Business Partners
February 2015 
Letter from the President
We received some great information on using the Federal Court System during the January Membership meeting at the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse. The presentation by Lori Miller-Young and the USDC staff was the Top 10 things to know when practicing in Federal Court. Please notice that tips from her presentation have been added to our newsletter this month. She has great advice for all; perhaps because she and her staff have over 980 years of public service experience!
At the meeting we also opened the floor for nominations for the 2015-2016 SPA Board of Directors. Nominations from the floor and the election of officers will be held during the March 19th Annual Membership Meeting at the Simon Law Firm, 800 Market Street, St. Louis. Please look over the nomination information in the newsletter; this is a great time to consider becoming more involved in SPA. Perhaps you have more interest in one of our many committees and becoming involved in a specific undertaking. If so, contact Bridget Briggs, President-Elect, because she is in the process of putting together the committees for next year.
BAMSL is sponsoring a joint social event with SPA on Feb 10th from 5:30 to 7:30. For more information see events on the website. This event will have snacks provided for socializing and then Hon. Jimmie Edwards will speak on the Innovation Academy, a first of its kind school for children offenders. The event will be held at BAMSL’s new downtown office. At the event we will also have an opportunity for SPA members to join BAMSL at a reduced rate.
Our February meeting will be at Missouri Athletic Club (MAC) on Tuesday, Feb, 17th at 12:00. We have an etiquette expert speaking to us on Professional Presence-Making an Impact. Melenie has been featured as a local expert on FOX2, so many of you may recognize her! The cost for this meeting is $30 and it includes the CLE, lunch and parking.
I hope everyone received the update letter in the mail from the SPA board. The board wants to make sure all members have access to the website and to their membership account on the website. This is a great time to add a professional picture to the membership directory. Pictures do not need to be done at a studio, but should be business appropriate, and only include yourself in the photo. When in doubt, it might be helpful to remember this is a professional site, not a social networking site, so hold off on the fun stuff.
SPA now has a twitter handle! We want to be able to send SPA members updates on legal events in town, and share with you what the rest of the legal community is doing. Hope to see you @SPAupdates! If Twitter is new to you, all you need to do is go to www.twitter.com and signup. Once you pick your username, then search for SPAupdates and choose follow. There are plenty of settings you can adjust in your twitter account as you get familiar with it.
~Jeanne
Spotlight
What do I want to be when I grow up? I finally figured it out after 25 years; a Real Estate Paralegal. My name is Christine Douglas and I am the Title Processor for St. Charles County Government. My career started in the banking industry, working as a teller and customer service representative for 15 years. During that time, I completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The banking industry worked well while raising two children but I was ready for something different. I went to work for the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds office for two years working part-time which turned into a full time position in the copy center. I didn’t even know what a deed was at that time but I was so bored! I starting looking into title companies and was given the opportunity to work as a title abstractor. After seven years of searching public records, I saw the posting for the St. Charles County’s title processor position. I knew I wanted this job! Sure enough, I was offered the job at St. Charles County almost three years ago and absolutely love it.
My position has evolved from not only information needed for the Highway Department, which is what I was hired to do, but to include requests from the Community Development Department, searching and coordinating acquisitions of property for the County regarding Emergency Communications tower site locations and park property, Neighborhood Improvement District projects and other projects too numerous to mention. I obtained my Paralegal Certificate through St. Charles Community College almost two years ago. I look forward to the opportunities that the County has to offer in the future. I do not have the title of Real Estate Paralegal yet, but I hope to in the near future. I am almost there!
Birthdays
We would like to wish the following members a Happy Birthday!
Mark Bommarito (1)
Olivia Pieknik (1)
Karen Wayman(1)
Michele Edstrom (2)
Nancy Remick (2)
Nancy Collora (3)
Sarah Tomlinson (3)
Simone Savala (4)
Rhett Beede (5)
Christine Lynch (5)
Lori Snead (5)
Amanda Lutz (6)
Kim Tinker (6)
Debbie Buffa (8)
Kathleen Dow (10)
Mary Igou (10)
Rebecca Spurgin (10)
Erin Carson (14)
Patricia Curran (14)
Darian Jones (14)
Jeaniene Dickey (15)
Christine Nuccio (18)
Megan Haupt (19)
Maria Francesca Faigal (20)
Jacqueline Tebbe (20)
Sharon Cooper (22)
Rhonda Thompson (22)
Monica Spencer (23)
Kelley Hotz (25)
Gayla Haught (27)
Amy Simon (27)
Member Benefits
The St. Louis Paralegal Association (“SPA”) strives to provide a wide variety of opportunities to its members. With the cost of membership, SPA members are afforded the following benefits:
- Low membership dues ranging from $35.00 - $60.00 annually (Compared to other organizations that charge up to $120.00 annually)
- Networking Opportunities:
- Social Events
- Proclaimed by state and local officials
- Discounted CLE opportunity
- Attendance prizes and giveaways
- Special gift chosen for attendees
- Attended by pertinent legal vendors
- Special invitation to participate in Paralegal Day
- Proclaimed by state and local officials
- Discounted CLE opportunity
- Attendance prizes and giveaways
- Special gift chosen for attendees
- Attended by pertinent legal vendors
- Access to Social Media:
- Community Service:
- Ronald McDonald House
- KidSmart
- School supply drive
- Habitat for Humanity
- Annual Coat Drive
- Special charitable donations designated annually
- Education and SPA programs:
- Monthly membership meetings*
- Up to eight (8) live NALA approved CLEs at no additional cost to SPA members *
- Lunch included *
- Opportunity to win Paralegal Legend Award
- Scholarship opportunities:
- Student scholarships*
- Certified Paralegal Exam
- SPA Job Bank
- Internship / Mentorship Program
- Paralegal Roundtable
- Resources and Publications:
- Direct mailing of monthly newsletter, Inside SPA
- Membership Directory
- Vendor Directory
- Direct connection to affiliate news
- Updates regarding processes & technology of local court systems
* CLEs have a value of up to $99.00, according to industry norms. The cost for attending a SPA CLE, as well as scholarship opportunities, are contingent upon vendor sponsorships and are subject to change.
For questions regarding your membership, please contact membership co-chairs, Jennifer Davies at 314.561.6359 or [email protected] or Jessica Martin at 314.561.6358 or [email protected].
Did You Know?
This link will direct you to the full Missouri Electronic Filing Implementation Schedule: http://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=46524
Do's and Don'ts of Electronic Filing and Court Procedures in Federal Court.
Did you know St. Louis Community College has a Facebook page for students and alumni? It can be found as: STLCC - Legal Studies for the Paralegal at Meramec.
Did you know that the St. Louis Paralegal Association subscribes to two publications of interest to paralegals? Issues of Facts and Findings, a NALA publication, and Paralegal Today, a James Publishing, Inc. publication, are maintained by the NALA liaison. If you would like to check out a particular issue from the “library”, please contact Lori Hanlon by e-mailing her at [email protected]. Please be reminded, however that each magazine and the articles therein are copyrighted.
Job Bank
JOB BANK REMINDER
Current paralegal job postings are available in the Member Area of the SPA website. These are updated periodically throughout the month. To receive job postings directly, email Eva Merrell ([email protected]). Postings are typically emailed to Job Bank members the day they are received, giving members a jump up on the competition.
Please remember to contact job bank chair Eva Merrell if your office is searching for a legal professional. The job bank is a free service available to all St. Louis area law firms, corporations, and other direct employers of paralegals.
Board of Director Nominations
Click here to download the 2015-2016 Call for Nominations and Nominations Form.
