BOARD OF DIRECTORS OPEN POSITIONS

AS OF January 1, 2012:

STANDING COMMITTEES

ADMINISTRATIVE & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR:

The Administrative & Development Director is responsible for maintaining e-mail account, timely filing of received e-mails, and assistance to Membership Committee.

CLE COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

This committee is responsible for keeping members of the Association abreast of current developments in their fields of specialty by offering informative seminars and mini seminars and by collecting and making information available to the membership.  Duties of this committee will encompass the following:

§  Maintain an Annual CLE Schedule

§  Organize seminar locations, speakers and meals as well as audio/visual needs.

§  Coordinate member mailings and registration response with the Membership committee.

§  Foster and maintain contact with the

New York institutions which offer paralegal programs and serves as an information clearinghouse for students.

§  Inform students about NYCPA’s mentor program and connect student members with possible internship opportunities secured by the association with local firms for their benefit.

§  Encourage and educate the NYCPA membership about PACE.

§  Keep current with ongoing national PACE activities

§  Supervises PACE scholarship nominations and award presentations.

This committee chairperson will be assisted by Paralegal School Liaison Coordinator, Professional Development Coordinator and PACE Coordinator to ensure the efficient execution of all of its duties/functions.

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

This committee is in charge of putting together the quarterly association newsletter - The NYC Paralegal Times and NYCPA Bi-Weekly Newsletter. Duties of this committee encompass the following:

§  Locate articles of interest to paralegals, including local and national news, programs and announcements of the Association.

§  Seek advertisers for the newsletter and work closely with the printing company to ensure that the newsletter is printed and delivered on time for distribution to the membership.

§  Publish the electronic bi-weekly newsletter that is distributed to members via email.

§  Work with the Website coordinator to update the newsletter portions of the website

§  Work with the website committee to design and keep the official NYCPA website updated.

§  Coordinate membership and potential membership materials/mailings with the executive board.

§  Responsible for assisting other committee chairpersons with the design and creation of official NYCPA materials and documents.

§  Reviews and edits the annual membership directory for accuracy.

This committee chairperson will be assisted by the Director of Communications Coordinator and E-Newsletter Coordinator to ensure the efficient execution of all of its duties/functions.

ESAPA COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

This committee shall be responsible for representing the association as a member of the Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations (“ESAPA”).  The Empire State Alliance of Paralegal Associations is comprised of several paralegal associations from across

New York State .  The ESAPA meets three times per year – winter, spring and fall – in locations across New York State . This committee will also be responsible for reaching out to other paralegal associations within the state of New York and determining how we can work to together to meet the needs of paralegals throughout the state. The duties of this committee will encompass:

§  Attend meetings held by ESAPA throughout the year

§  Provide updates to the Board of Directors of the NYCPA as well as its  membership re efforts being undertaken by ESAPA on their behalf

§  Act as liaison between the NYCPA and other paralegal associations throughout the state.

This committee chairperson will be assisted by the State Outreach Coordinator to ensure the efficient execution of all of its duties/functions.

FINANCE COMMITTEE:
OPEN POSITIONS ARE: Sales Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator and Job Bank Coordinator.

This committee reviews expenses proposed to be incurred on behalf of the Association and to submit approved expenditures to the Executive Board of Directors to authorize all disbursements.  It also works with law firms, legal staffing agencies and legal departments to advertise paralegal openings for the benefit of members. This committee is also responsible for generating revenue from sponsors and ad placements on the official website and newsletter. The duties of this committee encompass the following:

§  Review expenses to be incurred on behalf of association

§  Authorize all disbursements

§  Present proposed non-budgeted expenditures at a general membership meeting for approval by a majority of the Voting Members present.

§  Prepare a budget for each fiscal year to be approved by the Board of Directors and adopted by the membership.

§  Coordinate with Job Target contact, placement of job listings from law firms, legal departments and legal staffing agencies to be advertised to our members.

§  coordinate, schedule and implement fundraising and sponsorships for the association

This committee chairperson will be assisted by Sales Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator and Job Bank Coordinator to ensure the efficient execution of all of its duties/functions.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:
OPEN POSITIONS ARE: Active Members Coordinator, Associate Members Coordinator, Student Members Coordinator, Sustaining Members Coordinator, Sponsor Members Coordinator, Retention Coordinator, and Benefits Coordinator.

This committee encourages, promotes, and maintains membership in the Association, as well as to process and to maintain the membership records of the Association. The Committee shall also devise and recommend proposed changes in membership regulations to the Board of Directors and promote membership participation. The duties of this committee encompass the following:

§  maintain accurate and up-to-date directory/list of members within the association

§  coordinate outreach efforts to gain new members

§  act as liaison and mentor to filed inquires by new members

§  organize events/materials in recognition and support of new members

§  Coordinate growth efforts for various membership types for the association

§  Coordinate efforts to maximize membership retention for the association

§  Monitor and expand on current NYCPA member benefits

§  Seek out and add additional NYCPA member benefits

§  Publicize existing benefits to current members and market to potential members

This committee chairperson, who, pursuant to the NYCPA Bylaws, is also the Vice President, will be assisted by Active Members Coordinator, Associate Members Coordinator, Student Members Coordinator, Sustaining Members Coordinator, Sponsor Members Coordinator, Retention Coordinator, and Benefits Coordinator to ensure the efficient execution of all of its duties/functions.

MENTOR PROGRAM CHAIRPERSON:

The Mentor Program matches experienced paralegals with students, new  paralegals, and those changing practice areas. We provide guidance regarding:

 

§  Current information on the paralegal profession

§  Career objectives

§  Educational goals

§  Resume review and interviewing tips

§  Practice area related paralegal duties

§  Tips for obtaining a paralegal position

§  Member benefits

NFPA NATIONAL AFFAIRS:
Open Position: Primary Representative.

This committee is co-chaired by the NFPA Primary Representative and the NFPA Secondary Representative.  The committee reviews, discusses and comments on materials received from the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. (NFPA) and other member associations.  The committee is responsible for disseminating information from NFPA and other sources to the Board of Directors and the membership.  The Committee members assist the NFPA Primary and Secondary Representatives in preparing the NFPA’s Policy Meeting by providing input and recommendations on agenda and discussion topics for those meetings.

PRO BONO COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

This committee works on contacting various not-for-profit agencies to determine a need for our membership to participate in pro bono activities.  The duties of this committee encompass the following:

§  In charge of notifying and recruiting members of the association to volunteer in various pro bono activities.

§  Work closely with the various organizations to make the necessary arrangements to involve membership. 

§  Coordinate at least two (2) community service projects to be sponsored by the NYCPA with maximum member participation

This committee chairperson will be assisted by the Community Service Coordinator to ensure the efficient execution of all of its duties/functions.

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

This Committee is responsible for awarding one or more scholarships to a student who fulfills the requirements set forth by the Board of Directors.  The committee sends out scholarship applications to all the colleges/universities in

New York that offer paralegal programs and then chooses an outstanding student from the submitted applications.

AD HOC COMMITTEES

BYLAWS COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:  

The Bylaws Committee periodically reviews the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of NYCPA and makes recommendations for changes to the Board of Directors to be voted on by the members. The duties of this committee will encompass the following:

§  Review Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the NYCPA on a periodic basis

§  Make recommendations for changes to be voted on by the membership of the NYCPA

NOMINATION COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

The committee annually solicits nominations from the membership for the elected offices of NYCPA.  The committee presents to the membership a slate of nominees for elective offices to be voted on at the annual membership meeting in May.

POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:

This committee is established to prepare and deliver the Policy and Procedures Manual (“PPM”) for the Board of Directors review and acceptance. After the PPM approved, this committee will periodically review and interpret the Association’s Policies and Procedures Manual and make recommendations for changes to the Board of Directors to be voted.

COORDINATORS AND VOLUNTEERS

ADVISORY PANEL COORDINATOR – coordinates and updates information with regards to NYCPA Advisory Panel. Liaison between NYCPA and Advisory Panel Members.

BENEFITS COORDINATOR – work closely with Membership Committee Chairperson on monitoring and expansion on current NYCPA member benefits, seeking out and adding additional NYCPA member benefits, publicizing existing benefits to current members and marketing NYCPA benefits to potential members.

COMMUNITY SERVICE COORDINATOR – works closely with Pro Bono Committee Chairperson.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR - coordinate membership and potential membership materials/mailings with the executive board. Responsible for assisting other committee chairpersons with the design and creation of official NYCPA materials and documents. works closely with Communications Committee Chairperson to prepare the quarterly association newsletter.

EVENTS COORDINATOR  - work closely with all committees and report directly to the Executive Board of Directors. This coordinator is responsible to plan, coordinate, and schedule events for the association and to plan, coordinate, schedule and implement fundraising and sponsorships for the association.  Duties of this coordinator will encompass the following:

§  Maintain a yearly event calendar for the NYCPA

§  Develop relationships with and maintain database of venues, hotels, restaurants, caterers and other such contacts for NYCPA events

§  Develop and maintain relationships with law firms, legal departments, legal staffing agencies, news media, professional associations and schools

§  Contact appropriate news media to publicize NYCPA events

§  Identify and coordinate all speakers for membership meetings

§  Coordinate Board of Directors outreach programs as needed

§  Consult with all NYCPA committees that are planning an event such as a social, meeting, conference or convention.

This coordinator will be assisted by PR Coordinator, Speaker’s Coordinator , and Media Coordinator to ensure the efficient execution of all of its duties/functions as well as Research Volunteer, Events Volunteer and Press Outreach Volunteer.

EVENTS VOLUNTEER – works closely with Events Coordinator and CLE Committee Chairpersons. This volunteer would assist during NYCPA events.  Tasks can include room set up, goodie bag preparation, fee collection, checking in of guests and creating nametags etc.

E-NEWSLETTER COORDINATOR – works closely with Communications Committee Chairperson to ensure timely delivery of the electronic bi-weekly newsletter (see duties under Communications Committee description).

INTERNATIONAL LIAISON COORDINATOR  - works closely with the Membership Committee Chairperson to foster connections and maintain contact with international paralegal associations.

JOB BANK COORDINATOR - works with law firms, legal departments and legal staffing agencies to identify paralegal job openings and disseminates this information to our membership via the official job bank areas in the member’s only areas of the website and within the newsletter.

MARKETING COORDINATOR – works closely with Finance Committee Chairperson on coordination, scheduling and implementing fundraising and sponsorships for the association.

MEDIA COORDINATOR– works closely with Events Coordinator to contact appropriate news media to publicize NYCPA events.

PARALEGAL SCHOOL LIAISON (COORDINATOR) – this coordinator connects and maintains contact with New York institutions that offer paralegal programs and serve as an information clearinghouse for students. The coordinator also informs students about NYCPA's mentor program and job bank.

PRESS OUTREACH VOLUNTEER – works closely with Events Coordinator and CLE Committee Chairpersons. The volunteer would need a background or experience with writing and or journalism.  They must also have excellent communication skills to pitch story ideas to editors or promote interest in our association to various sources. This volunteer would assist in the creation of releases, help target press, assist in the internet distribution of news via traditional and social media outlets. This can be a remote position for members who cannot travel or participate in person.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR - works closely with CLE Committee Chairperson to inform NYCPA members of current developments in their fields of specialty by offering Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars and other educational events. The Coordinator collects and disseminates such information to the membership.

RESEARCH VOLUNTEER– works closely with Events Coordinator and CLE Committee Chairpersons. This volunteer would research new contacts for our companies and law firm lists, look for new education trends, locate new websites of paralegal interest.  This can be a remote position for members who cannot travel or participate in person.

SALES COORDINATOR– works closely with Finance Committee Chairperson on collecting all receipts to be incurred on behalf of association and preparing requests for payments of all invoices received by the association.

SPEAKER’S COORDINATOR - works closely with Events Coordinator to identify, invite and coordinate speakers for NYCPA’s events.

STATE OUTREACH COORDINATOR - works closely with ESAPA Committee Chairperson to reach to other New York State paralegal associations to create working relationships and exchange ideas.

The below listed three positions work closely with Membership Committee Chairperson on encouragement, promotion and maintaining membership on each level.

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR - covers areas of Active Membership, Associate Membership, Student Membership, and Sustaining Membership.

SPONSOR MEMBERS COORDINATOR

RETENTION COORDINATOR