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ANNUAL MEETING RECAP – NASHVILLE, TN OCTOBER 27, 2007
Legal Secretaries of Greater Houston hosted the 2007 Annual Meeting in Nashville, TN a/k/a Music City, USA. While it is a chore to host a meeting in another town (especially one where we have no members), LSGH made it appear easy. The Embassy Suites Vanderbilt was a beautiful hotel conveniently situated within walking distance of Music Row. The free breakfast was amazing and the complimentary Manager's Reception found many members catching up with old friends and discussing their adventures of the day. The host affiliate chose not to have an organized tour due to the many entertainment possibilities in Nashville. The Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the famous Ryman Auditorium, the Opryland Hotel, the General Jackson Showboat, and Music Row were among sites visited by our members. Several people visited some of the Nashville honky-tonks although I didn't hear any stories of anyone being discovered! The Wild Horse Saloon was on the agenda for some of us, but due to the popularity of a free concert two nights in a row, we were unable to get in! The Hard Rock Café was also a popular site to visit. While most of us were out sightseeing, Edwina Klemm, Director of Certification, was administering certification exams. The Dutch Treat Dinner was held at the Omaha Steakhouse located in the hotel. Attendance at the dinner wasn't as large as usual due to the many nightlife opportunities in Nashville. The seminar speakers were outstanding. W. Roger Mullins, an Administrative Judge with the NTSB, organized a panel presentation on FAA regulatory enforcement before the NTSB. Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, Judge Mullin was unable to attend. The remaining members of his panel gave quite an informative discussion. The panel consisted of Mark Hanson, lead counsel, Regulatory Affairs, for Federal Express, Rick Faber, FAA Managing Attorney, and James Perkins, an inspector for Nashville FSDO. Linda Knight, an attorney with the firm of Gullett, Sanford, Robinson & Martin, LLC, spoke on Federal Rules Update: Discovery of Electronic Information. Gary Gober, an attorney in Nashville, spoke on changes in the law and what we as a profession must do if we want to still be in business in ten years. The final seminar of the day was on computer forensics presented by James Stanford Wilson and Jeffrey Edwin Tuley with the firm, Net Evidence, Inc. The stuffed animals for our Leave a Legacy program were presented to the Metropolitan Social Services, an organization whose mission is to provide research, planning, coordination, and family support products to the most vulnerable people in Davidson County so that they can experience the best quality of life possible. Legal Directories Publishing Company sponsored the Friday night Welcome Reception. President Sally Jarvis called the business meeting to order on Saturday. After the usual opening ceremonies and credentials reports, we got down to business with the Officers and Directors updating their written reports published in the official Meeting Program. Audrey Weir, Meeting Chair for the 2008 Annual Meeting, updated members on the 2008 meeting to be held in Hartford, CT, from October 22 – 26, 2008. Two different organized tours are in the works: one to the Butterfly Conservatory and Yankee Candle Shop in Old Deerfield, Massachusetts, and the other to the Mohegan Sun Casino. Legal Secretaries of Indiana won the bid to host the 2009 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN. The meeting will be co-chaired by Kay Bradley, Teresa Koch, and Joyce Eden. Legal Secretaries of Galveston County brought in their hilariously funny beach girls (Cheri Garcia, Karen Look, and Jerri Sue Gray) to bid for the 2010 Annual Meeting. Of course, Teresa Brown, the Director of Meetings and LSGC's current President, was in on the skit, and officially presented the bid for the 2010 Annual Meeting. Provided a contract can be worked out with the hotel, the meeting will be held at the South Shore Harbour Resort Hotel and Conference Center. The following were elected to the 2008 Board: • President – Jan Sullivan (DC) • Vice President – Teresa Brown (TX) • Secretary – Karen Hudson (DC) • Treasurer – Roberta Sargent (OR) • Director of Certification – Edwina Klemm (TX) • Director of Education – Carol Wilson (TX) • Director of Marketing – Teresa Koch (IN) • Director of Meetings – Cindy Hahn (DE) • Director of Membership – Kathy Nevins (PA) The proposed amendments to the Standing Rules and Bylaws were tabled until the 2008 Annual Meeting in Hartford, CT. The Saturday night banquet proved that we have some very talented individuals amongst us. Edwina Klemm and Teresa Brown challenged everyone to write a limerick, poem, song, haiku, ditty, etc., for the Nashville Members' Choice Awards. It was very difficult for the members to pick a winner because all the entries were fabulous. Carol Wilson was the recipient of the first ever Members' Choice Award. Watch Briefly Speaking for publication of all the entries! Teresa Brown, PLS Director of Meetings |
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