A newsletter published by Oregon Women Lawyers Volume 4, No.4 Fall1993 L::::s OREGON WOMEN 1LAWYJER§~ llllll Who He Are & Where He're Going ,~ OREGO,Nwomen By Mary Beth Allen lAW Y E R s'" hile the official genesis of Oregon them for breakfast and a discussion about form­ W Women Lawyers might be open to ing a statewide women's bar organization. Fol­ President Diana Craine debate, four of the group's founders agree on lowing that meeting, at which The Hon. Betty thesiteofits unofficial origins: KatherineO'Neil's Roberts and The Hon. Mercedes Deiz spoke, a President Elect/ Vice President living room. brainstorming Helie Rode " It was like a session was held Secretary salon," says in November at Susana A lba Nell Hoffman the state bar Treasurer Bonaparte of headquarters. Phylis Myles the experience The women de­ Historian Tru dy A llen ofmeetingwith cided that day to other women at form their own Board Members Colette Boehmer 0' eiJ's_hous_e..._ bar asso.ciation julie Levie Caron to discuss form­ to forward their jeanean West Craig ing Oregon' s goal of advanc­ Michele Longo Eder Susa n Eggum first statewid~ ing women and Susa n Evans Grabe women's bar minorities in the jennifer Harrington association. "A legal profession. Susa n Isaacs political, social, Oregon Kay Kinsley Trudy Allen (OWLS and Queen's Bench board member), janet Lee Knottnerus educational sa­ Women Lawyers Andrea Swanner Redding Regnell (Mary Leonard Society president), Kathryn Ricciardelli Kathryn Ri cciardelli lon. It was excit­ (outgoing OWLS president), Nancy Moriarty (Queen's Bench held its first Noreen Saltveit ingtobeinvolved president) and Loree Devery (Queen's Bench treasurer) proudly conference on Cristina Sanz with so many dy­ April1, 1989 in Shelley Smith show off their OWLS' shirts and mugs. Patricia Sullivan namic women." Portland, with Patricia Urquhart "Those were nurturing times, when, if you'll over 200 people attending. Organizers were pardon the '90s expression, we got bonded," Vernellia Randall and Bonaparte. Past Presidents Katherine O ' Neil adds Agnes Petersen. "After all, we were "I twas kind of a heady event," says Bonaparte. Agnes Sowle eating together. We became a family." "We knew we were off and running." Kathryn M . Ricciardelli "Those were golden times, creative times," That meeting also saw the presentation of Executive Director O'Neil agrees. "We just loved seeing each the group's bylaws by Agnes Sowle, who had Diane Rynerson (775-902 1) other each month." taken on the daunting task of overseeing the Newsletter Editor Many of the founders first connected dur­ drafting of the document. The group was Caro lyn Buan (224-8024) ing O'Neil's tenure as chair of the Multnomah now a recognized nonprofit corporation. Graphic Design Bar Association's Committee on the Status of Founders say that the group's diversity Jeanne E. Galick Women in 1987-88. Susan Hammer had contributes to its vitality. "We were fortunate The Oregon Women Lawyers AdvanceSheet is published revived the committee while serving as first to have lawyers who were good at forming quarterl y by Oregon Women woman president of the MBA, and she and coalitions and bringing together people of Lawyers, P.O. Box 40393, Kathryn (Augustson) Root recruited women different viewpoints," Bonaparte says. Portland, OR 97240. who had been activists on behalf of women "We were very diverse in background," and minority lawyers to join the committee. O'Neil adds. "But we absolutely coalesced The MBA committee women joined with on one point: to have an organization that Queen's Bench, Lane County Women Law­ would advance women and minorities in the yers, and the Mary Leonard Society at the 1988 legal profession." state bar convention in Eugene and invited Some members had lobbied early on for the women lawyers from around the state to join Continued on page 3 committees' activities, and our out­ selves: "Because of that, the current reach interest programs. As part of our power structure ... tends to promote and membership drive, we will make sure mentor other men, rather than women." that every woman attorney and judge The mentoring function of a women's This year has in the state receives the publication. bar can occur by holding periodic flown by, but Please take time to review it and the brown bag lunches to discuss women's not without sig­ many opportunities to actively partici- issues or by matching a more experi­ nificant growth . pate in Oregon Women Lawyers that it enced woman attorney with a newer for our organiza­ describes. Progress has been made attorney. tion. As we contin­ possible by the commitment and ac­ The second reason to get involved, ued to realize our tion of the membership, and I hope according to Mary Ann Coffey, execu­ goal of promoting more individuals will introduce new tive director of the National Confer­ women in the profes- ideas for our continuing growth. ence of Women's Bar Associations, is sion, new chapters were created, By the time you receive this newslet­ the increased leadership opportunities tying together more women practitio­ ter, Diana Craine will have taken over provided: the chance to sit on a board ners from all the different fields of law. the leadership of OWLS' 21-member of directors, chair a committee, or Diversity was another focus, with the board of directors. I will remain on the serve as an officer will materialize seeds of a coalition group planted at a board for another year to assist in the sooner because of the typically recent gathering of the gay/lesbian, mi­ transition and smooth operation of this smaller size of the women's organiza­ nority, African-American, and Pacific/ energetic organization. My thanks to tion. This will often "serve as a spring­ Asian lawyer associations. Ideas and in­ all of you for the opportunity and honor board into leadership in the main­ formation were shared to develop an­ of serving Oregon Women Lawyers. stream bar," says Coffey. It can also other productive network. avoid years of more menial work in Community outreach focused on the mainstream bar. the needs of women and children, in­ ~~~~~ A third reason to become involved cluding a free legal clinic day at El Kathryn M. Ricciardelli, President in a women's bar is to improve oppor­ Centro Cultural in Washington tunities for networking, which is cru­ County, a F1!1l Ruo!'Nalk in Salem for cial in toclay's environment. A woman the Women's Crisis Center and Women's Bar lawyer is likely to refer legal work to Children's Guild, and the establish­ Associations: What They another woman. ment of a pro bono training program Fourth, a women's bar provides a for volunteers who want to represent Can Do For You more direct forum to consider and ad­ abuse victims at temporary restraining By Jill S. Gelineau dress issues unique to women. Typi­ order hearings in Multnomah County. According to leaders in women's bar cally, such issues may include sexual The upcoming VOICES contempo­ associations, there are generally five harassment in the workplace, or bal­ rary lecture series was also realized, in reasons why women want to become ancing parenting and career. Women's part because of Oregon Women Law­ involved in such an organization. bar associations can also concentrate yers' commitment to the Women's Sum­ First, says Sheila Jordan Cunningham, their pro bono efforts on the specific mit, an organization of 13 professional a past-president of the Tennessee Law­ needs of women. women's groups. The YWCA in Portland yers Association for Women (TLAW), Finally, participation in a women's also began its study to develop a there is more opportunity for collegial­ bar allows women to have the voice Women's Center Project with the aid ity and more meaningful mentoring in a and the clout that individual women of our organization and others. women's bar association. Cunningham in a mainstream bar may otherwise This special issue of the AdvanceSheet believes that people tend to associate lack. For example, TLAW routinely offers a look at our history, some of our with those who are similar to them- puts forth women candidates and lob­ bies heavily for the appointment of women in leadership positions in the ELAINE CIAFARONE TUNZAT judiciary, the legislature, and in all ATTORNEY AT LAW statewide positions of power, while Ll.M. TAXATION OWLS periodically showcases member SHAREHOLDER lawyers runnirtg for judicial offices in its •QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS quarterly newsletter. •TAX AND BUSINESS PLANNING For more information, contact •ESTATE PLANNING NCWBA Executive Director Mary Ann •PROBATE Coffey at (919) 482-8202 or Diane Rynerson at (503) 775-9021. GARRETT, HEMANN ROBERTSON , PAULUS With the author's permission, this article is JENNINGS & 1011 COMMERCIAL STREET NE • P.O. BOX 749 abridged and reprinted from The Affiliate, COMSTOCK, P.C . .___ _ SALEM, OR 97308 • ( 503) 581 -1 501 published by the ABNYLD Affiliate Out­ reach Project, Mar/Apr '93. 2 OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS cont. "We' re in a consolidation phase," organization to take stands on issues, />., O'Neil adds . "We need to continue namely abortion. But due to the divi­ Hlfll to reach out to women, and to keep sive nature of such issues, the group OREGON in touch and be supportive of women decided to channel its energies into a women ~ throughout the state." lAWYERS single goal: eliminating sexism and "We need to keep bringing in new racism in the practice of law. OUR GOALS members, and encourage diversity," "The strength of the organization . 1. To promote equal rights and Bonaparte says. has been its clear focus," Petersen opportunities for women and mi­ And in the words of Sowle, "We' ll says.