Inside this issue: Reflections from the Editor 2 Fleur de Legal NOPA Meeting Facts 2 Volume 1, Issue 1 Jan/Feb/Mar 2016 New Orleans Paralegal Association Chapter News 2 NOPA Spotlight 3 NOPA News/ Save the Date Memories from 2015 NOPA Humor/ Message from the Editor 3 4 6 Dear New Orleans Paralegal Association Family: The year 2015 has come and gone and I am excited that you, our New Orleans Paralegal Association Members NOPA and Sponsors, have continued with us on this exciting journey into 2016. I am proud of NOPA, it s accomplishments, and the spirit of networking and connecting with our members, sponsors, supporters and the legal profession. The year 2015 demonstrated energy, enthusiasm, and optimism. NOPA has seen positive growth within the organization, its meetings and events. Our goal continues to be to focus on our students and members by providing more educational content and networking opportunities. It was a pleasure and an honor to serve the New Orleans Paralegal Association as President in 2015 and I am looking forward to serving NOPA in 2016. I truly appreciate the support and dedication of NOPA s members and vendors. The New Orleans Paralegal Association plans to make 2016 even more exciting than 2015 by adding unique networking and educational, opportunities. The New Orleans Paralegal Association will continue to strive for excellence. Sincerely, Sonjanita Jordan Involvement Opportunities Pro Bono: If anyone would like to join the Pro Bono Committee, please send an email to Christal Hurst, Committee Chair, at christlehearst@gmail.com Newsletter: If anyone would like to join the Newsletter Staff, please send an email to April Farmer, Editor-In-Chief, at aprilfarmer@gmail.com 2017 NFPA Annual Conference Committee: If anyone would like to join the 2017 NFPA Annual Conference Committee or have suggestions or ideas, please send an email to Gayle Green, NFPA Primary at ge_y_ge1920@hotmail.com.
Page 2 Fleur de Legal Reflections from the Editor April Farmer, NOPA Newsletter, Editor-In- Chief Year 2015 has ended and Year 2016 has finally begun. Winter breaks are over and the New Orleans Paralegal Association is heating up for a hot 2016. What better time, than now, to reflect on your paralegal career? Whether a student or a professional paralegal, we can all step back and take a look at ourselves professionally and individually, and set goals for our future as well as the future of our organization. As an organization, the New Orleans Paralegal Association NOPA did great things in 2015 and the plan is to do even greater things in 2016. There s always room for improvement through learning and growth. In 2016, I challenge you to do or learn something new each week. The choice is yours, the time is now. Thank you, April Farmer TO LEAD PEOPLE, WALK BEHIND THEM LAO TZU NOPA Military Outreach The New Orleans Paralegal Association has partnered with Operation We Care to collect items for our troops that fight hard to maintain our freedom and keep our country safe!! We are now taking donations to send a quarterly donation to Operation We Care on behalf of NOPA for our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Please help by donating if you can. Anything you contribute will make a difference to assist and honor our veterans!! NOPA will be collecting items at all NOPA Membership Meetings, Board Meetings and NOPA Networking Socials, so please feel free to bring your donations. The first quarterly donation will be sent to Operation We Care on April 6, 2016. Also, if you know anyone who is being deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq, Operation We Care would like to add your veteran s name to their list. Please email NOPA s Military Outreach Coordinator, Joni Schultz at reception4619@yahoo.com with any names you would like added to the list and with any questions or concerns. NOPA News Northshore Chapter Meeting Luncheon The NOPA Northshore Chapter will be having its Chapter Meeting Luncheon on Friday, April 15, 2016 at Zea s Restaurant located at 110 Lake Drive, Covington, La. 70433 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. The speaker for this event will be NOPA President Sonjanita Jordan and the sponsor will be Serpas Court Reporting. This luncheon is free but REQUIRES an RSVP!!! The luncheon will include a salad, entree and tea. To register for this great event, you MUST RSVP to Anita Gaudet at nopanorthshorechapter@gmail.com by Monday, April 11, 2016 by 4:00 p.m. NOPA 2015 Board Members Please remember to bring your Military Outreach donations!!!!
Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 NOPA News-Metairie Chapter Free Lunch N Learn/CLE The NOPA Metairie Chapter will be having its Lunch-n-Learn/CLE on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at One Lakeway Center, 3900 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, La. 70002 in the Lakeway One Meeting Room (Second Floor) from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. MAPS will be speaking on Trial Tactics/Preparation. One (1) hour of General CLE Credit is available for this event to attorneys and paralegals. Our co-sponsors are MAPS/Lunch Sponsor and Brooks Reporting Services/Room Sponsor. This is a free Lunch-n-Learn/CLE!! Please RSVP to Deidra Davis at dpdavis@leefegibbs.com by Friday, April 22, 2016. You don t want to miss this educational event. Jocelyn McNair, Treasurer, New Orleans Paralegal Association, Please remember to bring your Military Outreach donations!!! NOPA News Save the Date Paralegal Career Day Reminder! NOPA s Paralegal Career Day will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at the Jefferson Parish Library located at 4747 West Napoleon Avenue, Metairie, La. 70001 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. There will be 2 Mock Interviews presented, resume critiques and local employers and staffing agencies available to speak with you in reference to positions and internships!! Our sponsor for this event is Herzing University!! Please come out for your chance to participate in a Mock Interview!!! To catch the reader's attention, place an interesting sentence or quote from the story here. Please remember to bring your Military Outreach Donation!! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE PART IN YOUR CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE MOCK INTERVIEWS, PLEASE BRING 4 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF YOUR RESUME!!! New Orleans Paralegal Association Raffle!!! The New Orleans Paralegal is hosting a raffle!!! The drawing will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, during the monthly NOPA General Membership Meeting. The prizes and ticket prices are listed below: 1 st Prize 50 inch Screen Television 2 nd Prize Keurig Machine 3 rd Prize - $100.00 VISA Giftcard 1 Ticket for $5.00 3 Tickets for $12.00 You can purchase tickets at www.nopa.onefireplace.com or at any New Orleans Paralegal Association event. You need not be present to win All ONLINE TICKETS must be purchased by Friday, May 13, 2016 Good Luck Everyone!! Retired US Public Defender, Virginia Schleuter
NOPA in 2015
NOPA Information Better Off Last A secretary, a paralegal, and a partner in a big law firm are walking through a park on their way to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it and a Genie comes out in a puff of smoke. The Genie says, "I usually only grant three wishes, so I'll give each of you just one. "Me first! Me first!" says the secretary. "I want to be in the Bahamas, driving a speedboat, without a care in the world." Poof! She's gone. "Me next! Me next!" says the paralegal. "I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, an endless supply of pina coladas and the love of my life." Poof! He's gone. "You're next," the Genie says to the partner. The partner says, "I want those two back in the office right after lunch." Taken from jokebuddha.com Message from the Editor Dear NOPA Members: NOPA s Executive teams always strive to better serve our members. Our members will receive newsletters through email. It doesn t matter where you live, as long as you have an active email, NOPA will deliver. Perhaps someone has missed the newsletter; please ask them to update their email addresses. Also, if you have any ideas, suggestions, articles, or other information that you would like to see published in the NOPA Newsletter, please send me an email at: aprilfarmer@gmail.com Thank you, April Farmer Caption describing picture or graphic.