Dear Members,

As everyone is aware, the current economic climate coupled with the ongoing pandemic issues has caused the costs of all goods and services to significantly increase over the past two years.  The VPO had been successful in not raising its membership dues for the last eight years, with its most recent increase occurring in 2014.  However, the VPO’s costs have continued to increase, including the recent decision by the national organization, NFPA - to which each of you belongs as part of your VPO membership - to increase their member dues beginning in January 2023. 

In addition, the VPO has also recently implemented the option to allow members to pay for dues renewals, CLEs, and other VPO-related events via credit card, rather than having to separately send checks for their renewals and registrations.  This decision has been highly successful and well-received and was a benefit that had been specifically requested by the membership.  However, it also came with added costs to the VPO. 

Accordingly, the VPO has no choice but to implement a membership dues increase to cover its rising costs, in order to be able to continue its low-cost CLE offerings and other membership benefits.  Therefore, as of January 1, 2023, membership renewals for voting members and associate members will increase by $15 per year, and renewals for sustaining and student members will increase by $10 per year.  We are hopeful that this increase will allow us to avoid immediately passing on any future NFPA dues increases to our membership, while allowing us to continue our current offerings. 

However, we didn’t want to do so without offering our members something in return.  Therefore, for 2023, all renewing members will receive a one-time use discount code with their renewal confirmation email for $10 off any VPO-sponsored CLE of their choice.*  In addition, we will take $5 off renewal fees to any member who volunteers to serve in a qualifying VPO board or committee position.  If you use both credits, you will save a total of $15 off your membership dues - the very same cost of the increase! 

 The VPO is working hard to bring you additional benefits, as well as provide more educational opportunities for both current and future members.  We hope you will choose to stay committed to the organization for another year and allow us the opportunity to continue to serve you.  As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions. 

Thanks for being a part of the VPO!

Sincerely,

Laurie S. Noyes, MBA, PHR®

President    

lnoyes@pfclaw.com

*excluding the VPO’s new Pathway to the Paralegal Profession programs