NFPA 2010 Conference is in the books

Wow, lots of information to digest after the 2010 NFPA Annual Conference in Cherry Hill, NJ/Philadelphia PA.

Saturday and Sunday consisted of a discussion of procedures, adoption of new amendments to the bylaws and other governing documents, and election and installation of new officers.  One of the new agenda topics brought to the front of the delegates during the convention was the establishment of an Ad Hoc (fancy word for Exploratory) committee to find out if it would be a good idea to change the US Department of Labor's  position on Exempt vs. Non Exempt Employees.  Currently Exempt Employees are considered salaried professionals who are not eligible for overtime and Non Exempt are just the opposite.  This, again, is just an exploratory committee, no one is going to talk to the Department of Labor just yet.  As we get closer to next year's convention, we might be discussing your thoughts on the matter.  If you would like to post your opinion on this blog, please feel free.  I would like to hear what you have to say about this. 

We also discussed the importance of being certified or registered by taking the PACE test offered by the NFPA (or the OSBA Certified Paralegal Test offered of course by the OSBA).  The president of the NFPA has issued a challenge to all organizations to have two members to not only take the PACE but to pass and become a Registered Paralegal (RP).  There are several benefits to becoming certified:

1.  Recognition:  With PACE you are recognized on a national stage.  Similarly, you are recognized Statewide as a certified paralegal with the OSBA. 

2.  More for your membership dollar!!!

3.  You are maximizing your profit potential.  While you will probably not be given an immediate raise by your firm, you will be seen as a more experienced paralegal and possibly offered more money if you change positions.

4.  You get to put that cool "RP" or "OSBA Certified Paralegal" next your name. And who doesn't like to see that when it comes across in an e-mail.

5.  You will help advance the paralegal profession and advance the idea that regulation/certificate is the way to go.

6.  Why not???!!!

If you would like more information on taking PACE or CORE which is the new test that will be offered next fall by the NFPA for those who are ineligible to sit for PACE.  For more information about CORE, you can e-mail me at nfpa@pacoparalegals.org or go to the NFPA website (http://www.paralegals.org/)

Also at http://www.paralegals.org/ is a list of your new NFPA officers.

In order to access member content, by the way, on the NFPA website (and you must be a PACO/NFPA member to do so) please e-mail me for a password.

If you have ANY questions on what your NFPA can do for you, please let me know!