Dear CAPA Members,

Happy October! I can finally say, ‘Happy Fall, y’all’! There is so much to look

forward to in October. Cooler temps, yay! A day off for Columbus Day,

perhaps for some? Halloween decorations going up and full candy bowls. The

start of early voting, GO VOTE! National Pierogi Day. It’s a thing – October 8th –

look it up! These are all important but this is also the month that celebrates

us. Friday, October 23rd is National Paralegal Day. And this has been a month,

a year in fact, so we deserve to celebrate.

The State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division was founded on October 23, 1981 and was the first U.S.

bar association to have a division dedicated to paralegals. GO TEXAS! In 2009 the Texas State

Senate adopted Proclamation No. 1144 which recognized October 23 of each year as Texas

Paralegal Day. It is now a nationally celebrated event.

The paralegal career began to develop in the late 1960's when law firms and individual

practitioners sought ways to improve the efficient and cost-effective delivery of legal

services. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics the job outlook for paralegals from 2019 –

2029 is projected to grow by 10%. To put that in perspective, the average growth rate for all

occupations is 4%. More reason to celebrate!

CAPA is hosting a Halloween themed Paralegal Day Celebration at 6:00pm on the 23rd. There will

be games, a costume contest and great prizes! The upside of ‘virtual’ events is left over catering

budgets. That means there will be several $100 gift cards up for grabs. So sign up, dress up, show

up, drink up and put up your best effort at Scattergories and in the

costume contest for a chance to win. There is even a prize for best

Zoom background!

If costumes and games aren’t your thing I hope you’ll join us for our

‘Spooky’ October CLE on Identity Theft.

Whatever you focus on this month, celebrate the small wins as well

as the big ones and don’t forget to take time to focus on YOU!

Ariane Walton

President-Elect / Acting President

pres_elect@capatx.org

IN THIS ISSUE

Message from Velva L. Price

Board Spotlight: Jen Rogers, Treasurer

Committee Spotlight: Celeste Rodriguez, RSVP

Paralegal of the Year Call for Nominations

Member Spotlight: Lindsey Bentley

October Event Calendar

Paralegal Day 2020

October CLE – Identity Theft 101

Nancy McLaughlin Scholarship

Article: Being an Active Bystander by Claude

Ducloux

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

PRESIDENT Amber Haney

president@capatx.org

PRESIDENT-ELECT Ariane Walton

pres_elect@capatx.org

SECRETARY

Laura Kliman secretary@capatx.org

TREASURER Jennifer B. Rogers, CP treasurer@capatx.org

PARLIAMENTARIAN Brittney Melancon, CP

parliamentarian@capatx.org

IMMEDIATE-PAST PRESIDENT

Brittany Posadas, TBLS-BCP past_pres@capatx.org

CLE SEMINARS-LUNCH & LEARN

Ariane Walton brownbag@capatx.org

CP STUDY GROUP Brittney Melancon, CP studygroup@capatx.org

TBLS STUDY GROUP Carli Collins, TBLS-BCP,

Brittany Posadas, MBA, TBLS-BCP, &

Francesca Romans, ACP, TBLS-BCP tbls-study@capatx.org

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Liz Garcia community@capatx.org

ELECTIONS

Carli Collins, TBLS-BCP elections@capatx.org

JOB BANK

Amanda Garcia job_bank@capatx.org

MEMBERSHIP

Francesca Romans, ACP, TBLS-BCP membership@capatx.org

MENTOR & INTERNSHIP Brenda Colvin, TBLS-BCP

Catherine Mackoy mentor@capatx.org

NETWORKING & SOCIAL EVENTS

Brittany Melancon social@capatx.org

PRO BONO SERVICE

Liz Garcia probono@capatx.org

PROGRAMS-SPEAKERS

Lindsey Bentley, MA & Ariane Walton programs@capatx.org

PROGRAMS-RSVP & DOOR PRIZES Celeste Rodriguez

programs@capatx.org

PUBLIC RELATIONS Francesca Romans, ACP, TBLS-BCP

pr@capatx.org

PUBLICATIONS Kellie Balli

publications@capatx.org

RULES & BYLAWS

Jennifer B. Rogers, CP

Francesca Romans, ACP, TBLS-BCP rules@capatx.org

SCHOLARSHIP

Lindsey Bentley, MA scholarship@capatx.org

SCHOOL & STUDENT LIAISON

Brittany Posadas, MBA, TBLS-BCP liaison@capatx.org

SUSTAINING MEMBER LIAISON

Brittany Posadas, MBA, TBLS-BCP Alice Lineberry, PLS, CP

sustaining@capatx.org

WEB TEAM

Carli Collins, TBLS-BCP webteam@capatx.org

2020-2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

COURT UPDATES & EMERGENCY ORDERS Travis County COVID-19 Information

The OCA’s Court Operations Guidance

Supreme Court of Texas (edited 7/31/2020)

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (edited 5/8/2020)

3rd Court of Appeals (edited 5/26/2020)

Travis County Civil & Family Courts (edited 6/15/2020)

Travis County Associate Judges Procedures for Remote Hearings

Travis County Criminal Courts (edited 5/12/2020)

Travis County Justices of the Peace (edited 7/27/2020)

Travis County Juvenile Court

Travis County Probate Court

Travis County Attorney’s Office

Travis County District Clerk’s Office

The CAPA Board of Directors will continue to closely monitor the situation and will keep you updated via the web page,

social media, and email as news develops that impacts our members and our legal community.

MESSAGE FROM VELVA L. PRICE

BOARD SPOTLIGHT JEN ROGERS, TREASURER

Hello CAPA!

I’m Jen Rogers, your CAPA 2020 – 2021

Treasurer. I work in Renewable Energy

(Regulatory and Real Estate) at Husch

Blackwell LLP. I’m super excited to be

working on the future of energy

production for Texas. As CAPA’s Treasurer,

I’m responsible for managing the funds coming in and going

out for CAPA, keeping the books updated, reporting to the

Board on the status of our accounting, watching the budget,

and ensuring that our tax records are filed timely. It’s a

fiduciary responsibility to the organization and I’m honored

to be serving in this capacity to support CAPA.

During the 2020 year-of-weird quarantine, I’ve been

continuing to study ASL (American Sign Language) for fun

and I’ve started supporting www.BakingforGood.org an

online bake sale/auction with my Gothic Chocolate Cake

and other fun bakes. Two months ago, my

housemate, Monica, adopted an elderly

special needs Maltese named Bella-Bear

who has brought a lot of fun and much

love to our home. I can’t wait to get back

to travel and gathering with friends and

family and I hope that you’re all doing

well and staying engaged!

COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT CELESTE RODRIGUEZ, RSVP

Hi CAPA! I am Celeste Rodriguez, your RSVP Committee

Chair. I am a probate paralegal at The Haney Law Firm,

PLLC. The RSVP committee receives and processes RSVPs

for various CAPA functions such as monthly luncheons,

special events, the annual holiday party, etc. RSVP is also

in charge of the door prizes on

behalf of CAPA.

At events, we are always located

near the entrance to assist our fellow CAPA

members with check-in. Should you have any

questions concerning event registration, please

contact me at rsvp@capatx.org.

CAPA's 2020-2021 PARALEGAL OF THE YEAR

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Nominations and Guidelines

Nomination Deadline: OCTOBER 9, 2020

The CAPA Paralegal of the Year will be announced at the Texas Paralegal Day

Celebration on October 23, 2020 via Zoom.

To nominate a paralegal (who must be a current member of CAPA in good

standing) for the Capital Area Paralegal Association “Paralegal of the Year Award,”

submit a nomination in narrative written form under the following guidelines:

Typewritten, but not longer than three pages.

List name, address, telephone numbers and email address at the TOP of the

nomination only. Do not put the nominee’s name in the body of the

nomination. Include in the narrative why the person is nominated and should be selected

(work skills, experience, community activities, involvement in professional

paralegal organizations, any offices held/committee involvement, awards, or

any other information to be brought before the Selection Committee). Do not include any supporting letters or recommendations (narrative

nomination only, is considered).

For more information, go to www.capatx.org.

PARALEGAL OF THE YEAR

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

October 9 Nomination Deadline for

2020-2021 CAPA Paralegal

of the Year Award

October 10 October Board Meeting

October 23 Paralegal Day Halloween

Celebration

October 28 October CLE – “Identity

Theft”

November 11 November Board Meeting

UPCOMING EVENTS

(CLICK THE LINKS FOR DETAILS/REGISTRATION)

Did we miss your birthday?

Log in and update your member profile, or let us know.

October CLE

Identity Theft 101

October 2020

Nomination Deadline for

2020-2021

Paralegal of the Year

October Board

Meeting

Paralegal Day

Halloween

Celebration

Indigenous Peoples Day

Columbus Day

PARALEGAL DAY 2020

On October 23, 19831, the

State Bar of Texas became

the first bar association in the

United States to create a

separate division for

Paralegals.

To recognize this date, on

January 22, 2009, the Texas

Senate issued Proclamation

No. 1144, declaring October

23 to be Texas Paralegal Day!

ANNOUNCEMENTS & NEWS

ANNOUNCEMENTS & NEWS

Nancy Carmen McLaughlin, CLAS, TPS was a legal assistant at the Law Offices

of William Schmidt for twelve years prior to her sudden death on Friday,

December 8, 2000. She was dedicated, hard working, and attentive to the

needs of clients and her employer.

Nancy received her Certification as a Legal Assistant in 1993 from the National

Association of Legal Assistants (“NALA”). She also received a Specialty

Certification from NALA and the State Bar of Texas.

Many remember Nancy as a very active member of the Capital Area

Paralegal Association (“CAPA”) and the Legal Assistant Division of the State Bar

of Texas, now known as the Paralegal Division (“Division”). She spent many

hours volunteering for both organizations and motivating others to become

involved themselves. She served in many capacities, most notably as Programs

Chair and President of CAPA, and as Editor of the Texas Paralegal Journal,

published by the Division.

Nancy touched the lives of many people and often you will hear them say they thought of her as

family. She was an animal lover and left behind four dogs and a cat. She was a kind and generous

friend and devoted her free time to animal causes, Meals on Wheels, and those in need. She is still

missed sorely by her many friends.

ARTICLE

Being an Active Bystander

By Claude E. Ducloux

This article first appeared in the

September issue of Austin Lawyer

and is reprinted with permission.

BEING AN ACTIVE BYSTANDER

ENTRE NOUS - Sept 2020

Few activities have given me such joy and satisfaction as entertaining and educating my chosen

profession with these 28 years of Entre Nous columns. We have found humor together in poking fun at

our self-importance, and sharing our frustrations with technology, legal process, and annoyances we

face daily. Occasionally, important events have given me the opportunity to remind all of us of the

legacy that our profession occupies in our most unusual circumstances. The disarray and confusion

we find ourselves in as a nation rallies me again to that mission.

We face breathtaking divisions which challenge our professed desire for a “more perfect union.”

While we may stumble, we must always be vigilant to the malevolent danger which lurks in

abandoning the rule of law. Human history, old and recent, is marred by occasional descent into

genocide: tragic periods where innocents are slaughtered in attempts to overcome serious societal

issues that often have nothing to do with the victims, who are merely scapegoats. Each time, the

societies claim that they “had no idea” what forces led to those horrible events. So, how do you

convince one group to lose all sense of reason, conscience, and morality and murder their neighbors,

or even turn away when it is happening? Enter Ervin Staub, a Jewish psychologist who narrowly

survived the Holocaust in Hungary. Staub has devoted his life to studying the genesis of, and reasons

for these events.

There are common elements. Genocides do not start with one seminal event. Instead societies

are slowly groomed in despair. The society almost always is suffering from massive depression, want,

fear, and unanswered needs. Incessant toxic messaging often supported by faulty religious

justification is a prime influencer. Demeaning insults and caricatures are created to target the group

(in Rwanda, the Tutsis were constantly referred to as “Cockroaches”). The anger builds slowly until it

boils -then violence erupts. Psychologists then say, once you have committed heinous violence, it

becomes easier, … and finally-- the norm.

So, what can a single person do? As it turns out: A LOT. Staub talks about the power of “active

bystanders” who call out this hate, who protect others, who admonish demagogues, officials,

neighbors, and people engaging in hateful acts. Thousands upon thousands of lives were saved by

“bystanders” who would not dissuaded by the Nazis’ threats if they helped Jews. Same in Chechnya,

Rwanda, and Cambodia: one person made a difference.

So, could these lessons apply to our current events, where markers of the same conditions are

unavoidable? We are experiencing unprecedented tribalism, adherence to groups identities which

morph our consciences and reasoning. Entire groups of immigrants are referred to as criminals and

murderers. We shed our empathy. We surround ourselves with those who help suppress our better

angels. If Staub is right, we’re clearly in dangerous territory.

ARTICLE (CONTINUED)

Being an Active Bystander

By Claude E. Ducloux

This article first appeared in the

September issue of Austin Lawyer

and is reprinted with permission.

Yes, we are all in a quandary: the country is divided, the economy under incredible stress. Tens of

millions of people have uncertain futures. We are desperate for quick fixes. Moreover, as a society

we are now accustomed and anesthetized to the constant shower of lies filling every news cycle. We

have lost that important sense of outrage. Talking heads tell us we have a constitutional right to ig-

nore science, virology, physics and choose our own truths. Uncomfortable truths are dismissed as

“hoaxes.” Worse, every day we see good people and leaders we admire become complicit and ig-

nore their fiduciary duties to call out these dangerous trends. Rather, we weep as it becomes ac-

ceptable to hide behind lies which “don’t affect me.”

What stands between this and our ruination? The Law. That’s our beat. That’s our deal. Every law-

yer who values the Rule of Law, our sacred pact which promises to handle our disputes with rules and

processes, must become Active Bystanders.

Every single day, the members of the legal profession should have a credo:

I pledge to make a difference wherever I can.

I will not spread lies, nor suffer those who do.

I will do my best to ensure that my actions are based upon the truth.

I will not tolerate attacks on my neighbors, friends or my community based upon race, status,

or gender issues.

I will be mindful that my refusal to call out injustice will be seen as complicity.

I will use my voice and legal talents to assist, educate, and promote the general welfare of

my community and country.

I will not lose hope for this great country, nor empathy for those in need.

We must, above all, act with integrity, and ask ourselves, how would I like to be remembered on

this issue? Some call that “being on the right side of history.” I call it having a clear conscience.

All of us wish we had all the answers. None of us ever will, but we cannot sacrifice the confidence

that society gives us as attorneys, and trade it for quick fixes, demonization and divisive group identi-

ties which will always pose a danger to our survival as a nation. As we continue to engage the fight

against COVID-19, the longer war we face is the disease of “Hoaxicity,” that toxic ability to dismiss

truth, decency and conscience.

Lawyers around the world often risk their lives attacking injustice. But they persist in the belief that

there is no other way forward. Now, it is time for us to be brave. Be there for your friends, neighbors,

community, and profession as that safety valve Prof. Staub calls the “Active Bystander.” Make your

voice heard, and your choices count. I promise, you will sleep better.

And (as always) Keep the Faith. CD

The name October has been derived from the Latin “Octo”

which means eight because October was the eighth month

of the year, according to the Roman calendar. It was called

Winterfylleth, meaning the “fullness of winter”, by the Anglo-

Saxons because it had the first full moon of the winter season.

October ends on the same day of the week as February

every year. Yes, February 2020 ended on a Saturday and so

will October.

More United States presidents were born in October than any

other month; while only five first ladies were born in October.

October is not mentioned in any Shakespeare play or sonnet

Pumpkins are a fruit that originated in Central America. 90%

of the pumpkin is made up of water.

Fun Facts - October Edition

“AMERICAN IDOL—PARROT EDITION”

Chico is a 9 year old yellow-crowned Amazon parrot who lives at

the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park and he’s quite the star! He can sing

songs by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Gnarls Barkley, and Beyonce!

He even has his own fan base with +8,500 fans and counting.

Check him out! https://www.instagram.com/chicoparrot/

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The Brief is published monthly, in Austin, Texas.

For publication inquiries, email the Publications Chair at

publications@capatx.org. The Brief is designed to provide a

forum for reporting news and/or opinions of interest to

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expressed herein are solely those of the writer and not the

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endorsement in any manner. No information contained

herein is intended nor should it be construed as legal

advice. Inclusion and editing of material is at the sole

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