Last updated October 9, 2020
Dear Valuable Members:
I am honored and proud to be your President for the next fiscal year. San Francisco Legal Professionals Association (“SFLPA”) is not just a valuable resource for education and information, but it also brings community, networking and support to each other, especially during these unprecedented times.
Ordinarily, we would already be well into our new fiscal year. However, 2020 has been no ordinary year! Like so many things, the Annual SFLPA meeting, traditionally scheduled in March, was interrupted by the pandemic. After a period of idling and wonder, we were finally able to have our virtual election in August, followed by our installation one week later. Our honorable installation officer, Shannon Quigley, Executive Advisor and Parliamentarian of Santa Clara LPA, inducted our amazing new Board of Directors at our superhero themed installation meeting. These superheroes are all ready to soar!
I look forward to working with our new Executive Board consisting of a perfect balance of both experienced and new officers. The veterans are prepared to mentor and guide the new officers, as they learn and grow. Our new Board includes Vice President Jenny Ha, Secretary Kristen Craig-Reed, Treasurer Sally Mendez, Governor Chris Flores, Hearsay Editor Larry McGrew and Co-Editor Kate Cochran, and Executive Advisor May Sene. Our members will soon be hearing from our newly appointed chairs for this year, Melissa Dallas, CCLS, Lorri Nicolini, Lillian Wong, May Sene, Amy Van Nest, Terralyn Graff, Michelle Sherry and Gloria Torres, as they get started on exciting developments for each of their committees. Our SFLPA members will soon be well acquainted with this amazing Board through the events and publications we have planned for the new year.
My goal with the SFLPA is to keep the unity, comradery, and social aspect of attending SLPA events and not allow the pandemic to stop us! The wheels will continue to roll using Zoom and other technical platforms to continue our Brown Bags, Membership Meetings, study groups and other fun and interactive events. I hope to bring resources to our members to help them get through this challenging time.
Our new Programs Committee, Terralyn Graff and Michelle Sherry, will be working their magic and planning our quarterly membership meetings, as well as other fun and exhilarating events like our Fun Fitness Challenge in October. Please continue to check our website, look for announcements via email and read our Hearsay for all our future events!
I am thrilled to announce the return or our Hearsay publication! The “Renaissance” of this publication will launch October 13, so look out for it! Thank you to our new Hearsay Editor Larry McGrew and Co-Editor, Kate Cochran. A big shout out goes to Sally Mendez, the previous (award winning) Hearsay Editor, who agreed to mentor Larry and Kate so that they we can bring this back to our members.
The legal industry has proved to be an essential business and it is not going anywhere! There may be some changes, but together, we will find innovative ways to get through this and overcome the challenges. Together, we will rise to the occasion and take on the challenges.
SFLPA is here for its members, and together, we will all succeed through these times. Members’ feedback is always welcome. Our Board is here and will answer questions or hear ideas for events and will do our best to make things happen. We are each valuable, but together, invaluable.