HISTORY of RPA/RALA
Compiled by Margaret H. Lewis, founding member and past President (1987-1988) of RALA.
The summer of 1982 was spent in organization. We met through the summer in a
triangle building, in a triangle conference room around a triangle table,
where Pat Shelton worked for William R. Shands, Corporate Counsel for
Continental Financial Services, a Life of Virginia company. This triangle
building, room and table were the inspiration for our logo. Billy Shands had
sent Pat to the National Association of Legal Assistants annual seminar and
meeting. Pat arrived back in Richmond with all forms needed to start an
association.
The Richmond
Association of Legal Assistants became the first NALA association in Richmond
and the first in Virginia. A constitution and bylaws were written and filed in
December with the SCC. RALA now had officers, directors and we would have
members after a reception. This reception and the mailing of the invitations
were sponsored by Life of Virginia. With the support of all local law firms,
Jean Proffitt and the University of Richmond, and Susan Brewer and J. Sargent
Reynolds Community College, we signed up our first members. These firms and
schools continue to encourage their legal assistants to join and take part in
their professional organization and continue their education.
Of the original
eleven legal assistants who first met, eight continued meeting the rest of
1982. They were Julia Davidson, Pam Piercy, Margaret Lewis, Kate Meanley,
Brenda Nuckols, Peggy Parker, Pat Shelton and Jane Lee Sutton.
At the 2003 annual meeting,
RALA members voted to change the group's name to Richmond Paralegal Association.
RPA's PRESIDENTS
|
|
Betty W. Allen 1995 |
| Margaret M. Parker 1985-1987 |
Jane H. Nuttall, CLA 1996 |
| Margaret H. Lewis 1987-1988 |
Janet B. Kouten, CLA 1997 |
| Jane Lee Sutton, CLA 1988-1989 |
Frances C. Smith 1998 |
| Linda Binns Liles 1989-1990 |
Patricia C. Anderson, CLAS 1999 |
| Vicki M. Roberts, CLA 1991 |
Margaret R. Rush 2000 |
| Patricia S. Stout, CLA 1992 |
Nancy L. Kinsley 2001 |
| Lucy Strange 1993 |
Ann Knobbe 2002-2003 |
| Nellie J. Foley, CLA 1994 |
Virginia Butler, CLA 2004-2005 |
| Michele Rundstrom 2006-2008 |
|
| Current President: Catherine W. Eagles | |