Wednesday, October 29, 2008

ELECTION DAY IS FAST APPROACHING

Election Day is fast approaching. If you are uncertain about which poll you are supposed to vote at or if you have moved it is very possible you did not change your voting location. Also many areas of our state have been redistricted since the last presidential election and if you have not voted in more than three or four years - it is very likely that the poll you should vote in on Tuesday may not be the one you voted at last time you voted.

The State has provided the following link to confirm your voting location... It only takes a minute to confirm your location and most definitely will save yourself a lot of grief and frustration if you show up at the wrong poll on Tuesday.

So, check this link and confirm your voting place. https://myinfo.alabamavotes.gov/
Please pass this link on to firm, your family and your friends.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Saturday, October 25, 2008

AALS Fall Board Meeting was THE BEST!!!!!!!!

It was an awesome weekend in Dothan with AALS members!

The education was wonderful and the FELLOWSHIP with statewide members was the reward for the weekend! We had many "first timers" AND of course, Vickie and Harriett was there! A meeting without them is not even a good meeting!

Education included Workman's Comp Cases; Introduction to Employment Law in Alabama; Guardianships & Conservatorships (let me add here - very important info); The Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy; The Sweet Green Elixir of Green Cash (wake up and don't be stupid); and, Being an Informed Consumer: Avoid Predatory Lendors and Others After Your Money.

All of the CLE at the Fall meeting was exceptional... do you really know the maximum and minimum caps on compensation - and the diffferences based on pay scales??? What about employment law - do you know the difference in discrimination and harrassment? How about bankruptcy - the in's and out's of bankruptcy is strategic and complicated - many choices and many outcomes. Also, being an informed consumer really explained to us who our predators are - title pawn companies, soliciting credit card companies etc... But, L. D. Holt, explained to us the the Sweet Green Elixir of Cash - WOW... REAL..REALITY.... (I don't want to say to much about this... I really would really like for him to be at the Winter and/or Annual Meeting for everyone else to hear him tell it again... he was definitely "the slick in the shine" this CLE weekend and if you were not at the Fall meeting - you missed some of the best CLE ever!!!!

The door prizes and Chinese auction was exceptional. Baldwin County also performed for us ... it will be posted shortly (sorry, wanted to post this - but will transfer video later).

The conference ended about 3:00 on Saturday - the weather was absolutely perfect for the ride home to five o'clock somewhere!

It was a very much needed weekend for me - my almost 20 year old daughter, Mary Rose, was home from college for the weekend to take care of the horses and my "sweet" jersey cow named "HONEY" so I could get away! I talked to her a couple of times on Friday evening - but when my oldest brother called me during the middle of the first CLE on Saturday morning about the ICE raid in my neighborhood the night before - parent mode kicked into desperate concern when Mary Rose did not answer the phone when I immediately called to check on her (thankfully...she was in the shower). She didn't even know about the ICE raid, even though there were a couple hundred police officers, many on foot searching the woods with flashlights for fleeing hispanics, dozens of police cars, and a few helicoptors swarming the block we live in. She said she had heard a helicoptor and some sirens but thought there was a car accident nearby - which happens often. I use to live in a very nice part of Alabaster on Highway 119, next to a dairy farm - the Publix, Walgreen, NBC Bank, US Post Office, and Regions Bank are just a few blocks from my home now - and it's only a 5 minute walk from my house to STARBUCKS!!! ALSO, let's mention the three small churches within rock throwing distance of my house, and then there is the "blue trailer park" RIGHT across the street from my house. (See the B'ham News article below)

Illegal immigrants taken into custody in Alabaster Saturday, October 25, 2008

Thirty-one illegal immigrants were taken into custody Friday night at an Alabaster business.
The 31 were detained by federal authorities after detectives and agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement searched the business on Elder Drive, which is off Alabama 119, said Alabaster Deputy Police Chief Curtis Rigney.

Rigney refused to identify the business or the type of business. He said he could not say where the people in custody were taken. ICE spokesman Temple Black of New Orleans said further details about the investigation could be available today.

The search warrants were executed as part of a joint ongoing, two-year investigation by ICE and Alabaster. "The focus of this investigation is on companies and individuals that employ illegal immigrants in their work forces," Rigney said.

Rigney said ICE was called in after police started the investigation two years ago.
Malcomb Daniels --

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Chapter Historians... check here for your history books

Find It Online

Everything-About-Scrapbooking.com www.everything-about-scrapbooking.com At Everything-About-Scrapbooking.com, the motto “simple scrapbooking for beginners” is right on the mark. This site includes plenty of resources if you want to try scrapbooking but don’t know where to start. The Getting Started link provides steps to begin putting together a scrapbook page, while the Ideas, Layouts, and Techniques pages help you continue your creative hobby. On the Submit Your Layout page, you can showcase your scrapbook pages for fellow scrappers and cultivate ideas from the pages they share.

Scrapbook.com www.scrapbook.com Scrapbook.com is, as the Web site states, a “friendly community of scrapbookers.” Scrapbook.com offers lots of useful resources for the avid scrapbooker. The Superstore has a great selection of scrapbooking supplies that you can use to create memorabilia. You can search for supplies by theme, brand, category, or color. The Forums link connects you with fellow scrappers to discuss beginning scrapbooking, techniques, tips, and publishing. The Gallery contains tons of layouts that can spark your own creativity.

Scrapbooking Supply Store www.scrapbookingsupplystore.com The Scrapbooking Supply Store has everything you could ever think of to help you create one-of-a-kind scrapbook pages. You can browse the store’s categories and choose to search by supplies, from embellishments, die cutting machines, and cutters to idea books, markers, and organizers. You can narrow your search results by price or when particular sales end. Beginners are sure to find all the supplies needed to start capturing their memories in a unique way, and advanced scrappers will love the huge selection that will help them continue scrapbooking distinctive pages.

Scrapbook Your Kids www.scrapbookyourkids.com One of the most popular scrapbooking subjects is children. If you need scrapbooking supplies for documenting the exciting lives of your children, visit this site. You’ll find an endless supply of child-themed papers, stickers, and embellishments. Themes include baby boys and girls, growing up, birthdays, toys, college life, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and family. You can purchase scrapbooking albums in different sizes, shapes, and colors.

Unique Scrapbook www.uniquescrapbook.com If you find your scrapbooking habits to be unorganized or simply don’t have the time to devote to your hobby, consider getting a Unique Scrapbook. The Unique Scrapbook is a quick and easy scrapbooking method that works much like a photo album, with photo-protected pages in a three-ring binder. The Unique Scrapbook comes with a bundle of multicolored card stock that you can use to spice up your album and to write memories to accompany your photos. The Unique Scrapbook also comes with storage for extra pictures and photo CDs to help you keep organized so you don’t lose important photos or materials and is available on the Web site for $34.95.

Scrapo www.scrapo.com Scrapo is a digital online scrapbooking Web site that lets you share your scrapbooks with your friends and family free. When you sign up, you get one free scrapbook that you can customize with photos, backgrounds, clip art, and text. You can then use the simple drag-and-drop interface to create a fun design. Scrapo’s community features include private messaging called Scrapo Mail, which is a personal friends list that helps you keep track of your favorite scrapbooks, and a shared library that lets you share photos with others. Scrapo also provides members with a Personal Journal Blog that you can use to talk about your scrapbooking habits and favorite techniques.

Scrapblog www.scrapblog.com Scrapblog is an easy, fun way to create a digital online scrapbook. It’s free to use, and you can create your scrapblog before you register. Scrapblog is very versatile—you can add pictures and videos and then reposition them, and you can also edit pictures by cropping, recoloring, and shaping them. There are tons of ways to personalize your scrapbook, including adding backgrounds, shapes, stickers, videos, and more. You can share your scrapblog with friends and family directly from the site or on major social networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, and on photo-sharing sites, such as Flickr and Picasa. Compiled by Kris Glaser Illustrated by Lindsay Anker That’s News To You Finding the appropriate online group to match your interests can be a monumental task. So each month, we scour the Internet to bring you the friendliest forums and most interesting bloggers the Web has to offer. This month, we delve into the world of Simply Sweet Designs and share how scrapbooking can be easy and enjoyable.

Simply Sweet Designs www.simplysweetdesigns.blogspot.com Simply Sweet Designs is a fun scrapbooking blog that offers tips and tricks for fellow scrappers. With its eye-catching color scheme and casual, friendly atmosphere, Simply Sweet Designs can make anyone want to start digital scrapbooking. Kim Bowcut, designer and author of Simply Sweet Designs, says she created the site after her sister and co-designer Kelley Howe introduced her to digital scrapbooking. They wanted to share their designs and pages with others, and after some brainstorming, they created Simply Sweet Designs. The venture has been rewarding for Bowcut, who says, "It makes me feel good knowing I have helped even one person figure something out and create a memory for their family. That is very satisfying.”

Bowcut sees digital scrapbooking as a way to preserve family memories in an easier, more efficient way. “There is no mess or waste of space for storage; things are saved just as you would like them, it is less expensive, and there is no aging or destruction [of the project] over time,” says Bowcut. Bowcut admits that beginning digital scrapbooking can be overwhelming—even she had trouble designing pages that she thought were meaningful and mature. “I didn’t know where to start, and I felt like all my layouts looked childish, but the old saying ‘practice makes perfect’ is so true,” she says.

Share The Wares Some of the best apples in the online orchard are the free (or free to try) programs available for download. Each month, we feature highlights from our pickings. This month, we share with you a fun scrapbooking tool that lets you create beautiful scrapbook pages with an easy drag-and-drop interface. Scrapbook Flair www.scrapbookflair.com If you’re looking for an easy-to-use scrapbooking site to help you commemorate your best friend’s wedding, your beloved pet, or your children, Scrapbook Flair offers several resources that can help you succeed, such as its free scrapbooking software.

Scrapbook Flair can help beginning scrapbookers find their way with tips, techniques, and free scrapbooking software. Likewise, advanced scrapbookers will find all the materials they need to continue their hobby.

Scrapbook Flair incorporates simplicity and fun all in one, and scrappers of all levels will find the software useful and enjoyable. You’ll find Scrapbook Flair’s software on the Downloads page. You can download the software to your hard drive from the site, or order a CD (you must pay $4.95 shipping) that adds additional backgrounds, graphics, and embellishments. With its drag-and-drop system, Scrapbook Flair is user-friendly and makes creating unique scrapbook pages quick and easy. You can begin by using one of Scrapbook Flair’s templates or with a blank project that lets you choose all aspects of your scrapbook page. Scrapbook Flair has plenty of tools to make your scrapbook page a delight to look at. You can add pictures and crop them into shapes, and you can add caption bubbles and stories using the text tool. Using the built-in editing tool, you can crop, size, brighten, and add effects to your photos.

The ease of each customization option makes Scrapbook Flair’s software a great place for beginners to start learning about digital scrapbooking. Beginners can also find help on the Scrapbook Flair Web site, where resources help spark creativity and learn technique. On the Galleries page, you can search through other members’ public scrapbook pages to get ideas for your own projects. Other resources on the Scrapbook Flair Web site include the Downloads page, where you can download additional backgrounds and embellishments, as well as design templates.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

ANNUAL MEETING 2009 AT CHILDREN'S HARBOR

ANNUAL MEETING 2009 AT CHILDREN'S HARBOR

Big plans are being made for Annual Meeting 2009 - you will not want to miss this educational conference! Make plans to join AALS at Children's Harbor for a very laid back and relaxing weekend of education, fun and networking with the legal gals statewide!!!!!!!!!

BLSA and TCLPA are going to "Light the Way" for you!!!!!!!!!!!

More details will follow! Please take a look at the video below for a short tour of the facility.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008


Powerful Woman's Motto
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders & says ...'Oh shit .... she's awake!!!
Why are you so anxious to see God with your eyes closed? See him with your eyes open- in the form of the poor, the starved, the illiterate and the afflicted. Hindu to a Christian

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

It is not what men eat, but what they digest that makes them strong; not what we gain, but what we save that makes us rich;not what we read, but what we remember that makes us learned;not what we preach or pray, but what we practice and believe that makes us Christians.~ Frances Bacon

Alabama State Bar Launches Campaign to Assist Homeowners Facing Foreclosure; Lawyers Will Provide Free Legal Advice

Montgomery, Ala., October 6, 2008 – In response to the mortgage foreclosure crisis, the Alabama State Bar and Legal Services Alabama have joined in a unique partnership with a plan to help Alabama homeowners remain in their homes. Under the public awareness and education campaign announced today (Ocotber 6), homeowners facing foreclosure can call a toll-free hotline (1-877-393-2333) and be connected with a legal aid attorney who will advise them about the various stages of the process and furnish free legal assistance. Such assistance can take the form of limited representation, negotiation or litigation, if necessary.State Bar President-elect Thomas J. Methvin of Montgomery (Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.), who chairs the Mortgage Foreclosure Task Force said, "Help is available. Homeowners need to know there are options but the key to a successful outcome is early intervention and I can't stress that enough. If you are having a problem making your monthly payments and believe foreclosure is imminent you must act now."Initially, the campaign will have a staggered rollout throughout the state with the Huntsville/Madison County area being targeted first because of the high number of reported foreclosures.Working in cooperation with the state Broadcasters Association, the state bar has produced a series of broadcast messages that will begin airing on radio & TV in Huntsville and surrounding areas. In addition, the bar has available a public information pamphlet that provides answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about foreclosure. Copies may be downloaded from the bar's Web site: www.alabar.org and then click on the words "foreclosure resources."Methvin said, "We are very concerned about people losing their homes. We are also concerned about other related effects of foreclosure such as reducing property values, creating blight with vacant and abandoned properties in neighborhoods, diminishing the local tax base which often supports important services, and straining court dockets."

He explained that Alabama allows for two kinds of foreclosure proceedings; judicial and non-judicial. Non-judicial foreclosures are actually more common and are the ones that can occur in such a short time frame, 21 days. This is why it is crucial for homeowners who have missed making even one monthly mortgage payment to call the hotline immediately. At no cost, legal aid attorneys will interview homeowners by phone and may write a letter on their behalf to the lender for example, or, depending upon the circumstance, they will try to negotiate a work-out of the mortgage. In some cases, the attorney may represent the homeowner in various stages of foreclosure litigation, including mediation, but this option is limited to low-income individuals."We are committed to assisting consumers who are facing the difficult prospect of losing their homes or filing for bankruptcy," Methvin said. Legal Services Alabama is a non-profit organization providing free civil legal and law related services to low income Alabamians in all 67 counties.

The 15,700-member Alabama State Bar is dedicated to promoting the professional responsibility, competence and satisfaction of its members, improving the administration of justice and increasing public understanding and respect for the law.