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Transcript of April 2013 Edition of The Paralegal Pipeline.pdf
Brevard Paralegal Association Chapter
Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc.
The Paralegal Pipeline
Inspiring professional growth...one paralegal at a time
April 2013
IN THIS ISSUE
State News 2
April Annual Meeting 3 April Panel Discussion 3 National News 4
E-Filing 5
Galleria 6
Community Service 7
2012-13 Board Listing 8
Sponsors 9, 10
Follow us! Search
“Brevard Paralegal
Association” and join!
We list useful links,
information regarding
upcoming meetings
and events!
It feels like it was yesterday when I
decided to run for President of our
Association. Now my second term is
coming to an end. Where did time
go?
It has been two years of hard work.
Meetings to organize, meetings to
attend, reports to be prepared, trips
made to the various PAF's Board
Meetings...
I'm grateful for the opportunity you
gave me and I have taken every chal-
lenge to heart.
If you asked me to choose one word
to describe what I'm most grateful for
in the past two years, that word
would be friendship. You don't lead a
group of people alone, you need
many faithful people to walk with you
so the job can be done. In the proc-
ess of working together, you get to
know people, their stories, and
friendships are formed.
I leave BPA's presidency with many
friends not only on the chapter level,
but also on the state level. I got to
also work with PAF's Board and got
to know the amazing group of people
who work hard to make our profes-
sion known and respected.
Thank you BPA's Board, Committee
Chairs, and all those of you who do-
nated your time to serve the associa-
tion. I could not have done IT with-
out you.
This next term I will become your
Immediate Past President. I'm looking
forward to working under the new
Board’s leadership. In addition, I will
be joining PAF's Board. I'm honored
to have the opportunity.
Please make sure to attend BPA's
Meeting on April 11 at Suntree Coun-
try Club. Our topic for next month is
“A Paralegal Panel Discussion: Attor-
neys Clients, and Peers – Effective
Communication." Also, we will be
having BPA's Annual Meeting. If you
are an active member and you can't
attend please send your proxies
ASAP.
Best regards,
Silvia
Silvia Cowan,
Brevard County Legal Aid
Monthly Message
The Paralegal Pipeline Page 2
CORNER
Annual renewals for FRP’s are now
due! Need credits? The Florida Bar
is offering CLE’s. A listing of
courses available can be accessed at
www.floridabar.org/cle.
If you are not a registered Florida
Paralegal the Florida Bar website has
as information pertaining to qualifi-
cations, fees, and a Q & A fact
sheet. Please take a few minutes to
review the information and consider
applying.
PAF QUICK
REFERENCE
Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc.
466 94th Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33702
www.pafinc.org
PAF’s Spring Seminar, “Branching Out Growing, Growing in New
Directions is scheduled for May 17 - 18, 2013, at The Hotel Duval
Tallahassee, Florida. The seminar will be hosted by the Big Bend
Chapter. The seminar is approved by NALA for 10.5 hours of CLE
credit, including 3.0 hours of Ethics. The registration deadline is May
3, 2013. Registration fee is $150.00 for members and $180.00 for
non-members. A full description of workshops being offered, regis-
tration form, and informa-
tion pertaining to the ho-
tel is available on-line at
www.pafinc.org.
Notable News for the Sunshine State
The Treasure Coast Chapter of the Paralegal Association of Florida,
plans to hold a one day Spring Seminar on April 19, 2013 at the In-
dian River State College Campus. The Seminar is approved by NALA
for 6 hours of CLE credit. Registration fee is $75 for members, $90
non-members, and $30 for students. Workshop topics include:
Client Relations/Management/Effectiveness & Managing
Expectations
How Probated Property Affects Real Estate Transactions
Alimony Reform Bill
Wrongful Death & Litigation Crossover
Temporary Relief
Changes in the Estate Tax Exemption
Mediation
For additional information contact: Kristen Schmidt at (772) 633-
3496 or e-mail: [email protected]
SAVE THE DATE
www.pafinc.org/treasure
APRIL CHAPTER MEETING
ELECTIONS AND PANEL DISCUSSION
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013
6:00 P.M. - SUNTREE COUNTRY CLUB
The Paralegal Pipeline Page 3
A PARALEGAL PANEL DISCUSSION
ATTORNEYS, CLIENTS, AND PEERS
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Whether you are a seasoned veteran of the paralegal world or have only worked in the field for a short
time, we can guarantee that probably all of you or at least a wide percentage of you have had a “really bad
day” that was the result of communication - normally bad or no communication at all was at the heart of the
problem. It doesn’t matter what field you work in, we are all human beings and communication skills are not
always our strength in or out of a professional setting on a given day. The same holds true for the attorneys
you work for, your peers in the office, the clients your firm serves, and other paralegals and professionals
you deal with on a daily basis. You add to the mix a demanding work load, unclear expectations, stress, per-
sonal issues , etc., etc., and it can get pretty bumpy.
BPA is proud to present at the April meeting a panel discussion on this very topic. This panel was developed
in response to the 2012 Member Survey where members asked for training on this topic. Hear the panel
members experiences and insight on how they handled different situations and what has worked for them on
a daily basis.
Moderator: Roma Molinaro, CP, FRP, Paralegal
Michael Kahn, P.A.
Panelists in Attendance:
Kim Nowakowski, RP, FRP: Kim is Past President, BPA and has been a Senior Corporate Paralegal for
Health First, Inc. since 2005. In addition, Kim is a Member of the Florida Bar Health Law Section and the
Florida Bar Education Committee. Prior to working at Health First Kim was a Paralegal/Office Administrator
for the Law Office of Thomas H. Yardley for ten years.
Silvia Cowan: Silvia earned her law degree from Candido Mendes University of Law in Rio de Janeiro, Bra-
zil in 1996 and passed the bar that same year. Silvia moved to Florida in 2001 and obtained her AS Degree in
Paralegal Studies from Brevard Community College. Silvia is currently the President of BPA and soon will be
serving on the Board of Directors for the Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. Silvia is a paralegal with Bre-
vard County Legal Aid and her responsibilities include conducting all interviews with prospective clients
seeking dissolution of marriage, child custody, and paternity cases.
Linda Goettsche, FRP, CP: Linda has her B.S. in Business Administration from Tennessee Technological
University and an A.S. in Paralegal Studies from Brevard Community College. Linda works as a paralegal for
Adrienne E. Trent, P.A. The firm primarily works in the area of employment law representing employees
and employers in various types of employment claims including employment discrimination, whistle blower
retaliation, Family and Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, breach of contract, unpaid wage and un-
employment claims.
The Paralegal Pipeline Page 4
Award Nominations Due April 15
Nominations for NALA's annual awards at the July Convention in Portland,
Oregon, are due April 15. These tributes are a meaningful function of a
professional association to express esteem for members who excel and to
inspire excellence in others. Nomination forms are available from NALA
Headquarters or they may be downloaded from the NALA website in un-
der the Members Area tab. .
The Founders' Award is NALA's highest award recognizing extraordi-
nary contributions that have affected the paralegal profession for a signifi-
cant period.
The Presidents' Award is exclusively for NALA members, recognizing
achievements in the growth and development of the profession. Recipients
must be members for at least two years and have at least five years of ex-
perience as a paralegal.
NALA Affiliated Associations Awards recognize both affiliates and individ-
ual members for service and outstanding contributions. These awards in-
clude the National Affiliated Associations Achievement Award and the
Affiliate Awards for general recognition of resolute service and valuable
contributions to the members' affiliated associations.
LEAP Applications Due May 15
NALA's Professional Development Committee is now accepting applica-
tions for the LEAP class of 2014. The class members will be announced
this summer at the 2013 NALA Annual Meeting of Members, in Portland,
Oregon. The LEAP curricula is designed to support NALA members who
are also serving as leaders of their state and local NALA affiliated organiza-
tions by reading the latest in association management and developing skills
that support leadership growth. Read more about the LEAP classes on the
web.
Remember, LEAP is open to members of NALA who are also Certified
Paralegals. There is no cost for participating in this year-long, web-based
training, however LEAP class members are expected to attend the NALA
Annual Meeting of Members at the end of their year. LEAP is one of the
best bargains around - and a perfect example of your NALA membership
dues and affiliated association fees at work for you!
Toni-Marie D’Alessandro
Linda Goettsche
Barbara Morrow
Jamie Shreffler
NEW MEMBER WELCOMES
Emily O’Rouke
Kathrine Reinmann
Deborah Tuttle
MEMBERSHIP COUNT
55 Active 2 Associates
14 Students 2 Honorary
They say it’s your Birthday ♫
Happy Birthday to Ya ♫
Notable News from NALA
The Paralegal Pipeline Page 5
FOND FAREWELL BPA bids a fond farewell to Nandra Ramnarine, CP who has been a loyal and
dedicated member of the Chapter for many years. Nandra has accepted an ex-
citing opportunity in the corporate environment as paralegal in Tampa, Florida.
Her expertise and years of experience will be valuable assets to her new em-
ployer. Nandra’s contributions to BPA are immeasurable. Through her years in
the organization, she has served in nearly every board position including Presi-
dent. In the past year, Nandra was both Chair, Ways & Means Committee and
editor of The Paralegal Pipeline. We wish her well in her new job and all the joy
and opportunities living in Tampa offers .
DEADLINE FOR MANDATORY E-FILING ARRIVES FOR CIVIL CASES
Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past
or present are certain to miss the future.
John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) Thirty-fifth President of the USA
April 1, 2013 is no joking matter for those of us that work in Civil Law. That is the date for mandatory e-filing. If you
have not already done so please go to myflcourtaccess.com and register your attorneys. I thought I would take a mo-
ment and share with everyone a few tips and reminders.
You are no longer required to submit the original documents after e-filing; unless the original is re-
quired.
Example: Wills are required documents. The Clerk must keep the paper original for 20 years.
All proposed orders must be mailed to the Clerk’s office. You may not submit these through the e-
portal.
Please ensure all information in the caption of your document is correct.
When filing documents for existing cases, please ensure a correct case number is on every document.
Please choose the appropriate title from the drop down menu for each of your documents.
Please attach all exhibits if your document mentions exhibits.
If your document mentions something being attached please attach it.
Example: A "Notice of Filing" states a death certificate is attached. This would be considered one
document not two. You would have to attach the death certificate and submit it as one document.
When filing a new case you will be prompted to pay the appropriate filing fee. You can use your firm’s
credit card or set up your firm’s bank account information, no different then paying a bill on-line.
For a limited time the Clerk’s office will still be accepting documents through the mail and over the
counter. This is an undetermined amount of time.
I hope this information is helpful. This is an exciting time for all and like any new endeavor there will be adjustments. I
am confident if we all work together and are patient in the end we will have a more convenient efficient way of doing
business.
Hope Lutz, CP
Paralegal, Brevard County Clerk of the Courts
The Paralegal Pipeline Page 6
The February meeting welcomed Dr. Louis Jiannine,
Professor and Curriculum Coordinator of Paralegal
Studies at Brevard Community College and his wife,
Rene Jiannine. It was a bitter sweet evening for all given
that Dr. J (affectionately known by his past and present
students) announced his planned retirement at the end
of this year. Many current and former students were in
attendance to hear his presentation on, "Hearsay My-
thology". President Silvia Cowan took the opportunity
to thank Dr. J for his loyal support of BPA through the
years and what that has meant to the organization and
each of the members.
Members had a chance to reminisce about Dr. J’s
“Evidence Take Home” exam.
BPA WELCOMES BACK
DR. LOUIS JIANNINE
REMEMBER APRIL BPA
ELECTIONS
The Paralegal Pipeline Page 7
BRANCHING OUT WITH PAF
Toni-Marie D’Alessandro, CP, FCP,
FRP, Community Service Chair
All chapters of PAF have received the following call for help in the form of community service
from Heather Dugan, Community Service Liaison from PAF:
It’s that time of year again . . . Spring Seminar and GIFT BASKETS!!!
We are less than 50 days out from the Spring Seminar and the Big Bend chapter has selected
the Tree House of Tallahassee as their charity. “Since 1986, thousands of abused and ne-
glected children in Tallahassee and the surrounding nine counties have found shelter, com-
fort and a sense of normalcy through a local charity – Tree House of Tallahassee,
Inc.” For additional information, please visit: www.treehouseflorida.org/
whatistreehouse.aspx.
The theme for the Spring Seminar is “Branching Out – Growing in New Directions.” The Big
Bend chapter will be using the Tallahassee Live Oak Trees as their main focus. I need your
help in preparing a gift basket from your chapter to be raffled off at the seminar…...
Jamie Shreffler from Michael Kahn’s Firm has graciously agreed to put the basket together
for us. At the February meeting it was suggested that we think of items that would be used
with wine, i.e. scorescrews, cocktail napkins, good book, etc., etc. If you have any items that
you think you would like to donate, we will be taking donations
at this month’s meeting. If you have any questions, please
contact Toni-Marie and please visit the website for Tree
House of Tallahassee for more information on this most worth-
while cause. Remember, children are our future!
The Paralegal Pipeline Page 8
Newsletter Advertising
Half Page $100/Year
Or $55/6 months
Business Card $50/Year
Or $30/6 months
Special rates available for one-
time ads
Submit business card or ad artwork,
preferably in .jpg or .bmp format to Kim-
berly.Nowakowski@ Health-First.Org or
send it to:
Kim Nowakowski
c/o Health First, Inc.
6540 US Hwy 1
Rockledge FL 32955
The Paralegal Pipeline advertising
reaches people throughout Florida. The
publication’s revenue supports scholar-
ships and various community service
projects, which enables your costs associ-
ated to advertising here to be tax de-
ductible.
Please make your check payable to
Brevard Paralegal Association. Thank
you.
Treasurer’s Report Hope Lutz, CP, Treasurer
Checking $ 4,476.76 Savings $ 3,849.91 As of March 30, 2013
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
Silvia Cowan
Vice President
Tracy King, FRP
Treasurer
Hope Lutz, CP
Secretary
Linda Goettsche, CP
Immediate Past President
Kim Nowakowski, RP,FRP [email protected]
Parliamentarian
Toni-Marie D’Alessandro, CP, FCP, FRP [email protected]
Director-at-Large
Anne Cope [email protected]
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Budget Jenny Lawton-Seal, CP, FRP
Bylaws and Standing Rules Maureen “Mo” Martens, CP, FRP
Community Service
Toni-Marie D’Alessandro, CP, FCP, FRP [email protected]
Education/Scholarship
Roma Molinaro, CP, FCP, FRP, MLA
Student Liaison
Debbie Gapsch
Job Bank Coordinator
Kim M. Dexter, ACP, FCP
Local Bar Liaison
Kim Nowakowski, RP, FRP [email protected]
Meetings Sabine Martel
for dinner reservations e-mail bpameet-
Membership
Tracy King, FRP
Newsletter Editor
Anne Cope [email protected]
Publicity Jessica Pauley, CP
Ways and Means
Kim Nowakowski, RP, FRP [email protected]
OTHER POSITIONS
Vacant
Historian/Photographer
PAF Website
Kim Nowakowski, RP, FRP [email protected]
2012-13 BPA Board of Directors & Committee
The Paralegal Pipeline Page 9
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The Paralegal Pipeline Page 10
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