NATLE FYI

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.

On April 21, NATLE presents a virtual Leadership Symposium as 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 will offer 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 attend?  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!

Without a convention to facilitate, it feels like everything at NATLE HQ is happening behind the scenes.  Here’s what’s going on…We are continuing to determine the date and time for the Leadership Symposium and should be able to send out an announcement early next week.  In addition to the basics critical to the mission of every TLA, it will include a fresh batch of topics relevant to TLA leadership in the main office (or living room if that’s where the ED is set up!), the President and President-Elect positions.

Our Justice Partner, SBA Funding, is ready to send out a new email to TLA members.  For the TLAs who already participate in the program, I’ll confirm next week.  If you are interested in participating, I can send you the latest partnership agreement that outlines the direct benefits to your TLA.

The Planning Committees for both the Annual Meeting in Seattle (July) and the Governmental Affairs Conference in New Orleans (Nov) have met and are 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.  Let me know if you are interested!  The co-chairs for the Annual Mtg are Sara Crumb and Sara Schuett, and for the GAC, they’re Connie Koury and Chris Figueras.  HURRY…we need to know about your interest in the Annual Meeting NLT this weekend!

Another opportunity to get involved and have a voice in the benefits that NATLE has to offer, is to help me review the value of the vendors who contact NATLE with an interest in partnering on either an affinity level by providing discounted services, or as a Justice Partner with deeper access to membership through exhibit opportunities and exposure on the website.  Let me know if you are interested!  The time commitment will be minimal and we’ll only meet when there are viable proposals to consider.

Good Practice:  In this age of hybrid meetings, we still have to do everything we can to meeting our F&B budgets and keep our exhibitors happy.  Sponsors rely on access to members and an empty hall is a downer for everyone.  One way to avoid attendees from bailing out on their in-person registrations for the virtual option is to add on a $30 to $50 “convenience fee” for the virtual option.  [Thank you Julie W for this tip!]

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

P.S. in case you’re still here…I’m a big Jason Bourne fan (and watching Matt Damon in the lead role doesn’t hurt), so I pulled a book off the shelf last weekend by an author (Van Lustbader) who picked up the story from the late Robert Ludlum.  He was granted permission from Ludlum’s estate to write The Bourne Legacy.  I’m only 80 pages in, but so far, so good!

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

Nothing too specific this week, though planning for all of our upcoming programs, the Leadership Symposium (April), Strategic Planning session (spring-summer), Annual Meeting in Seattle (July), and the Governmental Affairs Conference (Nov), is humming along.  The Leadership Symposium will be presented via zoom and the agenda designed to be relevant for executive directors, presidents and presidents-elect.  I look forward to distributing the announcement and registration details next week.

If you’re looking to get involved and have a voice in the benefits that NATLE has to offer, I field at least one call each week from companies interested in partnering with NATLE on either an affinity level by providing discounted services, or as a Justice Partner with deeper access to membership through exhibit opportunities and exposure on the website.  I need help evaluating the value of these vendors to the membership and would like to set up a committee to meet on (most likely) an as needed basis to review their services and proposed agreements.  Let me know if you are interested!

Good Practice:  The field of corporate gifts has seen a shift from vests and backpacks to gift cards and food baskets.  Not as much commuting means backpacks and soft-sided briefcases end up collecting dust or stuffed in closets.  Snack packs and experiential gifts, like scavenger hunts and wine tastings, are more engaging in these days that no longer accommodate the water cooler conversations.

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

P.S. in case you’re still here…what I didn’t share in last week’s post about the trip to New Orleans was the terror of the return leg from Dulles to Burlington.  It was late Thursday night through the line of storms that extended up the whole east coast.  It was the worst turbulence I’ve ever experienced and, moments from landing in Burlington, the tower waved us off our first attempt as being too windy.  After 15 more minutes of crazy, stomach-lurching bumps, when we finally touched down on a different runway, I was one of the nearly 100 passengers clapping like I’d just won the lottery.

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

The report from the attendees of the in-person sessions of the 2022 Winter Meeting in Palm Springs is that it was intimate with lots of discussion.  A big thank you goes out to our Justice Partners who were onsite and to Ringer Associates who hosted a morning hike.

(At no cost to NATLE,) I took a quick 2-night trip to New Orleans this week to scout out the potential properties for our 2022 Governmental Affairs Conference.  The CVB and hotels were gracious and accommodating as the hubbub of Mardi Gras was ramping up just beyond their doors on Canal Street.  Each has pros and cons and, as you all know from planning your own conferences, it will come down to creating the best experience for attendees.  The visit coincided with Jeanie Hinkle’s Annual Mardi Gras Convention for her Southern Trial Lawyers Association and it was great to see her again and help with registration at an evening opening reception.  We may also have secured a new partner/exhibitor for our Seattle program!

Good Practice:  Bringing on new board members who are prepared to fulfill their roles includes an orientation on the ByLaws, association assets (staff, financial), and history.  Recognizing your board at conferences puts a face to the organization’s leadership, and helps new and prospective members feel more connected to accessible resources.

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

P.S. in case you’re still here…I just took delivery of a new front-load washing machine on Friday.  They weren’t kidding when they said it’s not unusual to not see much water during the cycles.  (Sorry, that was a lot of negatives to keep up with.)  Yes, I peeked every now and then with a flashlight!

Good Afternoon and Happy Friday!

The virtual sessions of the 2022 Winter Meeting were a success.  With an eye on the clock and well-prepped speakers and panelists, as well as the ongoing support of our justice sponsors, we brought a tightly-timed and info-packed program to twice as many attendees as would normally register for the conference.  Based on the sharing of experiences and ideas via zoom over those two ½-days, I suspect the in-person sessions will be just as dynamic in Palm Springs.  The materials are available to registrants via the event page.

The handful of potential facilitators for a virtual Strategic Planning session are submitting proposals for the committee to review before the end of the month.  Next steps include determining a date, securing funding, and mapping out a timeline for each phase of the process.  Thank you to the directors who have submitted responses to the first member survey – your input is the first step  of gathering current TLA-based demographics ahead of a more in-depth survey of the full membership.  Both will be crucial ingredients for the facilitator’s approach with us.

I field at least one call each week from companies interested in partnering with NATLE on either an affinity level by providing discounted services, or as a Justice Partner with deeper access to membership through exhibit opportunities and exposure on the website.  I need help evaluating the value of these vendors to the membership and would like to set up a committee to meet on (most likely) an as needed basis to review their services and proposed agreements.  Let me know if you are interested!

Good Practice:  Since networking tends to be among the top reasons members join an association, give your members plenty of opportunities to connect with those in similar categories, like roles at their firm or solo practitioners.  This may mean breakout sessions and/or special receptions during conventions or separate listservs.  For example, NATLE has a listserv for Communications Specialists with 54 members, though it may take a listserv member to send out a post as a reminder that it’s available – I haven’t seen any traffic since July.  Meaningful memberships mean greater renewals.

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

P.S. in case you’re still here…a friend of mine is big into Jimmy Buffett and the Margaritaville properties so a gaggle of us are planning a vacation in September to scout out the Daytona location.  Yes, they’re 55+ communities…I’ll be there in x number of years!  Crazily enough, they rent out the houses for $169/night for up to 3 nights – and it comes with a golf cart.  Who could ask for more than that?!  (and, no, this isn’t a plug…just a happy head-scratcher.)