The Wichita Area Chapter of Legal Administrators was born in 1981, when a small group of administrators began meeting regularly at the Wichita Club for unstructured roundtable discussions on issues and problems. Among those early participants were Teri Harpool, Pat Nieman, Dana Gsell (then Tjaden), Eileen Langston (then Newton), Wayne Isaac and (now Judge) Warren Wilbert.
In 1986 the first officers were elected, and in February 1987 Wichita became the first chapter in Kansas to receive Charter Affiliation with the international Association of Legal Administrators.
CHARTER ALA BOARD MEMBERS
Teri Harpool, President
Dana Tjaden, President-Elect
Eileen Newton, Secretary
Pat Nieman, Treasurer
Mary Hartung, Nominating Chair
LIFE MEMBERS
Eileen Langston, Deceased (1938-2009)
Teri Harpool (Awarded 6/30/01)
PAST PRESIDENTS
1986-87 Teri Harpool, Martin, Pringle, Oliver, Wallace & Swartz
1987-88 Dana Tjaden, Hershberger, Patterson, Jones & Roth
1988-89 Dana Gsell, Hershberger, Patterson, Jones & Roth
1989-90 Eileen Newton, Rent-A-Center
1990-91 Laura Norman, Foulston & Siefkin
1991-92 Clela Rorex, Kahrs, Nelson, Fanning, Hite & Kellogg
1992-93 Lynn Bever, Hershberger, Patterson, Jones & Roth
1993-94 Pamela Downs, Fleeson, Gooing, Coulson & Kitch
1994-95 Cindy Ratzloff, Kahrs, Nelson, Fanning, Hite & Kellogg
1995-96 Sarah Andrews, Koch Industries, Inc.
1996-97 Teri Harpool, Martin, Pringle, Oliver, Wallace & Swartz
1997-98 Kim Heese, Klenda, Mitchell, Austerman & Zuercher
1998-99 Cindy Ahonen, Stinson, Lasswell & Wilson
1999-00 Cindy Ahonen, Stinson, Lasswell & Wilson
2000-01 Jackie Barnes, Hutton & Hutton
2001-02 Janie Jacobs, Morris, Laing, Evans, Brock & Kennedy
2002-03 Teresa Wolfe, Klenda, Mitchell, Austerman & Zuercher
2003-04 Janice Friedman, Hite, Fanning & Honeyman
2004-05 Mary Ellen Kraus, McDonald, Tinker, Skaer, Quinn & Herrington
2005-06 Jana Waltman, Gilliland & Hayes
2006-07 DeAnna Williams, Hinkle Elkouri Law Firm
2007-08 Cindy Hague, Foulston Siefkin
2008-09 Cindy Rush, Bever Dye, LC
2009-10 Jana Waltman, Gilliland & Hayes
2010-11 Mary Ellen Kraus, McDonald, Tinker, Skaer, Quinn & Herrington
2011-12 Mary Turner, Fleeson, Gooing, Coulson & Kitch
ALA AWARDS HISTORY
1996 Bronze President’s Award of Excellence
1997 Bronze President’s Award of Excellence
First Bar Relations
1998 Gold President’s Award of Excellence
1999 Gold President’s Award of Excellence
Honorable Mention Bar Relations
Honorable Mention Community Service
Honorable Mention Excellence in Education
2000 Silver President’s Award of Excellence
2001 Gold President’s Award of Excellence
First Community Service
Second Bar Relations
Honorable Mention Best Feature Article
Honorable Mention Vendor Partnering
Special Recognition Achievements in Diversity
2002 Silver President’s Award of Excellence
Honorable Mention Community Service
Honorable Mention Recruitment & Orientation
2004 Silver President’s Award of Excellence
Honorable Mention Community Service
Honorable Mention Vendor Partnering
2005 Silver President’s Award of Excellence
2006 Platinum President’s Award of Excellence
First Activating Volunteers
First Vendor Partnering
Second Bar Relations
Third Community Service
2007 Platinum President’s Award of Excellence
First Chapter Web Sites
First Newsletter Excellence
First Visibility – PLMW
2008 Gold President’s Award of Excellence
2009 Platinum President’s Award of Excellence
2010 Platinum President’s Award of Excellence