Metrolina Paralegal Association - Promoting the Paralegal profession in North Carolina
Metrolina Paralegal Association - Promoting the Paralegal profession in North Carolina
Metrolina Paralegal Association - Promoting the Paralegal profession in North Carolina
Metrolina Paralegal Association - Promoting the Paralegal profession in North Carolina
Metrolina Paralegal Association - Promoting the Paralegal profession in North Carolina
Metrolina Paralegal Association - Promoting the Paralegal profession in North Carolina
Metrolina Paralegal Association - Promoting the Paralegal profession in North Carolina
Metrolina Paralegal Association - Promoting the Paralegal profession in North Carolina
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
 

Metrolina Paralegal Association
Metrolina Paralegal Association



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Charlotte, North Carolina - Metrolina Paralegal Association
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


 


Metrolina Paralegal Association - Post Office Box 36260 - Charlotte, North Carolina 28236


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