are permitted. In July, Barbara Jorden assumes the role of President/Representative to the AAJ Executive Committee, and Carla Ferrucci continues on the Committee as Immediate Past President. Open/elected seats eligible for nominations are the President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer, and five At-large Members. All seats on the Executive Committee have one-year terms except for the Treasurer, who is permitted to serve two consecutive one-year terms. Nominations are not allowed from the floor.  Current Executive Committee members must be nominated if they wish to be considered.

After May 13, according to NATLE bylaws: "Members may make additional nominations for any elected position within the association by submitting the name of any regular member no later than 14 days before the date of the membership meeting where elections are held."

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

The details for the Annual Meeting in Seattle are still being finalized.  I will send a note to the full membership with the links to register with AAJ and reserve a room as soon as I have them.  I’m hoping our programs will be held alongside the main AAJ educational programs to maximize your access to your members.

We have received three applications for the Tommy Townsend Memorial Scholarship, so far.  I’ve added a separate blog post for this item and will send another recruiting email on Monday.  Apps are due April 1st and will go to the Scholarship Committee for review.

Look for an announcement seeking nominations to the NATLE Executive Committee on Monday morning.  Nominations will be accepted for the positions of president-elect, secretary and treasurer, as well as five at-large positions.  If current EC members wish to be considered for serving another one-year term, they must be nominated and self-nominations are allowed.

Good Practice:  Exactly what is “work-life balance”?  It’s a phrase that has been around since the 70s, but seems to have gained steam in the last 15 years.  At the most basic level, it is the split between the obligations of your job and the time you take for fun and recreation.  Obviously, the split is different for everyone based on factors like job description and family responsibilities.  Connections we’ve accepted into our lives, like cell phones and laptops, tend to blur the line and we might no longer leave work at work…it’s always within reach and can pop into non-work time.  When you can find the right balance – that minimizes anxiety and boosts fulfillment – you will enjoy life more.  The Annual Meeting Planning Committee thinks highly enough of this topic to include it in the schedule.  We hope you’ll find it helpful, too.

That’s the NATLE Weekly Wrap.  Have a great weekend!

P.S. in case you’re still here…I had one ear listening to Zelensky’s address (through a translator) to Congress on Wednesday morning.  By now, you’ve all heard that after an incredibly moving video contrasting a peaceful, beautiful Ukraine with chilling scenes of bombings, mass graves, and emotional devastation, he came back on and gave a direct appeal -- in near-perfect English -- for additional help.  Powerful reality check to put everything in context.

With the Annual Meeting in Seattle coming up in July, a Tommy Townsend Memorial Scholarship is available for NATLE members who are full-time executive or full-time associate staff.  The scholarships cover travel-related or other expenses incurred to attend the Annual Meeting.  An email was sent last week to the full membership with a link to the application form and it is also available on the NATLE website under the Events tab, next to the Annual Meeting heading.  Applications are due April 1st.

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

Our Justice Partner, SBA Funding, is launching their new marketing campaign this week with an email to TLA members.  Since it has been almost a year from the last campaign, I sent a note to the 26 participating TLA EDs as a heads-up.  I’ve heard that there had been some confusion in the past on behalf of TLA members about NATLE – what it is and its involvement.  This is certainly understandable when it is most likely the case that only your leadership is aware of this Association.  To pull NATLE out of the mix, SBA Funding is in the process of building SBA/TLA-branded landing pages for each TLA.  The sites are coming online every day and the batch of 26 for the existing TLA partners should be complete by the end of March.  If you are interested in participating, I will send you the latest partnership agreement that outlines the direct benefits to your TLA.

With the Annual Meeting in Seattle coming up in July, a Tommy Townsend Memorial Scholarship is available for NATLE members who are full-time executive or full-time associate staff.  The scholarships cover travel-related or other expenses incurred to attend the Annual Meeting.  An email was sent this week to the full membership with a link to the application form and it is also available on the NATLE website under the Events tab, next to the Annual Meeting heading.  Applications are due April 1st.

Registration for the virtual Leadership Symposium is now open and a pdf of the flyer is available.  The program will be April 21st beginning at 1pm ET and cover topics critical for TLA leadership and executive staff.  Please share the flyer with your president and president-elect.

The Planning Committee for the Annual Meeting in Seattle (July) is recruiting volunteers to become engaged in selecting topics and speakers for these important programs.  If you have never – or rarely – been involved in a NATLE activity, this is a perfect chance to have input and network with other members.  The co-chairs for the Annual Mtg are Sara Crumb and Sara Schuett and the next meeting is Friday, March 18th. Let me know if you are interested and I will forward a meeting invite!

Now is the time to start thinking about the leadership positions in NATLE.  An announcement will be sent out in the next few weeks and nominations will be accepted for the Executive Committee positions of president-elect, secretary and treasurer, as well as five at-large positions.

Good Practice:  As we approach the season when many associations experience a transition in their board composition, we know how important it is to onboard new members with a history of the institution and role expectations.  It is equally as important to spend time with members coming off the board to understand their perspectives and opportunities for improvement.

That’s the NATLE Weekly Wrap.  Have a great weekend!

P.S. in case you’re still here…last time I mention the book on my nightstand, The Bourne Legacy.  I had to put it aside when a notice from my library that a book I’d reserved became available.  I couldn’t let a bit of spycraft and MacGyver-esque traps get in the way of the calm and clever Chief Superintendent Armand Gamache in The Long Way Home, by Louise Penny.