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In this issue:
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Message From the Executive Committee
Whatever is beautiful, whatever is meaningful, whatever brings you
happiness and light, may it be yours this holiday season and throughout
the coming year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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December 6, 2005 - deadline for proposed bylaw/SR amendments to chair |
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Did you know -- after Texas was admitted to the Union in 1845, two unsuccessful statewide elections were held that attempted to move the capital elsewhere. From 1861 to 1865, Texas was part of the Confederacy. St. Edward's University (then St. Edward's Academy) was founded in 1878 by Rev. Edward Sorin, Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross, on South Austin farm land. In September 1881, the city schools admitted their first public school classes. That same year, Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute, the forerunner of Huston-Tillotson College, opened to the public. In 1882 construction began on The University of Texas at Austin campus with the placement of the cornerstone of the Main Building. The university formally opened in 1883. Make your plans now to attend the 2006 Winter Board Meeting, February 2-5, 2006, at the Lakeway Inn, located on the shores of beautiful Lake Travis. You can download the registration form and schedule of events at www.texasalp.org/calendar.htm. This meeting is one-stop shopping for CLE, networking, and fun! Take advantage of this great opportunity. We are offering CLE on both Friday and Saturday – a total of 7 hours. Don’t be left out. Register now. The registration deadline is January 19, 2006. Quoted room rates at the Lakeway Inn are available through January 12, 2006. |
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Based on Excerpts from Big Dog’s Leadership Submitted by Stephanie S. Burns, PP, PLS, TSC, Leadership Committee Member Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent. Leaders carry out this process by applying leadership attributes such as beliefs, values, ethics, character, knowledge, and skills. Although a position may give you the authority to accomplish certain tasks and objectives, this power does not make you a leader. Leadership differs because it makes others want to achieve goals, rather than simply be told to do something. To inspire others, there are certain things you must be, know, and do. When a person is deciding if you are to be respected as a leader, your attributes are not necessarily considered; rather, what you do will let the person know who you really are. Are you an honorable and trusted leader or a self-serving person who just wants to look good? The basis of good leadership is an honorable character and selfless service. Respected leaders concentrate on what they are (such as beliefs and character), what they know (such as tasks and human nature), and what they do (such as implementing, motivating, and providing direction). What makes a person want to follow a leader? People want to be guided by someone they respect and who has a clear sense of direction. A sense of direction is achieved by conveying a strong vision of the future. Good leaders are made, not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader. Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and experience. |
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You Get Them—How Do You Keep Them? Submitted by:
Sheryl A. Mann, Certified PP, PLS Getting members to join is usually not as tough as keeping them. Some tips for membership retention are: · Send new members welcome letters · List new members on your Web site or in your newsletter · During functions, look for new members and spend time with them · Pay special attention to first year members · Establish mentoring programs · Encourage experienced members to serve as mentors · Recognize successes of members regularly · Recognize special occasions of members, such as birthdays or anniversaries · Keep members motivated with good continuing education, including seminars and articles · Remember the purpose of our organization · Be open to new ideas Make all members feel welcome and useful. Get them involved so they can reap the benefits offered. |
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General Principles of Parliamentary Procedure 1. All members have equal rights, privileges, and obligations; rules must be administered impartially. 2. The minority has rights which must be protected. 3. Full and free discussion of all motions, reports, and other items of business is a right of all members. 4. In doing business the simplest and most direct procedure should be used. 5. Logical precedence governs introduction and disposition of motions. 6. Only one question can be considered at a time. 7. Members may not make a motion or speak in debate until they have risen and been recognized by the chair and thus have obtained the floor. 8. No one may speak more than twice on the same question on the same day without permission of the assembly. No member may speak a second time on the same question if anyone who has not spoken on that question wishes to do so. 9. Members must not attack or question the motives of other members. Customarily, all remarks are addressed to the chair. 10. In voting, members have the right to know at all times what motion is before the assembly and what affirmative and negative votes mean. |
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For better or worse, sometimes life’s interruptions arrive at an inconvenient time. If the Recording Secretary is unable to attend a meeting, the Recording Secretary immediately notifies the President. This allows the President the opportunity to appoint a Secretary Pro Tem, with the Board’s approval, to record the business conducted at the meeting. Although the Recording Secretary will not be at the meeting, the Recording Secretary remains the one responsible for the minutes. At the earliest opportunity, the Recording Secretary should contact the Secretary Pro Tem and make arrangements to meet and discuss the business conducted. The Recording Secretary will need to obtain any notes that were prepared. Then it is back to business – the Recording Secretary will prepare the draft of the minutes for the President’s approval. |
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Strategic Planning—Governance Task Force The Governance Task Force of the Strategic Planning Committee has been very hard at work these last several months reviewing the Bylaw and Standing Rules for Texas ALP. We have pored over these governing documents to look at every paragraph dealing with any type of voting issue. The majority of the members who answered the survey on voting issues stated they wanted the right to vote on the election of officers and any future name change. Allowing for the election of officers will consequently change a large number of paragraphs within the bylaws and standing rules – such as due dates for issuing the call for elections. We also determined that campaign rules for candidates needed to be revised. These are only two examples of wording in paragraphs that needed change. The more we reviewed the Bylaw and Standing Rules, the more we had to examine and compare both documents and all of the paragraphs within those documents. Fortunately, the Governance Task Force is comprised of outstanding members who brought a wealth of knowledge to the group: Donna Dendy, Beth Walker, Barb Sucsy, David DeFranco, Keri McLen, and Alexis Montgomery. We took our task seriously and met for two long Saturdays in Dallas. When these proposed amendments are distributed by the Bylaws and Standing Rules Chairman, we ask that you please take the time to review these proposals and discuss them with your chapter members carefully. The Governance Task Force feels that we have covered all issues dealing with individual member voting rights in the proposed amendments. We ask that you come to the meeting in February and be prepared to vote on these proposed amendments. Barbara S. Akins, PLS at akinsbs@aol.com Alexis Montgomery, PP, PLS, TSC at alexis.montgomery@sbcglobal.net Gina M. Estrella, PP, PLS at gestrella@rvmjfirm.com Rita Alesi, PP, PLS, TSC at ralesi56@yahoo.com Carol Gutierrez, PLS at cgutierrez@kempsmith.com Kerri McLen, PLS, CLA, TSC at labsrule@nctv.com |
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You can be a part of the elite group of specialty certified legal support professionals. TISC offers specialty certification for the legal support professional in both Texas real estate and Texas civil litigation. For information regarding qualifications to sit for an exam, exam dates, and study courses, check out our website at www.txisc.org. San Antonio LSA is offering a 7-week civil litigation study course beginning January 12, 2006. Contact Dawne Blair at dawne.blair@farmersinsurance.com for information. Houston ALP is offering a 9-week civil litigation study course beginning January 19, 2006. Contact Sondra Heugatter at Sondra@splpc.com for information. Registration forms for both courses can be found at www.texasalp.com/calendar.htm. |
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Merry Christmas! |
