LPI HISTORY SPOTLIGHT:
SACRAMENTO LEGAL SECRETARIES ASSOCIATION (SLSA)
Location: Sacramento, CA
Chartered: 1940
History:
Sacramento Legal Secretaries Association became the 11th chapter of Legal Secretaries, Incorporated (now Legal Professionals, Incorporated), in 1941. Five years later, SLSA Past President Velma Tougaw, who was then a member of San Francisco LSA (as it was known then), became LSI President and served from 1946-1948. Velma Tougaw was also one of the first female lawyers to graduate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (class of 1938), and she was one of the founding members of the National Association of Legal Secretaries. Gloria Soares (Massi), SLSA Past President from 1941-1943, had the honor of becoming the 11th President of LSI in 1953, serving until 1955. She returned for another term as SLSA President over 20 years later in 1966. Lynne Prescott, CCLS, became the third member of Sacramento LSA to serve as President at the state level, becoming the first President of Legal Professionals, Incorporated (2020-2022).
Throughout its over-80-year history, Sacramento LSA has been best known for its educational programs, charitable projects, social events, and work within the legal community. As far back as 1955, newspaper clippings from the Daily Recorder and the Sacramento Bee give accounts of fundraisers to help children with disabilities, including an annual luncheon with gifts and a visit from Santa Claus, notices of training classes and educational meetings, an Annual Card Night, and events celebrating judges and Boss of the Year awards. In one article from 1953, the Sacramento Bee advertised SLSA’s 12-week training course for legal secretaries, which cost a whopping $1.00!
Sacramento LSA still values the importance of education and giving back to the community. Each regular monthly meeting features an educational speaker, with a special Annual Court Updates meeting in January (the most popular and well-attended event of the year). The annual Holiday Mock Trial is held in December, which is also a favorite, well-attended event. Sacramento LSA also conducts Beginning Legal Secretary Training courses, which are always in demand.
In recent years, Sacramento LSA has participated in charity projects for the homeless, Shriners’ Hospital, veterans, sex trafficking victims, and provided backpacks for school children. SLSA partners with the Sacramento County Bar Association for Kids Law Day, where attorneys, paralegals, and legal secretaries team up and go out to grade schools throughout the Sacramento area and share what it’s like to work in the legal field. Sacramento LSA’s members also assist the Sacramento County Bar Association each year for its Bench Bar Reception and other Bar-sponsored events. During the Halloween season, Sacramento LSA is a sponsor of Fairytale Town’s annual Safe & Super Halloween, where members volunteer to work the event, providing arts and crafts projects to the children and handing out candy that has been donated by members and law firms. Each Christmas, in connection with the Holiday Mock Trial, Sacramento LSA collects donations of much-needed items for the homeless and stuffs these items into Christmas Stockings to be distributed to men, women, and children in Sacramento. One of Sacramento LSA’s most fun events is the annual Reno Bus Trip, which also coincides with the Eldorado Great Italian Festival. This event has grown in popularity over the last several years and has been attended by LPI members from all over the state.
While definitely connected by shared interests and Sacramento LSA’s mission, many members find the relationships and networking irreplaceable. The term “tribe” can often be heard throughout Sacramento LSA, lending greater impact and significance to these relationships. Many members have created life-long friendships with each other.
Current Board:
Lynne Prescott, CCLS – President
Crystal Rivera – Vice President
Sarah Martinez – Secretary
Christie Kaelber – Treasurer
Corene Rodder – Governor
Dawn Willis – Parliamentarian
Marci Frazier – Executive Advisor
Categorized in: General
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