A Newsletter Published by Oregon Women Lawyers Volume 19, No. 4 Fall 2008 OWLS Workplace Leader Award Goes to Gartland, Nelson, McCleery, Wade & Walloch ach year, Oregon Women Lawyers honors more than a slogan. The firm has accommodated a legal employer in Oregon with the OWLS part-time schedules, even for partners; allowed President EWorkplace Leader Award. The award rec- for flexibility in work hours to accommodate Laura Caldera Taylor ognizes a company or firm taking effective steps family or other interests; and provided an ex- Vice Presidents, to promote ample that has Presidents-Elect inspired law- Gwyn McAlpine one or more of Heather Van Meter the following yers in other Secretary values: Eugene firms. Jane Yates & a healthy A t t o r n e y s Treasurer b a l a n c e at Gartland Concetta Schwesinger between Nelson who Historian work and have chosen Alice Bartelt life; to work part- Board Members & acquiring time or flex- Sally Anderson-Hansell Nancy Cook and main- ible schedules Dana Forman taining a so they can Cynthia Fraser d i v e r s e s p e n d t i m e Bethany Graham Shari Gregory workforce; with children, Cashauna Hill or grandchildren, Megan Livermore & maximiz- or engaging in Julia Markley Linda Meng ing oppor- The Gartland Nelson firm (left to right): Sitting: Heather Walloch, other passions Hon. Adrienne Nelson t u n i t i e s David Wade, Emily Hill; Standing: Mindy Wittkop, Scott McCleery, have been met Leslie O’Leary for women Meg Kieran, Doug Nelson, John Gartland, Kate Wilkinson with respect, Kathleen J. Rastetter Hon. Katherine Tennyson and minor- support, and Shannon Terry ities to succeed in the workplace and advance understanding. The firm has been repaid in kind Past Presidents to positions of influence and leadership. by retaining quality, balanced lawyers. Employ- Kellie Johnson The purpose of the Workplace Leader Award ees of this nine-attorney firm are encouraged Norma S. Freitas Kate A. Wilkinson is to encourage and celebrate programs that to work hard, participate in firm decisions, and Jennifer K. De Wald help eliminate barriers to success in the law for develop their practices, but also to take care of Sarah J. Crooks women and minorities. While there are no easy their health, mentor others, and “have a life” Elizabeth Schwartz Lori E. Deveny answers to the problems faced by women and outside of work. Debra Pilcher Velure minorities in the legal arena, we seek to highlight Leadership in the legal community is a hallmark Marilyn E. Litzenberger successful steps that firms have taken to address of Gartland Nelson. The firm’s women attorneys Teresa M. Kraemer Patricia L. Heatherman those challenges. have served on numerous boards, in local bar Julie Levie Caron In 2008, Oregon Women Lawyers is proud to leadership, and in statewide organizations. But Phylis Chadwell Myles recognize the Eugene law firm Gartland, Nelson, it is in providing informal leadership that the Helle Rode Diana Craine McCleery, Wade & Walloch as the recipient of the women of Gartland Nelson really stand out. Other Kathryn M. Ricciardelli third annual OWLS Workplace Leader Award. The attorneys searching for strategies to achieve their Agnes Sowle Katherine H. O’Neil award was presented on Friday, October 17, at own part-time schedules have been mentored a reception following the National Association by Gartland Nelson attorneys, and proposals at Executive Director Catherine Ciarlo, 503.595.7826 of Women Judges annual conference. other firms have been more successful because catherine@ Gartland Nelson stood out among six nominees of Gartland Nelson’s workplace leadership. oregonwomenlawyers.org as a workplace leader in a small firm, small town OWLS extends our warmest congratulations AdvanceSheet Editor setting. At Gartland Nelson, “work/life balance” is to the Gartland Nelson firm. Elise Gautier, 503.292.2893 [email protected] The AdvanceSheet is published quarterly by Oregon Women See pages 8–9 for the 2007–2008 Oregon Women Lawyers Annual Report. Lawyers, P.O. Box 40393, Portland, OR 97240. OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet 1 FALL 2008 President’s Message It’s Membership Susan Hammer at July LEG-Up istory will tear in Senator Clinton’s eye, or the Renewal Season at By Sara Staggs Hbe made “meltdown” she had when she was both t the July 10 OWLS LEG-Up, Susan Hammer, the 2006–2007 president of the on November 4, competent and passionate in a debate? Oregon Women Lawyers Portland City Club, spoke about her time at the City Club, her views of Portland, when the Unit- Or the nonchalant way the pundits feel y now, all OWLS members should Aand our responsibility as citizens to ensure Portland’s healthy future. ed States will comfortable calling Senator Obama have received your membership The City Club’s commitment to maintaining and improving Portland was what drew elect either “uppity,” or the callousness with which B renewal applications in the mail. Ap- Susan to become active in the organization. A citizen-based group, the City Club’s its first Afri- a congressman referred to him as “that plications are also available on the mission is to inform members of the Portland community about public affairs and can American boy”? And why is it that the press, the Oregon Women Lawyers website at arouse a sense of obligation in the community to make Portland an even better place president or pundits, and mainstream America feel www.oregonwomenlawyers.org/ than it is today. Susan joined the City Club in 1981 while working as an associate at its first female comfortable using their outside voices to docs/MembershipForm_2008-2009. Stoel Rives. At that time, joining was mandatory for Stoel Rives associates. vice president. say that a woman’s place is in the home pdf, or contact linda@oregonwom- Cascade Women Lawyers hosted a visit with “As citizens, we have an obligation to make this city better,” Susan said. One of the Laura Caldera Taylor The campaigns raising her children, not in the White enlawyers.org. Send in your form no Hon. Betty Roberts on Oct. 9. Left to right: problems she finds in Portland today is that citizens all congregate around interest leading up to House leading our country? later than November 14 to ensure Lorie Harris Hancock, Bethany Graham, groups to deal with issues that affect the community. “There is no longer a question that historic moment have put the spot- I wonder about how the brazen sex- Hon. Betty Roberts, and Laurie Craghead. uninterrupted listserve access and of ‘what is in the public good?’” she noted. The City Club provides a place to ask that light on the best and the worst of our ism and racism that has been so freely inclusion in the 2009 Membership question without a hidden agenda and to work toward the answer. society—the best in the sense that the touted during this election will affect our Directory. Through research reports presented to the Portland City Council on issues such highest and hardest glass ceiling is that children’s ability to realize true equality. OWLS treasures our members, and as Measure 37 (compensation for land use restrictions), the influx of immigrants to much closer to being broken, and the Wouldn’t it be great if the rest of the we hope you’ll renew as early as pos- Portland, and the city’s business environment, coupled with more than 44 programs worst in the sense that in the heat of country shared our vision of ensuring sible. We depend on your support offered each year, the City Club effects change in the Portland community on an the political moment, sexism and racism justice and equality by advancing women to continue our work to transform individual level and on a greater scale. The club works toward educating Portland’s have been brazenly embraced. and minorities? the practice of law and ensure citizens and bringing real issues to the attention of the city and state governments in There is so much more to say on this justice and equality by advancing a detailed, informative manner. “We want Portland to be better in 10 to 20 years,” subject than there is room here to write women and minorities in the legal Susan explained. “Portland engenders a sense of optimism and empowerment. There about it. Suffice it to say that Senators profession. On behalf of the board is a sense that one person can make a difference, and it is a place where people value Clinton and Obama, and Governor Palin, Attending the Clackamas OWLS picnic on and staff of Oregon Women Law- public dialogue.” She encouraged the LEG-Up attendees to join the City Club. “We have each been the victim of various August 9 are (clockwise from left): Judge yers, thank you in advance for your Tom Rastetter, Bonnie Carter, Kelsey need smart women to join our organization,” she said. forms of sexism and racism. Who can Laura Caldera Taylor renewal! Tucker, Ann Ledgerwood, John Carter, We thank Susan Hammer, a longtime OWLS member, for talking with us, and we forget the media buzz about the single OWLS President Michael Langley, and Judge Eve Miller. thank Black Helterline for graciously hosting this event in Portland. For more about OWLS chapter activities Sara Staggs is an attorney at Wiles Law Group in Portland. around the state, please see page 15 and Nominations for Roberts and Deiz Check Out www.oregonwomenlawyers.org/chapters/. Awards Due to OWLS November 17 OWLS’ New Website Auction Items Needed OWLS is soliciting nominations for the outstanding contribution to promoting n September, Oregon Women ou are cordially invited to attend, 17th annual Justice Betty Roberts and minorities in the legal profession and ILawyers unveiled our new infor- Yand make a donation to, the annual Judge Mercedes Deiz Awards.