Latest News

Message from the President - October 2021

Posted by admin5 on Oct. 4, 2021  /  Subscribe 0

Message from the President - October 2021
Jill M. O'Connell, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

  October has arrived, and with it the complicated emotions that are always present for me this time of year. On the one hand, I am reminded of loved ones lost, the increasingly rapid passing of time, and the longer stretches of darkness this season brings. On the other hand, I enjoy the cooler weather, the bounty of fall fruits and vegetables, fire pit gatherings with friends, and the upcoming holiday festivities.

It’s fitting, then, that now is the time I have been given the honor of serving as your President for the remainder of the 2021-2022 term.

Dawn Gaskill has given a great deal of her passion, time and effort to the Gateway Chapter over the past several years—much of it spent charting new territory during a global pandemic—which is why it is so difficult to think about her stepping down from her position. I know this decision was not an easy one for her to make, and I know she did not come to it lightly. As confident as I am that she will continue to be an active part of the Gateway Chapter community, it is hard to imagine the loss of her contributions to the Executive Board.

At the same time, I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve in this new role, excited to be a part of the future, and ready to work with the rest of the ALA Gateway leadership to bring our members and Business Partners the rich educational development, networking opportunities and social connections that are the hallmarks of the ALA. I have learned a lot from Dawn, and she has prepared me well to take on whatever challenges and adventures may come my way.

It is in that context that I write to you today. I appreciate your support as we move forward together.

Speaking of moving forward, there are several things we want to share with you this month.

The ALA Gateway Roundtable is still being held via Zoom the second Tuesday of each month. This is a great opportunity for you to ask questions, offer assistance and brainstorm ideas with other law firm administrators. The next Roundtable will be on October 12. If you haven’t yet participated, I encourage you to register here.

As a reminder, whether at a roundtable, educational meeting, or just shooting the breeze at a social event, please be mindful about our obligations under the ALA Code of Professional Ethics. Among other things, the CPE requires us to refrain from any discussion which could be construed to be in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, particularly with respect to price fixing. It’s easy for a seemingly innocuous conversation between two or more administrators to inadvertently veer into dangerous territory in this respect. If you haven’t done so already, please take the time to familiarize yourself with the ALA Gateway Antitrust Guidelines to ensure that you know what can and cannot be shared with your colleagues at other firms.

BAMSL will be conducting a CLE on Recruiting and Team Building in the COVID Era and Happy Hour on October 14 at Urban Chestnut – The Grove. See the event flyer for more information and to register.

The Annual Law Leader event, sponsored by Ronnoco Beverage Solutions, will be live this year on October 20 at The Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. Your firm leadership won’t want to miss this incredible panel on The COVID Factor – Now What? Get more information and register here.

Don’t miss our October 21 Social Connection sponsored by Cornerstone and iSolved. Back by popular demand, this will be Gateway’s second Soulard Barcycle Pub Crawl. See the event flyer for more information and to register.

As we all work to make the ALA Gateway and each of our firms more diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible, don’t forget all the great resources on the ALAnet.org website. The DEIA Committee has developed an ALA Diversity Toolkit, helpful information on Becoming an Advocate for Diversity and Inclusion, and a series of roundtables and webinars to assist you in your efforts. For additional information, keep an eye on the ALA Gateway Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility page of the ALA Gateway website.

Whether you’re looking for work or hiring (Job Bank), need guidance on selecting the right legal management professional (Hiring a Legal Management Professional) or looking to update your skills and enhance your career (Career Resources and Articles), the ALA Career Center has you covered. To post or review job postings closer to home, don’t forget the ALA Gateway Career Center.

Finally, I want to be sure you’re aware that you can submit your nominations for the ALA’s Innovation, Development, Engagement and Advancement (“IDEA”) Award to recognize unique programs, services and events that improve the legal community and advance the business of law. There are no predetermined categories, and participants are encouraged to “think outside the box.” This award is open to law firms, business partners, organizations, ALA Chapters, ALA Committees, and ALA Members--it’s a great way to support new and exciting initiatives across the legal community. For more information, visit the IDEA Awards Criteria and Guidelines page of the ALA website.

I hope to bring you lots of great information and insights from the ALA Annual Conference in Austin, Texas, which is taking place now through October 6. In the meantime, please don’t forget that everyone on the ALA Gateway Board is here to serve you. Bring us your questions, concerns, ideas and inspirations, and we will do our best to address them. For your reference, here is a complete listing of your current ALA Board and Team Chairs.

Return to list