Scot was a successful high school teacher and high school basketball coach. In 1991 he was voted Coach of the Year. He had a family and career that he loved; his students and peers respected him.

In 1995, Scot graduated cum laude from Greensboro College with his Bachelor’s degree, even with a severe reading and writing learning disorder.

High on life, Scot’s world soon crashed. He was diagnosed with rapid cycling bipolar disorder in late 1995. Like many who suffer from mental illness, because of the world’s view of mental illness, Scot only shared his illness with a select few in his life. The illness began to destroy his career and family life.

With his adventurous spirit, Scot took to his new purpose. He continually educates the public using his own experiences, growth, and breakthroughs. Scot works with education systems, mental illness support groups, businesses, churches, and civic organization to increase awareness and create change. His focus remains. It is more than increasing awareness; it is to create change in the lives of the mentally ill by working with them as a whole person.

Scot serves as Executive Director for the foundation. And, is the current vice-president of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Metro Atlanta. Helping those diagnosed with a mental illness focus on a successful future rather than the illusion of playing the victim, Scot consults with families on a private basis.

Mark J. Newman is the immigration law partner at Troutman Sanders. Mark’s practice ranges from the transfer of international business executives to the defense of corporations charged with employer sanction violations. He continues his practice in immigration litigation and appellate work before various administrative agencies and in the federal courts.

Mark Practiced immigration and trial law in Florida for ten years before moving to Atlanta and joining Troutman Sanders in 1989. He served as lead counsel in the federal class action proceedings to acquire lawful permanent residence for more than 100,000 Mariel Cubans.

He served as Chairman of the Atlanta District Director’s Liaison Committee of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). He co-chaired the ABA/Prentice Hall Seminar on the 1990 Immigration Act in Atlanta. He has spoken to audiences abroad about U.S. immigration and co-authored Immigration Law and Practice in Florida. He is a frequent speaker at CLE seminars on immigration throughout North America, most recently in June 2005 in Salt Lake City at the AILA National Conference. He has also keynoted the October 2003 AILA Law Conference in Washington, D.C. and co-authored a recently published article in Ethics in a Brave New World.

Mark received his undergraduate degree in 1976 from Princeton University and his law degree in 1979 from the University of Miami School of Law. He is also active in various community activities, having served as President of the Rotary Club of West End Atlanta, and Chair of Scott’s Spring benefiting the immigration program of Catholic Social Services.

To celebrate Paralegal Day, the Georgia Association of Paralegals has planned this special Saturday event.  As this is a Paralegal Day celebration, attendees are limited to current GAP paralegal and student members.

Be sure to bring the family. Activities include:

• A catered lunch at the pavilion in Brownwood Park
• Games, prizes and gifts
• A visit to Zoo Atlanta, with a scavenger hunt at the zoo

One of the benefits of membership in the Georgia Association of Paralegals is the ability to network with other paralegals. Don’t miss the opportunity to network for success at the GAP meeting on June 13, 2006. Since GAP will be appreciating its members, no business will be conducted. All eight sponsors will bring door prizes for eight lucky GAP members to take home.

Admission is free for the first 150, but you must be a GAP member and you must pre-register. NOTE: This is a Paralegal Member Appreciation Dinner; all sponsor firms are limited to two representatives each.

GAP, along with fellow members of the legal community, are helping renovate Bolton Academy, a public school in West Atlanta, as part of Hands On Atlanta’s ServiceJuris Day on June 24th (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.). GAP members are encouraged to bring family members and friends (age 13 and up). To participate or get more information, contact gagapservice@yahoo.com.

Jim Wanserski is an independent consultant in Atlanta doing work with specialty and turnaround consulting firms. Wanserski has uncovered fraud multiple times - at Sprint, Telecom USA and MCI - and has assisted some of his consulting clients in ferreting it out. During his Sprint tenure, his success spurred internal clients to seek his help. Those experiences, common sense and a natural skepticism positioned him to uncover a large receivables fraud at MCI, putting the perpetrators behind bars.

Data from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) indicates outsiders are far down the list in terms of uncovering fraud. Wanserski's experience confirms that active managers have the best opportunity to detect fraud and the direct responsibility to do something about it. Wanserski, a former financial services manager at MCI will recount what happened in a well-publicized case that he came to know intimately, and offers advice about how to deal with fraud and any ensuing litigation.

This meeting is good for .75 hours of NFPA-Approved CLE credit.

Robin Sangston is Vice President and Assistant General Counsel for Cox Communications, Inc. She joined Cox Communications in 1995 as its fourth attorney. She was promoted to Senior Counsel in 1998. In 2000, she was promoted to Vice President and Assistant General Counsel. Sangston, who manages a group of ten in the Legal and Regulatory Department, oversees the company’s litigation, dispute resolution, antitrust, privacy, intellectual property, and government investigation work.

Prior to joining Cox Communications, Sangston was an associate with the law firm of Dow, Lohnes & Albertson in the Washington, D.C. office. There, she specialized in litigation involving media companies.

Sangston received her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania where she was a member of the Mortar Board Honor Society. She received her J.D., with high honors, from George Washington University’s National Law Center. She was selected to be a member of the George Washington Law Review and Order of the Coif.

Sangston serves as the Immediate Past Chair of Women in Cable & Telecommunications, Inc. (“WICT”), a 5,500 member non-profit organization whose mission is to develop women leaders in the cable television industry. Prior to serving as Chair, she held numerous other leadership positions in the organization, including President of the Atlanta Chapter in 1999. In addition, Sangston is an alumna of Class 8 of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute, WICT’s flagship executive development program.

Sangston currently lives in the Atlanta suburbs with her husband and three children. She is active in a variety of community activities, including the local Boy Scout Troop, the Local School Advisory Committee and the Gwinnett County Swim League.

GAP is proud to be hosting the NFPA Region III Meeting in Atlanta, GA on November 3 & 4, 2006, with an optional day of fun and sightseeing on November 5. Registration deadline is October 1, 2006. All members of associations in Region III are invited to attend and, thanks to our generous sponsors, there is no cost for registration.

The meeting will consist of Leadership Training on Friday, November 3rd (mostly for association leaders and board members), a Friday night social event, and the Region III meeting on Saturday, November 4th. GAP is also planning an optional fun/sight-seeing event for Sunday, it will be planned according to how many express interest in participating.

The Leadership Training and Region III meeting will be held at Document Technologies, Inc., (Two Ravinia Drive, Suite 850, Atlanta, GA 30346).

We have reserved a block of rooms at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia located at 4355 Ashford Dunwoody, Atlanta, GA 30346.  We have secured a room rate of $105.00/night (for a single), with a charge of $10.00 for each additional person.

To make a reservation call (770) 395-7700 or toll free number, 1-800-613-0412 outside of Georgia only. To ensure receiving the special convention rate, you must identify the group name of NFPA Regional Meeting, when making reservations. Should you fail to identify yourself with the group, room rates quoted when reservations are made will apply. No adjustments will be made after arrival.

Make your reservations early. Reservations must be made on or before October 16, 2006.

Other area hotels include: StayBridges Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Hotel and the Double Tree Hotel. We do not have a set price with these hotels.

Details on meals and other logistics will be provided to registrants. If you have any comments or questions please contact GAP Primary & VP, Chrissy Weeks at chrissy404@bellsouth.net.