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"THE SPARTANBURG SPEAKER"
Volume XXIX Book 10
FEBRUARY 2016
SPARTANBURG COUNTY LEGAL STAFF PROFESSIONALS
a chartered local chapter of
NALS MISSION STATEMENT NALS is dedicated to enhancing the competencies and contributions of members in the legal services profession. NALS accomplishes it mission and supports the public interest through:
Continuing legal education and resource materials;
Networking opportunities at the local, state, regional, and national levels;
Commitment to a Code of Ethics and professional standards;
Professional certification programs and designations.
About NALS
NALS is a leader in the legal services industry offering professional development by providing continuing legal education, certifications, resources, and training to those choosing the legal services industry as their career. Our members represent every area of this industry from paralegals and legal secretaries to legal administrators and office managers. Because of this diversity and an openness to welcome all members of the industry, NALS offers a broad spectrum of expertise to make the programs offered valuable to all members of the legal services industry. This allows NALS’ members to learn about other areas of the industry, making career enhancement as well as advancement easily attainable. For more information about NALS, visit www.nals.org, call (918) 582-5188 or email [email protected]. To stay up to date on the latest from NALS, join us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
NALS Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Members of NALS are bound by the objectives of this association and the standards of conduct required of the legal profession.
Every member shall
Encourage respect for the law and the administration of justice; Observe rules governing privileged communications and confidential information; Promote and exemplify high standards of loyalty, cooperation, and courtesy; Perform all duties of the profession with integrity and competence; and Pursue a high order of professional attainment.
Integrity and high standards of conduct are fundamental to the success of our professional association. This Code is promulgated by the NALS and accepted by its members to accomplish these ends.
Canon 1. Members of this association shall maintain a high degree of competency and integrity through continuing education to better assist the legal profession in fulfilling its duty to provide quality legal services to the public.
Canon 2. Members of this association shall maintain a high standard of ethical conduct and shall contribute to the integrity of the association and the legal profession.
Canon 3. Members of this association shall avoid a conflict of interest pertaining to a client matter.
Canon 4. Members of this association shall preserve and protect the confidences and privileged communications of a client.
Canon 5. Members of this association shall exercise care in using independent professional judgment and in determining the extent to which a client may be assisted without the presence of a lawyer and shall not act in matters involving professional legal judgment.
Canon 6. Members of this association shall not solicit legal business on behalf of a lawyer.
Canon 7. Members of this association, unless permitted by law, shall not perform paralegal functions except under the direct supervision of a lawyer and shall not advertise or contract with members of the general public for the performance of paralegal functions.
Canon 8. Members of this association, unless permitted by law, shall not perform any of the duties restricted to lawyers or do things which lawyers themselves may not do and shall assist in preventing the unauthorized practice of law.
Canon 9. Members of this association not licensed to practice law shall not engage in the practice of law as defined by statutes or court decisions.Canon 10. Members of this association shall do all other things incidental, necessary, or expedient to enhance professional responsibility and participation in the administration of justice and public service in cooperation with the legal profession.
FEBRUARY
February 15, 2016
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11
12 13
15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29
THIS MONTH’S CALENDAR OF EVENTS Feb. 11
12 15 20 25-27 27
SCLSP LSPSC USA SC NALS SC
Speaker/Program: Rosalyn Henderson Myers, Esq., / TBD (Delaney’s private room - back entrance off Broad St – room across hall from kitchen / use City parking lot beside City Hall) Spotlight deadline Washington’s Birthday / Presidents Day - federal / banking / state holidayRepublican primary - polls open from 7 AM - 7 PM NALS 2016 Professional Development & Education Conference ** Democratic primary - polls open from 7 AM - 7 PM
FUTURE CALENDAR OF EVENTS April Oct.
LSPSC SCLSP NALS
10 22-24 30 06-08
Registration Deadline for Annual Meeting (Greenville) Annual CLE Seminars and Educational Conference (Greenville) Belk Charity Days Sale 65th Annual Education Conference & National Forum - Embassy Suites Nashville SE – Murfreesboro, TN
** this will be the last NALS Professional Development & Educational Conference
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for the March 2016 issue is Friday, February 26, 2016. You may submit your report or article by email in Word or WordPerfect formats (not pdf please). Original reports must be given to Chapter Secretary for the permanent records.
Deborah League Brown, Certified PLS (864/699-5655) Butler, Means, Evins & Browne, P.A., 234 North Church Street (29306)
Any changes in address (home or office) and/or phone numbers, please complete NALS Change of Address form in this issue and contact Yearbook chairman to complete another Membership Information Sheet.
If you have love, you don't need to have anything else, and if you don't have it, it doesn't matter much what else you have.
Sir James M. Barrie
SPARTANBURG COUNTY LEGAL STAFF PROFESSIONALS
2015-2016 ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICERS PRESIDENT Post Office Drawer 451 Spartanburg, SC 29304-0451 Email: [email protected]
Deborah League Brown, Certified PLS Office (direct) 864/699-5655 Telefax 864/585-2034 Home 864/583-5264
PRESIDENT-ELECT/Parliamentarian 350 East St. John Street Spartanburg, SC 29302 Email: [email protected]
Linda F. Harris Office 864/641-4898 Office (direct) 864/435-9121 Mobile 864/490-1050 Telefax 803/354-4899 Home 864/489-0138
SECRETARY 130 Huff Road Cowpens, SC 29330 Email: [email protected] [email protected]
Sarah A. Hollis, Certified PLS Office 864/596-2501 Office (direct) 864/596-2355 Fax 864/596-2078 Home 864/463-4795
TREASURER Post Office Drawer 451 Spartanburg, SC 29304-0451 Email: [email protected]
Kerry Ann Waldrop Office (direct) 864/699-5652 Telefax 864/585-2034 Home 864/472-5486
Functional Director – EDUCATION
Board of Directors
CHAPTER LIAISON
Deborah League Brown, Certified PLS
February 9, 2016
26 Roxanne Reynolds
SPARTANBURG COUNTY LEGAL STAFF PROFESSIONALS
2015-2016 COMMITTEE CHAIRS AUDIT Post Office Box 1897 Spartanburg, SC 29304-1897 Email: [email protected]
Roxanne R. Reynolds, Certified PLS Office (direct) 864/594-5312 Telefax 864/585-3844 Home 864/487-5725
AWARDS / BOSSES DAY c/o President Deborah League Brown, PLS Post Office Drawer 451 Spartanburg, SC 29304-0451 Email: [email protected]
Board of Directors Office (direct) 864/699-5655 Telefax 864/585-2034 Home 864/583-5264
BAR LIAISON Spartanburg County Probate Court 180 Magnolia Street Spartanburg, SC 29306 Email: [email protected]
The Honorable Ponda A. Caldwell Office (direct) 864/596-2474 Telefax 864/596-2011 Home 864/592-1052
COMMUNICATIONS Post Office Drawer 451 Spartanburg, SC 29304-0451 Email: [email protected]
Deborah League Brown, Certified PLS Office (direct) 864/699-5655 Telefax 864/585-2034 Home 864/583-5264
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Roxanne R. Reynolds, Certified PLS
EMPLOYMENT Post Office Box 1897 Spartanburg, SC 29304-1897 Email: [email protected]
Rhonda S. Mitchell Office (direct) 864/594-5313 Telefax 864/585-3844 Home 864/489-5664
FINANCE
Board of Directors
LEGAL EDUCATION/PROGRAMS 350 East St. John Street Spartanburg, SC 29302 Email: [email protected]
Board of Directors / Linda F. Harris Office 864/641-4898 Office (direct) 864/435-9121 Mobile 864/490-1050 Telefax 803/354-4899 Home 864/489-0138
MEMBERSHIP
Board of Directors
NALS FOUNDATION
Board of Directors
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Rhonda S. Mitchell
Nolo's Free Dictionary of Law Terms and Legal Definitions - http://www.nolo.com/dictionary
PUBLIC RELATIONS 130 Huff Road Cowpens, SC 29330 Email: [email protected] [email protected]
Sarah A. Hollis, Certified PLS Office 864/596-2501 Office (direct) 864/596-2355 Fax 864/596-2078 Home 864/463-4795
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Board of Directors
STANDING RULES / Parliamentarian
Linda H. Harris
SUNSHINE Post Office Drawer 451 Spartanburg, SC 29304-0451 Email: [email protected]
Kerry Ann Waldrop Office (direct) 864/699-5652 Telefax 864/585-2034 Home 864/472-5486
YEARBOOK Deborah League Brown, Certified PLS
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
What a privilege to have Lynn Hawkins, Director of SafeHomes/Rape Crises Coalition, as the speaker at our January meeting. It has been several years since Lynn has spoken to our members, and it is amazing all they do for victims of spousal abuse and rape. It was decided at our January meeting that we would reinstate holding our Chinese Auction twice a year – at the July and December meetings. These are always so much fun and a good way for our members to be able to visit with each other. We had a great group representing Spartanburg at the LSPSC Winter Membership Meeting. Linda Harris, Roxanne Reynolds, Certified PLS; Ponda Caldwell, Certified PLS; and I attended the Membership Meeting. Linda and I also attended both of the CLE seminars – which were excellent. Our first speaker was Barbara Seymour, Esquire, of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Her topic was Trust Account Management, False Witnessing and Unauthorized Practice of Law / Paralegal Certification in S.C. As always, Ms. Seymour’s presentations are very informative. We had a lively discussion with her about the new paralegal certification and what it might entail. She was very much in favor of this and as surprised as we were that it passed so quickly. Our second speaker was John O’Leary, Esquire, who topic was Policy Liability after Ferguson, Missouri. After a delicious lunch, President Camilla called the Membership Meeting to order. Below I have set out some of the highlights of this meeting:
Nominations were taken from the floor for all officer positions (except President) for the 2016-17 year. There being only one nomination for each office, the following members were elected by acclimation:
President Elect Sonia Hunt (Orangeburg) Secretary Jan W. Berger, ALP (Columbia) Treasurer Tara J. Brown, PP, PLS (Greenville)
Functional Directors: Education/Certification Stacy Russo, PP, PLS (Charleston) Membership/Marketing Lauritza Hill (Orangeburg)
The 2016-17 President will be Meredith Lazarski, ACP, (Hilton Head), and Immediate Past President will be Camilla G. Pitman, MMC, PLS (Greenville).
ANNUAL MEETING – Greenville hosting:
April 22-24, 2016 Downtown Hyatt Regency, Greenville, SC Full registration $125.00 Will have three (3) CLE speakers!! Registration Deadline – April 10, 2016 Hotel Rates - $149 Single/double; $159 triple; $169 quad
Immediate Past President Jan Berger was presented with her History Book.
A reminder to all our seasoned members. Since this is LSPSC’s 50th Anniversary, Scrapbook Chairman, Lois Bell, PLS, has asked members who have old pictures of state meetings to send them to her in whatever format available. She wants to make a 50th Anniversary album for our association. LSPSC has a Snapfish account to which these pictures can be posted, or scanned or original pics can be sent/emailed to Lois (she will scan and return any original pics). She asks if members would also include dates/names/details w/the pics. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Lois directly.
The speaker at our February meeting is another former classmate of mine - Rosalyn Henderson Myers, Esquire. Following this report, I have included a copy of a newspaper article about her which ran in this past Sunday’s edition (January 30, 2016) of the Herald Journal. At this time, I am not sure what her topic will be, but as you can tell from the article she has a lot of material which she can cover with us.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The next Belk Charity Days sale is Saturday, APRIL 30th
We would appreciate every member selling at least 10 tickets. Kerry Waldrop will get tickets from the Spartanburg/Westgate location, and Linda Harris will tickets for the Gaffney store. Please contact one of these ladies for your supply of tickets. We also plan to sign up to man a table at each store. By our members manning a table at each location, our chapter gets a portion of that store’s Belk Charity Days sales!! Once we have our date(s) to man a table, we will let the membership know: Looking forward to seeing you at our February meeting!! Respectfully submitted Deborah League Brown, Certified PLS President and Chapter Liaison
SPARTANBURG CITY COUNCILWOMAN CONTINUES LEGACY OF SERVICE
Attorney draws on professional, personal experiences in her new role
By Alyssa Mulliger [email protected]
Published: Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 7:05 p.m.
Spartanburg City Councilwoman Rosalyn Henderson Myers hopes to continue the legacy of service demonstrated by her late father, Roy Henderson, who held the same council seat for nearly a decade. TIM KIMZEY/[email protected]
Rosalyn Henderson Myers developed a passion for her community as a young girl growing up on the south side of Spartanburg. Her desire to serve others has continued as an adult, through her work as managing attorney at Cheeks & Henderson LLC and her 20 years on nonprofit boards, national and state bar associations and chambers of commerce. Myers, 58, received another opportunity to help the community she loves when she was sworn in as Spartanburg's District 3 City Council member in January. It is a seat that was held for a decade by her late father, Roy Henderson, who instilled a legacy of service in others. “Growing up in my father's household when he was very active in the community had a great impact on me as a little girl,” Myers said. “Just listening to him come home and talk about all the things he was involved in and hearing him talk about how he was helping the community was kind of inbred in me from a very early, young age.” Roberta Henderson, Myers' mother, said the tight relationships within the family helped shape Myers. “We were always a close-knit family and did things together and respected each other,” Roberta Henderson said. “(Myers) has always been obedient, honest and fair and I have confidence in her.” After graduating from high school, Myers left Spartanburg to pursue a B.A. at the University of South Carolina, followed by a J.D. at Tulane University. Myers has more than 23 years of experience as a trial attorney and is licensed to practice law in five states. She also served as a district court judge for the 28th Judicial Circuit for the state of Alabama.
Myers returned to Spartanburg a few years ago after having been away since she was 18, with the exception of two extended visits. She said she always knew she would return permanently to serve her community. “I am a product of the south side,” Myers said. “I have a passion to help the south side because I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for the people who invested in me in the south side.” Myers said her work as a trial attorney has prepared her to speak up for others and to be an advocate on City Council. “The everyday tasks that you go through as an attorney, part of it is customer service in terms of clients and managing clients' expectations,” Myers said. “In terms of City Council, all of those things translate into being able to be informed and make informed decisions.” Myers said the example set by her father, who died in 2013, is what guides her. “I remember we had a conversation during the later part of his life and one of the things he said to me was, 'Make sure that you're fair, make sure that you treat people fairly and that you treat people the way that you'd want them to treat you,'” Myers said. © Copyright 2006-2015 Gatehouse Media, Inc. Some rights reserved.
Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and prejudices and the acceptance of love back in our hearts. Love is the essential reality and our purpose on earth. To be consciously aware of it, to experience love in ourselves and others, is the meaning of life. Meaning does not lie in things. Meaning lies in us.
Marianne Williamson
FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE
We ask that our members bring donations to each chapter meeting, and our Community Service Chairman will make sure the donations are delivered to the charity. Whenever you are out doing your errands, please pick up a few items for our charities. Our current, continued project is SafeHomes/Rape Crises Coalition. Below are its Wish Lists:
Shelter Wish List baby bottles baby wipes basketball bowls boys’ & girls’ underwear brown rice canned vegetables cleaning products coffee combs & brushes cooking oil cornmeal deodorant dish detergent dish washer detergent flour forks and spoons fruits (in natural juices) ladies’ panties (size 7-12) laundry detergent meats (in natural juices) paper towels plastic cups plates standard pillow cases standard pillows sugar tea toilet paper toothbrushes toothpaste towels twin bed linens wash cloths
therapy program wish list: 48” diameter round table black dolls children’s costumes kleenex play sand punching bag sexual assault closet wish list: bras (38+ band size) men’s and women’s drawstring type pants (s-xxl) new underwear rubbermaid/sterlite clear containers(shoe size-med. size) socks school supplies wish list: •pens •index cards •folders (with prongs/without prongs) •binders (all sizes) •erasers •markers (dry erase/washable) •post-it notes •book bags (no wheels please!) •pencil boxes or bags •dictionary/thesaurus •scissors •highlighters
I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up, and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom. Rosa Parks, Civil rights activist
NALS 2016 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION CONFERENCE
February 25-27, 201
This is the last NALS Professional Development & Education Conference
Where: DoubleTree Warren Place6110 South Yale Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74136
Contact: NALS Meetings Manager [email protected]
Phone: 918-582-5188 ext. 10
NALS LAUNCHES BUYER'S GUIDE! NALS is excited to announce the launch of the NALS Buyer's Guide! To view, please visit: www.nalsbuyersguide.org. This Buyer's Guide provides members and site visitors with a continually updated and fully searchable list of suppliers and products, and can be a great tool for members conducting product research and making buying decisions. Ensure your company is accurately represented across relevant categories and upgrade your listing to stand out from the crowd and ensure you are among the first in search results! Banner sizes are 120x600 and 728x90. GIF, JPG, or PNG formats are preferred with a 250kb maximum file size. Animations should last no longer than 15 seconds. If you have any questions or would like to list your company in the NALS Buyer's Guide, please view our Media Kit or contact our Digital Media Specialist, Ryan Zangrilli, directly at 727-329-4436 or [email protected].
Connect to NALS 24-hours a day!
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The love you give away is the only love you keep. Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) Writer and publisher
HOW WORKPLACE DISTRACTIONS CAN ACTUALLY BOOST PRODUCTIVITY
By Sharon Florentine
What are your employees up to when they're not actively on task? Chances are, you're thinking they're surfing the Web, doing some online shopping or banking, or posting cat videos on Facebook. But research suggests that more "traditional" distractions, like trips to the break room, watercooler chat and trading gossip with their colleagues, are actually consuming more of workers' time -- and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
A recent study from human resources information systems company BambooHR conducted in October polled 1,005 U.S.-based full-time employees and found that traditional activities, like taking breaks to the office water cooler or the break room and participating in small talk, still reign supreme as the most time-consuming workplace distractions. "We expected to find employees spending massive amounts of time on Facebook, texting and surfing the 'Net. We were surprised to find that the old standards were actually taking up more time. And we also realized that's not a bad thing," says Rusty Lindquist, vice president of insights and human capital management at BambooHR. For some companies, these results would trigger management's natural inclination to stamp out these kinds of distractions in the name of greater productivity, Lindquist says, but doing so could actually have the opposite effect. "When you get physically fatigued, your muscles hurt, or you're stressed. But when you're mentally fatigued, you get burned out and your performance suffers. Standing up, moving around, grabbing a snack, having a conversation -- these breaks help your brain take a break so it can refocus and refresh, which goes a long way toward increasing performance and productivity," says Lindquist.
Improving engagement Social connections in the workplace can also contribute to greater employee engagement, which tends to correlate with better performance and productivity, says Tim Eisenhauer, co-founder and president of collaboration solutions company Axero Solutions. "Everything falls apart when engagement levels suffer, and it's a common problem for many businesses. Fortunately, engagement rates will improve if you let employees relax and converse," and that translates to a much more positive corporate culture, Eisenhauer says. Building culture Culture is hugely important in such a tight talent market; without it, it's hard for companies to retain and attract the talent they need to remain competitive and innovative,"Employees need to feel comfortable and confident for a positive company culture to develop. Culture is often born from shared interests, many of which have nothing to do with work. It's unrealistic to expect collaboration and engagement to come together without the help of water cooler chat," and similar activities, Eisenhauer says. In fact, a lot of startups and forward-thinking companies are designing their office spaces to reflect an increased emphasis on communication and collaboration, with open floor plans and shared workspaces. Of course, there should still be enclosed, private spaces for meetings or when employees need to really focus without distractions, but in general, the emphasis is on constant communication and collaboration, Lindquist says. Facilitating communication and collaboration can be as simple as making small talk, says Eisenhauer, especially if you have a variety of personality types in your workplace. "Some people find it easy to work and collaborate with people they don't know. Others need a degree of shared personal interests for collaboration to be at its best. Getting to know someone before diving into complex tasks together can make a huge difference," he says. R-e-s-p-e-c-t Water cooler chats, coffee breaks and casual conversation not only improve engagement and productivity, they can also increase workers' interactions with senior level management and executives, and foster increased trust in and respect for company leadership, Eisenhauer says. "If employees are afraid or hesitant to talk with their managers or with higher-level executives, your business will suffer. People are more likely to open up when the conversation is about personal interests and not about work-related details. Water cooler chat is ideal for people to get more comfortable with their managers," and company executives; they'll be more comfortable speaking up and making their voices heard, he says, and they'll trust that leadership will listen. The bottom line? Don't be so quick to discourage these activities when you see them. If you're encouraging social interaction, communication and collaboration, employees will notice. They'll be more willing to trust you, to go the extra mile when needed and be more loyal to their employer. That respect will translate to greater engagement, increased collaboration and better productivity overall.
"Employees want workplaces where they can establish friendships, communicate and collaborate openly. If you want to retain your current employees and attract new talent, you almost have to double down on the social and collaborative aspects of the workforce. If you try and impose restrictions, they'll go find someplace else to work," Lindquist says. Sharon Florentine — Senior Writer, CIO.com Sharon Florentine covers IT careers, women in technology and diversity, as well as software, Agile, cloud tech, data center and security topics. She has written for CRN, eWEEK, Channel Insider and CIOInsight, among others. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @MyShar0na. Copyright © 1994 - 2015 CXO Media Inc. a subsidiary of IDG Enterprise
We've got this gift of love, but love is like a precious plant. You can't just accept it and leave it in the cupboard or just think it's going to get on by itself. You've got to keep watering it. You've got to really look after it and nurture it. John Lennon (1940-1980) Musician
Seven Workplace Etiquette Mistakes You Should Never Make When it comes to etiquette, many people are more concerned about using the right fork than they are about the right way to treat their co-workers. Always mind your manners. That even includes the workplace.
Engaging in office gossip Answering emails (or playing Candy Crush) on your cell phone during meetings Not responding to calls or emails in a timely manner
All of these behaviors are downright "rude and crude," according to a national survey of chief financial officers and workers done for Accountemps. The company is part of Robert Half, the global staffing and human resource company. Etiquette is still important, even in today's workplace where employees often find themselves having to take on more responsibility and multi-task, said Alan Reisinger, regional vice president of Robert Half and Accountemps in the Cleveland area. It is easy for good manners to become a casualty of such high-pressure environments. He said people are more often oblivious to etiquette offense than intentionally ill-mannered. "Sometimes it (workplace etiquette) is seen as a lost art," he said. "These days, we are running around so fast. We are constantly emailing quickly or calling quickly or even texting other employees quickly. "The ways we communicate present many opportunities for what may seem as a breach in etiquette," Reisinger said. "We have to be careful that we are not running too fast to communicate in a way that may be perceived as a breach." The survey, "Rude, Crude with Attitude," reveals how perceptions about what constitutes an etiquette offense are often shaped by whether respondents are in management or part of the rank-and-file. For example, 27 percent of CFOs viewed being distracted during meetings as the biggest etiquette breach, while only 16 percent of workers viewed it as such. Twenty-eight percent of workers viewed gossiping about others in the office as the biggest etiquette breach, while only 18 percent of CFOs said it was. "It is interesting that there is that disconnect there," Reisinger said. "On the CFO side, maybe they don't know about the gossip too much. People tend to be on better behavior around their bosses." To workers tapping away on their cell phones during meetings, Reisinger offers this advice: "It is good to be present and live in the moment, even though this is easier said than done," he said. "As employees in the modern era, we have the ability to multi-task and be involved in more than one project at once." But consider the setting when deciding to juggle more than one task at a time. Instead of being viewed as efficient, you could be viewed as lacking manners. All is not lost if you make an etiquette faux pas. (The survey found that 11 percent of CFOs said their staffs do not commit etiquette breaches.) "The best thing to do is meet that mistake head-on," he said. "Apologize for it when necessary. Let them know you really didn't mean it, and what do you need to do to make it up to them. Run towards it, and not away from it." More than 2,100 CFOs, from a random sample of companies in more than 20 of the largest U.S. metropolitan markets, participated in the telephone survey. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 1.79 percent. The online survey of more than 320 employees, who work in offices, has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.4 percent.
1. Being distracted during meetings – Maybe there is a reason employees have their faces buried in cell phones, Reisinger said. "There are a lot of meetings out there that are being held because they always have been," he said. "Maybe they have run their course. Maybe they are not necessary anymore." Reisinger said some workers may be distracted at meetings because the issues being discussed don't relate to their duties. He said managers should make sure employees aren't being required to attend meetings that don't relate to their assignments. 2. Gossiping about others in the office – "Avoiding the rumor mill is important," Reisinger said. "Don't participate in office gossip. Work is hard enough without the distractions of gossip, which can reflect poorly on your charter in the office and potentially limit career advancement and other opportunities." 3. Not responding to calls or emails in a timely way – Twenty-one percent of workers cited this as the biggest etiquette offense and 18 percent of CFOs. 4. Running late or missing meetings – Twelve percent of both CFOs and workers responded that this was the biggest etiquette offense. 5. Not crediting others when appropriate – Twelve percent of workers and six percent of CFOs said this was the biggest etiquette offense. "If you are getting acknowledged for doing something well, and there really were colleagues who helped, make sure that you pass along that credit," Reisinger said. "They will appreciate it." 6. Criticizing others publicly – Eleven percent of workers and five percent of CFOs listed this as the greatest etiquette offense. 7. Believing having good manners is old fashioned – This wasn't a survey question, but in many ways it is the takeaway of the poll. Something that is classic never goes out of style. "Manners really go a long way," Reisinger said. "There are people who have left an organization because they felt that it was a rude culture there or that employees weren't courteous to them. "Somebody who is seen as rude or not courteous may be seen as not being good for a management position at a company," he said. "Etiquette breaches could limit your career path." © 2015 Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC. All rights reserved (About Us).
Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.
Robert Heinlein
SOUNDS, ODORS, AND WORDS AT WORK Etiquette is really about building relationships. Emily Post got it right when she said, “Whenever two people come together and their behavior affects one another, you have etiquette. Etiquette is not some rigid code of manners, it’s simply how person’s lives touch one another.” Our actions affect how our colleagues view us at work. Three ways we can affect others are with sounds, odors, and words. Sounds: A recurring and annoying problem, especially in open office and cubicle areas, is people who talk too loudly on a telephone. How do you know if you talk too loudly? Ask a nearby colleague, and if you are a culprit, consider arranging a signal your colleague can use any time you start talking too loudly. Avoid using the hands-free speaker function of a phone to dial. Everyone in hearing range is subjected to the annoying sound of the dial tone, the beeping of the keys as you enter the phone number, and the ringing until the call is answered. Shouting and other sudden noises can be jarring to people who aren’t expecting them. If you need to talk to a colleague across the hall, get up and visit them at their desk or ask them to accompany you to a conference room or other private place for your conversation. Texting or IMing are great ways to avoid disturbing others. Headphones or ear buds have made listening to music at work possible without disturbing others. Of course, if your office has a prohibition against using them, then don’t do it. But if it is allowed, then keep the volume turned low enough that you can easily respond to a person or caller. When a person does engage you in a conversation, take the ear buds out of both ears and focus on the person talking to you. Odors: Be careful of splashing on too much perfume or cologne. If you company has a no scent policy, follow it. Clean clothes and a clean you can avoid an embarrassing situation with unpleasant body odor. Take care with the food you bring to the office. Smelly foods eaten at your desk can be really unpleasant for people who work near you as can the smell of popcorn wafting through the office from the kitchen. Words: Be careful using foul language at work. Companies are less accepting of foul language today than in the past. Bigoted, racist and sexist comments are inexcusable in today’s workplace and can be considered harassment and dealt with as such. Those words apply not just to spoken words, but also to written words as well. Be especially mindful that words you post on social media can be seen by anyone, including those at your workplace. The consequences can be the same as if you wrote or uttered them at work. If you have a business etiquette question, please email it to [email protected]. You can hear more Emily Post etiquette advice on the Awesome Etiquette podcast featuring Lizzie Post and Dan Post Senning. Listen and subscribe at infiniteguest.org. Since 2004, Peter Post has tackled readers' questions in The Boston Sunday Globe's weekly business etiquette advice column, Etiquette at Work. Post is the co-author of "The Etiquette Advantage in Business" and conducts business etiquette seminars across the country. In October 2003 his book "Essential Manners For Men" was released and quickly became a New York Times best seller. He is also the author of "Essential Manners for Couples," "Playing Through–A Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Golf," and co-author of "A Wedding Like No Other." Post is Emily Post's great-grandson. His media appearances include "CBS Sunday Morning," CBS's "The Early Show," NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America," and "Fox News." Follow Post: @PeterLPost.
©2015 Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC
7 BEST & WORST FOODS FOR YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
High blood pressure, or hypertension, impacts nearly a third of adults, but only about 52 percent of whom feel they have it well-controlled. This condition shows no symptoms but can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and other complications. The good news: you can lower your blood pressure naturally through the foods you choose to eat (and avoid).
Foods that have calcium, magnesium, potassium, fiber and vitamin D. These have the most positive affect on blood pressure because they help your body hydrate, get rid of waste and balance out the negative effects of sodium.
Foods that have sodium. Sodium causes your body to retain or hold on to water. This puts extra strain on your heart. Sodium is hidden in a lot of common foods, especially anything packaged or processed, to allow it to last longer. Buy fresh food whenever you can!
Read the nutrition labels. Make it simple—look for the sodium level. If it is a large percent of your daily allowance, then look for something else to eat. Track what you eat, at least for a few days at a time. This can show you how surprising the “little” treats we forget that we’ve eaten can add up each day. Try the DASH diet. The DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is promoted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to be effective in preventing and controlling hypertension. The diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods; includes meat, fish, poultry, nuts and beans; and is limited in red meat, added fats and sugary foods/beverages. While it may seem tricky, you can get your blood pressure under control—it all starts with what you choose to munch on. Now that you know….let’s get started! By Chet Robson, DO, MHCDS, FAAFP Chester Robson is the Medical Director of Clinical Programs and Quality for Walgreens. He is dedicated to improving the healthcare experience through patient-centered technology, evidence-based medicine, and innovative delivery models. Copyright 2016 Walgreen Co., 200 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, IL 60015-4620. All rights reserved.
EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION SHEET Employer
The information to be published will be strictly limited to the following: (a) Employer's name (individual, firm, company, office, etc.) (b) Contact Person and telephone number: Name:
Phone Number: (c) Position available and skills required:
Position:
Skills: Employers who are eligible to submit Employment Information Sheets for publication in the Spartanburg County Legal Staff Professionals monthly publication, The Speaker, are as follows:
law offices, courts, trust departments of bank, or trust companies, or in any public or private institution directly engaged in work of a legal nature, including all public offices of the United States, state, city or municipal governments
All completed Employment Information Sheets are to be forwarded to:
Rhonda S. Mitchell Employment Committee Chairman [email protected]
Office (direct) - 864/594-5313 Telefax -864/585-3844
and will be published in the next issue of The Speaker.
EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION SHEET Employee
The information to be published will be strictly limited to the following: (a) Name: (b) Telephone number(s):
Home:
Other: (c) Experience:
Legal Fields:
Number of years: (d) Position desired and skills acquired:
Position:
Skills: Only members of the Spartanburg County Legal Staff Professionals may have their Employment Information Sheet published in the SCLSA monthly publication, The Speaker.
All completed Employment Information Sheets are to be forwarded to:
Rhonda S. Mitchell Employment Committee Chairman [email protected]
Office (direct) - 864/594-5313 Telefax -864/585-3844
and will be published in the next issue of The Speaker.
NALS CHANGE IN STATUS FORM (form can be filled out online at www.nals.org/forms)
NALS Membership # Reason for Change: Preferred Address Address Correction Name Change Name Change Deceased Old Information: Business Home Name Address City/State/Zip Primary Chapter Member-at-Large Associate Member Email Address : New Information: Business Home Name Address City/State/Zip Primary Chapter Member-at-Large Associate Member Email Address : Current Phone Numbers: Home Business:
Instructions for Transfer: If you are transferring to a new association, submit one photocopy to the membership chairman of the chapter to which you are transferring; if you are a member-at-large, submit one photocopy to the state membership chairman of the association to which you are transferring.
Instructions for Completion: Submit this online form or mail an original printed form to the NALS Resource Center, 314 East Third Street, Suite 210, Tulsa, OK 74120.
Return one photocopy (print this form from your web browser before submission or use the printable version) to the State Membership Chairman.
Return one photocopy for the Chapter records or retain for your records if you are a member-at-large.
MEETING NOTES
LEGAL ASSISTANT / PARALEGAL DEFINITION ADOPTED In July 2002 the NALS Board of Directors adopted the following definition of a ‘legal assistant/paralegal,’ as also adopted by the ABA. The current definition reads as follows: A legal assistant/paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.’
NALS MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Take Advantage of All That NALS Has to Offer
Opportunities for professional and personal development abound when you join NALS. NALS is a tri-level organization composed of NALS, state associations, and local chapters, with each offering top-notch professional growth through seminars, quality publications, and networking. NALS offers several regional and national conferences each year with outstanding education and excellent speakers from around the country. By joining NALS you have the opportunity to attend local chapter meetings, where quality legal education is offered every month. You can attend state association meetings (where applicable), where you will be exposed to some of the top legal experts in your state. At the National conferences, speakers from across the country address issues of national importance, enlightening NALS members with a national perspective. As a NALS member, you also receive valuable legal education every month via the newsletters, e-Learn@NALS and Leading the Way, delivered directly to your computer through your e-mail address. The NALS quarterly publication, @Law, is packed with informative articles and association information in an award-winning format. NALS also supports members and chapters by providing other benefits, including:
NALS AFFINITY PROVIDERS Through outside sources NALS is able to bring members many services that otherwise might be substantially more expensive. 123ce.com - has been providing quality continuing education for over 30 years. Their new NALS-approved courses,
designed for paralegals and legal assistants nationwide, provide the CLE you need, when you need it. Ranging from 5-20 hours each, these programs are offered in an easy-to-use online format, giving you the ability to choose when and where to complete your studies. Course subjects range from Civil Action and Criminal Procedure to Real Estate and Family Law. For more information, please visit the website.
Aflac - NALS is making Aflac’s accident, cancer/specified-disease, and dental insurance policies available to its members. For more information visit www.aflac.com/nals/.
Avis Car Rental - We are pleased to announce that Avis is now a supplier of rental car services for members of NALS. For personal and/or business rentals when making a reservation, use Avis Worldwide Discount number (AWD) S018600.
FedEx - By participating in the FedEx® Advantage Program, NALS members are eligible for the following discounts: o Up to 16% off select FedEx Express® U.S. shipping o Up to 12% off select FedEx Ground® shipping o Up to 20% off select FedEx Office® services
There are two ways for NALS members to enroll in the Advantage Program — apply online using passcode MW2LGZ and your NALS membership number or call a FedEx Advantage enrollment specialist at 1.800.345.6227 and provide passcode MW2LGZ and your NALS membership number to enroll over the phone.
Hertz Car Rental - Take advantage of special discounts available through your organization’s Hertz Member Savings
program. Your Association Hertz CDP# 1485573 is the key. Be sure to include it on all your reservations and be sure to present your membership card or Hertz discount card for identification at the time of rental. Visit Hertz.com or call Hertz at 1-800-654-2210.
Liberty Mutual - Special Offer on Auto and Home Insurance As an NALS member, you could receive exclusive savings on Liberty Mutual Auto and Home Insurance. You may visit a local office or call 1-800-524-9400 and mention client #4606.
UPS - UPS is the newest partner with NALS and now offers NALS members a discount of up to 26%. For complete details or to let other members know how to sign up, visit http://www.savewithups.com/nals/ or call (800) 325-7000. Use promo code WES403 to enroll.
Spartanburg County Legal Staff Professionals Deborah League Brown, PLS, Editor Post Office Drawer 451 Spartanburg, SC 29304-0451
