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AALS … the right fit for everyone
Before I get started on my speech tonight, I feel I need to say something about our two wonderful friends and past state presidents – Faith Stevens and Ginny Cheek. We lost both of these friends in the last two weeks. It has been a sad reminder of how short our time together really is. But with all the sadness of their passings, we have also shared a lot of good, joyful memories. And I think that’s all we can ask for -- that we are remembered by our friends and family with a smile and a laugh.
When I was trying to decide on my theme, I knew I wanted to use puzzles. I’ve always been around puzzles – all kinds of puzzles – jigsaw, crossword, Sudoku, and others. The tag line was not so easy. I knew what I wanted to say but how to say it? And then it came to me.
As Barbara Malone has said many times, we have to let members be the member they want to be – they joined for a reason. We may or may not know why but most will fit into one of these categories – education, certification, charitable works, travel, friendships, member benefits, and networking. AALS is an all inclusive organization. So that’s how I came up with “AALS … the right fit for everyone.”
As I look out and see all the wonderful past presidents who gave inspiring speeches, well frankly, it’s kind of intimidating. How do I live up to those who came before me? And the answer is, by doing the best that I can. This is not going to be a long speech because that’s not me.
This association is very important to me. When I was in college, I did a one-month internship at a Mobile law firm. Little did I know how important that one-month would be. There were, I think, three secretaries in that law firm – two of whom were Faith Stevens and Barbara Malone. They taught me several things that month. One thing was that you couldn’t get through an afternoon without popcorn. That became one of my jobs – popping the popcorn. Another thing they taught me is the importance of AALS. Barbara and Faith took me to my first Mobile Legal Secretaries meeting that month. Those two women told me I needed to go to this meeting with them so I went. That was the beginning of my journey into NALS land.
As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; ... who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement.” That is my promise to you – I will be the woman in the arena who strives to do the deeds because the goals of our association are a worthy cause. To paraphrase NALS Mission Statement, we are dedicated to enhancing the competencies of legal professionals by legal education, networking opportunities, certification, and a commitment to a Code of Ethics. That is what I ask of each of you – join me in the arena in keeping our goals with great enthusiasm and devotion.
My faiths are very important to me – not only my religious faith but my faith in each one of you. We have the best legal organization around and that is because of you, our members.
I have a present for everyone here tonight. I want this year to be as stress-free as possible. So would those of you that I asked to help me, please give out the goodies.
Thank you.
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