On the heels of the recent Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, we noted some of the feedback from the business partner community about the show. Comments included:

• making connections and name recognition
• learning about [member] needs and issues
• continued relationship development with ALA members interaction with our clients and prospects

Each of these comments suggests to me that it takes work, patience and commitment. Your best friend did not become your best friend overnight. No doubt, the relationship and bond was built over time.

There is no magic bullet to finding the right solutions, the right venues. Our opportunities are many and varied: annual, regional and specialty conferences, chapter educational and social events, one-on-one meetings, Webinars. Your challenge is finding what works best for your organization today, and for the longer term. Our Committee and Headquarters staff have the knowledge and desire to help you evaluate your options. Let us know how we can help.
 

Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Seattle and Charlotte will all provide the backdrops for what promises to be a very successful regional conference season.

Kicking off the fall lineup in Kansas City was the combined Regions 3 and 4 Conference & Expo, September 15-17, with 246 registered attendees and 70 exhibiting companies. Region 1 will take place October 13-15 in Pittsburgh and to date has nearly 100 registered attendees and 64 exhibiting companies. Region 6 will take place in Las Vegas, October 20-22, and currently has 135 attendees and is SOLD OUT to business partners. Region 5 is next in Seattle, October 27-29, with 63 attendees currently registered and 43 exhibiting companies. Wrapping up the regionals will be Region 2 in Charlotte, NC, with 82 attendees and a SOLD OUT exhibit hall. Learn more
 

ALA would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the ALA fall conference exhibitors and sponsors a very successful regional expo experience. If you need any assistance during the fall expo season, please do not hesitate to contact Jane Mundell at 847.267.1375.
 

As a business partner, were you concerned about Conference attendance in Honolulu?
If so, dispel those thoughts immediately! A resounding number — 702 — of ALA members have registered for the 2012 ALA Conference & Exposition, and with seven months to go, we are excited with the overwhelming response to early registration.

Have you already reserved your booth in Honolulu?
If so, you are one of over 100 exhibiting companies committed to what promises to be a spectacular event. If you have not secured your booth, you will want to contact Jackie Stasch as soon as possible — space is going quickly.

Find a wealth of traffic building, highly visible, NEW sponsorship opportunities in the 2012 ALA Annual Conference Partnership Guide.
 

The Power of Partnership

We all get calls from business partners. Heck, I didn't know that dropping my card into a fishbowl for a chance to win that AmEx gift card meant the vendor was going to call me! And now he wants to meet. Do I really have time for this? Of course I do.

The business partners are my life line in this job. They are constantly coming to my rescue. Many years ago, when it finally occurred to me that we could help each other, I started building business relationships with each and every business partner. It has paid off time and time again. Let me tell you a story…

There once was a business partner who was working for an envelope company who would faithfully call on me each time he came to my city for customer visits even though I wasn’t yet a customer. He realized, from his years of experience, that it takes time to build a relationship and that, in turn results in new business. Because this gentleman was so incredibly friendly and kind, and always asked about my family, I looked forward to his calls and to his visits. Because I gave him the chance to explain, I quickly understood what he could offer. He offered what best fit my firm's needs, even if it needed to be customized.

It was not long after I began ordering from him that he left the company and opened up his own family–owned business, Walsh Envelope Company. I had no reservations about doing business with him at his new company. Chuck Walsh is an upstanding, respectable man that stands by his word. It was Chuck who made me want to buy what he was selling. Service did not wane; in fact, it got better when Chuck started his company, as he had more control over the level of service he provided.

Soon, Chuck's son, Matt, was assigned to our account. Matt delivered the same excellent service as his father had for all those years. He always made time for me when he came to town. Matt made a decision to follow a different career path, at least for a while, and his brother Chip took over our account. No change–Chip delivered the same wonderful service. Chip and I had an immediate connection as our sons are both named Shaun (Sean) and Quinn. Chip's sons, Sean and Quinn, were even born in the same months as my Shaun and Quinn. Isn't that cool?

You might recognize this company, as the sponsors of the Walsh Fun Run at each ALA Annual Conference & Exposition. They have been an avid sponsor of ALA for years and, I am certain, will be for years to come. Although they are called an envelope company, they offer so much more. They are price competitive and make sure that shipping costs don't take them out of the competitive ring. At my firm, we needed right tab red rope filing jackets because of the layout of our file room. Who helped us? Walsh Envelope Company. They were one of the first to sell Tyvek^® envelopes at an affordable price. Their inventory has expanded, and now you can find everything from ordinary file folders, Intellectual Property folders, and Estate Planning file systems to labels, Tabbies^®, specialty indexing products and toner cartridges. And, oh yes, they sell envelopes! Walsh is a company of individuals who love what they do and want to make sure their customers are satisfied. They have rescued me more than once with just the right product at just the right price. Thank you Walsh Envelope Company!

Lorri Salyards, CLM
Doerner, Saunders, Daniel & Anderson, L.L.P.
Two West Second, Suite 700
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103
(918) 591-5241
 

As we prepare for 2012, the Marketing Guide is being updated to offer you, the ALA Business Partner, a comprehensive overview of marketing opportunities. You loved the 2011 customization features, so we are giving you more to choose from; you saw value in digital ads and enhancements, so we expanded your options; finally, you asked for better budgeting tools, and we are prepared to meet your expectations.

Advertising Deadlines–Create a Buzz!
Don't miss the opportunity to showcase your company in ALA News or Legal Management. Choose the advertising vehicle that's right for you and create a buzz about the latest in legal industry products, services and trends. Editorial calendars, pricing and contact information make it easy for you to share your company with the ALA community.

Association of Legal Administrators
75 Tri-State International
Suite 222
Lincolnshire, IL 60069-4435
847.267.1252 TEL
847.267.1329 FAX
www.alanet.org

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