RAISING THE BAR WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 2006-07, ISSUE 4 HIGHLIGHTS Dean Claudio Grossman and WBAF President Ellen Jakovic. WBAF GALA . 1, 3 FESTIVE GALA RECEPTION CELEBRATES PRESIDENT’S COLUMN . 2 WBAF’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY AND LAUNCHES COMMITTEE AND FORUM INAUGURAL FOUNDERS FELLOWSHIP HIGHLIGHTS . 4-9 Amidst twinkling lights and silvered décor, the Women’s Bar Association Foundation (WBAF) celebrated its 25th Anniversary on November 29 at a Gala Reception at the NETWORKING TEA . 10 Chamber of Commerce. At this spectacular evening, which was attended by over 100 COMPUTER TIPS . 11-12 individuals, the WBAF honored its Founders, Past Presidents, 2006 grant recipients, and marked 25 years of service to the legal community and the interests of women MEMBERS ON THE MOVE . 14 and children in the Washington DC area. The WBAF also announced the establish- SUSTAINING MEMBERS . 16 ment of the Women’s Bar Association Foundation Founders Fellowship, which will support law stu- dents working with local legal services providers on projects to benefit women and children in our community. With great anticipation,WBAF President Ellen M. Jakovic presented the inaugural WBAF Founders Fellowship to Dean Claudio Grossman of American University Washington College of Law (WCL). WCL will select from among its students the first recipient of the $5,000 fellowship. WCL DC Bar President-Elect Melvin was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the WBAF White (middle) and colleagues Founders Fellowship because of the special rela- enjoy the Gala. tionship between the two organizations: Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett, the founders of WCL, also founded the WBAF’s sister organization, the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia (WBA). In his remarks, Dean Grossman highlighted the long-standing ties between WCL and the WBA and WBAF and expressed his gratitude and excitement at WCL being a part of the WBAF’s new fellowship to promote the delivery of needed legal services to disadvantaged women and families. Continued on page 3 President’s Column HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY WBA! A Publication of 2007 is a special year for the WBA. The WBA will celebrate its 90th THE WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION anniversary in 2007, making it one of the oldest voluntary bar OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA associations in the metropolitan Washington area, open to all who support 1717 K Street, NW, #503 Washington, DC 20036 our mission of maintaining the honor and integrity of the (202) 639-8880 profession; promoting the administration of justice; advancing and protecting the Fax: (202) 639-8889 interests of women lawyers; promoting their mutual improvement; and encouraging a E-mail: [email protected] spirit of friendship among our members. www.wbadc.org Nancy Long Since our founding in 1917, there have been many positive changes in our profession, Executive Director especially for women. Yet,the mission of the WBA is as appropriate today,as it was then. Copyright 2007 The Women’s Bar Association Tell us how the WBA has benefited you of the District of Columbia. All rights reserved. In honor of this grand occasion, I am inviting each and every one of you to share with WBA OFFICERS & BOARD me, and our entire membership, your story of how membership in the WBA has impact- Tracy-Gene G. Durkin President ed you personally, professionally or both.These inspiring stories will be featured in the Lorelie Masters President-Elect Rebecca M. McNeill Treasurer program at our Annual Meeting and Awards dinner, which will be held on May 16 at the Michelle Turner Treasurer-Elect National Building Museum, as well as in future issues of the RTB. You can submit your Jill Dash Secretary personal story by emailing it to [email protected] or faxing it to the WBA office at Board of Directors (202) 639-8889. Kathleen A. Behan Amy Bess My personal story with the WBA goes back over fifteen years. After being elected the Barbara Burr Jennifer Maree Bonnie J. Pinzel Consuela Pinto first woman partner in my firm, my partners encouraged me to get involved in the WBA. Karen M. Lockwood I watched quietly from the side lines for the first few years, not quite sure if I fit in. I was Immediate Past President, Ex-Officio thrilled when I was later contacted by another member who asked me to help her start WBA FOUNDATION an Intellectual Property Forum. I went to the first organizational meeting and was OFFICERS & BOARD “hooked” on the WBA from then on. I eventually went on to co-chair that committee, Ellen M. Jakovic President served on the board of directors and am now President.The lessons from this experi- Diana M. Savit Vice-President ence are many: make the most of your membership by getting involved and keep the Paulette E. Chapman Treasurer WBA vibrant by getting others involved with you. If you think the WBA can do better, Norma Brown Hutcheson Secretary let us know. And most importantly, what my experience has taught me is that there is Board of Directors Hon. Diane M. Brenneman no better platform than the WBA for women leaders to get the experience and Jennifer A. Duane support to achieve their full potential. That is my story. I invite you to send me your Jocelyn Fisher-Perkins personal story. Susan M.C. Kovarovics Karen M. Lockwood 2007 Membership Drive Terri McField I made growing our membership a personal goal for my tenure as President. To do this, Martha JP McQuade we will be kicking off a membership drive in January, which will run through March 31. Narda Newby Every new member who joins during that time, and the person who referred them, Linda L. Oliver will be entered into a drawing for some very special prizes. We will also hold a new Joanne W.Young member reception to welcome our new members. If you are not already a WBA Lorelie S. Masters WBA President-Elect, Ex-Officio member, I encourage you to join. I also urge our members to set a personal goal to recruit at least one new member in 2007. I hope you will join me and the more than Raising The Bar is published by the Women’s Bar 1,000 other women and men (and growing!) in making the WBA a strong and vibrant Association of the District of Columbia. organization representing the best of our profession. Subscription rate is $100 annually. Materials for publication may be submitted to the Editor, Raising The Bar, 1717 K Street, NW, Suite 503, Washington, DC 20036. Tracy-Gene G. Durkin WBA President 2 WBAF Board members and guests network at the Gala. WBAF Gala Reception Continued from page 1 SAVE THE DATE After the fellowship presentation, WBAF Vice-President and Grants Committee Chair Diana M. Savit recognized the organizations that had received grants from the Keeping up with a WBAF this year, many of which had representatives in attendance that evening.The 58-year WBA tradition 2006 grant recipients include the Center for WorkLife Law; the DC Bar Pro Bono Program; the District of Columbia Courts; EduSeed; 2007 WBA JUDICIAL the Greater Washington Area Chapter,Women Lawyers Division, RECEPTION The National Bar Association; Lawyers for Children America, Inc.; the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School Wednesday, February 21, 2007 6:30pm until 9:30pm of Law; and the Women’s Bar Association. Howard T. Markey The highlight of the evening belonged to WBAF founders and first National Courts Building and second WBAF Presidents, Marjorie A. O’Connell and Patricia U.S. Court of Appeals for the D. Gurne. With humor and warmth, Ms. O’Connell and Ms. Gurne Federal Circuit, Courtroom 201 regaled the gathering with brief glimpses into the early days of the 717 Madison Place, NW Foundation. Both of these accomplished women expressed deep pride that from its humble beginnings, the WBAF had grown into a This year’s program,“Judicial WBAF President Ellen philanthropic force in the legal community, having distributed close Independence” will be moderated Jakovic welcomes the by Judge Delissa A. Ridgeway of the to $60,000 in grant monies last year alone. The many founders and crowd. U.S. Court of International Trade. past presidents in attendance were presented with crystal memen- tos to mark the evening’s festivities. President Jakovic remarked,“It is the privilege Panelists will include Judge Leonie of those of us who currently serve the WBAF to honor the remarkable women who M. Brinkema, U.S. District Court had the foresight to establish this organization so many years ago. It also is a pleas- for the Eastern District of Virginia; ure to bring together so many founders and past presidents to share this important Dean Frederick M. Lawrence, common bond and to celebrate the tremendous accomplishments of the WBAF.” George Washington University Law School and a representative of the In addition to our founders and past presidents, the WBAF was honored to have Council for Court Excellence. many other leaders of the local bar in attendance, including The Honorable Rufus G. Special invited guests include King, III, Chief Judge of the District of Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Chair, Columbia Superior Court; John C. Cruden, Senate Judiciary Committee. Immediate Past President of the DC Bar; Melvin White, President-Elect of the DC Reception begins at 7:30 Bar; and Tracy-Gene G. Durkin, President of The Dolly Madison House the WBA. 721 Madison Place, NW All proceeds from the Gala will be used to Tickets: $75 WBA members, $85 fund the Women’s Bar Association non-members, $100 Patron Foundation Founders Fellowship. Donations Sponsorships are available.