Exciting Initiatives and Programs for the New Year

Although we are only beginning the second month of our most active portion of the year, I’m am happy to report that we have hit the ground running. On September 2, 2015 we held our annual Membership Reception at Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom, LLP, which was sponsored by Hon. Judith S. Kaye, who honored our nearly 200 attendees with her words of wisdom and encouragement. At the reception I unveiled our two new initiatives for the upcoming year.

The first is our new Membership call to action called the “Plus One Initiative.” How often do you go to an event and you’re nervous that you won’t know anyone? I know I feel that way all the time. When you are invited to a Bat Mitzvah or a wedding, your host wants to make sure that you don’t feel alone, so you are invited with a guest or a “plus one.” It occurred to me that if each of our members brought a “plus one” to a meeting or event, and that person joined our association, we could grow our membership by leaps and bounds. If each of our members convinced one friend to join our association this year, we would, in fact, double our membership in one year! I am asking each and every one of you to do just that. Relay your positive experiences with the NYWBA, send your friends to me to hear how I credit the NYWBA with helping me grow my practice and expand my network base, bring them to one of our programs or events and show them why they should join the NYWBA.

As of the end of last year the NYWBA was just over 800 members strong. Imagine what a powerful voice we could have at 1,600 members. So, my question to each of you is – Who’s your plus one?

The other initiative which I have pioneered this year is our Wellness Initiative that we are calling “Healthy Woman/Healthy Lawyer.” Far too often women put the needs of everyone else in their lives ahead of their own, including the need to stay healthy in mind and body. We need to be healthy if we want to live long lives, grow our careers and continue to be successful in our profession. I believe that it is an obligation of a Women’s Bar Association to educate members about the need to stay healthy and provide members with ways to do so. It is part of the NYWBA’s mission statement to advance women in the practice of law. What better way to achieve this goal than to provide our members with this vital information?

We are kicking off the Wellness Initiative with a Workshop on October 6, 2015 on “Mindfulness for Attorneys.” The workshop will be run by Jeanna Cho, an attorney and author who will teach our members methods for maintaining balance while juggling all that we do in our lives. This workshop will be followed up with a program on Nutrition on December 1, 2015, just in time for the holidays. We plan to continue the series of programs into 2016, starting with a program on physical fitness for professionals of all ages, including tips for exercises we can do in our offices.

I hope you will join us for as many of these programs as possible. This Initiative came from a very personal place for me.

I recently recognized my own need to focus on making healthier choices for my mind and body, and have taken some steps on that path. I hope that you will join me on this journey of physical and emotional wellbeing.

We have three CLE programs scheduled for this month. On October 15, 2015 the Criminal Law, Elder Law, Domestic Violence and Family and Matrimonial Law Committees will be co-sponsoring a CLE program entitled “Elder Abuse” at New York Law School, along with the Assigned Counsel Plan of the Appellate Division, First Department, the Impact Center for Public Interest Law at New York Law School, The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Chapter of New York Law School and the New York Criminal Bar Association. The Program will be a panel discussion by a distinguished group of experts, moderated by Hon. Deborah A. Kaplan, the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for Courts within NYC. On October 21, 2015, the Employment and Equal Opportunity for Women and the Working Parents Committees will be co-sponsoring a CLE program with NYCLA’s Women in the Law and Lawyers in Transition Committees entitled “Tips and Techniques for Reentering the Workforce.” On October 22, 2015, the International Women’s Rights and Employment and Equal Opportunity for Women Committees will be co-sponsoring a CLE panel discussion with several distinguished speakers, entitled “Maternity Leave – A U.S. and International Comparison.”

We also have several events scheduled including a tour of the Museum of the City of New York on October 21, 2015 and our Foundation will be continuing its breakfast speaker series with author and historian Linda Hirshman speaking about her new book entitled “Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World” on November 4, 2015.

Please remember to check our calendar regularly for the many upcoming programs, meetings and events, as new ones are added frequently.

Jennifer

Archives

September 2015

In her President's Message, Jennifer P. Brown titled her message "A Look Back at the Summer and to the Year Ahead".
To view her President's Message in full, click here.

June 2015

In her President's Message, Jennifer P. Brown titled her message "NYWBA’s Legacy over 80 Years and Vision for the Future".
To view her President's Message in full, click here.

May 2015

In her President's Message, Yacine Barry-Wun titled her message "Our Founding Members Would Be Proud".
To view her President's Message in full, click here.

April 2015

In her President's Message, Yacine Barry-Wun titled her message "Empowering Women to Succeed and Realize their Full Potential".
To view her President's Message in full, click here.

March 2015

In her President's Message, Yacine Barry-Wun titled her message "Our History, Our Future".
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February 2015

In her President's Message, Yacine Barry-Wun titled her message "Promoting Professional Growth and Celebrating our Judiciary".
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January 2015

In her President's Message, Yacine Barry-Wun titled her message "Outreach, Mentoring & Leadership ".
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November 2014

In her President's Message, Yacine Barry-Wun titled her message "Gratitude and Opportunity ".
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October 2014

In her President's Message, Yacine Barry-Wun titled her message "Celebrating the NYWBA Community".
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September 2014

In her President's Message, Yacine Barry-Wun titled her message "Celebrating Our 80th Anniversary in 2014-2015!".
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June 2014

In her President's Message, Yacine Barry-Wun titled her message "Serving Our Members".
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May 2014

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "Legacy and Transition".
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April 2014

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "Our Extraordinary Members".
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March 2014

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "NYWBA Reaches Major Milestone!".
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February 2014

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "Honoring Our Judiciary and Planning for the Future".
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January 2014

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "Our Struggling Family Courts".
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November 2013

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "A Busy Fall Season".
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October 2013

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "A Sense of Community".
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September 2013

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "An Exciting Year Ahead!".
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June 2013

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "A Time for Celebrating and Making Plans".
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May 2013

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "Reflecting on Our Extraordinary Year".
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April 2013

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "Fighting for Equality".
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February 2013

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "So Much To Celebrate!".
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January 2013

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "Happy New Year".
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November 2012

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "Strength in Numbers".
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October 2012

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "The Power of Membership".
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September 2012

In her President's Message, Hon. Jacqueline W. Silbermann titled her message "Our Important Mission".
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June 2012

In her President's Message, Patricia Ann Grant titled her message "Opportunities and Transitions".
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April 2012

In her President's Message, Patricia Ann Grant titled her message "Discrimination Against Women Continues".
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January 2012

In her President's Message, Patricia Ann Grant titled her message "A New Year".
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February 2011

In her President's Message, Gretchen Beall Schumann titled her message ""Growth, Education & Advancement".
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January 2011

In her President's Message, Gretchen Beall Schumann titled her message "Happy New Year!".
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November - December 2010

In her President's Message, Gretchen Beall Schumann titled her message "Season's Greetings". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

October 2010

In her President's Message, Gretchen Beall Schumann titled her message "Harvest". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

September 2010

In her President's Message, Gretchen Beall Schumann titled her message "The Benefits of Sharing". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

June 2010

In her President's Message, Gretchen Beall Schumann titled her message "In Remembrance". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

May 2010

In her President's Message, Donna M. Praiss titled her message "Mothers and Role Models". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

April 2010

In her President's Message, Donna M. Praiss titled her message "Spring Cleaning". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

March 2010

In her President's Message, Donna M. Praiss titled her message "The Reality of Elder Care". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

February 2010

In her President's Message, Donna M. Praiss titled her message "Helping Hands". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

January 2010

In her President's Message, Donna M. Praiss titled her message "The New Life Balance ". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

December 2009

In her President's Message, Donna M. Praiss titled her message "Beyond Firsts". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

November 2009

In her President's Message, Donna M. Praiss titled her message "Finding Inspiration". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

October 2009

In her President's Message, Donna M. Praiss titled her message "Can I Give You A Hug?". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

June 2008

In her President's Message, Lisa A. Sokoloff titled her message "STAND UP FOR OURSELVES AND AMERICA". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

April 2008

In her President's Message, Lisa A. Sokoloff spoke about "Re-Evaluating A "Victimless" Crime". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

March 2008

In her President's Message, Lisa A. Sokoloff spoke about celebrating the women in our lives. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

February 2008

In her President's Message, Lisa A. Sokoloff spoke about continuing the struggle against gender bias. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

December 2007

In her President's Message, Lisa A. Sokoloff spoke about making 2008 the best year ever for the NYWBA. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

November 2007

In her President's Message, Lisa A. Sokoloff spoke about the summary of results from our first annual survey on the status of women working in Manhattan law firms. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

September 2007

In her President's Message, Lisa A. Sokoloff spoke about GENERATIVITY. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

June 2007

In her President's Message, Lisa A. Sokoloff spoke about how "Our Work is Not Done". To view the President's Message in full, click here.

May 2007

In her President's Message, Teresa Schiller reviewed this year's events. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

April 2007

In her President's Message, Teresa Schiller reflected on the importance of rainmaking. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

March 2007

In her President's Message, Teresa Schiller reflected on gender diversity in large law firms. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

February 2007

In her President's Message, Teresa Schiller reflected on lessons in humility. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

January 2007

In her President's Message, Teresa Schiller reflected on the benefits of dual membership in the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

December 2006

In her President's Message, Teresa Schiller reflected on the importance of pro bono service. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

November 2006

In her President's Message, Teresa Schiller reflected on military wives as unsung military heroes.To view the President's Message in full, click here.

October 2006

In her President's Message, Teresa Schiller Teresa Schiller reflected on the importance of making our worlds larger again. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

September 2006

In her President's Message, Teresa Schiller Teresa Schiller reflected on the importance of building a network of women lawyers. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

July 2006

In her inaugural President's Message, Teresa Schiller reflected on the importance of community. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

Spring 2006

In her President's column in the Spring issue, President Christina Kallas discussed how women continue to lag behind men when it comes to earning power, and suggests that this is one more item for the legislature to address as it considers 'no-fault' divorce legislation. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

March 2006

For Women's History Month, Christina Kallas reflected upon how far we have yet to go. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

February 2006

In her column for February President Christina Kallas asked us to consider what it is we pay attention to in our culture. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

January 2006

In her column for January President Christina Kallas asked, "Do we (still) need a women's bar association?" To view the President's Message in full, click here.

December 2005

In her column for December President Christina Kallas discusses the Mental Health Court initiative. To view the President's message in full, click here.

November 2005

In her column for November President Christina Kallas asked us all to honor the memory of Ms. Rosa Parks by making one change. To view the President's message in full, click here.

October 2005

In her column for October in honor of Mediation Settlement Month, President Christina Kallas discusses whether mediation is an underused tool in a lawyer's toolbox. To view the President's message in full, click here.

September 2005

In her column for September, President Christina Kallas reflected upon the changes in our country since September 11th. To view the President's message in full, click here.

June 2005

In her column for June, President Christina Kallas discusses change and continuity. To view the President's message in full, click here.

April 2005

In her column in April, President Elizabeth Bryson talked about sexual politics and "women's work." She took issue with Harvard President Lawrence Summers' recent remarks implying that women are innately less suited to pursing careers in science or engineering. Such retrograde thinking is self-defeating. Mr. Summers had to apologize, and Harvard is now actively address the status of women in academia. Ms. Bryson also discussed upcoming events, including the Association's Annual Meeting, a CLE program on "Evolving Opportunities for Women' Lawyers," the Foundation's next fundraising breakfast, the WBASNY Convention, and of course our fantastic 70th Anniversary celebration on June 1st. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

February 2005

In her column in February, President Elizabeth Bryson talked about matters of life and death. She related the experiences of a friend fighting breast cancer and her mother and family addressing the loss of two brothers to AIDS several years ago, and how each circumstance, though very different, teaches us once again the importance of choosing to live life to its fullest every day. By contrast, she considers the proposal in the NYS Legislature to reinstate the death penalty, and WBASNY's brave stance in opposition. To view the President's Message in full, click here.

January 2005

In her column in January, President Elizabeth Bryson discussed the importance of taking steps to ensure that judges in New York have the appropriate qualifications and integrity to ensure the fair and equal administration of justice. She discusses pending legislation and proposed amendments to the Rules of Judicial Conduct that would have an influence on the method of selecting state court judges and the rules that would apply to candidates for judicial office in New York. Ms. Bryson was honored to chair a WBASNY Task Force to look at the proposed legislation and rule changes, and she discusses the process and proposals. She also describes the recent gala celebration WBASNY's 25 Anniversary and the wonderful presentation of the inaugural "Betty Weinberg Ellerin Mentoring Award" to Justice Ellerin. Finally, she reminds everyone of the importance of ensuring that their membership is renewed by January 31, 2005. New members are also welcome, and they can join for half-price dues starting in January! To view the President's Message in full, click here.

December 2004

In her column in December, President Elizabeth Bryson discussed the importance of speaking out and being heard. She demonstrated the value of the Association's screening of candidates for judicial office, particularly now, when the integrity of the judiciary is under attack. Because many of our members practice in solo and small firm settings, Ms. Bryson recommended that members appear before the Commission on Solo and Small Firm Practice, which is holding hearings and looking for comments, concerns and suggestions to make the lives of attorneys in these settings and their clients easier. Members should also plan to join us at several upcoming events that promise to be very exciting, including the NYWBA Foundation's Breakfast Series Speaker Event, a fundraiser scheduled for December 1st, WBASNY's 25th Anniversary Gala on December 2nd that will pay tribute to our own past President, the Honorable Betty Weinberg Ellerin, for her nearly 50 years of mentoring and service to women attorneys and judges throughout New York and across the country, and the New York Women's Agenda's Star Breakfast on December 7th. To view the President's message in full, click here.

November 2004

In her column in November, President Elizabeth Bryson celebrated all the wonderful programs and events that happened this fall, including our Annual Membership Reception. She also discussed the recent controversy with respect to screening the qualifications of candidates for judicial office in New York County, which became the subject of an article in the New York Law Journal. To view the President's message in full, click here.

September 2004

In her column in September, President Elizabeth Bryson asked members to join her in celebrating the Association's 70th Anniversary year (2004-05). Coincidentally, it was also the 25th anniversary year for the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY), which is the umbrella organization for all 16 women's bar associations across New York State. The NYWBA and its past President Joan Ellenbogen were instrumental in the formation of WBASNY, and it is a joy to see that it is flourishing. This is Beth's second term as President, and in her column she discussed the excitement of continuing programs begun last year and new programs that will begin this year. She also congratulated everyone who was involved in the wonderful year-end festivities, including our Annual Dinner and the WBASNY Convention. To view the President's message in full, click here.

April 2005

In her column for April, President Elizabeth Bryson congratulated several women who make history every day, including the 11 honorees designated for Women's History Month by the National Women's History Project and the New York City Commission on Women. She provided an update on the proposed rules that we have supported to allow asylum for women who are victims of domestic violence or other brutality that is directly or indirectly endorsed by their country's governments. Ms. Bryson also highlighted numerous upcoming events, including the NYWBA Annual Meeting and the Annual Ethics Forum, both in April, and the Women's Bar Convention in New Orleans and the NYWBA Annual Dinner, both in May. To view the President's message in full, click here. .

March 2004

In her March 2004 column, Ms. Bryson notes that NYWBA's membership has increased by over 33 percent from last year, and nearly 50% from two years ago. She praises the terrific work of NYWBA members, Officers, Board members, Committee Chairs, and others who worked on our membership drive and demonstrate why our bar association is so important, strong and vital. She also salutes two people who may not be lawyers but whose contributions are absolutely invaluable to the Association and the NYWBA Foundation - Executive Director Marta Toro and NYWBA Foundation member Denise Coleman. "Our Association is blessed with so many wonderful women and men who contribute their talents." To view the President's message in full, click here.

February 2004

In her February 2004 column, Ms. Bryson discussed the importance of mentoring and networking, especially for women attorneys. She also announces that the Association's Annual Meeting will be on April 28, 2004, when the 2004-05 officers and directors will be elected. Our gala Annual Dinner will be on May 26, 2004. At that event, awards will be presented to Linda Greenhouse, Pulitzer Prize winning author and New York Times reporter covering the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Hon. Jacqueline Silbermann, Administrative Judge of the NY County Supreme Court and Chief Administrative Judge for NYS Matrimonial Courts. To view the President's message in full, click here.

December 2003

In her December 2003 column, NYWBA President Elizabeth Bryson profiled important issues for our military, including the incidents of rape and sexual harassment at our military academies, the scourge of domestic violence, and the shameful track record of "don't ask, don't tell." She also discussed our exciting membership drive and the Reception Honoring Newly Elected and Appointed Judges. To view the President's message in full, click here.

November 2003

In her November 2003 column, NYWBA President Elizabeth Bryson discusses the importance and benefits of membership, as well as the recent visit of distinguished attorneys from Malaysia who were invited by the U.S. State Department to meet with NYWBA representatives. To view the President's message in full, click here.