The Metrolina Paralegal Association ("MPA") was conceived during the winter of
1980-1981 by a small group of people who believed that the paralegal profession
had become a reality in Charlotte and in North Carolina. The first gathering of
the group was for the purpose of learning about the new state association and
included a presentation of the proposed Bylaws and Standing Rules for the new
local association.
On April 21, 1981, at the first formal meeting of the General Membership, the
proposed Bylaws and Standing Rules were adopted, officers for 1981-1982 were
elected, and "Metrolina Paralegal Association" was chosen as our name. The
Bylaws and Standing Rules have been amended over the years and the members voted
to Amend and Restate the Bylaws and Standing Rules on November 12, 1997 and
again on April 8, 1999.
Meetings have been held at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel (f/k/a The Government
House), then for a short period at the Mecklenburg County Bar and the Uptown
Public Library. Meetings are now held at the IJL Building.
One of MPA's primary purposes is to foster continuing education. This was easily
put into place as far as the monthly meetings were concerned. The original
policy established was to conduct at least six educational meetings per year.
The more ambitious goal of continuing legal education in the form of a full-day
annual seminar has been implemented. Our first and second annual seminars were
conducted at Central Piedmont Community College in conjunction with the CPCC
Paralegal Association. In later years a half-day seminar was held for the area
paralegal students and a full-day annual seminar for the general membership. MPA
now has the one annual seminar that is held in February.
In 1982 and 1988, MPA sponsored a hospitality suite during the North Carolina
Paralegal Association ("NCPA") annual meeting and seminar held at the Adam's
Mark in Charlotte; and in 1997, MPA was an exhibitor at NCPA's mid-year seminar
held at the Charlotte Marriott Executive Park. MPA's support of NCPA has led to
yearly contributions to NCPA's seminars. In 2000, the NCPA and MPA held a
joint educational seminar on corporate banking topics. MPA is particularly
proud to have members providing leadership by serving as officers and directors
of NCPA.
MPA became affiliated with the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. ("NALA")
on January 9, 1994, becoming one of the 88 affiliates nationwide. The MPA
annually budgets monies for a representative of the Association to attend NALA's
annual convention and actively participates in making decisions affecting the
paralegal profession on a national basis. In 1996, Charlotte was the host
city for the NALA CLA Short Course, and MPA and NCPA co-hosted a reception for
those attending. Many MPA members have attained the CLA or CLAS designation
from NALA.
Another primary purpose of the MPA is to effectively communicate with the
Metrolina paralegal community. Early communications were in the form of
newsletters that were little more than one-page notices of meetings. By June
1983, the newsletter included a listing of suggested names for the publication.
At the July meeting the name "the PARAVIEW" was adopted. By June 1987,
the PARAVIEW was expanded to a magazine-style format published quarterly
with substantive articles, pictures, and regular and special feature articles.
Until 1999, between quarterly issues of the PARAVIEW, a six-page
supplemental newsletter, the PARAVIEW Extra kept members advised of the
Association's meeting dates and activities.
MPA established a scholarship to assist students in the Metrolina area paralegal
technology programs. The scholarship, known as the Meredith R. Pollette Memorial
Scholarship (named in memory of a founding member and a staunch supporter of MPA),
is an essay contest with entries judged by selected members of MPA. Over the
years, the amount of the scholarship has been increased to its recent amount of
$300.00.
MPA members have participated in the Academic Internship Program for area high
school students, which enables students to interact with working paralegals to
broaden their concepts of the legal profession.
MPA has also participated in seminars sponsored jointly with the Mecklenburg
County Bar with topics such as UCC, Family & Medical Leave Act, Sexual
Harassment, Bankruptcy, Real Estate and Due Diligence.
To solidify the paralegal network and to further our relations with the
Metrolina legal community - attorneys, the judiciary and patron members - MPA
hosts an annual December holiday party as its main social event of the year.
MPA has been fortunate through the years to have the ongoing support of many
members of the local bar and judiciary, particularly in its involvement with the
education and training of paralegals. MPA is continually looking for additional
opportunities to work jointly with Bar and judiciary members.
MPA maintains an active membership with general, associate, honorary, and Patron
members. Credit for the well being of MPA goes to the past and current members
of MPA and also the attorneys who have played an active role in our history.
Below is a list of the past Presidents of the Metrolina
Paralegal Association.
2005-2007 Barbara Brown
2004-2005 Alison VanDyke
2003-2004 Kathleen A. Morgoch
2002-2003 Kathleen A. Morgoch
2001-2002 Cheryl Smith
2000-2001 Cheryl Smith
1999-2000 Eileen S. Dunlap
1998-1999 Ralph McCormick
1997-1998 Mary E. Willard, CLAS
1996-1997 Marcia L. Siuda, CLA
1995-1996 Katie Mason McVeety, CLA
1994-1995 Kelly Walker
1993-1994 Jennie Chandler, CLAS
1992-1993 Ruth Healy
1991-1992 Mary F. Haggerty, CLA
1990-1991 Patricia Williams
1989-1990 Peggy Harrington, CLA
1988-1989 Chris Bryant, CLA
1987-1988 Gayle D. Green, CLA
1986-1987 Susan L. Zielinski
1985-1986 Victoria Kern
1984-1985 Susan Stade
1983-1984 Peggy Schmal
1982-1983 Meredith Pollette, CLAS
1981-1982 Charlene Pridgen
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