CALSPro - California Association of Legal Support Professionals

Quarantine and Chill

Posted April 1, 2020 in Membership

Are you working from home? Social distancing? Self-Quarantined? While the world has slowed down and our daily lives have been disrupted, its now time to adapt to the new normal. Savannah Rattanavong has recently shared an article which illustrates many ways to have fun and stay productive while doing your part to help flatten the curve.

Schools buildings have been closed, stores and restaurants have reduced hours or closed dining rooms and events have been canceled — all in the name of social distancing, and for some, quarantine, to slow the spread of coronavirus.

It’s the new reality for now as public health officials recommend people keep away from others — at least 6 feet apart — avoid gathering in groups of more than 10, and stay home when possible, especially if they feel sick.

Of course, by being more or less stuck at home for an indefinite length of time you may find yourself quickly running out of things to do. To help stave off cabin fever, here are some activities to fight the monotony.

Watch Netflix with friends

There have been lots of jokes on social media from people saying they’ll be doing nothing but watching shows and movies on streaming platforms during their self-quarantine. However, this can still be a social activity through a Google Chrome extension called “Netflix Party.” Only one person needs to download it, and once you find something you want to watch, share the link with your friends. Everyone can chat off to the side, as well as pause, play and fast forward or rewind.

Go on a walk

Just because you need to stay away from others doesn’t mean you can’t see the light of day. Whether it’s walking the dog every day or riding your bike on a trail, try to stay active and get some fresh air. Your mental sanity and health will thank you.

Learn a language

This can be practical or just for fun, depending on what language you choose. Duolingo is a free app you can try out that has more than 30 language courses, including the fictional Klingon and High Valyrian. You’ll never be completely fluent through the app alone, but it can at least help you get started on vocabulary and sentence structure.

Read your book collection

I have a bad habit of buying books when I visit book stores, but I never get around to reading some of them. Use what extra time you have to go through your backlog or revisit your favorite classics.

Deep clean and/or KonMari your residence

It’s officially spring as of Thursday, so you know what that means… it’s time for spring cleaning. Some of you may have already gotten a head start on this by disinfecting your home, but use the opportunity to get in the nooks and crannies, as well as sort through old belongings. Imagine cleaning consultant Marie Kondo of the “KonMari method” asking you, “Does this spark joy?” when deciding whether to keep or toss that ratty T-Shirt you got during freshmen orientation some odd years ago.

Start a journal or blog

Consider setting up a blog about a hobby of yours or starting a regular writing journal or diary. Sure, many of those entries right now might be about the coronavirus, but imagine how interesting it will be to look back at those logs, say, 20 years from now, recounting what surely will be a historic period in our lives.

Treat yourself to an at-home spa day

If you can, try to relax. Run a bath, make a DIY hair mask, plaster on a face mask and do your nails. With all the constant noise going on these days, don’t feel selfish for taking some time for yourself.

Dust off old family board games

Maybe it’s been a while since you last had a family game night. If you’re all hunkered down together, get some bonding time in by pulling out the game of Life or Jenga. Just not Monopoly, unless you’re OK with never speaking to your family again with no way to escape.

Fix that thing you’ve been putting off for months

Have a leaky faucet or never finished painting the walls of your basement? No excuses now. You’ll feel much better and accomplished once you finally tackle that problem you’ve had on the back burner.

Cook something new

With limited restaurant and fast food options right now, you might find yourself forced to cook anyway. Challenge yourself to make a recipe you’ve never made before or work on perfecting a go-to meal.

Follow a Bob Ross painting tutorial

The late Bob Ross is the epitome of calm wholesomeness — a quality many people may need right now. He is famous for his “Joy of Painting” TV show on PBS, where he guided viewers on how to paint nature landscapes. Pull up an episode on YouTube and follow along.

Have kids? Children’s book author and illustrator Mo Willems is producing a daily “lunch doodles” program that lets kids follow along as he draws. Go to kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems.

To open or close. Normally an easy question…

Posted March 25, 2020 in Membership

To open or close. Normally an easy question. However, we are not in normal times. If we were delivering toilet paper and not civil process, it would be a no-brainer as far as being an essential business.

We have 58 counties in our great state and some courts are still open during this pandemic. We feel you need to do what is best for your company and your community based upon federal, state and local rules and interpretations.

Check out this for a comprehensive LIST of what our state considers essential.

Here is some helpful information, but you should always contact a qualified attorney for legal advice.

Legislative Update

On Wednesday, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Soon after, it was signed into law. In general, the act focuses on organizations employing fewer than 500 people (public-sector employers may have additional requirements). Provisions include:

Full-time employees affected by the coronavirus may qualify to receive up to two weeks of emergency paid sick leave.

•            Part-time affected employees may qualify for emergency paid sick leave up to the average number of hours worked over a two-week period.

•            Per Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) expansion, following 10 days of unpaid leave, applicable employees may qualify for up to 10 additional weeks of job-protected leave at 67% of normal pay.

•            Paid sick leave and paid family leave wages will not be subject to the employer portion of the Social Security payroll tax.

•            Additionally, employers will be eligible for a credit against the employer portion of the Social Security payroll tax for the provided paid sick leave and paid family leave, subject to certain caps and modifiers.

For more details – including additional provisions, exemptions and caps that may apply – you can read the full text of the act at the U.S. Congress website.

Stay focused on doing what needs to be done as you lead. Take care of yourself, your family, your companies and your communities. These are times for empathy and compassion and doing what needs to be done.

In the event you do stay operational, please maintain a safe social distance between employees and the public which you serve.

If you want to go fast: go alone. If you want to go far: Go together

On behalf of your CALSPro Board-We are in this together.

Stay safe and healthy.

A Message from the President

Posted March 17, 2020 in Membership

Dear CALSPro Family-

I am certain you’ve received numerous emails regarding the COVID-19 Virus.  We are in unprecedented times and the situation is changing rapidly, not just for the United States but our world as a whole.  We take tremendous pride in the safety and health of our members, directors, and administration.  We take this very seriously and it is a huge priority for us.

We have canceled our in-person board of directors meeting on April 4, 2020, in Los Angeles and have scheduled a telephonic legislation committee meeting as well as a board meeting instead. I just read that Major League Baseball games are canceled until at least mid-May.

Jonathan Nill with Legal Connect has agreed to monitor and track any court closures/delays and keep our members informed.  Please email him directly at Jnill@legalconnect.com  if you hear anything in your community.

In case you have not received this information, I would like to share the following information that was forwarded to me by Larry Sukay with Patriot Insurance:

I’ve been asked by several clients if the Business Income coverage provided under the property portion of the policy will cover the loss of income as a result of the Corona Virus.

I have been on the phone for the last several days with several underwriters discussing this and the general consensus is that BI (Business Income) is triggered when there is a physical loss due to a covered peril “Cause of Loss” i.e. Fire, Lightening, Wind, Hail, etc. or not otherwise excluded.  An “Epidemic (or Virus) & Disease” is a specific exclusion along with “Earth Movement”, “Nuclear” and other typical standard policy exclusions.

Policies also have what’s called “Civil Authority” language in the event of a shutdown ordered by the government, but the trigger must also be a covered peril and typically required by physical damage to adjacent or nearby property. So likely no coverage here either.

The bottom line Business Income is directly related to a property loss. I do not see any coverage is provided under the Business Income section or picking up any loss of income from the pandemic virus.

I’ve included a link below on an article from The New York Times that further explains the limitations of standard insurance policies. There is a new type of policy that will provide coverage for future pandemics, but not this one. Please let me know if you have an interest in this coverage. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/business/coronavirus-business-insurance.html

I was also recently forwarded the following which provides key information on the virus.

STANFORD HOSPITAL BOARD INTERNAL MESSAGE:

Read and understand

The new Coronavirus may not show signs of infection for many days. How can one know if he/she is infected? By the time they have a fever and/or cough and go to the hospital, the lung is usually 50% Fibrosis and it’s too late. Taiwan experts provide a simple self-check that we can do every morning. Take a deep breath and hold your breath for more than 10 seconds. If you complete it successfully without coughing, without discomfort, stiffness or tightness, etc., it proves there is no Fibrosis in the lungs, basically indicates no infection. In critical times, please self-check every morning in an environment with clean air.

Serious excellent advice by Japanese doctors treating COVID-19 cases: Everyone should ensure your mouth & throat are moist, never dry. Take a few sips of water every 15 minutes at least. Why? Even if the virus gets into your mouth, drinking water or other liquids will wash them down through your throat and into the stomach. Once there, your stomach acid will kill all the viruses. If you don’t drink enough water more regularly, the virus can enter your windpipe and into the lungs. That’s very dangerous. Please send and share this with family and friends. Take care everyone and may the world recover from this Coronavirus soon.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – CORONAVIRUS

1. If you have a runny nose and sputum, you have a common cold 2. Coronavirus pneumonia is a dry cough with no runny nose.

3. This new virus is not heat-resistant and will be killed by a temperature of just 26/27 degrees. It hates the Sun.

4. If someone sneezes with it, it takes about 10 feet before it drops to the ground and is no longer airborne.

5. If it drops on a metal surface it will live for at least 12 hours – so if you come into contact with any metal surface – wash your hands as soon as you can with a bacterial soap.

6. On fabric, it can survive for 6-12 hours. Normal laundry detergent will kill it.

7. Drinking warm water is effective for all viruses. Try not to drink liquids with ice.

8. Wash your hands frequently as the virus can only live on your hands for 5-10 minutes, but – a lot can happen during that time – you can rub your eyes, pick your nose unwittingly and so on.

9. You should also gargle as prevention. A simple solution of salt in warm water will suffice. Flushing your sinuses is also a good idea!

10. Can’t emphasize enough – drink plenty of water!

THE SYMPTOMS

1. It will first infect the throat, so you’ll have a sore throat lasting 3/4 days 2. The virus then blends into a nasal fluid that enters the trachea and then the lungs, causing pneumonia. This takes about 5/6 days further.

3. With the pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing.

4. The nasal congestion is not like the normal kind. You feel like you’re drowning. It’s imperative you then seek medical attention

As we put things in perspective, take a moment to appreciate what we have in our lives.  It’s a good time to slow down and enjoy your family, friends, sunrise, sunset or just enjoy taking a breath.  Remember we are a strong association and in the event you need anything please reach out to myself or one of our amazing board members.

Thank you and stay safe.

Best regards,

Robert Porambo
President@calspro.org

All Apologies: “I’m Sorry” Is More Than Just Words

Posted March 4, 2020 in Membership

By Lance Frazer

Apologies are a part of life, and they’re a part of business. While a successful apology shows an acknowledgment of, and responsibility for, a problem, all too often we get them wrong.

Roy Lewicki, professor emeritus of management and human resources at Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, tells the Connection there are six components to any good apology: an expression of regret, an explanation of what went wrong, an acknowledgment of responsibility, a declaration of repentance, an offer of repair and a request for forgiveness. The more of them you include, the better your odds of mending or preserving a relationship.

In an experiment, Lewicki and his colleagues tested how more than 700 people reacted to apologies that contained from one to all six of these components. “We were interested in what makes apologies more or less effective, so we constructed a hypothetical scenario with apologies containing one or more of the key components and asked [test subjects] to judge their effectiveness;’ he says.

What they found was that the more components the apology included, the more effective it was judged, the two key components being an acknowledgment of responsibility and an offer of repair.

But, cautions Lewicki, the components were not weighted equally, and language was key. “We’re so used to hearing political doublespeak involving too many words without meaning, where it gets in the way of the message and minimizes the apology,” he says.

One kiss of death for an apology? “The phrase ‘I’m sorry if anyone was offended by what I said/ did’ ” Lewicki tells the Connection. “That phrasing is completely empty, conveys a meaning that is both underhanded and cynical, and shows neither empathy nor sincerity:’

Empathy and timing are vital elements, he feels: “The closer to the offense that you apologize, the more effective it is. If you wait too long, it only gives the offended more time to stew in that juice, and makes the apology less meaningful and less effective.”

Lewicki ends with a warning: “The bottom line in all of this is that, from Washington to Hollywood to the sports world, there are so many people apologizing for so much that the overall efficacy of the apology is being diminished unless it’s a really finely crafted, empathetic apology.”

Article taken from the February 2020 issue of Costco connection.

Lance Frazer is a California-based writer.

How Do You Find A Registered Process Server? According to the Sacramento Law Library, through CALSPro, Of Course!

Posted February 5, 2020 in Membership

The Sacramento Law Library has published an online memo about service of process. The memo covers all angles of Who, What, When, Where regarding service of process. In a special mention on page 4 listing Who Can Serve My Court Papers they state that a directory of process servers is available at www.calspro.org.

Registered Process Server

Find in the yellow pages under “process servers” or “attorney services.” A directory of process servers is also available at www.calspro.org. Fees: Vary. Fees are usually based on the distance traveled and the difficulty of service. Copies needed: Vary. The process server will tell you how many copies they will need. A process server is a person who serves all types of legal documents.

Thank you for the mention Sacramento Law Library! We at CALSPro appreciate your endorsement. Also, a special thank you to Andy Estin for spotting the endorsement. Thanks Andy!

A Message From The President

Posted December 18, 2019 in Membership

By Robert C. Porambo | CALSPro President

Another year and decade are almost in the books and new ones are ready to begin. As we close the books on this decade, I am reminded that serving as your President has been and is a tremendous honor and privilege. Looking forward, I plan to continue the work we have started and keep all the momentum regarding our ongoing projects.

When I ran for president, my platform was to insure members that CALSPro is here to protect your business. Over the past half-century CALSPro has defeated adverse legislation numerous times. Each time proving to be worthwhile insurance for your businesses. I will continue to ensure that CALSPro be your best option when it comes to industry insurance.This past year AB5/Dynamex was a major challenge for our industry. While we were unable to gain an exemption (not due to lack of effort) from this bill, this subject continues to be one of our main focuses and objectives in 2020. For those who attended our most recent conference, employment lawyer Amber Healy gave an amazing presentation on this subject to educate our members. In the event you were unable to attend, please know that you will see information on this subject in future e-blasts and newsletters.

Our committees are already hard at work. Our education committee continues to improve our materials and we plan to offer our CCPS exams via the internet. In addition we are now offering several mini education webinars to educate our members on important topics. For those who attended our past conference, I am sure you agree it was an overall amazing event. We had great speakers, topics and had a lot fun as well. I already am looking forward to next year’s conference in San Jose. Please mark your calendars now and plan on attending.

Our membership committee did an extraordinary job this past year. We were able to increase membership, which in turn keeps CALSPro profitable. Make sure to renew your membership now and if you know someone who is not a member, please urge them to join and keep CALSPro strong for years to come!!

If you or your business has any issues that you need help or advice with, feel free to reach out to me or one of your dedicated board members. Collectively, we have over 300 years of industry experience and want you to know that we are here to help and always have your back.

Again, thank you for your continued support and I wish you and yours a very Merry Everything and a Happy Always!

Announcing the CALSPro 2019-2020 Board of Directors

Posted November 6, 2019 in Membership

Voting took place via online secret ballot, and we are happy to report the results as follows:

2019‐2020 Officers and Board of Directors

Elected to a one‐year term by the entire membership to serve beginning October 5, 2019.

President, Board Member Robert Porambo, Knox Attorney Service, Inc., San Diego

Vice President, Board Member Ken Hastings, Hastings Legal Services, LLC., Temecula

Secretary‐Treasurer, Board Member Andrew Gowing, Janney and Janney Attorney Service, Los Angeles

Board Members:

Chad G. Barger, Attorney’s Certified Services, Bakersfield

Tom Bowman, Sterling Madison Company of San Jose

Andrew Gowing, Janney and Janney Attorney Service, Los Angeles

Ken Hastings, Hastings Professional Process Servers, Temecula

Larry Kirlin, First Legal Support, Fresno

Mark Manchester, Rezac‐Meyer Attorney Service, Los Angeles

Dan Mora, Gemini Legal, Rocklin

Anita Pasillas, Rapid Legal, Chino Hills

Robert Porambo, Knox Attorney Service, Inc., San Diego

Kristian Pujol, Commercial Process Serving, Inc., Ventura

Jay Roll, Janney and Janney Attorney Service, Santa Ana

We wish to thank the above individuals for agreeing to serve. Additionally, we wish to thank Jackie Janney‐Kilgore for running for the board.

Finally, the members are to be applauded for supporting the process and participating in the election.

We’re Going To The Hockey Game!

Posted October 23, 2019 in Membership

By Robert Porambo

Please join us for the San Diego Gulls Hockey Game on Saturday, January 11, 2020. The Gulls are the Anaheim Ducks minor league team.

Tickets are only $25.00 and it’s 80’s night so feel free to wear your parachute pants or Angel flight jeans.

You will also receive a free Gulls fanny pack and a Gulls Hat or scarf.

I expect tickets will go quickly, so place your order now and don’t miss the net!!

Email rporambo@knoxservices.com to let me know you’re in!

CALSPro’s ‘Night At The Angels Game’ Was A Huge Success!

Posted August 21, 2019 in Membership

By Larry Kirlin

On Friday, August 16^th at least 50 CALSPro members, family and friends attended an Angels baseball game in Anaheim.  The consensus is that everyone had a great time.  According to the Orange County Area Governor, Jay Roll, the night would have been perfect if the Angels hadn’t lost the game. 

When you consider that we have just over 200 members in California, getting 50 people at one event shows how much our people enjoy each other.  It wasn’t just OC people at the game either.  We actually had a total of 5 counties attend and represent CALSPro (OC, Riverside, Ventura, LA, and San Diego).

It has only been about two years since the area governor program was resurrected.  I’m happy to report the program is in full swing.  Pun intended.

Area governors are posted on the website under the leadership tab.  Contacting your governor is an easy as clicking on their name and sending an email. 

Get the most out of your CALSPro membership and ask your governor a question today.

Understanding These 7 Harsh Truths Will Improve Your Leadership Skills Overnight

Posted August 7, 2019 in Membership

In an article written by Marcel Schwantes, he explains how the following seven truths can help you improve your leadership skills. As Marcel points out, it is important to remember that you lead people, and manage the work. If you can find a way to absorb and utilize the following seven truths, you are well on your way to becoming a stronger leader. Inspiration is powerful, inspire your team!

This is taking your leadership to a whole new level, again.

Remember those old and scratchy vinyl records that would skip and play the same thing over and over until you moved the needle? (I know I’m showing my age, play along.)

Well, the Gallup Organization has been playing a tune now for over three decades, one that sure sounds a lot like a scratchy record that won’t move forward. You know it well—roughly 30 percent of employees in the U.S. are actually engaged in their work. But here’s the part of the song that keeps skipping incessantly: People leave managers, not companies.

We’ve know this for a while and yet we can’t seem to solve the leadership crisis that will result in happy, engaged, and motivated workers.

That’s because most people in positions of power don’t have a clear understanding of what it truly takes to influence others. You don’t manage people; you lead people and manage the work.

Seven Brutal Truths About Leadership

If you find yourself in the precarious position of wondering “where do I stand as a leader,” at some point you must face some brutal truths about what it takes to motivate and inspire on a human, emotional, and psychological level.

1. The brutal truth that good leaders will first pump the fear out of the room.

In traditional top-down power structures, bosses will cast a vision and then use positional power and control to move people to carry out the vision. Fear is par for the course as the primary motivator. In today’s social economy, servant leaders will cast a company vision and enroll their followers to express their voice as co-creators and co-contributors to the vision. And their first priority is creating psychological safety among their tribes: They pump the fear out of the room and liberate their people to freely collaborate, innovate, and engage.

2. The brutal truth that good leadership doesn’t happen without trust.

Every leader needs to ask a very important, look-in-the-mirror, question: “Does my behavior increase trust?” If you are considering elevating your leadership skills, trust is a pillar your leadership should stand on. In his book The Speed of Trust, Stephen M.R. Covey highlights several trusting leadership behaviors great companies are known for, including:

• Create transparency
• Confront reality
• Practice accountability
• Talk straight
• Right wrongs

3. The brutal truth that good leaders are willing to listen to feedback.

Many leaders don’t want to listen to ideas, opinions, and constructive feedback from others about their own leadership. For such leaders, cutting themselves off means that they operate in an ego-system, not an ecosystem. A leader who listens well, on the other hand, is open and accountable; they filter out criticism or drama and find the facts in order to respond appropriately to serve the needs of others. They probe and ask questions until they get clarification; they listen to understand—with a focus on the future, not on a rehash of the past.

4. The brutal truth that good leaders are positive, even when things go bad.

Good leaders practice positive thinking. They view stressful situations from a more positive perspective, which takes emotional intelligence. Rather than getting stressed out about a work situation or a recent failure, they look at it as an opportunity to pause, regroup, learn, grow, and bounce back with renewed energy and focus. This can have a profound effect on one’s emotional and physical well-being. Leaders who maintain a positive attitude and practice positive thinking experience less stress than those who are pessimistic, narrow-minded, and negative.

5. The brutal truth that good leaders rarely, if ever, procrastinate.

Good leaders are “do-it-now” people. They don’t put things off until the last minute, which is a sure way to increase stress levels. Good leaders begin doing what they know they should do, and when they know they should do it. They anticipate problems when issues arise and address them head-on before they escalate.

6. The brutal truth that good leaders put strict boundaries on themselves.

Billionaire Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, learned a long time ago that the greatest commodity of all is time. One of his secrets to success? He simply mastered the practice of setting boundaries for himself. The mega-mogul once said:

The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.

They say no to opportunities and things that don’t excite them, speak to their values, or further their mission in life. They say no to spending time with uninspiring, critical, or negative people who drag them down. They say no to overworking and neglecting self-care and family. They recognize that if they can’t take care of themselves, everything else suffers.

7. The brutal truth that leadership, in the end, is really about love.

We often view any notion of leadership and love through the spiritual teachings of historical and religious figures like Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. But another unlikely icon from the past—legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi—didn’t mince words in defining how he led with love. He said:

I don’t necessarily have to like my players and associates, but as their leader, I must love them. Love is loyalty, love is teamwork, love respects the dignity of the individual. This is the strength of any organization.

Love in the leadership-at-work sense is not a feeling; it’s expressed as an “action verb.” It’s love that shows up in meeting the needs of others to get results, clearing obstacles from people’s path, and empowering others to succeed and grow as workers and human beings. It has intrinsic value for both leader and employee. Ultimately, it’s this kind of love that defines some of the best CEOs on the planet.