Regardless of where you are in your process serving career there are many benefits in being an active association member. Those who are new to the profession can utilize meetings to get business tips, learn more about legislation and start creating a professional network. Industry veterans use meetings as an opportunity to stay informed and share experience. These events also give process servers a chance to swap stories, get to know peers, and have some fun.  

With national association meetings, “super-conferences” and state association meetings there are many networking opportunities in 2012. If you’ve been considering joining your association and are not a member, check out this article on the importance of joining process server associations. 

Make sure you mark your calendars with these 2012 process server events to attend (in chronological order):

New York State Professional Process Server Association (NYSPPSA) Board Meeting
January 15, 2012: White Plains, NY (66 Hale Avenue) - expired

The 2011 annual meeting focused on rule changes the association has been fighting in New York City.  For information on what last year’s annual conference included, click here.

To visit the association, click here 

Arkansas Professional Process Servers Association (ARPPSA) 1st Annual Meeting
January 21st, 2012: Conway, AR (Comfort Suites) - expired

The first annual meeting will involve election of new officers and board members as well as an educational seminar on Arkansas laws of service of process and what it takes to get industry laws changed and improved. There will also be opportunities to network with peers.

The newly formed association’s goals are to propose and support legislation that benefits professional process service, combat rule changes that may be detrimental to the industry, and improve relations between process servers and the legal community, courts, and general public. They are also working to support and establish process server education and training programs.

To visit the association, click here

Process Server Association of Colorado (PSACO) January Meeting
January 26, 2012: Denver, CO (The Pinnacle Condominium) - expired

The January meeting will include committee reports, rule changes and a discussion about a presentation to the Rules Committee.  The association will also be outlining their goals for 2012.

To visit the association, click here

Georgia Association of Professional Process Servers (GAPPS) Annual Conference
February 18th & 19th, 2012: Atlanta, Georgia (Holiday Inn) - expired

The meeting will include the 12 hours of continuing education that is required for certification.  The rules issued by the Judicial Council of Georgia will also be presented during the conference. House Judiciary Chariman Wendell Willard is the tentatively scheduled guest speaker. Willard will discuss the future of the Certification Program including improvement efforts from a legislative standpoint. 

To visit the association, click here

Florida Association of Professional Process Servers (FAPPS) 21st Annual Convention
March 9 - 11, 2012: Orlando, Florida (Rosen Plaza)

The theme for this year’s FAPPS convention is Pirates and features motivational speaker Charles Marshall. Events include a poker tournament and mini golf at Pirate’s Cove.

To visit the association, click here

Michigan Court Officer, Deputy Sheriff, and Process Server Association (MCODSA)
April 12th and 13th, 2012: Bay City, Michigan
Spring 2012 Seminar

MCODSA holds seasonal training seminars and includes certification material for state process servers.

To visit the association, click here 

National Association of Professional Process Servers (NAPPS) Annual Meeting
April 26 - 28, 2012: Boston, MA (The Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers)

Thursday will consist of bag stuffing, golf, softball, exhibitor set up, and a state association welcome reception at MJ O’Conner’s Irish Pub. Friday kicks off with general registration and the annual meeting, including nomination of officers and directors.  The evening closes with a reception and cocktail party as well as a poker tournament. Saturday will feature a variety of educational seminars. Speakers and topics will be announced. The meeting ends with an awards banquet.
-More details to come-

To visit the association, click here

2012 West Coast Super Conference - Private Investigators
Presented by PI Magazine and hosted by California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI)
June 28 - July 1, 2012: San Diego, CA (Westin San Diego)

Thursday begins with seminars and a free Newly Licensed Investigator Training and Enrichment (NLITE) course. Morning seminars are with Michele Stuart and PI Magazine’s Jimmie Mesis. The afternoon includes an exhibitor showcase and welcome reception with an evening poker tournament.

Friday starts with the annual business meeting, and the exhibitor showcase will be open from 7:30am - 5:00pm. Diane Dimond will be the opening keynote speaker followed by Michele Stuart and an awards luncheon. Afternoon session will take place from 3:00pm - 4:00pm, and the day ends with an evening at the USS Midway.

Sessions:
Mining Value from Recorded Evidence
Cellular Forensics: People, Rumors, and the Actual Facts
Physical Matching . . . Tool Marks and Related Topics . . . Ideal vs. Reality
How to Know When Your Client is Lying, and Get Them to Tell You the Truth

On Saturday, the exhibitor showcase will be open from 7:30am - 4:00pm. The morning includes “Assessing the Accuracy of Eyewitness” and “Computer Forensics: A Criminal Defense Perspective. Afternoon sessions take place from 12:30pm - 2:00pm and 2:30pm - 4:00 pm.

Sessions:
Fundamental Attribution Error: A Human Tendency to Label and Presume
Trademark Infringement and Piracy
Physical Matching . . . Tool Marks and Related Topics . . . Ideal vs. Reality”

Business Protocol and Etiquette for the Personal Protection Specialist
How to make a Killing as a Bodyguard (and Why Handling a Fork is More Important Than Handling a Gun in Corporate America)
AOE/COE: From the Investigation to the Final Report
New Issues in Substance Abuse for Attorneys and Private Investigators

For more information and to visit CALI, click here

Oregon Association of Process Servers (OAPS)
September 21-23, 2012: Location TBD
-More details to come-

To visit the association, click here

Washington State Process Servers Association (WSPSA)
September: Location and date TBD
-More details to come-

To visit the association, click here

Arizona Process Servers Association (APSA)
Late September: Phoenix, AZ (Crowne Plaza Hotel)
Events will include the Arizona Certified Process Servers Course and great networking opportunities.
-More details to come-

To visit the association, click here

California Association of Legal Support Professionals (CALSPRO) 44th Annual Meeting
October 5 - 7, 2012: Anaheim, CA (Disneyland)
-More details to come-
For more information on last year’s meeting and what attending process servers learned, check out this letter from president Chad Barger.

To visit the association, click here

East Coast Super Conference - Private Investigators
Presented by PI Magazine, Hosted by New Jersey Licensed Private Investigators Association (NJLPIA)
October 10 - 12, 2012: Atlantic City, NJ (Tropicana Hotel & Casino)
-More details to come-

To visit the association, click here

North Carolina Association of Professional Process Server (NCAPPS)
The North Carolina Association is newly formed and does not have any events scheduled at this time.
-More details to come-  

Don’t feel limited to attending national meetings and those only within your state or the process serving industry. Getting involved in your clients’ associations will help you garner new business; and attending out-of-state meetings can help you expand your network and support other and newly-formed associations. It can also help you identify improvement opportunities within your own association.

Joining associations is one of the best ways to fight and support laws, stay informed, and build your professional network, so mark your calendars with these events to attend. If you have a favorite part of being an association member or a fond memory of an annual conference, share your story below!

If your association would like to include their monthly or annual meetings, board meetings or any other event, please send an email to marketing@serve-now.com with your association name, event dates, description, and meeting itinerary.

Join ServeNow