President's Message January 2022
Posted by admin5 on Jan. 13, 2022 / Subscribe 0
Happy New Year!!
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for 2022 to begin. Hasn’t it already begun, you might ask? Well, maybe, but it seems like everyone I know (including me) has been sick with something this January. So now I have Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” playing in my head, hoping this message finds you well and ready to charge forth in the new year!
Now that we’ve made it through the holiday season and all the year-end hullaballoo, it’s time to start thinking about our firms’ 2022 priorities. Given the ever-increasing challenges of protecting our firms from would-be cyber intruders, you’ll want to be sure and register for the Gateway virtual education meeting on January 19, Cybersecurity 101: 8 Tools Every Law Firm Must Have in Place Now. Trust me--you don’t want to miss this one!
Another good way to start the year on a positive note is to nominate a member, firm or organization for one or more of the following ALA Awards. You’ll need to act fast, though! The deadline for nominations is January 21!
Elevate ALA Award – Recognizes up to three recipients whose efforts in professional development, networking, visibility and inclusion are exemplary. The award is open to chapters, individuals, law firms, legal departments, business partners and other organizations in the legal community.
NextGen Leader Award – Recognizes members who embody the essence of the ALA Code of Ethics with their accomplishments, leadership qualities and the impact they are making within their legal organization, the legal industry and the Association. Up to 40 awards can be presented in a given year.
Outstanding Association Volunteer Award – Recognizes individuals for either service on particular projects or continuous/ongoing volunteer efforts, generally at the international level.
Spirit of ALA Award – Recognizes those whose commitment to professionalism, dedication to the advancement of the legal management profession and record of long-term service to the Association of Legal Administrators sets the standard for all who aspire to achievement, excellence and success.
For additional details and to submit your entries, visit the ALA Awards & Recognition page. Winners will be recognized at the 2022 Annual Conference & Expo.
The Annual Conference & Expo will be held from May 15-18 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida. To take advantage of Early Bird pricing, you will need to register and pay by February 25, 2022. ALA is offering team pricing to groups of five or more attendees from the same firm as well as discounts to students, Managing Partners at law firms and Strategic Alliance Partners. In addition, details will be coming soon about Gateway Chapter scholarships to the Conference, including instructions on how to apply. If you have never been to Conference and want to learn more about the experience or how to make the case for Conference attendance to your leadership, contact any member of the Gateway Board of Directors or reach out to another ALA member that’s been there. I can say from my own experience that it’s one of the most valuable benefits of my ALA membership. I always come back with new information, new connections and a renewed spirit. I hope to see you there!
Our 2022 Business Partner Program has been finalized and sent to our current and prospective BPs. As you know, our ability to do great things with the Chapter depends in large part on the quantity and quality of our Business Partners. In addition to the standard benefits of membership, there are a number of Bonus Opportunities available that can enhance the BP experience. If you or someone you know might want to support the Gateway Chapter and grow their business, feel free to share our 2022 Program with them. New in 2022 – For each new ALA Gateway Business Partner that joins in 2022 and was referred by a Gateway member, the referring member will receive a $250 Visa Gift Card! That’s a win for the member, the Business Partner, and the Chapter!
Current or prospective ALA Gateway Business Partners that would like to expand their influence beyond the Chapter level may want to consider participating at the Association level as well. Get informed about that opportunity by visiting the ALA Business Partner Center.
We’re thrilled to announce that the Bunny Hop will be back in person this year! The Bunny Hop is an annual event that provides Easter baskets to charitable organizations helping children in our communities. It’s a terrific way to network with members and Business Partners while creating a little bag of Easter joy for children in need. This year the event will take place on Friday, April 1, 2022, and there will be opportunities to donate online ahead of the in-person assembly. Volunteers that have worked on this project in the past have found it to be one of our most fun and rewarding charitable events. Questions may be directed to Jillian Piechocinski at [email protected], and a flyer with details will be going out soon. I hope you will join us!
In case you missed it, PurpleStride St. Louis is back live! It will be held on Saturday, April 30, in Forest Park, and we will once again be participating as a Chapter. I hope you will be able to join us this year. If you are unfamiliar with PurpleStride, it is the preeminent fundraising vehicle for Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (“PanCAN”) to fight pancreatic cancer in a comprehensive way through scientific research, patient services, government advocacy and community engagement. For more information about the ALA’s ties to this organization and to register or donate, see the Team ALA Gateway Page.
You may also want to save the date for the St. Louis Pride Parade 2022 on June 26. The parade will run along the Gateway Mall, beginning at 8th and Market Streets, and continuing along Market west to 18th Street. ALA Gateway expects to participate, and more details will be forthcoming.
A new slate of ALA Gateway officers is being vetted, and information on all candidates will be sent to the members ahead of the membership vote being taken at the February educational meeting. The new officers will be installed in March. On behalf of the current and future Gateway Board of Directors, I ask you to share your concerns, expectations, hopes and ideas for the 2022-2023 term. We are in service to you, and we want to be sure you receive the best ALA experience possible.
Thank you for your continued support of the ALA and of the Gateway Chapter. We can do so much more together than we can alone. To borrow from Amy Poehler, “Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”
Before I sign off, for those of you that weren’t able to attend ALA Gateway’s 2021 Caribbean Holiday Party at Rhone Rum Bar last month, here’s a quick peak in the rear-view. Let this serve to remind us that no matter how bleak things may seem in the world, our members and Business Partners will always find a way to bring the sunshine!
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