CENTRAL NEBRASKA LEGAL PROFESSIONALS

Standing Rules

STANDING RULE NO. 1
Rules

Section 1.  Distribution

            A copy of the Standing Rules shall be furnished to each elected and appointed officer of CNLP and to each standing and special committee chairman.  The Standing Rules are to be a part of the permanent files of such officers or chairmen, to be kept current and to be handed on to each successor upon completion of the term.

Section 2.  Adoption, Amending, Rescinding, and Suspension

(a)   Adoption.  Standing Rules shall be adopted by the membership of the association.  Adoption requires a majority vote.
(b)   Amendment or Rescission.  These Standing Rules may be amended or rescinded by the  membership of the association by a two-thirds vote without previous notice, or a majority vote with previous notice, and shall take effect immediately.
(c)   Suspension.  Any Standing Rule may be suspended for the duration of a single meeting by a majority vote.  Such suspension may be for a longer period if specifically ordered by the membership.

STANDING RULE NO. 2
Eligibility for Membership

(a)   Persons eligible for membership shall consist of those persons engaged as a legal secretary, law office administrator, legal assistant, paralegal, stenographer, typist, or clerk in a law office; any person employed in a court; any person employed in a law enforcement agency, such as police department, sheriff's department, state patrol; any person employed in a law enforcement training center; any person employed in the trust department or loan department of banks, trust companies, or lending agencies; anyone employed in a real estate office, in abstract and title companies, or in any public or private institution or office directly engaged in work of a legal nature, including the public offices of the United States government, states, counties, cities, or municipalities; and any person engaged in or interested in work of a legal nature not previously herein defined.
(b)   A member must also be a member of the state association, Nebraska Legal Professionals Association (NLPA).
(c)   Students who are actively pursuing a certificate or a degree in work of legal nature may join the state association at no fee and this local chapter at a fee to be determined,  for a period not to exceed four years.  Student members shall not be eligible to hold office or chair committees but shall be eligible to co-chair committees and share in the benefits of a reduced membership fee, networking, and having access to information regarding seminars and legal education.
(d)  Members of the association for five years or longer and retired shall have the option of honorary membership status.  Honorary members shall not be eligible to hold office or chair committees but shall be eligible to co-chair committees and share in the benefits of networking and having access to information regarding seminars and legal education.  Honorary members will not be assessed dues by the state association or CNLP.

 

 STANDING RULE NO. 3
General Duties of Officers and Chairmen

An officer or chairman's first duty shall be to review the bylaws and standing rules as to the duties as described therein.

Duties of officers and chairmen shall be such as are implied by their respective titles or as defined in these standing rules and the bylaws of this association.

Officers and chairmen shall send a copy of all correspondence to the president.  When correspondence is in response to an inquiry or other communication, a copy of the initial letter shall be provided to the president if having a copy is critical for complete understanding of the issue.  In addition, correspondence relating to membership shall be copied to the vice president.  

Officers, chairmen, and chapter representatives are charged with the responsibility of timely submitting appropriate articles and reports for publication in the Legal Pro and state publication.

Each chairman and officer shall transfer a complete and accurate file to the successor (or to the president if no successor is present or none has been appointed).  Transfer shall take place at the conclusion of the first meeting of the fiscal year.

Officers and chairmen shall use CNLP stationery for correspondence; if none is available, type an appropriate letterhead at the top of the sheet.

All elected and appointed officers and chapter representatives are expected to attend all regularly scheduled CNLP meetings, as well as any special meetings.  Chapter Representatives are expected to attend all regularly scheduled NLPA meetings as a representative of the local chapter.

STANDING RULE NO. 4
Duties of the President

The President shall:
(a)  preside at all meetings of this association and of its executive committee, and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee;
(b)  appoint the parliamentarian and such other officers as may be necessary to carry on the business of this association, and the chairmen of all committees, subject to the approval of the membership;
(c)  in the event of a tie vote on any matter pending before the membership or executive committee, may cast the deciding vote;
(d)  appoint a secretary pro tem in the event the secretary is unable to take the minutes of a meeting;
        (e)  appoint a member to fill any vacancy in an office or chairmanship created by resignation, absence, or nonperformance of duties;
        (f)  attend, when possible, all meetings of the membership, executive committee, standing committees, and special committees;
        (g)  supervise work of officers and committee chairmen (i.e., remind them of deadlines, reporting responsibilities, etc.);
        (h)  advise officers and committee chairmen of actions taken by the executive committee or membership which may affect their duties;
        (i)  prepare an agenda for each meeting of the membership and  executive committee and distribute copies to all voting members;
        (j)  send congratulatory letters to any member who passes the Professional Legal Secretary examination, or graduates from any course, class, or college pertaining to the legal profession;
        (k)  assist the editor of  The Legal Pro with the preparation of a calendar, the names and addresses of officers and chairmen for publication;
(l)  prepare, upon request of The Legal Pro editor, an appropriate president's column for publication;
        (m)  sign membership cards as required;
        (n)  sign checks for authorized disbursements on behalf of the association in the absence or inability of the treasurer, or when the check is made payable to the treasurer.

 STANDING RULE NO. 5
Duties of Vice President

 The Vice President shall:
(a)  assume the duties of the president in the absence of the president;
        (b)  serve as chairman of the membership committee, which committee shall strive to increase membership in this association;
        (c)  prepare, upon request from The Legal Pro editor, appropriate membership information for publication;
        (d)  review not later than June 1 the association's membership brochure and membership cards and bring recommendations for changes to the membership for approval or disapproval, and provide such membership brochure to local officers for their use to promote CNLP; and to assist the treasurer or other appointed person in the preparation of membership cards if necessary; to correlate the logo letterhead used by this association;
        (e)  perform such other duties as may be assigned by the president, or executive committee;
        (f)  purchase an appropriate gift for the outgoing president from the association to be presented at the first meeting of the next fiscal year.

STANDING RULE NO. 6
Duties of Secretary

 The Secretary shall:
(a)  keep an accurate register of the officers and chairmen of this association;
(b)  prepare and call roll of all voting members at all meetings of this association;
(c)  provide appropriate meeting information, including a calendar of meetings, and a recap of the meeting minutes to The Legal Pro editor for publication;
(d)  inform the president immediately if unable to take the minutes at any scheduled meeting;
(e)  sign any and all official documents, if necessary, on behalf of this association;
(f)  with regard to preparation and recording of the minutes of this association, the secretary shall:
(1)  record the minutes of this association or the executive committee,  writing minutes in a businesslike manner, using the "report" style as a record of what was done, keeping the tone of the minutes objective, using sideline headings giving the subject of each paragraph;
(2)  include in the first paragraph of the minutes the kind of meeting, association name, date, time, and place of meeting, whether a special meeting, the purpose and description of the notice given, whether a quorum was present, name and title of person presiding, name and title of person recording the minutes if other than the secretary;
(3)  make authorized additions or corrections to minutes in ink by marking through portions deleted and inserting correct material just above the deleted portion or in the margin, then initial and date;
(4)  record motions, including the name of the maker, the fact that the motion was seconded, result, (i.e., carried or defeated, if appealed, sustained or defeated, referred to committee, or tabled);
(5)  record motions as follows:
_____________ moved, seconded by ____________, to ______________; motion (carried) (was defeated).
Motions require a majority vote to pass.
Bylaw amendments require a two-thirds majority vote to pass.
(6)  if a vote on a motion is by ballot or roll call, state the total number voting, the number for the affirmative, and the number for the negative;
(g)  report election of officers, giving name and office to which elected, stating whether elected by unanimous or majority vote (although reports or other business may be transacted during the election of several officers, the minutes shall contain a report of the election in its entirety without interruption);
(h)  as soon as possible after each membership and/or executive committee meeting, provide email copies of the minutes to all officers and members;
(i)  maintain permanent files of minutes of all meetings;
(j)  anyone other than the secretary taking the minutes shall sign the minutes and include the words "secretary pro tem" beneath her signature, and "For _______, Secretary" beneath that, and shall prepare the minutes and forward the originally typed copy to the secretary within 20 days after the meeting, and the secretary shall mail and distribute the appropriate copies as heretofore instructed.

 

STANDING RULE NO. 7
  Duties of Treasurer

 The Treasurer shall:
  (a)  have charge of the funds of this association and the disbursement thereof, under the supervision of the membership;
  (b)  sign all checks of this association except checks payable to the treasurer, which checks shall be signed by the president;
  (c)  file account signature cards with appropriate financial institutions reflecting signatures of the treasurer and president;
  (d)  purchase or renew treasurer's bond in such amount as may be required by the membership, the cost to be paid by this association, and to notify the bonding company of the name and address of the current treasurer each year;
  (e)  prepare appropriate roster and provide copies to the State Association treasurer and provide copies to all members of the local chapter;
  (f)  maintain a cash journal and ledger for all receipts and disbursements;
  (g)  prepare periodic financial reports in acceptable account form for presentation at each meeting of the membership and executive committee, providing sufficient copies at each meeting for distribution to the voting members at the meeting;
  (h)  prepare a complete report for presentation to the membership at the  final meeting of the fiscal year;
  (i)  submit current books and records of the association to a committee appointed by the president for the purpose of auditing such books and records and the report of such audit shall be provided to the membership at the final meeting of the fiscal year;
  (j)  pay all bills promptly in accordance with the budget, pay nonbudgeted items only after approval of the membership;
  (k)  reimburse members of the association for actual expenses incurred on behalf of the association, which expenses are submitted via expense voucher and within an appropriate length of time from the date the reimbursable expense was incurred.  An acceptable guideline would be for the reimbursement request to be made within one month of incurring the expense.
  (l)  on or about March 1 of each year,  provide notice to each current member of the due date for local and state dues, late payment penalty information, and proper  instructions for payment of dues;
  (m)  submit to the The Legal Pro editor for publication in the appropriate issue, information regarding due date for dues and late payment penalty information;
  (n)  maintain current count of members, together with complete roster;
  (o)  prepare and submit to members at the first meeting of the fiscal year, a proposed budget for the ensuing year, taking all accounts into consideration;

 Rosters shall include name and preferred mailing address.  Optional information showing employer and telephone numbers may be included.  Rosters may not be released to anyone not affiliated with CNLP without authority of the association members or executive committee.

STANDING RULE NO. 8
Duties of Parliamentarian

 The Parliamentarian shall:
  (a)  interpret the bylaws and standing rules of this association;
  (b)  assist the president and other officers and members on request regarding parliamentary procedure;
  (c)  advise on questions of order and see that parliamentary rules are followed;
  (d)  maintain current copies of  CNLP bylaws and standing rules and revisions thereto;
  (e)  draft proposed amendments to existing bylaws and standing rules when deemed appropriate, or when instructed by the executive committee;
  (f)  submit a copy of adopted bylaw and standing rule amendments to the publications editor for publication;
  (g)  supervise processing of amendments and the giving of notice as required in the bylaws and standing rules;
  (h)  annually review the bylaws and standing rules and provide information and appropriate files to the successor.

The current Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority where applicable, and where there is no conflict between said rules, the bylaws of this association, and the articles of incorporation.

STANDING RULE NO. 9
Duties of Chapter Representative

 The currently installed Chapter Representative shall:
 (a)  serve as a member of the board of NLPA, representing the local chapter and voting on behalf of the chapter membership;
  (b)  request a caucus at state association meetings when necessary in order to determine the wishes of the chapter membership;
  (c)  serve as liaison between NLPA and the chapter, making full report of NLPA's business and activities to the chapter, and likewise reporting chapter information and activities to NLPA at state meetings;
  (d)  prepare reports of chapter activities for publication in The SideBar;
  (e)  distribute correspondence and information received from NLPA to the appropriate chapter members, officers, or chairmen;
  (f)  assist NLPA by publicizing state activities such as seminars and state meetings;
  (g)  provide to chapter members upon request copies of NLPA's bylaws, standing rules, and rosters;
  (h)  make periodic inquiries as to whether members are receiving The SideBar, and if not, offer assistance as appropriate;
  (i)  attend, when possible, all meetings of the NLPA board, the NLPA executive committee meetings,  and the NLPA annual meeting, and when unable to attend, certify to the secretary the name of the chapter's alternate chapter representative.
  (j)  serve as chairperson of the NLPA Ways and Means project(s) at the local chapter level.

 The currently installed chapter representative must be a member of both this association and NLPA.

 

STANDING RULE NO. 10
Duties of Alternate Chapter Representative (Pro Tem)

 The alternate chapter representative shall be appointed by the chapter representative and approved by the chapter officers to carry their chapter's vote at any meeting of NLPA at which the chapter representative is absent or unable to act.  If the alternate chapter representative is unable to attend the meeting due to an emergency, such as an illness, death, or unforeseen circumstance, that chapter’s members in attendance at the annual/board meeting, and the executive committee meetings, may appoint a member who is present to represent their chapter.  The name of that individual should be given to the NLPA Secretary as soon as that member is appointed.

The alternate chapter representative shall serve only at the one meeting for which appointed, representing the chapter and voting on behalf of the chapter membership, and shall make a full report to the chapter of the meeting at which served.

 

 STANDING RULE NO. 11
  Audit Committee

The president shall name two members in good standing to the audit committee.

 The Audit Committee shall:
  (a)  receive and examine the financial records of CNLP within seven (7) days prior to the  final meeting of the current fiscal year, and present such auditors' report, in writing, to the membership;
  (b)  if appropriate, include with the report written recommendations regarding financial and recordkeeping procedures; (c)  offer advice and counsel to the treasurer when deemed appropriate;
  (c)  the audit committee's report shall be kept and maintained with the treasurer's records to which it pertains, with a copy to the CNLP president and secretary.

STANDING RULE NO. 12
  Disclosure Statement

In accordance with Section 10701(a) of the Revenue Act (H.R. 3545) 1987,  CNLP advises that all dues billings, meeting registration forms, and sales of educational and local items shall contain a conspicuous and easily recognizable statement that contributions or gifts to this association are not deductible as charitable contributions.

 A suggested statement is as follows:
 Expenses of continuing education (including registration fees, travel, meals and lodging) taken to maintain and improve professional skills may be tax deductible, subject to certain limitations.  Consult your tax adviser for a determination. 

STANDING RULE NO. 13
History Committee

 The History Committee shall:
  (a)  keep a history book of the progress of this association for the current year, which shall be in book form and shall be kept in this association as a permanent record;
  (b)  prepare a book, which shall contain photographs and other appropriate mementos of the president's term, and make arrangements for presentation of same to the retiring president at the first meeting of the next fiscal year;
  (c)  submit photographs and other appropriate memorabilia for the NLPA president's history book.

  

STANDING RULE NO. 14
  Legal Professional of the Year

Recipient of the CNLP Legal Professional of the Year Award shall be nominated for the NLPA Legal Professional of the Year Award in accordance with the terms set out in NLPA Standing Rule No. 14 and the Addendum as attached hereto.

The Legal Professional of the Year Chairman shall:
(a)  no later than March 1, provide to each member of the local chapter a ballot for selection of the CNLP Legal Professional of the Year;
(b)  select three disinterested qualified people to judge the entries and determine the winner, to be recognized at the first meeting of the next fiscal year;
(c)  submit nomination to NLPA postmarked no later than April 1;
(d)  the committee shall not disclose the name of the winning candidate to anyone in advance of the first meeting of the next fiscal year, including the winner, in order to preserve the confidentiality and surprise;
(e)  announce the name of the award winner at the first meeting of the next fiscal year, presenting an appropriate gift from the  local chapter, the cost of the gift to be paid by CNLP;
(f)  provide an article to the website coordinator and  The Legal Pro editor regarding the award winner.

ADDENDUM TO STANDING RULE NO. 14 

QUALIFICATIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE
LEGAL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

A nominee shall have no less than three years experience in the legal profession to qualify for the NLPA Legal Professional of the Year Award.  To be eligible, the nominee must complete and submit the NLPA Legal Professional of the Year (“LPY”) Personal Data Form to the NLPA LPY chairman in accordance with Standing Rule No. 14.  A letter of recommendation shall be written by a chapter or a boss (employer) and shall be no longer than one typewritten page (8½ x 11).  The letter of recommendation might include years of experience, length of employment, education, association activities/professional achievements, exceptional abilities, responsibilities, loyalty, personal qualities, and any other information which makes the nominee an outstanding recipient of the award.  If aware of any civic, charitable or religious organizations the nominee may be affiliated with, include this information in the letter of recommendation.  The name of the nominee shall NOT be included in the letter of recommendation, however, a Nomination Procedures Form indicating the name of the nominee shall accompany the letter of recommendation.

The selected judges will review the letter of recommendation and the Personal Data Form using the following guidelines:
(a)  Years of experience in legal profession (no less than three years);
        (b)  Education;
        (c)  Association Activities/Professional Achievements;
        (d)  Other/i.e., Community Service/Civic/Charitable Activities, Affiliations.

The NLPA Personal Data Form, Recommendation Letter, and Nomination Procedures Form shall be mailed to the NLPA current LPY chairman in accordance with Standing Rule No. 14.

STANDING RULE NO. 15
Nominations and Elections Committee

A Nominations and Elections Committee Chairman shall be appointed by the President at the beginning of the fiscal year.  Said chairman may appoint a committee of not more than two additional members to the committee.

NOMINATIONS:
 The committee shall prepare a slate of officers selected by the committee, after acceptance is obtained from each individual candidate.

ELECTIONS:
With regard to elections, the Nominations and Elections committee shall function as inspectors of the election in general; receive, collect, count, and tabulate all votes; hear and determine all challenges and questions arising with the right to vote; determine when the polls shall close; and do all acts as may be proper to conduct the election.
(a)  Prepare ballots in proper form, containing names of nominees for the offices for election, with additional lines for additional nominees, for use by the members. (b)  The president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and chapter representative  shall be elected at the March membership meeting.    Further nominations shall be called for from the floor for each individual office.  Election shall take place by ballot.  If there is but one candidate for an office, the ballot may be dispensed with and the vote may be by voice.  In the event of a tie, the membership shall immediately proceed to vote by ballot to dissolve such tie.
(c)  After announcement of the results of each election, all written ballots shall be destroyed.
(d)  All elected officers shall take office at the  first meeting of the fiscal year, and shall serve for a term of one year, but not more than two consecutive one-year terms.

 STANDING RULE NO. 16
  Publication

The name for this association’s publication,  The Legal Pro, was selected by the membership.

The Legal Pro shall be printed periodically and distributed without charge to members of Central Nebraska Legal Professionals.

The publication chairman shall appoint a committee to assist with the publication of The Legal Pro.  Committee members may include:  advertising, distribution, layout, mailing, legal education, reports of officers and chairmen, typing, and printing.

The publication shall include legal education articles, officer and chairmen reports, chapter reports, state meeting recaps (not minutes), financial report by treasurer, and such other information as deemed desirable.

Seminar and meeting chairmen are encouraged to timely provide information and registration forms for publication and distribution to members.

STANDING RULE NO. 17
  Rules of Meeting

Any and all members are welcome to attend all membership and executive committee meetings.

Any member attending the membership meetings of this association may enter into any and all discussions, ask questions, offer suggestions, make motions, and second motions. All members are authorized to vote on all matters that come before the membership at the membership meetings.

Members of the Executive Committee are the only members authorized to vote at Executive Committee meetings.

The Executive Committee shall consist of the following, to wit:

Elected Officers: 
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Chapter Representative 

Appointed Officer:     
Parliamentarian

 Quorum:  
one-third of board

Any member attending the executive committee meetings of this association may enter into any and all discussions, ask questions, offer suggestions, make motions, and second motions, but only the persons listed above are authorized to vote.

EXCEPT, the president does not vote except in the event of a tie vote, and then shall cast the deciding ballot. 

AND, during elections by ballot, the president cannot be denied the privilege of voting.

No member shall be entitled to vote if that member's dues are delinquent.

 STANDING RULE NO. 18
The Central Nebraska Legal Professionals Scholarship

The Central Nebraska Legal Professionals Scholarship shall be awarded annually to a nonmember of the association residing in the State of Nebraska to be applied toward the cost of attending a paralegal, legal secretarial, or other law-related program in a school of higher education.  Any nonmember who has won a scholarship on the local level is eligible to apply for the NLPA scholarship.

The CNLP scholarship chairperson shall send scholarship application forms to all local high schools, colleges, universities, and other institutions of higher learning.

The monetary amount of the scholarship to be paid by CNLP shall be determined each year by CNLP.  The amount of the award may be changed from year to year as the budget permits.  The decision whether or not to give an award may also be made at that time, depending upon the circumstances of the budget.

All scholarship applicants shall complete and submit a scholarship application to the CNLP scholarship chairperson, which shall be postmarked on or before March 1 of each year.  All applicants shall submit proof of enrollment in a school or college of higher education.  The scholarship funds shall be paid directly to the school or institution of the winner’s choice for enrollment at the beginning of the fall semester.  The CNLP treasurer shall send the funds upon the direction of the CNLP scholarship chairperson.

If the winner is unable to accept the award, the award shall go to the runner-up.  If a winner accepts the award and thereafter is unable to attend the school or scheduled institution, the award or any unused balance thereof shall be returned to CNLP.

The CNLP scholarship chairperson shall appoint three judges, each of whom shall be an educator, an attorney, a judge, or a civic leader from the chairperson’s community, who shall select an award winner and a first runner-up.  Upon notification of the names of the winner and runner-up, the scholarship chairperson shall notify the winner.

 

 STANDING RULE NO. 19
Website Coordinator

 The website located at:
http://www.nebraskalegalprofessionals.org/CNLP  is the official website of the Central Nebraska Legal Professionals.

The website shall include CNLP’s Mission Statement, officer names and contact information, membership information, meeting invitations, links to useful websites, pictures of meetings/events and such other information as deemed desirable.

Any member wishing to include information on the website is encouraged to provide the information in a timely manner to the Website Coordinator. 

The Website Coordinator shall:
(a)  maintain the CNLP website with current information;
(b)  edit and seek approval of, if necessary, all material before it is placed on the website;
(c)  encourage the membership to submit information to the CNLP website;
(d)  encourage state and local bar associations to submit information on upcoming events,  i.e. Law Day;
(e)  develop ideas and strategies that will enhance the value of the website to the legal profession.

 Revised August 15, 2016

 

 STANDING RULE NO. 20
  Ways and Means Committee

The Ways and Means Committee shall:
(a)  research and analyze possible ways and means projects for this association  during the current year;
(b)  make suggestions for the project and present them to the association at the September membership meeting;
(c)  be responsible for procuring all information and related items for timely distribution to the association’s  members at the membership meeting following the NLPA spring seminar and for publication in The Legal Pro;
(d)  encourage all members to support the decision and participate in the project for the benefit of  the state association, with the recommended project to be concluded at the NLPA annual meeting.

STANDING RULE NO. 21
Memorials

The Central Nebraska Legal Professionals has adopted the following procedures to acknowledge the death of a member or a person in the member’s immediate family:
(a)  a memorial will be given by CNLP to a deceased member’s immediate family or designated charity upon the member’s death;
(b)  a sympathy card from CNLP will be sent at the time of death of a current member’s spouse or significant other, child, parent or sibling.