July 2009

Happy Summer!!  There is lots to report this month!

KCPA’s incoming and outgoing boards met for the annual retreat and board meeting on June 6.  We spent the entire day discussing ideas and plans the upcoming year.  There were lots of new ideas put forth – so many new ideas that we had to continue the meeting until July 2 to complete the discussion on the budget. 

As I said in last month’s message, KCPA’s sustaining members are the best.  Since this is my third year as president, I wanted to make our retreat special by having gift bags for each of the retreat attendees (especially since they made the 50 mile drive to my home).  I contacted our sustaining members and asked for donations of any promotional items they wished to provide.  The following sustaining members and vendors donated items:

·        AV Notary Network – notary tools

·        Esquire Solutions – legal pads, calendar, pencils, pens, post-its, stress “goo”

·        GKL Corporate/Search – arrow shaped post-it notes

·        Keleher’s Certified Shorthand Reporters – metal ruler and retreat “survival kits” containing granola

          bars, chapstick, hand cream, hand sanitizer, nail files, Kleenex, hair scrunchies

·        Wood & Randall- sport water bottles

·        West Court Reporting Services – flash drives, scented lotion, nail files, highlighters, mints

·        Sylvia Mendez & Associates – Dewar’s Chews

·        Creative Concepts – first aid kits (I guess they thought we’d get a little wild!)

·        SugarCraft Custom Cookies – 3 dozen KCPA sugar cookies

It was a nice treat for all of us. Thank you to each of these sustaining members and vendors. 

Our installation of officers luncheon was held on June 11, with 65 people attending.  We said goodbye to a few of our board members, and welcomed new and returning board members.  Presiding Judge Michael Lewis was scheduled to swear the new board in, but judicial duties called and he was unable to attend.  At the last minute, Attorney Ken Byrum was asked to assist, and he swore in the new board. 

We honored and introduced representatives of our sustaining members, many of whom were asked to bring opportunity drawing items and they did (see what I mean about how great they are?).  Those donated items, along with five KCPA clocks, and three of the gift bags that had been prepared for retreat attendees who couldn’t make it to the retreat, were given away during the luncheon. 

·        Dowling, Aaron & Keeler donated gift cards for local restaurants and for Starbuck’s

·        Attorney’s Certified Service donated two pounds of Dewar’s Chews

·        The Petroleum Club donated one family night dinner

·        Quest Discovery Services donated a coffee mug containing a Starbuck’s gift card and other treats

Congratulations to KCPA’S award winners, all of whom were surprised and overwhelmed by their awards.  They are:

Barbara J. Oldfield - Paralegal of the Year

Jessica Stahl - Outstanding Member of the Year

Volunteer’s Award - Laura Meza

Sissy Rucker was the recipient of the first Jeannie Conner Memorial Scholarship.  Jeannie Conner’s family was in attendance and they were so appreciative that KCPA chose to honor Jeannie’s memory with an educational scholarship. 

Karen Clemans, last year’s vice-president, and the vice-president-elect for the upcoming year, was unable to accept the position for next year.  Additionally, Jennifer Rodges, KCPA’s new public information officer and vice-president appointee, has also advised the board that she will be unable to assume these positions.  The current board is diligently searching for replacements for Vice President and Public Information Officer.  Here is your chance to get involved.  If you are a regular member and would like to participate in the board in either of these capacities, please contact any board member.  We provide on-the-job training and support!

Finally, the CAPA Educational Conference was held on the Queen Mary on June 27.  Each association was asked to donate a basket for the opportunity drawing (and is also required to sell 200 tickets for the drawing).  The theme of the conference was “Treasures of Success,” so KCPA assembled a treasure chest gift basket, and our sustaining members came through again!  Kayleen Wills volunteered to purchase and/or obtain the items for the basket.  The sustaining members who contributed to the basket were Attorney’s Certified Services, Keleher’s Certified Shorthand Reporters, GKL Corporate/Search, and Wood & Randall.  The basket contains a DVD player with four pirate-themed DVDs, hard bound copy of Treasure Island, two bottles of different types of rum (yo ho, yo ho!), a pirate t-shirt, a pirate flag, a KCPA clock, a KCPA Padfolio, and KCPA notepads.  Almost half of the value of the basket was contributed by our sustaining members.  We hope that the lucky winner, Jane Gately from LAPA, enjoys it as much as we enjoyed assembling it!!  KCPA’s own Attorney Stick (the alter ego of Craig D. Braun) won a wine and cheese basket donated by Sequoia Paralegal Association.

KCPA Sustaining Member, Service Unlimited Attorney Service, donated a stereo sound system for the Vendor Bingo Prize.  That was won by Patriece Ussery, a Paralegal Student at Riverside Community College.  Sustaining Member, Esquire Solutions, donated the printing of the conference programs (and will also have a vendor booth at the conference).  Aren’t our sustaining members great? That seems to be a recurring theme!

I look forward to a great year.