CALIFORNIA
ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL DOCUMENT ASSISTANTS
Minutes of
Board Meeting
19925 Stevens Creek
Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
August 12, 2006
9:25 am – 1:40 pm
Officers Present:
X Carol Ludlow, President
X Connette Blalock,
Vice-President
X Annette Gomez, Secretary
Treasurer, position vacant
Directors Present:
X Robin Wilson, Education Chair
X Connie Crockett, Fundraising
Chair
X Moira Boyle, Public Relation
X Kathleen Mountjoy, Professional
Standards Chair
X Andrew Voller, Legislative
Chair
X Robin Schumacher, Membership
Chair
X Kimberlie Hall, Conference
Chair
Others Present:
X Janet Greenhow, CALDA member
9:25 am Called to order by Carol
Ludlow
9:30 am
Went off record
10:00
am Back on record
The first item
at issue was our brochures. Carol had the new “Stepparent Adoption” brochure
available for us to review which was prepared by Kat’s partner. The inside
cover has more room available for us to include information on our individual
business which could be input on our computers before printing. Carol updated
us on the progress of the other brochures which are being worked on by Cara
Gould and many other volunteers.
The issue of
other businesses soliciting on our forum is tabled until the next meeting which
will take place online in the near future. A date has not been yet chosen.
However, Robin
S. did suggest that anyone wishing to advertise should at least be a sustaining
member, which presently costs $200.00 and that regular members should pay a
fee. It is our intention that the website be revamped first prior to any
solicitations.
The next
discussion was regarding our first telephone conference class which was held
July 29 by Richard Lubetsky on UPL (Unauthorized Practice of Law). Although
Connette was at first disappointed by the turnout which was 12 to 15 members
out of 230 plus, Robin W. was very pleased at how smoothly the class went,
considering it was our first one and that we were using technology we haven’t
before used as a group. It was agreed that future classes should be available
for a cost of $25.00. Robin W. will talk and work with our webmaster, Chris to
see about members being able to make payments through the website prior to the
class. The payment will authorize a release to the class and allow access to
class materials. It is agreed that future speakers should be paid.
Next we reviewed
the online Continuing Education Credit available to CALDA members only and a
UPL Questionnaire. The online UPL credit will be equivalent to our conference’s
Sunday UPL class. The goal is that the questions would change each time someone
takes the test. A minimum 70% is needed to pass the test. The test will not be
set up so that you can see which questions were answered incorrectly, only that
you passed or failed. The test should be changed periodically. Robin S.
estimated that this type of test would probably cost between $300 to $500 to
set up on the website. Another option suggested is for us to write multiple versions
of the test ourselves and change it frequently.
We talked about the
importance of making it easier to find the instructions on becoming an LDA on
our website. Moira pointed out how difficult it is to find it. She suggests
that it is on the first page of our website because we all get telephone calls
from people wanting an explanation. The recurring topic at today’s meeting is revamping
our website.
Robin S.
suggests that we work on having an outreach program for attorneys. After having
a telephone conversation with a new attorney who was frustrated and lost after
passing the bar exam and not knowing how to proceed in the business world, she
saw a golden opportunity for us to make ourselves available as contract
paralegals and to have more allies on our side. Kim thought we should
investigate how we can have more of a connection to the
Bar Association since we now provide MCLE credits. Janet shared her firsthand
experience of the Bar’s opposition prior to the LDA laws when we were CAIP
(California Association of Independent Paralegals). It was agreed that although
times are changing and our profession is more accepted, any further action
needs to proceed with caution.
Andrew told us
about Amcorporation, a relatively new company he has been in contact with. They
are hooked up to each subscriber’s website so that the subscriber gets business
through them. A consumer goes to Amcorporation’s site to have legal docs
prepared. They fill out a questionnaire. Amcorporation’s system automatically
fills out the legal docs which are then sent to us for review. The cost to us
is $350.00 for the software and initial setup, then $19.00 each month. Our LDA
number or BPP number would be put on the docs. Any CALDA members who join are
entitled to a $50.00 discount. They are in the process of having more
documents available. Andrew will speak to them about providing us with a
demonstration.
There was
concern from the Bay Area chapter about an article that appeared in The San
Mateo Times in April. The article centered on We The People and stated that
they were the “only” legal document preparation service in a retail setting in
the area. It was agreed that CALDA needs to help put together a Public
Relations piece that could be used. Although Janet admitted that it’s now too
late to respond to the April article, she says that we need more PR. Janet
would like to see something available at our conference that could be used in
all counties. Kim suggested we create a template that could be customized and
used in different areas. Participating CALDA members can chip in to the cost of
the paid advertisement in their local newspaper. Moira announced that she has
found a PR specialist who will be a conference speaker.
There was a
quick discussion regarding software for wills and trusts and having a
standardized software for LDAs. Andrew said that Amcorporation will soon be
preparing those too.
Because we did
not previously have a quorum, there was to be a discussion on the revision of
our bylaws. It is postponed until after the proxies are due in September.
Because of the delay there were questions on how to handle the 2 year term
issue. Connie will speak to our consultant, Melody Sereno on how to handle
this.
After a short
break, we discussed the Virginia Simon’s Award of Excellence. Moira talked
about having a distinctive and professional plaque made to be awarded to
Commissioner Richard Vogl and also a plaque to be awarded to all past
presidents in commemoration of CALDA’s 20th birthday. Carol’s
husband will donate his time to make the plaques with his new state-of- the-art
woodworking machine. Kat suggested an hourglass as a thank you gift with a
plaque, the theme being “the sands of time”. Since Connie can always be counted
on to come up with the perfect words for us whenever needed, she will work on
the words for the plaques.
The floor was
turned over to Connette and Kim to talk about the conference. After Kim was
formally introduced as our new conference chair, Kim talked about changing the
focus or idea of our conference to include more fun starting in 2007. Because
we will have more opportunities to earn our educational credits and money for
CALDA, she envisions incorporating a “retreat” atmosphere. But as for the 2006
conference, we need to have a mailing list out by the end of August to confirm
our speakers. After reviewing our conference costs, we talked about how the
speakers should be compensated. We went back over the minutes from our January
board meeting where we agreed to pay for one night and 3 meals for the speaker
and a guest at Highland Springs or the cash equivalent. Connie motioned to
amend the January 22, 2006 minutes regarding the speaker’s compensation and
instead offer a check for $150.00 after the speaker’s presentation. Moira
seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion was carried.
Kim confirmed
that the Highland Springs Resort will be providing dinner to the board members
on Thursday night. Moira wants to keep the annual tradition of having the AGM
(Annual General Meeting) somewhere else. Kim wondered if we could keep our
dinner at Highland Springs then get together afterward in Palm Springs or
elsewhere since our dinner was already covered. Kim agreed to see what Highland
Springs will give us back if we don’t eat there so we could use the money to go
off-site. Kat and Moira will get information and put together a proposal on Palm Springs restaurants for the board to approve.
Kim would like
to have co-speakers in the classes, not just an announcer as in the past. The
co-speaker will act as a liason so that class members will have someone else to
refer to afterward. Kim said that this year Martin Dean will not only be a
vendor, but also a speaker. Other classes include Beginner and Advanced Family
Law from the Court’s Perspective, Beginning Marketing-How to make your phone
ring, Advanced Marketing – How to Grow your Business, Basic Immigration,
Administrative Law, Process Serving, Bankruptcy, Civil, Trust Administration.
There will also be a speaker from NALDP (topic unknown at this time) and a
financial planner to discuss retiring from the LDA business.
Carol said she
will get a financial report from Alegria Davenport, our bookkeeper and asked if
anyone wanted to fill in as treasurer.
Robin W. talked
about having the conference binders available on cd. Connie said there were
enough 50/50 tickets left from last year that are available for this year, but
that we need new BINGO cards. Connie also found some items, like caps that we
could sell and asked the board’s opinion. The idea of having the member roster
in a smaller book separate from the binder was brought up by Janet and well
received by everyone. A 20 year timeline with CALDA’s history will also be prepared.
Regarding gifts each board member will donate a gift valued at $30.00. We also
talked about getting the vendors to donate or offer a scholarship. Next year
Moira would like to see the vendors sponsor more to bring down the cost of the
conference. We discussed the idea of taking it out of state to Las Vegas or on a weekend cruise ship. Carol wants to have the other board members
contribute with the speeches. She suggests that the President make one speech
at the beginning of the conference and one at the end and allow the other board
members an opportunity to speak. We figured out how many binders to have and
agreed that 80 should be enough based on the present membership, allowing for
new members and the percentage of the membership that usually attend the
conference. Connette confirmed that she had a contact with a shuttle service to
get people back and forth from the airport. We will plan a telephone conference
for a Saturday in the middle of September to get updates on the
conference.
The topic regarding Sunday’s UPL class was brief. Connette wondered
if we should have it on Saturday instead in 2007 to make it easier on Sunday
for people to vacate their rooms and catch flights. But it was decided that if
people are there on Saturday night then they have the room until Sunday
afternoon anyway.
The last issue
was about ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) between CALDA members. Because
it would be a bad idea to have members agree to ADR instead of going to court
if they have a complaint against another CALDA member it should be suggested to
members that it will be available as an option.
Connette
announced that she will be vacating her position and moving to Oregon at the end of the year.
Our next meeting
is set for October 27, 2006 in Beaumont, CA.
The meeting was
adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
Submitted by Annette Gomez
