HISTORY OF
THE PARALEGAL DIVISION OF
THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS

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The Incoming Board Meeting was held June 24 — 26, 2005, at the Wyndham Dallas Market Center Hotel, Dallas.

The Joint Task Force will continue to work with Bar's Paralegal Committee relative to the annotations to be prepared and submitted to the Disciplinary Rules Committee.

The 2006 trip for the Division will be promoted as "PD — Destination Paris."  Travel dates will be April 23-29, 2006.

The Board of Directors met with the State Bar of Texas Standing Committee on Legal Assistants during Forum XXIV. Following the Texas Forum, the fall meeting of the Board was held at the Omni SouthPark Hotel, Austin on October 7-8, 2005.

The Salary Survey is ready to be conducted online with results to be provided in April 2006. Local associations will be paying Division to share information specific to local areas.

Participation with the Texas Young Lawyers Association on-line member services committee as to preparation of topics for use in conjunction with the Ten-Minute Mentor Program was approved

The Board voted to allow members to request new membership certificates on membership renewal application.

The Publications Committee requested appointment of new E-Group co-monitor due to resignation of Margaret Bonner.

The Board received the report and recommendations of the 2004 financial audit from Carrie Bradshaw, CPA, of Brown Graham & Co.

Fifty Texas paralegals have signed up to help with Hurricane Katrina victims through the Equal Access to Justice.

Norma Hackler declared her intention to continue in position of PD Coordinator. In accordance with the Division Bylaws, the Coordinator review process was conducted.

Pam Horn, Chair of the Continuing Education Committee (CEC), was appointed to serve on 2006 TAPS Planning Committee. As of January 2005, Division has sold over $10,000.00 in online CLE (since its inception).

Texas Advanced Paralegal Seminar held in September 2005 received second highest number of registrants from all of years LAU/TAPS has been conducted.

The Board Meeting was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Addison, on February 24-25, 2006.

A new 2006 Ethics Brochure was approved.

Guidelines were approved for the appointment of a PD representative to serve on the Board of Directors, College of the State Bar of Texas and added to the Procedures Manual.

The Board voted to discontinue credit card acceptance for membership renewal fees due to low usage of credit cards for payment by renewing members.

President Lockwood learned at the Access to Justice Joint Task Force meeting that the Division is not required to have its Annual Meeting in conjunction with the Bar—s Annual Meeting. More research will be conducted prior to suggesting a bylaw change in this regard.

New procedures were adopted for Non-CLE events and added to the Procedures Manual.

The 2006 Annual Meeting was held at the Austin Convention Center, Austin on Friday, June 16, 2006. The focus of the 2006 Annual Meeting was the Division's 25th Anniversary.

Michele Boerder gave a history of the Division's 25 years including the introduction of past presidents in attendance as well as special guests Tom Hanna, Sandy Hardin, and Bob Towery, who were instrumental in the formation of the Paralegal Division.

Judge Rodriguez, Judge Livingston, and Debra Crosby presented information regarding the Paralegal Standards that were adopted by the Bar Board on April 21, 2006.

It was announced that the Annual PD Trip will be to Florence, Italy.

The 2005-2006 Division awards were presented to:

• Cecile Wiginton, CLA, Midland
  2006 Exceptional Pro Bono Award
   
• Kim Cantu, Immediate Past President, Dallas
  Award of Excellence
   
• Carolyn Goff, Galveston, - Chair of the Ambassador Committee
  and Patricia J. Giuliano, San Antonio — Chair of the Salary Survey Committee
  Committee Chairs of the Year
   
• Debra Crosby, San Antonio — Co-Chair of the Joint Task Force
  Special Award
   
• Caro Dubois, CP, Austin — Chair, 2006 Annual Meeting Committee
  Special Award

*The membership approved Bylaws revisions regarding redistricting and the elimination of District 9.
**Jennifer Jones was appointed by the Board as District 12 Director in August 2005 and resigned in February 2006.

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