sierra nevada association of paralegals june 2014 snap shotteaches in the paralegal program for...

Presidential Ramblings

It’s election season again! Early voting for Nevada’s primary election began on May 24, 2014, and ends this Friday, June 6, 2014. The primary election will be held on June 10, 2014. If you are unable to early vote, please make sure you vote on June 6, 2014. !SNAP’s election of officers for the 2014-2015 fiscal year will be held at our general meeting on June 17, 2014. Please plan on attending if you can. If you cannot, make sure you fill out the proxy ballot attached to this newsletter and submit it prior to the deadline. !Along with elections, Laure’l Santos will be our speaker at June’s general meeting. Laure’l will be speaking on the unauthorized practice of law, a topic I feel is of interest to all paralegals working in the legal field. The unauthorized practice of law is something we all need to be aware of, and know what constitutes giving legal advice. As I am sure most of you are aware, Laure’l teaches in the paralegal program for Truckee Meadows Community College, is a former executive council member for SNAP, and is always willing to help teach legal research during our NALA CP study groups! !I hope everyone can make June’s general meeting, it’s a great way to get an hour of CLE, and meet the 2014-2015 fiscal year executive board! !Respec&ully submi.ed,Amy S. Hodgson, ACP President

Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals June 2014

SNAP Shot

GENERAL MEETING SNAP Calendar 2014

SNAP General Meetings Every Third Tuesday at Noon (see flyer)

ZoZo’s Restaurant @ 3446 Lakeside Drive !June 17, 2014::

Speaker: L’Aurel Santos Topic: Unauthorized Practice of Law and Paralegals

Officers and Chairpersons President: Amy Hodgson, ACP 1st VP/Education: Susan Davis, PP,PLS,CLA 2nd Vice President/ Membership/Job Bank:Kate Cline, ACP Treasurer: Crystal Huss Parliamentarian: Susan Sunday, ACP Secretary: Christine Lamia NALA Liaison: Erin Tieslau, CP Student Liaison: Vacant Public Relations: Anna Buchner Activities/Social Chair: Jessica Bradshaw Newsletter & Web Site Editor: Lynda Traves http://www.facebook.com/groups/154903284632632/

This Issue: President’s Note…….....……………………….. Executive Committee Minutes....……………… General Meeting Minutes………………………. Article……………………………………………. Annual Reports………………………………….. NALA Article…………………………………….. Job Bank…………………………………………. Tips and Tidbits…………………………………. Elections……………………………………….. Meet the SNAP Board………………………….. Biography………………………………………… General Meeting Flyer………………………….

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10 13 14 15

Promoting the Profession of the Legal Assistant Through Education and Camaraderie www.snapreno.com " 1

http://www.facebook.com/groups/154903284632632/

http://www.snapreno.com

http://www.facebook.com/groups/154903284632632/

Minutes of the Executive Committee

Meeting Sierra Nevada Association of

Paralegals (SNAP) April 2, 2014

and May 7, 2014

Will be in the next newsletter. ____________________________ !

General Meeting Minutes Of the

Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals (SNAP)

April 15, 2014 Will be in the next newsletter. ____________________________ !Who Determines Your Worth? By Kate Cline ACP, SNAP Second Vice President !!Over 20 years ago when I was a secretary/receptionist in a small office, one of my employers taught me a valuable lesson which I continue to carry with me today: You should always be willing to invest in yourself. If your employer will not pay for your classes, seminars, etc., or for you to learn something that will benefit you and your employer in the future, you should do so for yourself. I’m sure we have all heard and/or been taught to dress for the position you want, always be willing to assist others in the workplace (even if you don’t receive a ‘thank you’ or credit for doing so), always be willing to learn, etc., yet we must be reminded from time-to-time. From the recent economic downturn, we all know that our jobs are not guaranteed,

whether some experienced it personally or have/had a close relative or personal friend who experienced it. We should never allow ourselves to become too comfortable (and, dare I say, prideful) in our position. !Think about it—if you do not value yourself enough to invest in yourself, why should your employer? If your employer/boss does not pay for your CLE, your professional association dues, your CP exam fees, etc., pay for it yourself; You are worth it! It is well worth it for your career and self-esteem. I was a single parent

living in low income apartments when I was told that. I found a way to make it happen because I wanted to make enough money to get out of that situation. I was able to buy my own home as “a poor single parent” about 5 years after I was told that phrase. I do know and understand those struggles, but You Are Worth It! It is your responsibility to ensure you succeed, not your employer’s responsibility. If you maintain the mindset that your employer has to do these things because “it benefits the company” then you miss the point. If you are not willing to invest in yourself, why should your employer? Yes, it is a good thing when you find an employer that does such things; however, such companies are not plentiful. My salary and benefits are

far better than I ever dreamed 20+ years ago. I have an amazing husband, and I am happy and satisfied both personally and professionally. All because I believed I was worth investing in by and for me alone! Think about it—Who determines your worth? !With the advent of the Internet, we all know there is plenty of information available, and a lot of FREE information! Newsletters, e-magazines, websites, blogs, etc., are means by which we can stay abreast of news occurring in our profession, learn what paralegals in other states are facing, find educational webinars, etc. Take some time go Google areas that interest you (and not just areas in which you work) and sign up to receive some

of these newsletters; I believe you will be glad you did. To give you a sampling, here are just a few of the newsletters, e-magazines, etc., I receive (not included are some of the references SNAP discusses from time-to-time, i.e., NALA, Washoe County Bar, Nevada State Bar, etc.): !• American Bar Association • The Paralegal Mentor (Vicki Voisin, a past NALA president) • Legal Talk Network—a great resource of podcasts on a variety of legal topics

• Above the Law • Paralegal Knowledge Institute—an

Estrin Education company (the Estrin Report is another good resource)

• Paralegal Alliance • CT Corporation (a Wolters Kluwer

division)—this company provides free 1-hr online corporate-related educational webinars

• Law School Websites, e.g., Cornell Law School (http://law.cornell.edu), I love this one for securities law info; Duke University Goodson Law Library (http://law.duke.edu/lib); Washburn University (www.washlaw.edu, a GREAT resource and a “must check out” one that I just recently found!) !



http://law.cornell.edu

http://law.duke.edu/lib

http://www.washlaw.edu

http://law.cornell.edu

http://law.duke.edu/lib

http://www.washlaw.edu



• Delaware Case Law (a lot of business entities are formed under Delaware law): http://courts.delaware.gov/Opinions/ !

Finally, I wanted to provide a link to an interesting article I recently read that I received from one of the email subscriber newsletters I receive; it is from www.estrinlegaled.com and is titled, “Coming soon to a law firm near you: Paralegals giving limited legal advice?” Here is the link to the article: http://estrinlegaled.typepad.com/my_weblog/2014/05/coming-soon-to-a-law-firm-near-you-paralegals-giving-limited-legal-advice.html). Many of us follow California law matters either because we have matters that need to be addressed in California and/or because sometimes Nevada follows California’s lead on legal issues/matters. ____________________________ !

SNAP NALA Liaison Report By Erin Tieslau !

I served as the NALA Liaison for SNAP for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. This was my first term as NALA Liaison. I went to the 2013 NALA Convention in Portland, Oregon w i t h S NA P P re s i d e n t , A my Hodgson. I t was my f i r s t opportunity to attend the NALA Convention and I found it very informative and had a blast. !As part of my responsibility as NALA Liaison, I was responsible for keeping up with NALA news and relaying it to the members of our association. Some of the changes for NALA were the new edition for the Review Manual and Study Guide and Mock Exam books. The new Review Manual is quite a bit shorter without the additional

information for the substantive law sections that are no longer included in the exam. Another change is that we will now receive verification of the CLE credits submitted to NALA via email. In April NALA’s Certified Pa r a l e g a l p r o g r a m r e c e i v e d accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for five-year period, expiring April 30, 2019. !On April 23, 2014, I put together a study group for those who are interested in taking the CLA exam in September 2014. There are five people participating in the study group and it is progressing nicely. We are covering one chapter per week, and taking two weeks for the Judgment and Analytical section. I anticipate the study group to end around June 25th. I have also suggested to the study group to possibly get together in August for a refresher course before they take the exam in September. ____________________________ !

SNAP SECRETARY’S REPORT

By Christine Lamia !I was elected to serve as Secretary on the Sierra Nevada As soc ia t ion o f Paralegal’s Executive Board i n Ju n e 2 0 1 3 . I a m responsible for taking minutes at the Executive Committee meetings and the General Membership meetings each month. After taking notes at each meeting, I prepare a draft of the official minutes and circulate them to the B o a r d f o r r e v i e w a n d comment. The Board approves the final Executive Committee Meeting Minutes, a n d t h e f i n a l G e n e r a l M e e t i n g M i n u t e s a r e

a p p r o v e d b y t h e g e n e r a l membership. Once the Minutes have been approved, they are included in the monthly newsletter. I keep a binder that contains all the notes, drafts and final versions of the minutes, in addi t ion to important Board emails. __________________________________ !SNAP SECOND VICE PRESIDENT ANNUAL REPORT !I served as the Second Vice President of Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals (SNAP) for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, my second term in this position. I have enjoyed being on the Executive Committee and those with whom I have worked this year. !My main responsibility as Second Vice President is to serve as chairperson of the Membership Committee. As such, I receive, review and accept or reject all applications submitted for membership within the guidelines of SNAP’s Bylaws. I also respond to inquiries regarding membership in SNAP. As part of my responsibilities and duties, I verify the proper dues were submitted with the application and forward the dues payments to the Treasurer, add new members to the SNAP roster, send a welcome letter to the new/renewing members with a completed membership card, maintain a current roster of membership, and provide the updated membership information to the Newsletter Editor and Website Manager. I also maintain the Job Bank for SNAP, and notify all members requesting to be on our Job Bank Listing of job openings. Finally, I provide a report of membership at each Executive Committee and monthly General meetings. !SNAP’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30, and SNAP provides for a $5 discount on membership for the first two plus months for new and/or renewing members. As of the August 15, 2013, (encompassing a little more than one month of membership application submissions), we


http://courts.delaware.gov/Opinions/

http://www.estrinlegaled.com

http://estrinlegaled.typepad.com/my_weblog/2014/05/coming-soon-to-a-law-firm-near-you-paralegals-giving-limited-legal-advice.html

http://courts.delaware.gov/Opinions/

http://www.estrinlegaled.com

http://estrinlegaled.typepad.com/my_weblog/2014/05/coming-soon-to-a-law-firm-near-you-paralegals-giving-limited-legal-advice.html



had a total of 37 members, of which 36 were active members and one was a student member. Membership grew considerably over the next few of months, and by the end of December (half-way through our fiscal year), we had a total 57 members. Membership has steadily climbed during the ensuing months of the second half of the SNAP fiscal year, and as of April 18, 2014,

we have a total of 67 members, of which 53 are active members, 13 are student members, and one is an associate member. !I also served on an ad hoc Advertising Committee, wherein I researched information and met with and coordinated with the SNAP Website Manager/Newsletter Editor, also on the committee. Based upon the

information gathered, we prepared a trial Advertising Policy that was presented to, approved, and implemented by the Executive Committee for the remainder of the fiscal year. !Respectfully, Kate Cline ACP Second Vice President Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals

SNAP%TREASURER’S%REPORT%By%Crystal%Huss%

!

! I!was!elected!Treasurer!in!June!2013.!!I!am!responsible!for!managing!all!

funds!in!the!general!and!scholarship!accounts.!This!includes!making!deposits!for!

funds!received!from!membership!dues,!monthly!meetings,!the!annual!seminal,!and!

other!activities.!I!am!also!responsible!for!transferring!half!of!the!profit!from!the!

general!meetings!to!the!scholarship!account!and!providing!scholarship!

reimbursements!for!our!qualifying!students.!I!also!manage!payment!of!all!expenses!

on!behalf!of!the!membership!and!send!invoices!to!members!when!appropriate.!I!

balance!both!checkbooks!each!month!and!prepare!a!monthly!Treasury!Report,!

which!is!included!in!our!monthly!newsletter.!

!

Finally,!I!am!also!responsible!for!preparing!the!Annual!List!of!Officers!and!the!

Nevada!State!Business!License!Exemption,!both!of!which!were!filed!with!the!Nevada!

Secretary!of!State.!I!also!prepared!the!eLPostcard!Form!990LN!and!submitted!it!to!

the!IRS!to!continue!SNAP’s!nonLprofit!status.!




President’s Annual Report In accordance with the Bylaws of Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals (“SNAP”), the following will serve as the President’s Annual Report for the Fiscal Year of 2013-2014. As President, my main duty is to preside over all Executive Committee meetings and general or special membership meetings. During our first Executive Committee meeting, I appointed Susan Sunday, CP, as Parliamentarian, Jessica Bradshaw and Social Chair, Lynda Traves as Newsletter Editor/Website Manager, and Anna Buchner as Public Relations Chair. The Executive Committee met once a month to discuss and vote on SNAP business. Our organization maintained its total membership from the last fiscal year to this fiscal year. We currently have 61 members. For the fiscal year 2012-2013, SNAP will hold 10 educational general meetings and a seminar, for a total of 17 hours of continuing education credits. On May 16, 2014, our organization will hold its annual seminar. The topics include Microsoft Outlook basics, Judgments and Collections, Legal Writing, the Active Shooter, Business Organizations and Ethics and Social Media. The speakers include Jean Gage, Sara Carrasco, Esq., Judge James Spoo, Robert Dorsey and Mike McKinley with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Jamie Kalick, Esq., and Brett Kandt, Esq. This year SNAP donated $100 to the American Red Cross. In addition, during SNAP’s after the holidays party, SNAP members donated $30.00 and 80 pounds of non-perishable food items to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. This year I served on the Audit Committee and determined SNAP’s books were in order. Respectfully submitted, Amy S. Hodgson, ACP President



Washoe County Law Library 75 Court Street, Room 101, Reno, NV

(775) 328-3250

!Nevada Legal Resources

Class at Washoe County Law Library

http://www.co.washoe.nv.us/index/display_outreach.html~details=8895

Washoe Legal Services299 South Arlington Avenue

Reno, NV 89501

Telephone: (775) 329-2727 Fax: (775) 324-5509

Free legal services in Washoe County, Nevada

http://washoelegalservices.com/

State of Nevada Bar

http://www.nvbar.org/

!US Bankruptcy Court

http://www.nvb.uscourts.gov/downloads/bugle-newsletters/2013/2013_03.pdf



http://www.co.washoe.nv.us/index/display_outreach.html%7Edetails=8895#8895

http://washoelegalservices.com

http://www.nvbar.org


http://www.co.washoe.nv.us/index/display_outreach.html%7Edetails=8895#8895

http://washoelegalservices.com

http://www.nvbar.org



JOB OPPORTUNITIES This section is designated for those job opportunities in the legal field.

SNAP welcomes all firms and businesses employing paralegals to list their opening(s) in the SNAPShot or on our Web site (www.snapreno.com) free of charge. !Advertisements will run for one month on the Web site and appear in a single issue of the newsletter, or until the position is filled. If you would like the ad to continue for an additional month, or the position has been filled, please let us know. !If you are interested in receiving email notifications of Job Bank opportunities, please email Kate Cline (see Officers page on the Web site: www.snapreno.com)


Certified Paralegal Exam–Practice Test

Delivered on exactly the same web-based platform as the Certified Paralegal Examination. Participants receive comments which describe why answers are correct or incorrect. Upon completion of a test, participants will have an opportunity to download question item feedback for future reference.

Participants also receive feedback describing how they did on the exam based on subject category. The Judgment & Analytical Ability practice test is an objective test, but it includes a bonus handout - an assignment and sample memo for self-grading.

The practice tests are about 1/2 the number of questions of the entire Certified Paralegal examination and use the same specifications as the Certified Paralegal exam.

THE ASSOCIATION OFLEGAL ASSISTANTS PARALEGALS

Vouchers are available to schools and school bookstores.For further details and price information, visit www.nala.org/cp-practice.aspx.

The practice tests are part of the CLE efforts of NALA and offered separate and apart from the Certified Paralegal examination and Certifying Board for Paralegals. The Certifying Board has not reviewed any questions nor provided any input in the authoring of these practice tests.

Communications Ethics Judgment & Analytical AbilityLegal Research Substantive Law







Tips is a column in which paralegals submit practical advice and suggestions to other paralegals. We encourage

each of you to submit your “hot tips” on a regular or irregular basis. Many of us have acquired skills over the years that have made our jobs easier, and we encourage you to share that knowledge with your fellow paralegals. You are welcome to include your name or not.

Sierra Nevada Association of Paralegals January/February 2014

Tidbits of the Month

The One-‐Year Grace Period under the AIA

Under 35 USC 102(a), one cannot obtain a patent on an invenMon that has been 1) patented, 2) described in a printed publicaMon, 3) in public use, 4) on sale, 5) or otherwise available to the public. However, there are excepMons to this law – specifically the one-‐year grace period.

The one-‐year grace period gives an inventor one year from the date of disclosure of the invenMon to file a patent applicaMon. If a patent applicaMon is filed aTer the one-‐year grace period, the disclosure of the invenMon can be used as prior art against the applicant. For example, if an inventor demonstrates the invenMon at a trade show on January 1, 2014, the inventor would have unMl January 1, 2015 to file for a patent applicaMon. Otherwise, that public disclosure could be used as prior art against the inventor and prevent the inventor from geWng a patent.

Under the America Invents Act, third-‐party disclosures within the one-‐year grace period are not considered prior art as long as the third party 1) got the invenMon informaMon directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventors and 2) the disclosed invenMon is the same subject ma.er received from the inventor. There is no requirement that the mode of disclosure by the inventor and the third party be the same. There is also no requirement that the third-‐party disclosure be verbaMm to the inventor’s disclosure.

However, if a third-‐party inventor conceives the invenMon independently, the third-‐party’s invenMon disclosure can be used as prior art even if the disclosure falls within the one-‐year grace period of another inventor. AddiMonally, if a third party discloses a variaMon of the invenMon, that third-‐party disclosure could be used as prior art. Here is an illustraMon provided by the USPTO:

For example, the inventor or a joint inventor had publicly disclosed elements A, B, and C, and a subsequent intervening grace period disclosure discloses elements A, B, C, and D, then only element D of the intervening grace period disclosure is available as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1).

Thus, although the one-‐year grace period provides a buffer for the inventor’s own disclosures, it does not provide the same protecMon for all disclosures made by third parMes during the one-‐year grace period. It’s also important to note that the language in 35 USC 102 does not prevent prior art being used in a 103 (obviousness) objecMon.

For addiMonal informaMon, here is a link to several informaMonal videos created by the USPTO:

h.p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0qQHTLdRRA

From Julie Dawes, member

Hot Tip(s) This Month


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0qQHTLdRRA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0qQHTLdRRA



SNAP ELECTIONS

Pursuant to ArMcle 9.1 of the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Sierra Nevada AssociaMon of Paralegals, below is the slate of persons running for office. ElecMons will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2014, during SNAP’s general meeMng.

The regular ballot, proxy, and proxy ballot are included in this month’s newsle.er. If you are unable to a.end the June 17, 2014 meeMng, please complete the proxy and proxy ballot and return them to SNAP, P.O. Box 2832, Reno, NV 89505 or email to Susan Sunday at [email protected] to be received no later than Tuesday, June 10, 2014. If you will be a.ending the meeMng, the regular ballot will be available for you to complete at the June 17, 2014 general meeMng.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Alise Porto Sonita Harris SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Gale Sanders Connie Wharton, CP TREASURER

Erin Tieslau, CP

NALA LIAISON

Crystal Huss

SECRETARY

ChrisMne Lamia

Please be sure to cast your vote!

Respec&ully submi.ed,

Susan Sunday, ACP ElecMons Commi.ee Chair Parliamentarian


mailto:[email protected]



Regular(2014-2015(SNAP(Elections(

2014/2015 BALLOT SNAP

First Vice President � Sonita Harris

� Alise Porto

� ___________________ Second Vice President � Gale Sanders

� Connie Wharton, CP

� ___________________ Treasurer � Crystal Huss

� ___________________ Secretary � Christine Lamia

� ___________________ NALA Liaison � Erin Tieslau, CP

� ___________________





Sierra Nevada AssociaMon of Paralegals !PROXY !

The undersigned, ____________________________, a SNAP member enMtled to vote, hereby appoints __________________________________ as his/her Proxy, with the power to appoint his/her subsMtute, and hereby authorizes such Proxy to represent and vote his/her membership share of the Sierra Nevada AssociaMon of Paralegals, a Nevada nonprofit corporaMon (“SNAP”), as of the date of this Proxy. !

The foregoing appointment shall be effecMve with respect to all ma.ers brought forward for voMng at the SNAP Annual MeeMng to be held on June 17, 2014 and all ma.ers for which the consent of the membership is sought. !

The foregoing appointment is revocable by the undersigned at any Mme, with or without noMce and with or without cause. Unless sooner revoked by the undersigned, the foregoing appointment shall be effecMve to and including June 17, 2014. !

Dated this ____ day of __________________ 2014. ! !!By ____________________________ !!

[Instruc)ons for Proxy: If you are unable to a.end the Sierra Nevada AssociaMon of Paralegals Annual MeeMng to be held June 17, 2014, please complete this proxy and the proxy ballot, and give it to a voMng member of SNAP who is a.ending the meeMng. You must tell the SNAP member how you want your vote to be cast. The SNAP member must bring this signed Proxy to the Annual MeeMng and acknowledge to the CredenMals Chair that he/she is voMng in your stead. If you would like, you may mail this Proxy to SNAP, P.O. Box 2832, Reno, NV 89505 or email to Susan Sunday at [email protected] to be received no later than Tuesday, June 10, 2014.] !

SNAP PROXY BALLOT !Ballots must be received no

later than June 10, 2014 in order to be counted. !Please mail your proxy and proxy ballot to SNAP, P.O. Box 2832, Reno, NV 89505 or email your

proxy and proxy ballot to Susan Sunday at [email protected]. ! Please






Meet the SNAP Board

Jessica Bradshaw Social Activities

Lynda Traves Newsletter &

Web Site Editor

Amy Hodgson, ACP President

Kate Cline, ACP 2nd Vice President/

Membership/Job Bank

Erin Tieslau, CP NALA Liaison

Susan Sunday, CP Parliamentarian

Crystal Huss Treasurer

Vacant Student Liaison

Susan Davis 1st VP/Education

Christine Lamia Secretary

Anna Buchner Public Relations




June: Laure’l Santos !Topic: The Unauthorized Practice of Law and the Paralegal

Laure’l Santos is a naMve Nevadan who was born and grew up in Yerington, Nevada. Laure’l graduated the University of Nevada, Reno with a Master in Counseling and EducaMonal Psychology and also earned both Paralegal and Machining Associates degrees from Truckee Meadows Community College. He also has his Advanced CerMfied Paralegal cerMficaMon with a specialty in discovery and currently teaches Civil Evidence for the TMCC Paralegal Program. In the past, he also taught Legal Research and Case Analysis. Laure’l currently teaches full Mme for the TMCC Machining Program and was employed as a full Mme paralegal for seven years in the areas of personal injury, family law, and general law. In 2012, Laure’l received the NALA Affiliates Award and has been a past second Vice-‐President for SNAP.

Speakers




SNAP General Meeting Luncheon Tuesday, June 17 at Noon ! !

SPEAKER: L’Aurel Santos TOPIC: Unauthorized Practice of the Law and the Paralegal !PLACE: ZoZo’s 3446 Lakeside Drive Reno NV ! COST: $18.00 – Members & Guests $15.00 – Student Members !Name: !Office: !Phone/Email: !

Member Student Guest !Menu – Italian Family Style !

Please mail your reservation form and payment to: SNAP, P.O. Box 2832, Reno, NV 89505-2832 !

ALL RESERVATIONS WITH PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, June 13, 2014 !

RSVP via Email to [email protected] OR Evite

!If you make a reservation, you are responsible for the payment,

even if you do not show.





sierra nevada association of paralegals june 2014 snap shotteaches in the paralegal program for...

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