President's Message
by Deborah Badigian  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

This is my favorite time of the year. I am just amazed every time I see our Valley transformed into a magnificent display of the holiday season with such delights as Christmas Tree Lane and Candy Cane Lane, let alone all those individuals who enthusiastically decorate their homes in honor of the season.

It is also the time of year when we reflect on what we have accomplished over the last year and reevaluate what we would like to accomplish over the next. With our name change, successful educational events, and new videotape library, I believe we are on the right track and hope to continue to move forward with many more positive goals for the Fresno Paralegal Association. Personally, one of my most important goals for this upcoming year is to elevate the participation from you in Fresno Paralegal Association events.

And with the end of the year comes the election of a new Board as well. The ballots have been counted and verified, and we have a new Board of the Fresno Paralegal Association. I would like to congratulate those new board members and also take a minute to thank those who have given of their time to serve on the 2004 Board. I would especially like to thank Charlene Bullock and M. Diedre Wilton for their guidance over the past year and their dedication as CAPA representatives. Their many years of experience as past Board members was invaluable to the 2004 Board. I would also like to thank our 2004 Treasurer, Marilyn Martin- Calkins; Board Member at Large, Lisa Madden; Michael Flanagan our NALA Representative, and Holly Silver, Job Bank and Website, for their contributions to the Board.

I would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Sharon Tovar-Davis, Eryn Gardner and Appleby & Company for their support of FPA. They have diligently and professionally prepared and distributed our Newsletter over the past year and have continued to support our events unconditionally.

I would like to thank Larry Kirlin and Attorney’s Diversified Services for their continued support of our association.

And now I would like to present your New 2005 FPA Board:

I am looking forward to working with our new Board. Please let us know of any ideas you would like to see FPA develop and we will try our best to see them come to fruition.

As a final farewell to the year, we will be hosting our Holiday Social on December 9, 2004 at the Spectrum Art Gallery located in the Tower District. (Se page 7 for map/directions) The event will commence at 5:30 and I would like to again invite all of you to attend. Even if you can just drop in for a minute, please do so. There is ample parking available across the street from the Gallery and just up the street at the Bank of America parking lot. A map to Spectrum Gallery is attached for your convenience. I hope to see you there.

Cheers!
Deborah Badigian, President