The Austin-Central Texas Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators was officially sanctioned in December 1977. The founding officers were Owen G. Stokes (President) and Bettie B. Winter (Secretary-Treasurer). Meetings were informal and typically held in one of the member’s office. By the mid 80s the meetings had moved to the Metropolitan Club and were led by the chapter president without an outside speaker. Meetings in the 1990s and 2000s were predominately held at the Headliner’s Club with an outside speaker and attended by 20-30 members. Committees began to form to increase the efficiency and benefits of the chapter. Presently, monthly meetings are sponsored by local business partners with an outside speaker or presentation designed to enrich our development as professionals.
The reasons for starting a local chapter were many. Among them were the need for a peer group to discuss staff issues, changes in the law, and best practices, networking, educational opportunities, leadership development, to give and receive support, and the introduction of computers in the workplace. The chapter was the number one resource for administrators and still is today.
The chapter changed its name to the Austin Chapter in 2008 to better reflect the demographics of its membership and in 2011 the current logo and website were introduced. The previous logo featured a waving Texas flag and can be seen here.
Today, the chapter is thriving with nearly 100 members. In addition to monthly luncheons, the chapter holds a spring educational program, a summer educational seminar and vendor expo, sponsors chapter retreats, and participates in service projects in addition to and in conjunction with ALA’s Community Challenge Weekend initiative.
With technology evolving so rapidly and laws changing so frequently, we cannot imagine doing our jobs without the benefits of membership in the Austin Chapter of the Association for Legal Administrators. How fortunate for each member that the chapter has come so far!
Chapter Awards
2011
1st (mid-sized): Membership Brochure
1st (mid-sized): Visibility – Over the Edge
2nd (mid-sized): Business Partners Relations
3rd (mid-sized): Recruitment & Retention
Honorable Mention: Education Excellence
Platinum: Presidents’ Award of Excellence
2010
1st (mid-sized): Business Partner Relations
2nd (mid-sized): Membership Brochure
3rd (mid-sized): Newsletter Excellence
3rd (mid-sized): Recruitment & Retention
Honorable Mention: Chapter Web Sites
Honorable Mention: Education Excellence
Platinum: Presidents’ Award of Excellence
2009
1st (mid-sized): Education Excellence
2nd (mid-sized): Membership Brochure
2nd (mid-sized): Vendor Partnering
3rd (mid-sized): Recruitment & Retention
3rd (mid-sized): Chapter Web Sites
Honorable Mention: Visibility – CCW
Honorable Mention: Best Feature Article
Honorable Mention: Newsletter Excellence
Platinum: Presidents’ Award of Excellence
2008
1st (mid-sized): Achievements in Diversity
1st (mid-sized): Bar Relations
2nd (mid-sized): Vendor Partnering
Honorable Mention: Visibility – CCW
Honorable Mention: Education Excellence
Honorable Mention: Best Feature Article
Honorable Mention: Membership Brochure
Gold: Presidents’ Award of Excellence
2007
1st (mid-sized): Chapter Web Sites
1st (mid-sized): Newsletter Excellence
2nd (mid-sized): Achievements in Diversity
3rd (mid-sized): Membership Brochures
Honorable Mention: Education Excellence
Honorable Mention: Best Feature Article
Honorable Mention: Visibility – CCW
Gold: Presidents’ Award of Excellence
2006
1st (mid-sized): Vendor Partnering
2nd (mid-sized): Newsletter Excellence
Honorable Mention: Community Service
Honorable Mention: Education Excellence
Gold: Presidents’ Awards of Excellence
2005
1st (mid-sized): Achievements in Diversity
1st (mid-sized): Best Feature Article
2nd (mid-sized): Community Service
2nd (mid-sized): Newsletter Excellence
Honorable Mention: Recruitment & Retention
Honorable Mention: Vendor Partnering
Honorable Mention: Chapter Web Sites
Honorable Mention: Education Excellence
Platinum: Presidents’ Award of Excellence
2004
3rd: Recruitment & Retention
Honorable Mention: Best Feature Article
Honorable Mention: Chapter Web Sites
Honorable Mention: Community Service
Honorable Mention: Education Excellence – Communications & General Mgmt.
Honorable Mention: Newsletter Excellence – Category A
Gold: Presidents’ Awards of Excellence
2003
1st: Vendor Partnering
Honorable Mention: Education Excellence
Honorable Mention: Newsletter Excellence
Honorable Mention: Recruitment & Retention
Platinum: Presidents’ Awards of Excellence
2002
Honorable Mention: Community Service
Honorable Mention: Excellence in Education
Honorable Mention: Recruitment & Orientation
Honorable Mention: Vendor Partnering
Gold: Presidents’ Awards of Excellence
2001
Honorable Mention: Activating Volunteers
Honorable Mention: Chapter Web Sites
Honorable Mention: Community Service
Honorable Mention: Excellence in Education
Honorable Mention: Newsletter Excellence – Category A
Honorable Mention: Recruitment & Orientation
Honorable Mention: Vendor Partnering
Gold: Presidents’ Awards of Excellence
2000
2nd: Vendor Partnering
3rd: Activating Volunteers
Honorable Mention: Recruitment & Orientation
Honorable Mention: Chapter Web Sites
Honorable Mention: Community Service
Honorable Mention: Excellence in Education
Honorable Mention: Most Improved Newsletter
Silver: Presidents’ Awards of Excellence
1999
Honorable Mention: Community Service
Bronze: Presidents Award of Excellence
1990
1st: Best Newsletter – Category B
