Newsletter-OKC-2010-Summer Edition

Summer 2010
THE CONNECTION
Association of Legal Administrators
Oklahoma City Chapter
From the President’s Desk…
The first thing that I would like to say is that I am so fortunate to be the President of the ALAOKC Chapter in 2010-2011. I am taking office after a series of incredibly competent leaders,
who have left everything in perfect working order. Our Chapter leadership has a history of
caring and giving their time in developing a truly wonderful Chapter. My first order of business
is to thank them for their many years of service and for making this job easier for their
successors.
Second, I want to thank all of the past Committee Chairs for all of their dedication, with which
this Chapter would not have thrived. There are also so many members who have also worked
tirelessly for this Chapter, and they deserve our recognition, too.
However, we continue to need new leaders with new ideas – it motivates and strengthens the
leadership team. With that in mind, I would like to thank all of those members who have agreed
to be officers, chairpersons, and just hard workers for the Chapter in the upcoming year. Your
strength is your fresh ideas; please bring them to the table and know that we welcome all of
your suggestions.
I would like to achieve more and stronger connections between all of our Chapter members,
both old and new. Why is it important that we connect? No one has endless time and energy,
especially with the demands presented by our job and families. Your fellow members can be
there for you in times of need. The one thing that has been said repeatedly about ALA, is that
the camaraderie and knowledge we gain from this Association make it great. Let's take
advantage of this and connect with a fellow member – maybe somebody you never took the
time to meet before, or just renewing an old friendship. I personally hope to make new friends
this year. Please take a moment to introduce yourself to me, and I promise not to abuse our new
friendship by assigning too many tasks (well, maybe just a few)!
Joanne Branesky
ALA – Join the Winning Team!
2010 Vendor Fair and New Member Luncheon
By Julie Montgomery and Lisa Rose, 2010 Vendor Relations Co-Chairs
The 9th Annual Vendor Expo and New Member Luncheon was held March 24, 2010. This year's
theme was "ALA – Join the Winning Team!" Our keynote speaker was Todd Huston, presenting
"More than Mountains." The event was a huge hit
with over 50 vendors and 70 guests in attendance.
Working with the Vendor Fair committee to ensure
the event was a success was fun and rewarding.
Everyone had a great sense of humor and meetings
were always entertaining yet productive. We
certainly experienced a great sense of satisfaction
working with such a terrific team of fellow ALA
professionals, all willing to do their part, and all
strongly committed to making this event a success.
We are very grateful to our returning vendors as well as to the many new vendors participating
this year for the first time. The revenues generated from these vendor sponsorships help to
support our educational events such as CLI, Regional and National Conferences as well as our
monthly teleconferences. The revenues also help to fund our Community Challenge. The vendors
are committed to our success in part because they know our chapter supports them.
We encourage each and every ALA member to attend our vendor appreciation event which will
be held on Thursday, August 5th. This is one way for us to show the vendors how much we
appreciate all they do for our chapter.
The next time you are looking for a new product or service, please give our vendors a call.
Together Everyone Achieves More, and we are all on the winning TEAM!
The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) Annual Conference & Exposition is the legal
management profession’s most comprehensive event of its kind. Featuring dynamic and relevant
education presented by recognized leaders in their field, the ALA Annual Conference will enhance
your knowledge, develop your management skills, and enable you to achieve greater personal and
professional growth.
ALA’s three-day Exposition is a vital extension of the educational program and provides the
opportunity to update yourself on the latest technologies, find solutions to business issues, solve
problems, uncover emerging trends, and develop valuable resources and partnerships in the legal
industry.
The Annual Conference also provides ample opportunities for networking. Various events, including
receptions, lunches, and idea exchanges, will allow you the time to discuss your day-to-day
challenges and unique issues with other legal management professionals from around the world.
You’re sure to learn tips, tactics, and wisdom that you can implement back at your workplace.
2011 Annual Conference & Exposition
May 23-26, 2011
Orlando World Center Marriott
Orlando, Florida
For more information, please visit: www.alanet.org
ENCOURAGING YOUR STAFF
By Beverly McElroy
As administrators, we ALL know how important our staff is to the production of our offices. In fact, it cannot be done
without them. The problem that we face as administrators is that our attorneys very seldom encourage their secretaries and
legal assistants. In fact, quite the opposite is true. They tend to discourage them by criticizing their work, their attitude,
sometimes even the way they look that day. We all want our staff to look nice, to do a great job AND to have a great
attitude. I find that sometimes it is the administrator who has to encourage and to let the staff know they are vital to our
firm’s and client’s needs. There can be several ways to do this WITHOUT spending the firm’s money or the attorney’s
time.
1. Do your own job well. The staff watch and they notice.
2. Have a listening ear and really LISTEN when there are problems.
3. Do NOT participate in gossip around the office and discourage it as much as possible.
4. Let the staff person know that it is noticed when they do a good job. Let them know they are appreciated and
acknowledge their successes.
5. Occasionally, write a note card to the staff - making them aware of your appreciation for them.
6. If the firm has a small budget for perks, occasionally (especially on holidays or their birthdays), give a small gift.
7. As much as possible, include them in decision making.
8. If there are mistakes in their work, mentor them or have another experienced staff mentor them. Make sure you point
out the positive areas first, then show them how they can do better in their work.
9. Build bridges install of walls. Let the staff know you have an open door and that you EXPECT them to come to your
first - not complain to the other staff members and cause discouragement among the entire office.
10. If possible, establish lunch and learn sessions with the staff ever so often. This encourages the staff to come together,
learn something (CPR, dress for success, proper internet manners, theft protection, etc.). Most of the time, the firm can
acquire free speakers. Provide lunch or have the staff pitch in for lunch.
11. Always delight in the successes of your staff, whether it is work related or not. Truly be interested in their lives
outside the office as well as their work inside the office. (I know this is difficult if you have a large staff, but the rewards
are great.)
12. Finally, BE YOURSELF. You do not need to pretend you are a SAINT or someone who does no wrong. Just treat
others like you would like to be treated.
Again, I realize that law firms have various cultures, various goals and budgets are tight, but note that the staff are vital to
the firm’s success and treat them with respect. DO discipline when necessary, or you may even have to let some staff go
when they do not produce. Encourage the attorneys to occasionally tell the secretary or legal assistant that they are happy
with their work or compliment them every once in a while. Words are powerful. This is true whether positive or negative.
Be aware you cannot take words BACK, once they are uttered.
Finally, SMILE my fellow administrators. It’s going to be a great year.
Members of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) and other legal
industry professionals have a special week to call their own: Professional
Legal Management Week (PLMW). In its sixth year in 2010, PLMW
provides a forum for recognizing those in legal management for what they
do and the roles they play in their organizations’ successes. Among
PLMW’s objectives are to provide awareness, understanding and
education about the legal management profession; to increase knowledge
of the diverse roles within the profession; and to communicate to key
stakeholders the importance of and need for professional management
teams in all facets of enterprise leadership.
Local News and Upcoming Events:
Nominations for Regional Officers, Director and ALA President-Elect were
submitted through August 2nd. Please think of a fellow Chapter member (or even
yourself) and submit their names!
If you think you might attend the Regional Conference, you should be aware that
the OU/Texas game is scheduled to begin shortly after the conference ends. If you
are interested in staying at the hotel for an extra night to watch the game at the
hotel with our Oklahoma Group, please contact Cathy Collins or Joanne
Branesky. We are working on some alternatives for a private room for us to
watch without those "evil" Texans interfering!
GableGotwals has been designated as a Best Place to Work in Oklahoma and was
ranked fourth among all small to medium sized businesses by Best Companies
Group. Congratulations to Julie Montgomery.
Steve Davis, Hartzog Conger Cason & Neville, LLP, was selected to receive the
Attorney of the Year Award for 2010 given by the Central Oklahoma Association
of Legal Assistants (COALA).
Brown & Gould, PLLC is moving to a new location on August 1st. Their new
address will be 136 NW 136th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73103. Their new phone
number will be 235-4500, and their fax will be 235-4507. The building will being
undergoing some renovations, so Tina Brown will definitely have her work cut
out for her. After the renovations, hopefully by November 1st, they will have
office space for lease that they hope to lease to other attorneys.
Beverly McElroy with Mock Schwabe is thrilled to announce that her oldest
daughter, Jenn, who lost her husband 10 years ago, is getting remarried!
Congratulations to the mother of the bride!
David A. Walls and A. Michelle Campney have joined the offices of Phillips
Murrah as of July 6, 2010.
Region 4 Conference & Expo – Online registration is now open. Register now
for Early Bird cost which ends September 1, 2010.
Vendor Appreciation Event – Thursday, August 5th, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at
Trattoria Il Centro; 500 West Main Street.
ALA-OKC Contact Information
Joanne A. Branesky, President
Hartzog, Conger, Cason & Neville, LLP
201 Robert S. Kerr, Suite 1600
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Telephone: (405) 235-7000
Fax: (405) 996-3403
jbranesky@hartzoglaw.com
Lisa Rose, Vice President / President Elect
Crowe and Dunlevy
20 North Broadway
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Telephone: (405) 235-7700
lisa.rose@crowedunlevy.com
Nancy Moore, Secretary
Fellers, Snider, Blankenship, Bailey & Tippens, P.C.
Chase Tower
100 N. Broadway, Suite 1700
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Telephone: (405) 232-0621
Fax: (405) 232-9659
nmoore@fellerssnider.com
Bette Bialis, Treasurer
Goolsby, Proctor, Heefner & Gibbs, P.C.
701 N. Broadway, Suite 400
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Telephone: (405) 524-2400
Fax: (405) 525-6004
bbialis@gphglaw.com
Cathy Collins, Past-President
Andrews Davis, PC
100 N. Broadway Avenue, Suite 3300
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Telephone: (405) 272-9241
Fax: (405) 235-8766
clcollins@andrewsdavis.com
Shelia R. Lyon, Newsletter Editor
Walls, Walker, Harris & Wolfe, PLLC
3030 N.W. Expressway, Suite 500
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
Telephone: (405) 702-5300
Fax: (405) 702-5399
lyons@wwhwlaw.com
Helpful and Interesting Websites!
ALA – http://www.alanet.org/
ALA-OKC Chapter - http://www.alaokc.org/
American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers: www.aipb.org
Bricktown - http://www.bricktownokc.com/
CLM - http://www.alanet.org/clm/
COALA - http://coala.cc/
Downtown Oklahoma City - http://www.downtownokc.com/
LMRC - http://thesource.alanet.org/portal/server.pt
NALA - http://www.nala.org/
Oklahoma Bar Association - http://www.okbar.org/
Oklahoma City Events - http://www.oklahomacity.com/events.php
Oklahoma City Visitors Bureau - http://www.visitokc.com/
Oklahoma County Bar Association - http://www.okcbar.org/
Oklahoma Paralegal Association - http://www.okparalegal.org/
PLMW - http://www.plmw.org/index.html
SHRM - http://www.shrm.org/Pages/default.aspx
Wimgo - http://wimgo.com/oklahoma-city-ok
Workforce Management - http://www.workforce.com/
Copyright © by ALA: Association of Legal Administrators - OKC Chapter All Rights Reserved.
The OKC Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators is a separate legal entity from the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA). ALA licenses
the use of its name, mark, logos and other protected properties to chapters which are in good standing. ALA disclaims all liability of responsibility
whatsoever for the actions, representations and liabilities of the OKC Chapter, specifically including those of any nature whatsoever arising from or out
of the content of other features related to the OKC Chapter Newsletter. In no event shall ALA be deemed the guarantor of the OKC Chapter.