Happy Holidays from RPA!

By Donna Strauss, ACP

RPA has had another successful year offering continuing legal education and other benefits to its members.  As 2014 comes to a close, we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and happiness in celebrating the holiday you observe.  Also, for some holiday fun, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Festivus (for the rest of us) on December 23^rd, Happy National Chocolate Day on December 24^th (my favorite!), Happy National Flashlight Day and Happy (Bah) Humbug Day on December 21^st! 

Oh, and Happy New Year!  Here's to an educational 2015!

Click here: http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/december.htm for other Bizarre and Unique Holidays

Corn Bread Hospitalitly

By Teresa Clark, ACP

October was a month of Successful Service for members of the Richmond Paralegal Association ("RPA"). The scheduled events on October 7 and October 11 were well attended and as promised, afforded immeasurable personal reward! 

On October 7th, members prepared and served a feast of Chili, corn bread, salad and desserts to patients and their families at the Hospital Hospitality House (HHH), and led a game of Bingo afterward.  The food, all excellently prepared and served, was gratefully consumed by all.  Several patients and their families stayed afterward to play bingo. 

Be a Volunteer – Participate!

By Lee Ann Wilson and Linda Richards

It is said that “to do things for others” affords immeasurable personal reward.  This is one philosophy of the Richmond Paralegal Association (“RPA”), and during the month of October, its membership is scheduled to “participate!”  Two group volunteer activities have been scheduled by RPA for its “Month of Service.” 

Leadership

By Kitty Bice, CP

What is leadership? What makes a good leader? Is it a call? Can you become a leader, or are you born to lead? All good questions and there are a lot of websites that will describe the characteristics of a good leader. Leaders are proactive, good listeners, humble, delegate to and motivate others, organized, resourceful, open-minded, good communicators, open to change, educated, objective and adaptive. There are different types of leadership skills: authoritarian, democratic, transformational, charismatic, autocratic, transactional, and laissez-faire.

The Importance of Networking

By Darlene Yeary, ACP

According to Webster’s Dictionary, networking is defined as “the exchange of information or services among individuals, groups, or institutions; specifically :  the cultivation of productive relationships for employment or business.”

So, what does networking mean to us as paralegals? There are so many ways that networking can play a role inside and outside the office.  For inside the office, every day you go to work, you have the opportunity to meet new people, so you are networking. In my position as a real estate paralegal, I end up speaking with title companies and Buyer’s or Seller’s counsel’s paralegal.  As you work through the transaction and especially towards the end of the transaction when the deal is going to close, you end up speaking to those individuals more and more and you begin to form a relationship with them.  After the transaction has closed, it is a great time to look them up on LinkedIn and form that connection.  You never know when you may run into the same scenario again and you will remember how helpful they were to you.

10 Reasons Why We Care about Social Media

By Katie Lehnen

You probably feel inundated by the social media wave from all angles.  Many of us use social networking in our personal lives, whether to keep in touch with friends and family across vast distances, or to connect with new friends.  We also use social media in a professional capacity, to promote businesses, post resumes, and network with current and potential employers.

3 Things Paralegals Should Know About 529 College Savings Plans

By Jillian L. Sherman, ACP, VCA

It’s time to celebrate!  Across the country, May 29 is recognized as 529 College Savings Day (also known as 529 Day). This initiative raises awareness about the importance of saving for higher education and the tax advantages of 529 plans. Paralegals are essential to so many things, including helping clients understand how their situation impacts or is impacted by a 529 account.  In honor of 529 Day, here are some of the considerations (just 3!?) paralegals should know about 529 accounts offered by Virginia College Savings Plan℠ (Virginia529℠).