Brynne Williamson, Certified PP, PLSNALS Region 7 Directorc/o Graham & Dunn PCPier 702801 Alaskan Way ~ Suite 300Seattle, WA 98121-1128206.340.9590region7@nals.org bwilliamson@grahamdunn.com

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Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, WyomingAlaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, WyomingAlaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, WyomingAlaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming

2009-2010: Issue 4November 2009

think big!think big!think big!think big!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:INSIDE THIS ISSUE:INSIDE THIS ISSUE:INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Greetings 1Congratulations to Region 7’sNewly Certified Members 1Special Entertainment Report 27 Questions forMarion Squibb, PLS 3NALSof Portland Carnival 5Welcome New Members! 6NALS Dues Waiver 6NALS of Greater SeattleMembership Drive 7Save the Date 8Member Snapshots 9NALS Education Conference andNational Forum Recap 11Upcoming events 24

Greetings Region 7 Members!Oh my goodness! There is a lot going on with NALS and with Region 7! NALS of Anchorage hosted its “Nuts & Bolts of Grammar” seminar and NALS of Portlandput on a membership “Carnival,” an event that is sure to be the envy of NALSchapters all around. NALS of Greater Seattle held their kickoff event at SafecoField, enjoying a Mariner’s game, and IDALS converged on Coeur d’Alene for aweekend of education, networking and fun! Those are just a few of the manyevents hosted by Region 7 chapters. We also had a fantastic showing of Region 7 members in Irvine. And I am thrilledto report that at our Region 7 meeting, the members in attendance votedunanimously to donate $750 to the NALS Foundation for sponsoring the KeynoteSpeaker in Branson, Missouri next Fall.I’m also excited to report to you that we have moved up to2nd2nd2nd2ndplace in the ThinkBig contest! That’s only one spot away from

1111

stststst

place!place!place!place!

We only have a fewmonths to go in this campaign, but I know we can do it! Don’t forget, the Regionthat wins this contest will have their 2010 regional conference welcome receptionpaid for

and

the out-of-state Think Big Team members will be flown out to attendthe conference with the rest of the Region. So get out there and RECRUIT,So get out there and RECRUIT,So get out there and RECRUIT,So get out there and RECRUIT,RECRUIT, RECRUIT!RECRUIT, RECRUIT!RECRUIT, RECRUIT!RECRUIT, RECRUIT!Thank you for your continued support of our organization!~ Brynne Williamson, PP, PLS, NALS Region 7 Director

CONGRATULATIONS TO OURNEWLY CERTIFIED REGION 7MEMBERS!

Patricia Kenney, ALS (nonmember WA)Jenna L. Kent, ALS (ID)Maureen Delauriea, PLS (AK)Amy Jean Doran, PLS (WA)

Region 7 NewsRegion 7 NewsRegion 7 NewsRegion 7 News

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Congratulations to the 2009 NALS Purple Glob AwardsCongratulations to the 2009 NALS Purple Glob AwardsCongratulations to the 2009 NALS Purple Glob AwardsCongratulations to the 2009 NALS Purple Glob AwardsPeople’s Choice Winner, Ann Lang!People’s Choice Winner, Ann Lang!People’s Choice Winner, Ann Lang!People’s Choice Winner, Ann Lang!

Live from the Purple carpet in Irvine, California...it’s the NALSFoundation Purple Carpet Gala! Okay...not really. By the timeyou read this article, this event will have already occurred.The actresses and actors were in fine form...dressed to the ninesand beyond! As can be seen by the photos, many FoundationTrustees or NALS Board members were dressed up in costume forthe event.The evening began with various members dressed up in costumeand walking the “purple” carpet into the event room where theywere met by loads of paparazzi and onlookers. Some of the starsin attendance were Mae West, Miss Piggy, W.C. Fields, CruellaDeVille, Tigger, Annette Funicello, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, Lucille Ball, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Pardon, and Elvis.Emotions were high with the possibility of winning a Purple Globaward!The stars worked the room hard...giving interviews, showing off their fabulous costumes, and taking photographs with audiencemembers, all with the hopes of winning the infamous Purple Globaward!Our MC for the evening, Phyllis Diller, aka Mary Jo Denman, PP,PLS, started off with a bit of a comedy relief act of her own. Imust say as entertaining as she was, she should keep her day job!Stars were brought to the stage in groups of threes, introducedand asked a question or two about their character. Some wereeven asked to sing...just ask Brynne Williamson. What a greatvoice she has! After all of the stars were interviewed, the starswere given five additional minutes to work the audience for theirvote and donations to the Foundation. While the ballots were being voted, the audience was entertainedby a REAL comedian. For the life of me, I cannot remember hisname (I’m old, what can I say!). He was a retired legal assistantwho gave up his day job to become a comedian...a successful one Imight add! He kept us all laughing with his many jokes about thelegal community, attorneys, judges, etc... With all the ballots counted, the Stars were asked to walk the stageone more time before the awards were announced. The timearrived...drum roll please...and the winners of the Purple Globawards were:•

Best Actress – Dee Beardsley, PP, PLS, as Mae West(sponsored by Region 8)• Best Actor – Patti Infanti, PP. PLS, as W. C. Fields(sponsored by Region 8)• Best Supporting Cast – Region 8• People’s Choice Award – Ann Lang as CruellaDeVille (sponsored by Region 7)• Lifetime Achievement Award – Dee Beardsley, PP,PLS, Patti Infanti, PP, PLS, & Karen Becker, PP, PLS,(sponsored by Region 8)Our own Region 7 Director, Brynne Williamson, PLS, was deckedout as the cutest “Dorothy” from the Wizard of Oz! Check out hercostume! Another Region 7 member, Ann Lang, should have, in myopinion, taken the Best Actress award for her costume and portrayalas Cruella DeVille. She played the character to a “T” from themoment she was suited up til the end of the evening...I must take this moment to “thank” Region 7 for paying for myregistration to this conference; it was by far one of my mostmemorable ones! Mucho gracious!

Special Entertainment Report by Lissa Flannigan, PLS

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If you’ve been to any recent NALS, Region 7 or NALS of Washingtonmeetings, you’ve likely run into NALS of Snohomish Countymember, Marian Squibb. Marian has been a member of NALS for 36years and is always willing to try something new. Whether she’screating a profile on Facebook or learning new dance moves,Marian continues live life to its fullest!I hope you enjoy learning more about Marian and her pioneeringwork as a long-distance assistant.1. Before you retired, what area of law do you practice?

Our attorneys were general practice with only three attorneys.

2. You and I have talked a little bit about your business. In today’s terms you would be called a “virtualassistant.” Can you tell me how you came up with the idea for your business?

I was planning to leave the firm, and my husband came up with the idea when we were at a NALS state meeting in Spokane and visited the Lexitron word processor display unit. He was a big supporter of my NALS involvement.

3. What was a typical day like for you in your office and how did you manage supporting your clients acrossthe country without email and instant messaging?

I had originally hoped to have all attorneys for my clients,but it didn’t work out that way. I found that many did not like to have files leave their offices. I did have two or three regular sole practitioners I did work for. I had purchased a telephone dictating machine, so the attorney could dial the special line and then operate the Dictaphone. It worked quite well most of the time,but depended, of course, on the ability of the individual to do a good job of dictating. When I first started, I would dress as though I was going to work at an office, and go downstairs to my virtual office. Then I spent a lot of time at first trying to figure out what hourly rate I should charge, figuring in the cost of my equipment,overhead, etc. Some of the first jobs I had were transcribing hearings (like Hewlett Packard, and Snohomish County meetings. As you can see, my first days didn’t really have a routine. When I got busier, I did hire help. Then, I moved to an office up on Highway 99 and worked from there for six years. By then, I had one full time and one part-time employee. The business had developed into doing resumes and small jobs for walk-in customers. I spent a fair amount of time on the accounting and proofing the work. The business at that time was not making a profit, so since I didn’t have anything to sell, my personal attorney suggested I move the business back home and just “play with it”.

4. What were the toughest obstacles you faced running your business?

The toughest for me was networking at the Chambers of Commerce and other groups, but I think I grew from it. I find it difficult to pick out the toughest obstacles, because I was actually enjoying the experience.

5. What were the biggest perks?

I think the biggest perks were the friends I have made, and I at least made enough money to pay for my memberships in NALS and Snohomish County Women Business Owners’ Association. I wasn’t tied down to an 8 to 5 job, because I was the person who delivered the finished work,and I was out trying to promote the business.

6. If you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path for yourself?

Yes. I have learned so much from my experience.

7. You won at least one prize at every conference we’ve attended together. How do you explain yourincredible luck?

Must be the number of years I have been attending. I didn’t win anything trying to gamble at the hotel in Las Vegas this summer.