NATLE FYI

Thank you for participating in the anonymous membership survey(s).  This is a crucial step in our Strategic Planning process.  The results are accessible to NATLE Members only.

Executive Director-only Survey Results
Membership Survey Results

[This notice was originally sent to the full membership on June 16.]

The Membership Business Meeting is Sunday, July 17 immediately following a luncheon sponsored by Ringler Associates. If you haven't registered for the Annual Meeting, there's still time!

2022 - 2023 Executive Committee Slate

Barbara Jorden, Executive Director, Idaho Trial Lawyers Association, assumes the office of President, and Carla M. Ferrucci, Executive Director, Minnesota Association for Justice, remains on the Executive Committee as Immediate Past President.

The Nominating Committee recommends the following slate for the 2022-2023 Executive Committee:

President-Elect: Valerie O'Brien, Executive Director, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
Secretary: Joan Daly Maloney, Executive Director, Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association
Treasurer: Sara Schuett, Executive Director, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys

At-Large Members

Juliette Bleecker, Executive Director, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association
Alison Dodge, CAE, Executive Director, Maryland Association for Justice
Constance Koury, Executive Director, Louisiana Association for Justice
Kwedi Moore, Executive Director, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles 
Stephen Pontoni, Executive Director, Michigan Association for Justice

"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." Bylaws, Article VII., Section 1.  To comply with the bylaws, please submit any additional nominations to Jennifer Smith, Executive Director, no later than Sunday, July 3. (Please note that any nominations will result in a contested election.)

2022 Nominating Committee

Barbara J. Jorden, Chair, Executive Director, Idaho Trial Lawyers Association
Carla M. Ferrucci, Executive Director, Minnesota Association for Justice
Suzanne Keith, Executive Director, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association
Cornelius J. Larkin, CAE, CMP, CEM, CMM, DES, Executive Director, New Jersey Association for Justice, Inc.
Tiffany McGee, CAE, Executive Director, Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Al Smith, Executive Director, Montana Trial Lawyers Association

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

Our Affinity & Justice Partner Committee met on Monday with a prospective Justice Partner.  Kenect is a text messaging platform built for law firms to generate new leads, communicate with clients, and conduct video consults without the client having to download an app.  We are working with them to brainstorm the best approach for NATLE to utilize the platform as a demonstration and to make it available to your members.  If you already use (or know of a similar product) please let me know – the Committee is interested in hearing of similar vendors.

The GAC Planning Committee met on Wednesday to discuss topics and speakers.  We should have a meaty draft ready to share in Seattle!

Please remember to complete the membership survey.  It is aimed at all EDs and staff and we need responses by June 24th.  That’s next Friday!

Our Zoom Series topic this month (June 27th, 4pmET) will be about the benefits and drawbacks of Feathr.  Alex Winslow with the Texas Trial Lawyers Association has agreed to give us an overview of the product and his experience with it, and provide an example of how TTLA uses this digital marketing platform.  To join the discussion (or be a fly on the wall), please register to receive the zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElce-urTorE9SAmA8e4QpNouWeBGjerSr7

That’s the NATLE Weekly Wrap.  Have a good weekend,

P.S. in case you’re still here…this is a big weekend for celebrations.  I’ll be trouping about in the woods on Sunday with my dad.  It’s the property that my parents bought back in 1972 with plans to eventually build a home.  Not long after they closed on the property, the developer went belly-up.  Because the 11.8-acre lot is landlocked, it meant a pricey prospect to bring in the road and utilities, so Mom & Dad ended up staying in the house where I now live.  That’s a long way of saying that it’s been in the family for 50 years and the abutting neighbors use it more than we do.  I hired a surveyor to re-mark the boundary lines, so we’re going up to check it out ahead of offering it to the neighbors.  More broadly, Sunday is also Juneteenth, and while we’re enjoying the peace and quiet (and, hopefully, few mosquitos), I’ll be reflecting on the slow progress this country made toward recognizing this new national holiday, along with how much farther we have to go.

It’s incredibly hard for me to convey the usual “Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!” this second-in-a-row dark week.  I find myself cycling between anger, despair, frustration, and complete and total incomprehension.  It has been hard to concentrate, but it has also been a busy week.

Our 4th-Monday Zoom Series covered the basics of PCI Compliance.  The presenter, Doug Mocik, is enthusiastic about this topic and goes through the material quickly, so I’m happy to have the recording for a refresher.  If you were not able to attend, here is the link to the recording:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/LVJ0pjdgyRItgIpKdxlyN9_tsBnQORF4HqZhvMQELsUSY06COr9swnmWEMLFH6jg.z9SEU923mEOGIk79?startTime=1653336145000

Passcode: ?&7h8s32

Feedback from participants and our consultant about the Focus Group and one-on-one interviews from our Strategic Planning process has been positive and constructive.  We don’t have a report of any sort at this point, but will share as soon as it’s available.  I’m excited that you’ve all now met Chris Bennett, our consultant from The Spark Mill.

The Finance Committee met this week to review the FY22-to-date P&L and a draft of the FY23 Budget.  The final Executive Committee-reviewed versions will be included in the packet for the Membeship Business Meeting on July 17, 2022 in Seattle.

On Wednesday, I sat in on a presentation by Mauricio at MemberCentral about their new email blast tools.  The updates will be implemented June 1st, but are available now by notifying MC Support if you’re interested.  My big takeaways were the handy templates, more user-friendly, intuitive features, AND the easier way to “filter” groups without having flashbacks to my mind-numbing college stats class.

That’s the NATLE Weekly Wrap.  Have a thoughtful and grateful Memorial Day weekend,

P.S. in case you’re still here…I don’t have kids, but the tragedy in Uvalde makes me want to give everyone I know who has young children a hug.

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

The NATLE Affinity Partner Committee met this week to review a list of our current vendors, as well as those who have expressed interest in working with NATLE.  We will be looking further into a few to learn more about their potential benefits to your TLAs.  Let me know if you have a favorite vendor you'd like your NATLE colleagues to know about and/or if you would like to join this Committee.

About 1/3 of our Executive Director members have registered to participate in the Focus Group phase of our Strategic Planning process.  Outreach to those not yet signed up is happening now.  The information collected from the Focus Group will be merged with the data from the two Membership Surveys and Chris Bennett, our consultant, will present the results in Seattle during an Executive Committee Retreat.

The Finance Committee meets next week and will review a draft of the FY23 Budget.  It will then go to the Executive Committee for approval ahead of the final vote at the Member Business Meeting in Seattle.

Our inclusive (not just for EDs) Zoom Series on Monday (5/25) will get into the must-do’s of PCI Compliance.  The presenter, Doug Mocik, is enthusiastic about this topic and looks forward to discussing the annual requirements of certification.  This program is open to all NATLE members, please feel free to share the registration link.   https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElce-urTorE9SAmA8e4QpNouWeBGjerSr7  It will also be recorded.

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

P.S. in case you’re still here…I learned something this week listening to my local NPR affiliate’s noontime program about the cute little inchworms that hang by their silk from the trees.  To my horror, they’re actually the newly-hatched phase of the spongy moth caterpillar.  I’m sure I walked through a dozen of them last weekend when I mowed my backyard.  They’re not the same as the tent caterpillars, but are still incredibly destructive to my mostly-oak trees.  I’m trying the wrap-the-trunk-in-duct-tape trick.  I’ll let you know if it works.

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.