1. 2017 NFPA ANNUAL CONVENTION OCTOBER 12-15, 2017 NEW ORLEANS, LA

2. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE 2017 SPC COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Kathleen Miller, RP (Region I)
Debra Hindin-King (Region II)
Jessica Kubiak, OSBA Certified Paralegal (Region III)
William Pinner (Region IV)
Linda Ruggiero, RP (Region V)
Becky Kerstetter, OSBA Certified Paralegal (Chair)
Lisa Vessels, RP, CP, FRP (Board Advisor)
NFPA Management Team

3. MISSION STATEMENT
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. promotes a global presence for the paralegal profession and leadership in the legal community.

4. CORE PURPOSE To advance the paralegal profession COMMITTEE OBJECTIVES
To assist the NFPA Board in preparing and maintaining NFPA’s Strategic Plan.
To set short-term and long-term goals in specific areas, as appropriate.

5. THE STRATEGIC PLAN
A continually evolving document designed to establish a plan of action for individuals to follow in order to establish and achieve goals.
Requires commitment, review and evaluation by NFPA’s:
Board;
Leaders (Coordinators and Committee Members & Delegates); and
Local Association, Individual, Educator and other members.

6. BENEFITS OF STRATEGIC PLANNING
A Strategic Plan:
Provides a roadmap for success;
Builds confidence;
Facilitates the vision of the Board;
Facilitates ownership, investment, accountability, and team building and;
Creates a system for managing action items and goals.

7. THE ACTION PLAN
The Action Plan is a continuous working document created to outline, elaborate and implement the Strategic Plan’s goals in order to guide and direct the leadership team in achieving its goals.

8. AN ACTION PLAN CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS:
Goals
What do we want to achieve?
AND
How do we achieve it?
Objectives
The creation of measurable action items to utilize in order to achieve our goals.

9. CORE VALUES Responsive to member needs:
Committed to honesty and integrity;
Supports unity within the profession;
Provides visionary leadership;
Open to the exchange of ideas;
Practices transparency;
Embraces diversity;
Dedicated to lifelong learning; and
Committed to our Code of Ethics.

10. MAIN FOCUS AREAS/OBJECTIVES
Financial Stability;
Professional Development;
Effective Communication;
Membership;
Marketing; and
Regulation.

11. FOCUS AREA/OBJECTIVE #1
FINANCIAL STABILITY
How are we achieving financial stability and what has been done in order to reach this goal?

12. FINANCIAL STABILITY
NFPA promotes financial stability by providing a variety of services to members while maintaining a balance and flexibility between revenue, expenditures and the strength of the Federation’s business cycle.

13. FINANCIAL STABILITY Promote contributions made by Corporate Partners.
Increase member awareness of existing Corporate Partner’s Program.
Expand CLE offerings by including participation from the Corporate Partners.
Accomplishments – 2017
NFPA continues to be on trend with its budget and maintains a positive balance.
The PACE exam update is projected to cut expenses and the budget anticipates covering the exam updates and leaving money in the reserve account.
The Federation continues to gain new members through NFPA connections including growth in the number of military members.

14. FOCUS AREA/OBJECTIVE #2
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
How have we strengthened the paralegal profession through NFPA opportunities and offerings?

15. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Educate employers on the importance and value of PACE and PCCE.
Promote the PCCE exam as a qualifier to state regulation as the educational requirement.
Offer a variety of CLE courses that appeal to multiple areas of law.
Focus on regulation hot topics including Access to Justice and the LLLT program.
Accomplishments – 2017
The Assurance of Learning Program has been adopted by three paralegal schools and more are interested.
The creation of a link under Professional Development titled “Paralegals and Educators”.
Limited License Legal Technicians are continuing to be discussed and highlighted in articles and during conferences.
Bar Associations are seeking paralegal input on technology initiatives.
As of September 2017, NFPA had 603 RPs and 303 CRPs.

16. FOCUS AREA/OBJECTIVE #3
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
How is NFPA communicating with its members and what are we utilizing to spread information to not only its members but other paralegals as well?

17. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Encourage members to use all resources available to them to communicate including the NFPA website, social media and others.
Access to documents and information on the NFPA website.
CLE approval efficiency and timeliness.
Document retention and effective transitioning of new Board members.
New management company selected and transition has begun.
Accomplishments – 2017
NFPA continues to update and improve its Procedures Manual.
Member feedback has provided improvements in communications and requests of NFPA.
Association Management calls have provided great information to local association leaders.

18. FOCUS AREA/OBJECTIVE #4
MEMBERSHIP How do we continue to promote and sustain the future of NFPA, its members, and the paralegal profession?

19. MEMBERSHIP Accomplishments – 2017
Increase membership by the promotion of education and exams offered by NFPA to gain student members.
Utilize marketing tools and resources to encourage membership, benefits and involvement with NFPA.
Plan for possible/potential declining memberships.
Improve the overall member experience.
Accomplishments – 2017
Membership continues to be on the rise with students regularly attending webinars.
Actively reaching out to non-affiliated associations for membership opportunities.
Continues the development of new member associations including the Judge Advocate General Association of Legal Professionals (JAGALP).

20. FOCUS AREA/OBJECTIVE #5
MARKETING How do we express to our members the value of NFPA membership and involvement and how do we market NFPA to the legal community?

21. MARKETING Increase member awareness of the benefits of membership.
Continued transparency to keep the members informed.
Utilization of both electronic and print communications to members.
Accomplishments – 2017
Communications well received by NFPA members.
The Board approved the “Plan to Market the Profession”.
Webinars, events, etc. are promoted on a weekly basis and NFPA continues to monitor and enhance its social media footprint.

22. FOCUS AREA/OBJECTIVE #6
Regulation Where are we on regulation efforts and what can be done to move forward on this initiative?

23. REGULATION
Regulation by State document creation to outline what is happening and where?
NFPA’s model legislation for paralegal regulation a continuous work in progress.
Accomplishments – 2017
NFPA’s support of the Connecticut voluntary paralegal regulation plan and its use of the CRP credential.
Paralegal involvement and opportunities have been identified within local bar associations.
NFPA continues to explore different levels of practicing paralegals’ involvement in Access to Justice through limited licensing efforts and implementations.

24. HOW ARE WE DOING THIS?
Annual Planning Sessions – Portions of NFPA Board Meetings are devoted to the discussion and updating of the Strategic Plan.
Membership surveys.
Status Reports at each NFPA Board Meeting.
SPC Committee communications.

25. RECAP OF THE LAST NFPA MEMBERSHIP SURVEY:
The website continues to be a valuable resource for member information and upcoming events.
Joint Conference and the Annual Convention are an important and utilized member benefit.
Communications are timely, informative and provided often enough to members.
Member expressed priorities continue to involve regulation, membership and education on the value and role of the paralegal.

26. RECAP OF THE LAST NFPA MEMBERSHIP SURVEY(CONTINUED):
Members feel the Board meetings are effective and well organized.
By being more involved in NFPA, members have a better understanding of how the association works.
Coordinators and committee members are very active in the association and are an integral part of NFPA’s continued success and growth.

27. THANK YOU!!!