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The Indiana Paralegal Association, (“IPA”) gives annual awards to honor its members. Awards are given in the following categories: Paralegal of the Year, New Member Paralegal of the Year, Outstanding Board Member of the Year, and from time to time, a Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The Paralegal of the Year Award has traditionally been IPA’s most distinguished award, because it is given to a member of IPA who has demonstrated exceptional loyalty and commitment to the betterment of IPA, and is recognized as being the most valued, the most respected and the most deserving of IPA members to earn this sterling reputation. 

The New Member Paralegal of the Year Award is given to an outstanding new member of IPA. Although a member less than three years, the recipient of this award quickly rises to the top of leadership and commitment to IPA.

The Outstanding Board Member of the Year Award is given to recognize an outstanding member of IPA’s Board of Directors. Board members work tirelessly in their already hectic schedules to serve the needs of its paralegal members, to educate the public and promote the paralegal profession. This award is nominated and chosen by the IPA’s Board of Directors.

The IPA Board decided that there were a few paralegals that have truly pioneered the paralegal profession and stayed through it evolution for many years. To recognize the achievements of such an individual, the Board decided that from time to time when appropriate they would award a Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Nominations are due by Friday, July 1, 2011.
Recipients of the 2011 IPA Paralegal Awards will be announced on July 20, 2011.

Please complete and submit this Nomination Form no later than Friday, July 1, 2011 to:  Diana Miller, IPA Vice President, (317) 818-3111 Fax or E-mail:  vicepresident@indianaparalegals.org.

 

Please congratulate Valerie Dolan from the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals, who will be serving as Region IV Director for the remainder of the term vacated by Jessica Swedenhjelm when she was appointed to the position of Vice President and Director of Membership!

In other announcements, there is a great need to fill our open coordinator positions.  Currently there are vacancies under the Membership and Marketing Directors and Certification (formerly known as PACE).  Below please find the positions and attached are the descriptions and responsibilities for each opening. 
 
Membership Coordinators:
 
Association Management Coordinator
Membership Growth Coordinator
Membership Benefits Coordinator
 
PACE Coordinator:
 
PACE Public Relations Coordinator      
 
Marketing Coordinators:
 
Internal Marketing Coordinator
Strategic Alliances Coordinator
 
Coordinator interest forms can be found on the NFPA website at  http://www.paralegals.org/displayemailforms.cfm?emailformnbr=18923.     Interested coordinators should also submit resumes to nominations@paralegals.org. 

Becky Kersetter, Nominations Coordinator  

Time is running out to register for the pilot test of NFPA’s Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE)! The link to register is at www.paralegals.org The online registration will close April 30th.  The exam will not be available again until it is officially rolled out in November 2011 as a computer based exam.
 
Don’t miss this great opportunity to be one of the first CORE Registered Paralegals (CRP). Also, please spread the work to your colleagues and friends who may be eligible. They do not need to be a member of NFPA to take this exam; it is open to all eligible candidates.

Suellen K. Honeychuck, RP
NFPA Vice President and Director of Paralegal Certification

Indiana Paralegal Association (IPA) proudly announces that it will award its fourth annual scholarship for the National Federal of Paralegal Associates (NFPA®)’s Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE^TM).  Applications for the IPA PACE^TM Scholarship are currently being accepted beginning April 15, 2011. 

Click here for more information.

I am pleased to announce that the NFPA Board of Directors has appointed Jessica Swedenhjelm, RP, PaCP as Vice President and Director of Membership to complete the term which expires in October 2011.
 
Congratulations Jessica !
 
Tracey

Tracey L. Young, RP
President
National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.

NFPA has received notification that all of the webinars offered by CT Corporation have now been approved for CLE credit by the Indiana State Bar Association.

Check out the latest list of upcoming webinars at http://ct.wolterskluwer.com/events-calendar.

The following awards will be presented at the NFPA Annual Convention in Minneapolis in October. The deadline for award nominations and scholarship applications is July 1, 2011. Click here for the fyler or check out www.paralegals.org  for more information.

William R. Robie Leadership Award
Association Pro Bono Award
Individual Pro Bono Award
NFPA Outstanding Leader Award
NFPA Paralegal of the Year Award
PACE™ Ambassador Award
PACE Scholarship
and NFPA/Thomson Reuters Scholarships

I am very pleased to announce that the Paralegal CORE Competency Exam (PCCE) Candidate Handbook and online registration for the Saturday, June 11, 2011 pilot test are now available at www.paralegals.org The pilot test will be held at 12 locations across the country. Seating at each test site is limited so if you are eligible and want to take advantage of the reduced fee, register early. The fee for the pilot test is $65. Please be sure to review the candidate handbook thoroughly before initiating the online registration.

The pilot test is a paper/pencil version of the exam and will be hand scored. Scores will be released by PES no later than August 1, 2011. Candidates who successfully pass the exam will earn the CORE Registered Paralegal (CRP) credential.

Suellen K. Honeychuck, RP
NFPA Vice President and Director of Paralegal Certification

Due to the resignation of the Indiana Paralegal Association (“IPA”) PACE Ambassador, this Section Chair position is now open. If you are interested in filling this position,please notify me by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2011.

The Pace Ambassador must be an RP and duties generally include promoting the PACE Exam for the experienced paralegal, and the upcoming PCC exam for newer paralegals, along with promoting the professionalism of paralegals. The ambassador should be willing to assist others in setting up study groups and helping with the entire process of becoming an RP. This will also include public congratulatory recognition of new RPs.

IPA will be sending the new PACE Ambassador to a training conference on Saturday afternoon, April 30 and Sunday morning May 1st in Cleveland, OH.

Brenda Johnson
IPA Secretary
secretary@indianaparalegals.org

It's that time again -- NFPA is happy to announce that the 2011 Thomson Reuters' Scholarship Application is available at http://www.paralegals.org/associations/2270/files/2011content/2011_Thomson_Reuters_Scholarship_Application.pdf
 
This year's essay topic is:
“The economy has had a strong impact on the practice of law. As a paralegal student, who will soon be graduating, describe the current legal job market in your community, and how your paralegal education can give you an advantage in securing paralegal employment.”

The scholarships are $3,000 and $2,000, and include a stipend for the winners to travel to the 2011 Annual Convention to be personally recognized by NFPA and Thomson.

Theresa A. Prater, RP
NFPA Vice President and Director of Profession Development