At ALA News About ALA
ALA Executive Director Resigns
ALA has announced that April L. Campbell, JD, has resigned as its Executive Director. She will be returning to the private legal industry. The Board of Directors accepted her resignation, and her last day with ALA will be April 22. The Board is currently discussing options to appoint new leadership.
“We appreciate April for her leadership during the pandemic and the implementation of tactics to ensure the success of ALA’s strategic direction. We wish April well in her future endeavors and look forward to continuing to benefit from April’s participation in ALA as a lifetime member and Past President,” said ALA President Michael T. Bumgarner, CLM, CPA, CGMA.
Campbell was the first woman to serve in the role of Executive Director, having led the organization in January 2020 as Interim Executive Director. She was later appointed full-time Executive Director in August 2020.
Legal Management Wants to Hear from You!
We all know it’s important to take care of ourselves, but making time for it isn’t always easy. That’s why ALA wants to hear from you! What are ways you fit wellness and self-care into your day? We want to share your tips with other members. We may feature your response in the upcoming annual print issue of Legal Management, which hits mailboxes in July.
To participate, here’s what we need: In 75 words or less, tell us how you fit in time for your health and self-care. Do you meditate? Take your dog for walks? Reread your favorite books to clear your head? Play video games? If possible, please include a picture of you doing the activity. Think action shots, not headshots — we’d love to see you walking your dog, for example!
Here’s an example: “When I need to de-stress, I pull out a coloring book. It’s a great way to get me off my phone and to focus on creating art. I find it very calming.”
Send responses to [email protected] by April 22. Submissions may be edited for clarity.
Donate to the Silent Auction
The Foundation of the Association of Legal Administrators is once again organizing a virtual silent auction to raise funds for its initiatives. All ALA 
members and business partners, not just 2022 Annual Conference & Expo attendees, will be able to participate in the bidding online between May 6 and May 18.
Individuals, companies and chapters are invited to donate an item to the silent auction. Past donations have included gift baskets, artwork, high-end purses and jewelry, vacation packages, gift certificates to hotels and restaurants, and signed sports memorabilia. The Foundation is also delighted to include items focused on leadership and personal development resources and courses (such as webinar series, publications, chapter memberships, etc.)
If you’d like to submit an item, please complete the donation form by April 29. Because the auction is virtual, contributors will be asked to hold onto their items until the conclusion, at which point the organizers will provide the buyer’s information. Review the FAQs for more info.
CLI Call for Presentations
The 2022 Chapter Leadership Institute (CLI) will be held July 15–16 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration will open soon for this event, which offers valuable information for chapter officers and volunteer leaders in the form of both training and networking.
The conference needs your expertise to help develop the best thought-provoking and engaging ideas for sessions pertinent to not only chapter leadership but leadership in general. Find more details about what we’re looking for and submit your prospective CLI presentation. Proposals are due April 26.
Register for the Mental Health First Aid Certification Course
ALA is once again offering the Mental Health First Aid Certification Program. With four course dates in June and July, this interactive educational program will help you identify someone experiencing a mental illness or substance abuse crisis
and will offer guidance on how to provide appropriate support.
Participants first complete two hours of self-paced online learning, and then attend a live, 6.5-hour virtual session with an instructor on the registered course date. Upon completion of the full program and a subsequent examination, participants will receive a Mental Health First Aid Certification.
Studies have shown this curriculum reduces stigma around mental illness, increases knowledge about mental health and raises participants’ confidence in using the five-step ALGEE action plan:
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm.
- Listen nonjudgmentally.
- Give reassurance and information.
- Encourage appropriate professional help.
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
The last time ALA offered this education, the sessions filled up fast — each date is limited to just 30 participants. So prepare to sign up quickly!