Brevard Paralegal Association Chapter

Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc.

December 2011

The Paralegal Pipeline

Inspiring professional growthone paralegal at a time INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Presidents Message
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Technology Seminar FRP Corner Birthdays BCC Paralegal Program Community Service 2011-12 Board Listing News/Mugshots Sponsors Holiday Social

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December is already here. Where did 2011 go?

This season changes us. It makes our hearts more open to give and to receive love. It makes us more open to forgiveness and reconciliation. Not only that, as the New Year approaches, it feels like our hope is renewed. A hope of a better year, a hope of new dreams to come forth, a hope of old dreams to be restored and/or fulfilled, old plans to be put in motion, or even change of diet and exercise. This season is packed with expectations. We get so busy with the preparation for gatherings, the shopping, the cooking, and, most important of all, how we will spend the season and with whom. Some will be surrounded by family, and some by friends. It would be wonderful if we could spend Christmas as the song says and hearts will be glowing. When love ones are near. Life isnt perfect and our expectations can do us in. Lets make the best of it. Even if we have a great family and/or friends, compromise should be the word of this time of year. A little sacrifice can go a long way.

I wish you Happy Holidays and I wish that before you let 2011 go, that you reflect on the many blessings that you received this year. I hope to see you around. Please join us at BPAs Holiday Social on Thursday, December 8th, 2011 from 6:15 pm to 9:00 pm at Pizza Gallery and Grill. All the best,

Christmas December 25th

Even before Thanksgiving, stores, radio stations, and TV channels reminded us that the holiday season is already here. There is no way to escape: the scent of candles, the songs, the movies, and the decorations all point to the season. To me, the season kicked off when I heard the song Its the most wonderful time of the year. Its the most wonderful time of the year. Therell be much mistletoeing. And hearts will be glowing. When love ones are near. Its the most wonderful time of the year.1

Silvia

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas song written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle, and sung by Andy Williams.

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Hanukkah Begins December 20th

Brevard Community College Paralegal Program Seminar/CLE

The Technical Advisory Committee for the Paralegal Program will host its annual seminar on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at Brevard Community College, Melbourne Campus. Please mark your calendar now to join us for next years seminar. Registration forms will be available in future newsletters and at BPA meetings. Online registration will soon be available through Banner which can be accessed through the BCC website at www.bcctraining.com. The course is pending approval from NALA for three or four hours of CLE. For further information, watch this monthly column or contact Roma Molinaro at roma@michaelkahnpa.com. Technical Advisory Committee members are: Roma Molinaro, CP, FCP, FRP, Chair, Kim Dexter, ACP, FRP, Linda Ghirardelli, ACP, FRP, Roberta Reaume, CP, FCP, FRP, Jenny Lawton Seal, CP, FRP and Suzanne Mair, FRP.

Tis the Season!

BPAs Annual Holiday Social will be at the Pizza Gallery & Grill at The Avenues in Viera on Thursday, December 8, 2011 from 6:15 pm to 9:00 pm. Bring your spouse, significant other, coworkers or friends! There will be no fixed selections, you may order off the menu. See the flier on Page 8 of this newsletter.

Hanukkah Ends December 28th

Florida Registered Paralegal

The Florida Bar offers several free or low cost webinars you can use towards your continuing education requirement. Check out the Bars website, www.floridabar.org to find available courses.

December Birthdays
Linda L. King Deborah A. Ryan

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Community Service

Brevard Community College Paralegal Program Classes

The 2012 Spring Semester on Brevard Community Colleges Melbourne Campus class offerings are as follows: Introduction to the Legal System and Legal Research will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays. Law Office Procedures, Torts, Legal Writing, and Evidence will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays. Real Estate Transactions, Introduction to the Legal System, and Civil Procedure will be offered in the evening. The on-line classes being offered in the Spring are: Introduction to the Legal System, Legal Research, Property Law, Civil Procedures, Torts, Criminal Law, Law Office Procedures, Legal Terminology, Bankruptcy, Evidence, Wills and Trusts, and Probate, Trusts and Guardianships. Class offerings, times and instructors are subject to change. For information regarding these course offerings and/or the Paralegal Program at BCC, contact Louis Jiannine at 321-4335656 or jianninel@brevardcc.edu.

Toni-Marie DAlessandro Community Service Chair www.friendsofchildrenofbrevard.org

This month BPAs Community Service Event is to benefit the Friends of Children of Brevard County, Inc. who supports the local Guardian Ad Litem program. What is a Guardian Ad Litem? The volunteer Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) is a representative for a child before the court, social service agencies and the community. The Brevard GAL Program has a shortage of sponsors for Christmas presents for children who have been displaced from their homes. As you may be aware, state law requires that every child adjudicated dependent must have a GAL, so no child is unrepresented and so the job of these special volunteers encompasses all aspects of the childs well-being. Its an unfortunate fact, but many children are taken away from their parents at Christmastime and foster family or relatives will receive them with whatever they are wearing. No toys, presents, clothes or anything else. Friends of Children of Brevard County, Inc. (Friends) is called upon by the GAL Program when they have a child with an unmet need. Friends helps with almost anything: a bed, a bike, a pair of shoes, or a school uniform. This helps to bring a sense of normalcy to their disrupted lives. Our Mission: To improve the lives of the abused, abandoned and neglected children of Brevard County and to support their advocates, the GAL Program. Our Vision: To help every child in need in Brevard Countys GAL Program. What we Value: Children Community Service You can make a difference in a childs life! Friends needs your help to continue providing for the most vulnerable of our children. Please bring an unwrapped childrens toy with you to the Holiday Social or contract Toni-Marie for more information. You can make a difference in a childs life. Contribute or volunteerbut make a difference! It matters.

Meeting Policy Reminder

Pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(6) if you RSVP for a dinner and do not cancel within 10 days of the meeting date or do not attend the meeting, you will be sent an invoice for the cost of the dinner.

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Newsletter Advertising
Half Page $100/Year Or $55/6 months Business Card $50/Year Or $30/6 months Special rates available for one-time ads Submit business card or ad artwork, preferably in .jpg or .bmp format to Kimberly. Nowakowski@ Health-First.Org or send it to: Kim Nowakowski c/o Health First, Inc. 6540 US Hwy 1 Rockledge FL 32955 The Paralegal Pipeline advertising reaches people throughout Florida. The publications revenue supports scholarships and various community service projects, which enables your costs associated to advertising here to be tax deductible. Please make your check payable to Brevard Paralegal Association. Thank you.

2011-12 BPA Board of Directors & Committee Chairs

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President Silvia Cowan silvinha@cfl.rr.com Vice President Nandra Ramnarine, CP, FRP nrlibragirl@gmail.com Treasurer Renee Roche, FRP renee@moulelaw.com Secretary Ashley King ajking821@yahoo.com Immediate Past President Kim Nowakowski, RP,FRP
kimberly.nowakowski@healthfirst.org

Job Bank Coordinator Kim M. Dexter, ACP, FCP kdexter@gray-robinson.com Local Bar Liaison Kim Nowakowski, RP, FRP
kimberly.nowakowski@healthfirst.org

Meetings Sabine Martel

for dinner reservations e-mail

BPA is on Facebook!
Search Brevard Paralegal Association and join! We list useful links, information regarding upcoming meetings and events, and its an opportunity to network with fellow members!

bpameetings@yahoo.com Membership Nandra Ramnarine, CP, FRP nrlibragirl@gmail.com Newsletter Editor Kim Nowakowski, RP, FRP
kimberly.nowakowski@ health-first.org

Parliamentarian Toni-Marie DAlessandro, CP, FCP, FRP

tdalessandro@grayrobinson.com

Publicity Jessica Pauley, CP Stardust5055@hotmail.com Ways and Means Linda Goettsche lgoettsche@cfl.rr.com OTHER POSITIONS Historian/Photographer Kim Nowakowski, RP, FRP
kimberly.nowakowski@ health-first.org

Director-at-Large Anne Cope

acope@annecopeconsulting.com

COMMITTEE CHAIRS Budget

Jenny Lawton-Seal, CP, FRP

Were also on Twitter & Linked In!

zzlawtonj@earthlink.net Bylaws and Standing Rules

Maureen Mo Martens, CP, FRP

momartens@cfl.rr.com

PAF Website Kim Nowakowski, RP,FRP

kimberly.nowakowski@healthfirst.org

Membership
59 Active Members 19 Student Members 2 Honorary Members

Community Service Toni-Marie DAlessandro, CP, FCP, FRP

tdalessandro@grayrobinson.com

Education/Scholarship Roma Molinaro, CP, FCP, FRP, MLA rmolinaro@cfl.rr.com Student Liaisons Elizabeth A. Morrone
bethmorrone@rocketmail.com

Debbie Gapsch dgapsch@cfl.rr.com

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PAF Quick Reference

Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. 466 94th Avenue North St. Petersburg, FL 33702 www.pafinc.org

Mugshots

The Pipeline is always seeking new sponsors. See pricing information on page 4. Contact Kim Nowakowski for more information at
Kimberly.Nowakowski@health-first.org.

BPA Vice President, Nandra Ramnarine (right) with Novembers guest speaker, Bill Cantwell.

Human Rights Day December 10th Treasurers Report

Renee C. Roche, FRP, Treasurer

Savings $3,843.77 Checking $4,608.23

Did you know In Alaska, you cant look at a moose from an airplane. In Illinois, a car must be driven with the steering wheel. In Tennessee, it is against the law to drive a car while sleeping. In West Virginia, only babies can ride in a baby carriage. In Ohio, one must have a license to keep a bear.

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The Paralegal Pipeline The Paralegal Pipeline

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BREVARD PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION Cordially Invites You to Our

ANNUAL HOLIDAY SOCIAL

Thursday, December 8th, 2011 6:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Pizza Gallery & Grill 2250 Town Center Avenue Viera, FL 32940 Eat, Drink & Be Merry Order off the Menu Bring A Guest! Please R.S.V.P. by December 5th to Sabine Martel at bpameetings@yahoo.com