WWBA September 2020 Newsletter

Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

SEPTEMBER 2020 

WWBA 

WWBA VOLUNTEERS KICK OFF 

A YEAR OF GIVING BACK 

Lisa M. Denig 

I 

n her induction 

speech in 

June, President 

Lisa M. Smith highlighted 

“Giving Back” as 

one of her themes for the 

upcoming year. It did not 

take long for the members 

of the WWBA to put 

President Smith’s words 

into action! 

On Friday, July 24, 

2020, volunteers from the WWBA met at Hillside Food Outreach’s warehouse in Elmsford 

to stock shelves. Hillside Food Outreach is a food pantry where volunteers come and 

pack up boxes and bags of food that they then deliver to homebound, elderly or ill 

clients. While most food pantries require clients to come to their facilities to get what 

they need, Hillside has an army of trained volunteers that “shop” for their families every 

month at the warehouse and deliver the food right to the client’s doorstep. 

Hillside has been fortunate to receive donations of food from local businesses but 

these donations generally arrive on large pallets that are dropped at the Hillside ware- 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 


Uncertainty is the New 

Normal 

(page 5) 

A Panel Discussion on 

Police Reform 

(page 6) 

An Interview with Angela 

Morcone Giannini 

(page 7) 

Upcoming Events 

(page 14) 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News 

news 

www.wwbany.org 

continued on page 4 ➥ 

SAVE THE DATE 

CELEBRATING HISPANIC 

HERITAGE MONTH 

September 22, 2020 

Zoom 

WESTCHESTER 

WOMEN’S BAR 

ASSOCIATION 

VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB 

October 6, 2020 

Zoom 

AMERICAN CANCER 

SOCIETY 2020 WALK 

October 18, 2020 

Manhattanville College 

Purchase, New York 

PRESIDENT’S 

MESSAGE 

Wow. Until the 

last five or six 

months none of us 

could have imagined 

that our 2020 

Annual Dinner in 

June would be held 

remotely, complete 

with a beautiful rendition 

of the Star 

Spangled Banner 

Hon. Lisa 

Margaret Smith 

(thank you to Jennifer Brett and her 

accompanist, Silverio Mazzella), a terrific 

speech from outgoing President 

Angela Morcone Giannini, an amazing 

introduction and oath administration 

for me as WWBA President by the 

Honorable Colleen McMahon, Chief 

Judge of the Southern District of New 

York, and an equally amazing swearing-in 

by our very own foremother, the 

Honorable Sondra Miller, of our other 

Officers and Directors. There were traditional 

gifts given to Angela and to our 

amazing Executive Director, Elisabeth 

Campos; bouquets were delivered 

(mostly as a surprise for the recipients, 

and arranging that was a challenge of 

its own, thank you to Jen Netrosio); and 

it was all delivered to our virtual audience 

with panache by our fabulous 

Mistress of Ceremonies, President-Elect 

Amanda Fried. What an amazing night 

we had, despite the challenges of stayat-home 

orders resulting from the 

COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, and 

I extend my sincerest thanks to all those 

who participated. There are photographs 

in this issue in celebration of 

the wonderful occasion! 


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The Westchester Women’s Bar Association is a Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York

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WWBA Member Newsletter 


Published Monthly by the 

Westchester Women’s 

Bar Association, a Chapter of 

the Women’s Bar Association 

of the State of New York 

~ 2020/2021 Officers and Directors ~ 

President HON. LISA MARGARET SMITH 

President-Elect AMANDA C. FRIED 

Vice Presidents 

NATANYA L. BRIENDEL JENNIFER GRAY JACQUELINE HATTAR 

Treasurer 

ELIZABETH Z. MARCUS Recording Secretary ELIZABETH Z. MARCUS 

Corresponding Secretary JENNIFER ROBINSON 

Immediate Past ast President 

ANGELA MORCONE GIANNINI 

Elected Directors Westchester Board 

KIM BERG LISA M. DENIG CARLA GLASSMAN 

ANNETTE HASAPIDIS JILL OZIEMBLEWSKI 

State Directors Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York 

LUCIA CHIOCCHIO DEBORAH FARBER-KAISER ANN M. McNULTY 

SHARI GORDON ANGELA MORCONE GIANNINI 

ADRIENNE ORBACH SUSAN MILLS RICHMOND JANEEN THOMAS 

Executive Director ELISABETH CAMPOS 

© Copyright 2020 Westchester Women’s Bar Association. All rights reserved. 

The opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s) only and do not reflect the official position of the Association. 

Editor-in-Chief: Jennifer Robinson • Designed and Printed by IPM Media Group, Inc. (516) 809-0501 

2020-2021 WWBA Committee Chairs 

S T A N D I N G C O M M I T T E E S 

By-Laws ................................................................................... Kim Berg 

Corporate & Commercial .......................... Lisa M. Bluestein, Virginia Trunkes 

Criminal Law ................... Elizabeth Gazay, Hon. Sandra A. Forster, Amy Puerto 

Families, Children & the Courts .................... Joy S. Joseph, Lauren Morrissey 

Amanda Rieben 

Grievance/Ethics .......................................................... Deborah A. Scalise 

Judicial Screening ..................... Hon. Sandra A. Forster, Kimberly C. Sheehan 

Judiciary .............................................................. Hon. Linda S. Jamieson 

Lawyering & Parenting ................................... Joelle M. Burton, Jennifer Gray 

Legislation ............................. Natanya L. Briendel, Angela Morcone Giannini 

Matrimonial .......................................... Robin D. Carton, Dolores Gebhardt 

Lonya A. Gilbert, Andrea Friedman 

Annual Dinner ............... Robin D. Carton, Amanda Fried, Andrea B. Friedman, 

Jennifer L. Gray, Jennifer Netrosio, Lisa Margaret Smith 

Annual Dinner Souvenir Journal ................ Andrea B. Friedmanm Allison Sloto 

Appellate Practice .......... Lisa M. Denig, Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Heather Gushue 

Archive & Historian .............................................................. Susan L. Pollet 

Awards ....................................... Elizabeth Barnhard, Deborah Farber-Kaiser 

Bankruptcy ............................. Wendy Marie Weathers, Susan Mills Richmond 

Breast Cancer Awareness ............... Adrienne J. Orbach, Hon. Sandra Forster 

Collaborative Law ........................... Kathleen Donelli, Hon. Sondra M. Miller, 

Lynn J. Maier 

Community Outreach .............. Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith, Deborah A. Scalise 

Construction Law .............................................................................. TBD 

Continuing Legal Education ................................................ Ann M. McNulty 

Cyber Law ....................................................................................... TBD 

Diversity and Inclusion ........................ Jacqueline Hattar, Stephanie Melowsky, 

Janeen Thomas 

Domestic Violence ....................... Marian Genio, Beth Levy, Stacey Neumann 

Education .................. Allison Morris, Julie P. Passman, , Susan Mills Richmond 

Elder & Health Law & Reproductive Rights ..................... Elizabeth A. Cumming, 

Moira Laidlaw 

Employment Law ........................................................ Kim Berg, Sara Kula 

Environmental & Land Use ........................ Lucia Chiocchio, Jennifer L. Gray, 

Katherine Zalantis 

Gender Dynamics .............................................. Hon. Terry Jane Ruderman 

Holiday Party and Boutique ................. Dolores Gebhardt, Jennifer N. Netrosio 

Immigration .............................. Karin Anderson Ponzer, Elizabeth Mastropolo 

Insurance ........................................... Michelle Kolodny, Julie A. Mickiewicz 

Intellectual Property ............. Elizabeth M. Barnhard, Theresa O’Rourke Nugent 

A D H O C C O M M I T T E E S 

Membership ............................... Sherry Bishko, Marian Genio, Kristen Motel 

Networking ...................................................................................... TBD 

New Lawyers ..................................................... Katie Wendle, Kristen Motel 

Professional Development ............. Susan Edwards Colson, Stephanie Melowsky 

Programs ........................................... Natanya L. Briendel, Amanda C. Fried 

Public Relations ................................................................................ TBD 

Real Property ................. Anne R. Aicher, Allyson Lanahan, Robbin E. Sweeney 

Sponsorship .................................. Lucia Chiocchio, Susan Edwards Colson, 

Deborah Farber-Kaiser, Marian Genio 

Taxation .................................................................. Patricia Rusch Bellucci 

Trusts & Estates ...................................... Lonya A. Gilbert, Nancy J. Rudolph, 

Karen J. Walsh 

Judgment Enforcement & Collections ..... Daniel F. Florio, Jr., Michael Giannini 

Litigation .................................. Angela Morcone Giannini, Jacqueline Hattar, 

Rebecca McCloskey 

Long Range Planning ..................................... Lisa M. Denig, Linda Markowitz 

Mediation ......................... Hon. Sondra M. Miller, Abby Rosmarin, Lisa Denig 

Mentor ................................................................ Kim Berg, Sherry Bishko 

Past Presidents ..................................................... Angela Morcone Giannini 

Practice Management ............................................... Wendy Marie Weathers 

Pro Bono ................................................... Marian Genio, Natalie Sobchak 

Social Media .......................................... Kristen Motel, Jennifer N. Netrosio 

Technology/Website ................... Donna E. Frosco, Theresa O’Rourke Nugent 

Wellness ........................................ Jennifer Netrosio, Susan Mills Richmond 

Women in Leadership ................................................... Adrienne Arkontaky 

WWBA 

Representatives 

Network of Bar Leaders ................................................... Angela Morcone Giannini 

Pace Board of Visitors .............................................................................. Lisa Denig 

WWBA Foundation President ........................................................... Susan S. Brown 

WWBA Representative Director to the WCBA Board ....................... Dolores Gebhardt 

WBASNY Judicial Screening Committee .......... Gail M. Boggio, Lisa M. Bluestein 

WBASNY Nominations Committee ....................... Gail M. Boggio, Lisa M. Bluestein 

WBASNY Awards Committee ............................................................ Deborah Scalise 

WBASNY Health Law/Reproductive Rights Committee ........................... Shari Gordin 

WBASNY Fundraising Committee .................................................. Andrea Friedman 

WBASNY ERA/Women’s Civil Rights Committee ......................................... Kim Berg 

WBASNY Labor and Employment Law ....................................................... Kim Berg 

WBASNY Legislation Committee .................................................... Natanya Briendel 

WBASNY LGBTQ+ Committee ...................................................... Adrienne Orbach 

WBASNY Domestic Violence Committee .............................. Susan Pollet, Alayne Katz 

WBASNY Press and Public Relations ................................ Angela Morcone Giannini 

9th Judicial District Representative .................................... Angela Morcone Giannini 

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Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

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President’s Message 

from page 1 

“I am especially 

thrilled to repeat 

the goal that I set 

during my installation 

remarks, that is that 

we of the WWBA 

must use this year 

to ‘Give Back.’” 

The 2020-21 year thus began for 

WWBA with clear recognition that this will 

be a year of firsts, and also of formidable 

barriers for us to overcome. We have already 

held web-based programs that have 

been exceedingly successful, including a 

presentation by the Education and Wellness 

Committees entitled “Uncertainty is the New 

Normal: What does that mean for Parents 

and Students,” and an equally impressive 

presentation by the Diversity & Inclusion 

Committee entitled “A Panel Discussion on 

Police Reform: New York’s Executive Order 

for Necessary Change.” The New Lawyers 

Committee is planning to transform 

our traditional Red Hat social event into 

an online social event to include our law 

student mentees from the Haub Law School, 

with the possibility of a trivia contest and 

prizes! Our Book Club and Coffeehouse 

Conversations have been ongoing remotely, 

with wide varieties of people participating 

in both. In these ways we have begun to 

overcome the barriers that face us, and I 

have no doubt that we will prevail with 

many more events during the coming year. 

I challenge our committee chairs and cochairs 

to be creative in your use of distance 

communication to create CLE events, 

social occasions, networking opportunities, 

and just plain fun things to do. 

I am especially thrilled to repeat the 

goal that I set during my installation remarks, 

that is that we of the WWBA must 

use this year to “Give Back.” The individual 

neighborhoods where we live, our 

community in Westchester County, our 

country, and our world, are in crisis, faccontinued 

on page 5 ➥ 

Editor’s Note 


“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. 

I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name 

and address.” 

~ Nora Ephron 

Making Dates and Getting Published 

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS 

❑ Deadline for newsletter submissions is the 12th of the month prior to publication (submissions 

received after the deadline are subject to the discretion of the editor). 

❑ Send submissions as email attachments to Jennifer Robinson at secretary@wwbany.org. 

❑ Articles should be 1,000 words or fewer. Remove all pagination, headers, footers or other 

formatting, other than bold, underline or italics. Authors are encouraged to submit photographs 

for publication with their submissions and include a short biographical statement with 

their submissions. 

❑ Materials submitted allow the WWBA a limited copyright and full permission to reprint the 

material in any WWBA publication or on its website without additional consent. 

❑ Photographs must be high-resolution (150 dpi or more) and the subject and all persons in 

each photograph must be fully identified. 

PROGRAM SCHEDULING 

❑ First visit the WWBA website: www.wwbany.org and click on the calendar at the home page to 

view scheduled programs. Conflicts in scheduling will be assessed on a case by case basis, with 

priority for early submissions. 

❑ Contact Jennifer Robinson at secretary@wwbany.org to schedule a WWBA sponsored or cosponsored 

program, including committee meetings, CLE programs, etc. 

❑ Once you have reserved the date with Jennifer Robinson, proceed with planning your program 

and creating your flyer. 

❑ Flyers must be approved by the Programs Committee. In advance of the 12th of the month, 

please send your flyer to the Program Committee Co-chairs for review and copy the Executive 

Director. Once approved, please send your final flyer to the Executive Director, Elisabeth Campos 

and the President for publication on the website calendar and the newsletter calendar. The 

final flyer will also be emailed to the membership. 

❑ We will also consider publicizing programs from outside organizations that may be of interest 

to our members. 

❑ Post-event: You may report on the success of your program and provide photographs of the 

speakers and participants that can be included in an upcoming newsletter. Send your submission 

to Jennifer Robinson, following the guidelines above. 

A d v e r t i s i n g R a t e s 

Full Page Display Ad 

5-10 Issues - $525.00 per issue 


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Contacts 

Jennifer Robinson, Corresponding Secretary and Newsletter Editor-in-Chief: secretary@wwbany.org 

Natanya L. Briendel, Programs Committee Co-Chair: tanyabriendel@gmail.com 

Amanda C. Fried, Programs Committee Co-Chair: afried@cartonrosoff.com 

Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith, President: president@wwbany.org 

Ann M. McNulty, CLE Chair: ann.m.mcnulty@morganstanley.com 

Elisabeth Campos, Executive Director: executivedirector@wwbany.org 

Quarter Page Display Ad 



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Classified – office space, furniture/equipment, employment & situation wanted (up to 5 lines) 

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5-10 Issues - $650.00 per issue; 1-4 Issues - $700.00 per issue 

Deadline for all ads is the 12th of the month prior to publication. Ads are subject to space limitations. 

Contact Jennifer Robinson at secretary@wwbany.org for any questions regarding advertising. 

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WWBA VOLUNTEERS KICK OFF A YEAR OF GIVING BACK 

from page 1 

house. That’s where the WWBA 

stepped in! After a particularly 

large donation by Shop-Rite, 

volunteers from the WWBA descended 

on the warehouse and 

sorted and shelved all of the 

items so that the deliverers could 

easily create their care packages 

the next day. Literally thousands 

of cans and boxes were neatly 

stacked and arranged during 

the roughly two hours that the 

volunteers were there. Several 

volunteers even broke out their 

winter coats and gloves and 

happily stocked items in the 

walk-in freezer! 

Hillside is thrilled to partner 

with the Westchester 

Women’s Bar Association in efforts 

like this so watch your 

email for future opportunities to 

serve. And for more about Hillside 

Food Outreach, visit 

hillsidefoodoutreach.org. ◗ 

Giving Back: My Work with Hillside Food Outreach 

Lisa M. Denig 

[Setting: the basement of 

a community center, a 

group of people in a circle 

of chairs] 

“Hi, my name is Lisa D. 

and I’m a Chronic Volunteer.” 

“Hi Lisa!” 

Ok, so perhaps there 

isn’t a support group for my 

particular malady but if 

there were, I envision that it 

would have to meet at 3 AM, 

since that is probably the 

only free time Chronic Volunteers 

like myself have. 

However, when WWBA 

President Lisa M. Smith 

asked if I would write the 

inaugural article for the 

WWBA Newsletter’s “Giving 

Back” column, I jumped 

at the chance. 

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“Volunteers do not necessarily have the 

time; they just have the heart.” 

~Elizabeth Andrews 

While my volunteer exploits 

range from walking dogs at the 

Animal Haven shelter in New 

York City to serving on numerous 

non-profit boards and 

committees, one that has become 

an even bigger part of 

my life since the Covid-19 

pandemic is my work with Hillside 

Food Outreach. 

Hillside is not just a food 

pantry. Most food pantries require 

clients to come to the 

pantry and pack up the food 

they need. Hillside’s mission 

is completely different-they deliver 

food to the elderly, sick or 

shut-ins that do not have the 

ability to get to a pantry. They 

also focus on providing 

healthier alternatives than traditional 

food pantries such as 

fresh fruits and vegetables and 

sugar-free, low-sodium, and 

gluten-free foods. This is particularly 

important for clients 

who suffer from chronic health 

issues such as diabetes and 

high blood pressure. 

My husband, Jim 

Carpiniello, and I volunteer 

with Hillside as food deliverers. 

One Saturday a month, 

we pack up boxes and bags 

from the warehouse and deliver 

them to our five, regular 

families. Currently, we can 

only drop the food off on the 

front step but before the 

pandemic, these families 

looked forward to our 

monthly visit, as many of 

them do not have family or 

friends who stop by. For 

some, we are their only connection 

to the outside 

world. We have gotten to 

know them, their life stories 

and situations, and their 

food likes and dislikes (one 

of our clients hates cereal!). 

When the Corona virus 

hit with full force, Hillside 

took on another role-delivering 

food to those who were 

ill or quarantined due to 

possible exposure. Because 

Hillside already had a decontinued 

on page 11 ➥ 

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UNCERTAINTY IS THE NEW NORMAL 

What Does This Mean for Parents and Students? 

Jennifer N. Netrosio, Julie 

Passman, Alison Morris, and 

Susan Mills Richmond 

On July 14, 2020, 

WWBA’s Education and 

Wellness Committees hosted a 

virtual lunchtime program via 

ZOOM: Uncertainty is the 

New Normal: What does that 

mean for Parents and Students? 

Panelists Sarah Rubin, 

Psy.D, school psychologist at 

Todd Elementary School in 

Briarcliff Manor and Director of 

Child and Adolescent Counseling 

at The Center for Behavior 

Therapy in White Plains, and 

Linda Bond, Ph.D., licensed 

psychologist specializing the 

Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 

working with adolescents and 

adults. Both psychologists offered 

strategies to help parents 

manage stress, balance work 

with parenting (and possibly 

home-schooling again), accept 

Linda Bond, Ph.D. 

uncertainty, and support the developmental 

needs of their children 

during this uncertain time. 

A prevailing theme from 

both panelists is that parents 

should prioritize self-care. Both 

psychologists agree that the 

more care you give yourself the 

better able you are to support 

your children and family. Selfcare 

recommendations: exercise, 

practice yoga, meditate, 

journal, be aware of your social 

needs, and create a new 

schedule that fits the family’s 

needs right now. 

Dr. Rubin, who works 

Sarah Rubin, Psy.D. 

largely with children in grades 

K-8, offers parents the following 

tips to help young children 

cope with frustration and anxiety, 

due to uncertainty stemming 

from COVID-19: 

1. Develop a concrete plan 

with your child for when your 

child becomes frustrated. 

Have your child brainstorm 

their top two frustrations along 

with strategies to handle those 

frustrations; then, write these on 

a piece paper and post the 

paper on the computer: “When 

I get frustrated, I will take deeps 

breaths.” 

2. Name the skills you are trying 

to strengthen in your child, 

i.e., positive thinking and resilience. 

Discuss and explain 

those skills in age appropriate 

language. 

3. Identify negative thoughts 

and brainstorm together with 

your child a positive replacement 

thought. Your child can 

keep a journal that they decorate! 

4. Parents and children can 

keep a daily gratitude journal. 

5. Book recommendation: My 

Hero is You, How kids can fight 

COVID-19! by the World 

Health Organization. 

6. Acknowledge and empathize 

with your child’s feelings of uncertainty, 

but also remind them 

that this is a “temporary” or 

“time limited” situation in the 

world that will pass. 


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President’s message 

from page 3 

ing a once in a lifetime pandemic, 

racial unrest and extreme 

inequity, and unsettling 

political polarization. One 

event that jumpstarted our efforts 

to Give Back this summer 

is highlighted in this newsletter; 

on Friday, July 24, a group 

of about a dozen WWBA volunteers 

gathered at Hillside 

Food Pantry to unpack and organize 

a large quantity of food 

that would subsequently be distributed 

to those most in need 

of assistance in our County. It 

took almost exactly 90 minutes, 

and everyone not only felt good 

about having volunteered, we 

also had a great deal of fun. 

Another important WWBA 

effort that has recently begun is 

to encourage voter registration 

across the County, in a bipartisan 

way. In this way, too, we 

can Give Back to our community, 

and to our entire country. 

I recently had the pleasure of 

swearing in 120 brand new citizens 

of the United States, from 

countries all around the world. 

They were from Bangladesh, 

Ghana, the Dominican Republic 

and the Philippines, South 

Korea and Ecuador, among 

many others, and I assure you 

that each of them will treasure 

the opportunity to cast a ballot 

in November. In 2016 only 

58.1 percent of eligible voters 

cast a presidential ballot. By 

comparison 73 percent of the 

voting age population of Finland 

voted in 2015; 87 percent 

of the voting age population of 

Belgium voted in 2014; 78 percent 

of the voting age population 

of South Korea voted in 

2017; 73 percent of the voting 

age population of New Zealand 

voted in 2014; 65 percent of 

the voting age population of the 

U.K. voted in 2016. We can 

and must do better than 58.1 

percent. It is crucial that everyone 

has a say in selecting 

our leaders in government, and 

the way to do that is to vote; 

the precursor to voting is to register. 

So please help WWBA’s 

efforts in this regard by talking 

to your families, your friends, 

your book club and dog walking 

colleagues, anyone you can 

think of, to make sure they are 

registered, and that everyone 

they know is registered. We 

have included registration information 

and flyers in a recent 

email blast, and WWBA will 

happily provide additional registration 

documents to any 

group, organization, or locale 

that you identify. Completed 

registration forms should be 

delivered or mailed to the 

Board of Elections at 25 

Quarropas Street in White 

Plains, by the registrant. 

Mailed applications must be 

postmarked no later than October 

9, 2020, and received by 

the Board of Elections no later 

than October 14, 2020 for a 

newly registered voter to be eligible 

to vote in the November 

election. In person registration 

must be completed no later 

than October 9, 2020. Registration 

is the first step, and when 

election day comes around 

make sure that you encourage 

those you know to vote, even if 

you disagree with them politically 

B because every citizen 



Page 5

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WWBA’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee Presents: 

A Panel Discussion on Police Reform – New York’s 

Executive Order for Necessary Change 

Stephanie Melowsky 

On July 22, 2020 the WWBA Diversity 

and Inclusion committee hosted a panel 

discussion via Zoom on Police Reform: 

New York’s Executive Order for Necessary 

Change. The program was co-sponsored 

by the Westchester County Bar Association, 

White Plains Bar Association, Brooklyn 

Womens Bar Association, Metropolitan 

Black Bar Association, Hudson Valley 

Hispanic Bar Association and PCSB Bank. 

The program, which was very well attended, 

is part of the kick off for Judge 

Lisa Smith’s new term as WWBA President 

and mission to strongly promote diversity 

and inclusion in the legal profession with 

the overarching theme of giving back. 

Sitting on the distinguished panel for this 

program was Dr. Jim Bostic, TH.DS., Minister, 

Author and Executive Director of the 

Nepperhan Community Center in Yonkers, 

which runs many youth programs and is 

the largest provider of afterschool programs 

in Yonkers and the surrounding area; Ja- 

son Myles Clark Esq., Immediate Past President, 

Metropolitan Black Bar Association 

and Deputy, New York State Attorney 

General’s Harlem Regional Office where 

he serves a large constituency in Upper 

Manhattan and the Bronx by prosecuting 

violators of New York State’s labor, consumer 

and civil rights laws; the Hon. Kitley 

S. Covill, Esq, Westchester County Legislator 

who represents the Town of Bedford, 

Lewisboro, Mt. Kisco, North Salem, Pound 

Ridge and part of Somers and chairs the 

Legislation committee, and is a member of 

the Westchester County Board of Ethics, 

Community Service Board and Police Safety 

Board; and Prof. Randolph McLaughlin, 

full-time professor at Pace University Law 

School and Of Counsel, Newman Ferrara 

LLP where he maintains a selective civil 

rights caseload and has many notable victories. 

Serving as moderator was Maria L. 

Imperial, CEO of the YWCA of White Plains 

and Central Westchester, whose mission is 

eliminating racism and empowering 

women. Ms. Imperial also serves on the 

Board of Directors of Non-profit 

Westchester, the Fund for Modern Courts 


WWBA 2020 VIRTUAL INSTALLATION OF 

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS 

June 17, 2020 

Hon. Judge Lisa Smith During 

Installation Speech 

Hon. Judge Lisa Smith taking the 

Oath as WWBA President 

Hon. Judge Lisa Smith with 

Bouquet 

Hon. Judge Lisa Smith with 

her husband, Bill 

Page 6 


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An Interview with Angela Morcone Giannini 

Susan L. Pollet 

Chair of the Archive and 

Historian Committee 

Q: Your Presidency occurred 

during a difficult, challenging 

year. What impact did 

the coronavirus pandemic 

have upon the usual workings 

of the WWBA, and how 

did you deal with it? 

A: There is no doubt that 

COVID-19 had an impact 

upon the WWBA as it did on 

other bar associations and 

the entire world. Our Association 

was built on the strong 

foundation set in place by our 

founding mothers and has 

continued to remain strong 

and dedicated to our mission 

because of the fellowship, 

comradery and friendships of 

our many members. I am very 

proud of how quickly we were 

able to adapt to a virtual platform 

and serve the needs of 

our members and community. 

We were one of the first Chapters 

in WBASNY to hold virtual 

board meetings including 

our GMM meeting and 

voting for our incoming President 

and officers. It was clear 

to me from the attendance at 

the virtual board meetings 

that members were eager to 

continue the business of the 

association and were so 

happy to “see each other” and 

engage in thoughtful discussion 

and share creative ideas 

and suggestions about how 

to best represent our clients 

and practice law during the 

pandemic. We learned 

quickly that we do not have 

to be in the same room to 

promote our mission. 

Q: What has the WWBA 

done to help our members 

and the community in the 

face of the pandemic? 

“My mission during my 

Presidency was to have the 

WWBA collaborate with other 

associations and groups in an 

effort to better our community.” 

A: One of the first accomplishments 

of the WWBA during the 

pandemic was the establishment 

of a COVID-19 Local 

Hospital Donation Match Campaign 

after member Adrienne 

Orbach shared her family members 

personal experiences working 

on the frontlines in hospital 

ERs. The emotional and physical 

toll placed upon ER physicians, 

nurses and staff during 

the pandemic was overwhelming. 

The WWBA recognized 

their heroism and with the very 

generous support of the WWBA 

Foundation donations totaling 

over $10,000 were made to 8 

local hospitals in our county. 

While the meals provided 

needed nourishment for those 

working taxing hours, it was the 

recognition and support that 

meant so much to the frontline 

workers. I am so glad we were 

able to be a part of something 

that provided encouragement 

and made their day a little 

brighter in these difficult times. 

The WWBA and WWBA Foundation 

also made donations for 

law students at Pace Elizabeth 

Haub Law School who became 

displaced during the pandemic 

and were in need of housing 

and other financial support. 

We also addressed the financial 

and business hardships 

placed upon our members by 

COVID-19. Our past president 

Kim Berg and Litigation Cochair 

Rebecca McCloskey gave 

a timely Zoom CLE program 

entitled: What Employers and 

Employees Need to Know 

about New COVID-19 Employment 

Laws and Government 

Resources. This program addressed 

available resources 

and loans offered by the government 

to assist members in 

running their law practices and 

helping their clients maintain 

their businesses. Importantly, 

we also kept our members current 

with email notifications of 

Executive Orders issued by the 

Governor and Court Orders 

applicable to the operations of 

the Courts in the 9th Judicial 

District and statewide. 

Prior to the pandemic, 

myself and our Wellness committee 

cochairs, Jen Netrosio 

and Susan Mills Richmond, 

held a Heart Healthy Program 

for our members given by the 

American Heart Association. 

The Pandemic brought about 

new health concerns for many 

beyond the virus including 

stress, anxiety, isolation and 

depression. Recognizing the 

psychological impact caused by 

the virus, the Wellness Committee 

offered free Restorative 

Yoga sessions and I started a 

Coffeehouse Conversation 

Zoom program. I realized from 

the high attendance at the virtual 

board meetings that our 

members were looking for the 

connection they had come to 

expect from the WWBA. Simply 

put, there is an energy exchanged 

between people when 

Angela Morcone Giannini 

they come together. Energy 

given to our members, is energy 

received from our members. 

Coffeehouse Conversation 

has provided that energy 

exchange where our 

members engage in meaningful 

conversations about 

practicing law in this very 

novel environment. 

Q: How do you anticipate that 

the pandemic will impact 

upon the practice of law in 

the future? 

A: The virtual, I believe, is now 

a reality in the practice of law. 

The Pandemic has shown us 

what can be accomplished 

virtually. It indeed is a change 

and change is never easy. But 

I do believe that “the virtual” 

in some manner will now be a 

permanent part of the practice 

of law. 

Q: What were the highlights 

of your Presidency? 

A: There were many. My mission 

during my Presidency 

was to have the WWBA collaborate 

with other associations 

and groups in an effort 

to better our community. It 

was important to me to have 

our members share their 



Page 7

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UNCERTAINTY IS THE NEW NORMAL 

from page 5 

7. Connect with your school 

district to address any concerns 

you might have regarding your 

child with a disability and/or the 

provision of services listed in 

their IEP or Section 504 Plan. 

8. If you notice marked changes 

in your child’s behavior, especially 

changes in sleep, eating 

and anxiety levels, contact the 

school district or seek out other 

resources for support. 

9. Reach out to your school 

district to discuss the supports 

available for your child. 

10. Create a “cozy corner” in 

your home where your child can 

go when feeling upset, anxious, 

or frustrated. You can build into 

the daily schedule 15 minutes 

of your undivided attention in 

the cozy corner with the certainty 

that they can voice their concerns 

at a set time during the 

day. 

Dr. Bond offers strategies 

for teens and young adults, 

many of whom are also navigating 

decreased socialization 

at a stage in their development 

when social circles and interactions 

become very important. 

Teens and young adults who 

moved into a developmentally 

appropriate phase of independence 

before COVID-19 have 

seen their autonomy and individual 

decision-making slide 

backwards. The abrupt 

changes and disruptions to the 

social lives and autonomy of 

teens and young adults can 

bring on depression and sadness. 

Dr. Bond suggests the following 

to support and encourage 

teens and young adults and 

help them take ownership of 

caring for themselves physically, 

emotionally and socially. 

1. Offer empathy and listen, 

while being mindful not to tip 

into victimhood or dramatization 

of the circumstances. 

2. Be present-focused, and 

teach your child to do the 

same. Being present-focused 

requires you and your child to 

stay in the “now” and be mindful 

of the present rather than 

focusing on what has been lost 

in the past or the anxiety that 

may arise in the future. This way, 

you and your child can practice 

being flexible and avoid 

rigid expectations of what the 

future may hold. The only certainty 

is the present, and focusing 

on the present generates a 

healthier view. 

3. As students enter a college 

campus either for the first time 

or to return, parents may suggest 

the following to their child 

to assist them during this transition: 

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a. Reassure your child that 

that it is completely normal 

to experience the array of 

feelings they may have - 

uncertainty, anxiety, etc. 

Encourage them to communicate 

with you and others 

how they are feeling. If 

these feelings worsen or if 

they just aren’t feeling like 

“themselves,” encourage 

them to call the College 

Counseling Center. 

b. Stress the importance of 

having a routine at school. 

Encourage your child to 

maintain a consistent sleep 

schedule, waking up 

around the same time every 

day. Most colleges are 

incorporating virtual classes 

into their regular schedules. 

It is important to speak to 

your child about not attending 

virtual classes on their 


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Page 8 


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An Interview with Angela Morcone Giannini 

from page 7 

knowledge and skills not only 

with other members in our 

association but with our 

Westchester community. 

Our Annual Law Day / 

Take your Children to Work 

Day is a perfect example. 

Despite COVID-19, with the 

help of Past President 

Deborah Scalise and President 

Lisa Margaret Smith we 

were able to host a virtual 

event. In collaboration with 

the SDNY, we presented a live 

webcast program to students 

throughout our county which 

included a Mock Trial team 

presentation on U.S. v. Phoenix 

Jones. Magistrate Judge 

Lisa Margaret Smith presided, 

the Rye Neck High School 

Mock trial team played the 

roles of prosecutor, defense 

attorney and witnesses and 

the student attendees throughout 

the county participated as 

jurors and casted a live electronic 

jury vote at the end of 

the trial. In addition, there 

were presentations by civil and 

criminal attorneys on the practice 

of law and an FBI agent 

on federal investigations. The 

program concluded with participants 

being presented with 

a Proclamation as a remembrance 

of their participation 

in the “Your Vote, Your Voice, 

Our Democracy: The 19th 

Amendment.” The program 

was recorded with closed caption 

for the hearing impaired. 

It was huge success with over 

300 attendees and will be 

stored in the 2d Circuit Educational 

Archives. 

Another example of our 

collaborative effort involved 

the WWBA’s Wellness and 

Domestic Violence Committees 

hosting a virtual program 

via ZOOM: “Intimate Partner 

Violence and the COVID-19 

Pandemic in Westchester - A 

Panel Discussion from Legal, 

Law Enforcement, and Mental 

Health Professionals.” The presenters 

included the WWBA, 

Putnam Northern Westchester 

Women’s Resource Center, 

White Plains Police Department 

and Pace Women’s Justice Center. 

The program was sponsored 

by Sterling National Bank. The 

panelists addressed the effect of 

“shelter in place orders” on partner 

violence and family custody 

and support issues. The 

WWBA’s program not only provided 

very important and timely 

information to our members, it 

permitted the panelists to have 

an opportunity to collaborate 

with each other and share their 

resources to help victims in our 

community. 

Having been raised the 

daughter of a History professor, 

I was constantly reminded of the 

privilege of living in a democratic 

society where one is afforded 

the right to vote. It was 

instilled in me that we can never 

take the right to have our voice 

heard for granted. So when 

WBASNY called upon Chapters 

to take on a voting initiative, I 

was committed to our 

Westchester Chapter working 

hard to promote voter registration. 

With the help of student 

member Megan Farrell, 

Westchester registered the most 

voters statewide among all the 

chapters in WBASNY and 

achieved 1st place in the Voter 

Registration Initiative! 

Q: What do you believe that 

the WWBA should be focusing 

upon in the future? 

A: I believe that the WWBA 

must continue to focus on the 

education of our members and 

the WWBA’s involvement in our 

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communities. We must continue 

to increase our membership, 

encourage mentorship and develop 

creative ways to use the 

virtual platform to engage our 

members and remain a strong 

presence in their lives. 

Q. Tell us about your legal 

background, and the various 

accomplishments of your career? 

A: I am a graduate of Pace Law 

School and had the privilege of 

interning for the late Honorable 

Judge Isaac Rubin at the Appellate 

Division Second Department. 

I also was a summer intern 

at the prestigious firm of 

Clark, Gagliardi & Miller, PC. 

and later hired by the firm. I 

was fortunate to become a partner 

at CGM and worked there 

for 28 years learning each day 

under the guidance of renowned 

trial attorney, the late Henry 

Miller and esteemed plaintiff’s 

attorney, Lucille Fontana. On 

May 1st of 2017, Lucille and I 

started our own firm, Fontana 

Giannini LLP. Starting a law firm 

is an exciting and challenging 

endeavor and thanks to my law 

partner, it has proved to be very 

rewarding. Over the years, I 

have mentored many law students 

and have truly enjoyed 

helping them learn about the 

practice of law and establish 

their own careers. I have been 

fortunate to have been selected 

as a Super Lawyer for the past 

11 years and inducted as a Fellow 

in the International Academy 

of Trial Lawyers. Just this 

past January, I was honored to 

receive the New York State Bar 

Association Professionalism 

Award, having been nominated 

by the WWBA and WCBA. 

Q: Tell us about your professional 

and personal goals. 

A: I look forward to continuing 

to represent victims of accidents 

in the areas of personal 

injury, premise, auto, labor 

and medical malpractice for 

many years. I also look forward 

to participating in the 

newly established Court Mediation 

and ADR programs 

and using my learned negotiation 

and settlement skills to 

help others resolve their disputes. 

I plan to continue my 

mentorship of law students and 

one day, I would like to return 

to the classroom and teach a 

law class. 

Q: How have you balanced 

your family and career over 

time? 

A: The balance question remains 

a topic of discussion not 

only for those practicing law, 

but for all individuals who work 

and have a family. I was very 

fortunate to have a great family 

network who encouraged 

and supported me during my 

early career years especially 

when my children were very 

young. There is no doubt in 

my mind that I would not have 

been able to achieve the successes 

in my career if it were 

not for my supportive and loving 

spouse, Robert who always 

supported my career and encouraged 

all my efforts in the 

practice of law. Now having 

practiced over 30 years, I can 

share with you that I have 

learned that balance involves 

“sway.” There is never true 

equilibrium of family and career. 

Better to embrace “the 

sway” and realize that career 

and family will never at any 

given time be completely balanced. 

Doing so gives you 

the freedom to do both well 

and in fact, for most of us, very 

well! ◗ 


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The WWBA Foundation 

Giving Back and Looking Forward! 

Susan S. Brown 

Our Foundation has always 

been a source of great 

WWBA pride! My grateful 

thanks go out to the dedicated 

WWBAF Board and 

the WWBA members whose 

generous support, over more 

than twenty years, made it 

possible for the Foundation 

to rise to the challenges we 

faced in the most difficult 

year of our twenty year history. 

In 2020, the Foundation 

Board took the unprecedented 

step of authorizing 

the release of WWBAF reserve 

funds to make immediate 

emergency grants in 

response to the COVID 19 

pandemic. These grants provided 

financial assistance to 

adversely impacted Pace Law 

Students (whose housing, 

food security and jobs disappeared 

due to the closure of 

campus) and made donations 

to eight local hospitals 

in support of the WWBA initiative 

to fund relief programs 

for front line health care workers. 

AND despite the downturn 

in the economy our annual 

Mocktail fundraiser netted 

$25,564 which we were 

able to disburse to the winner 

of the prestigious Justice 

Sondra M. Miller Scholarship 

(Pace Law Graduate Rebecka 

Palm, now known as Rebecka 

Levitt) and among 14 deserving 

local non-profits that 

carry out our mission “…to 

eliminate gender bias and 

promote the fair and equal 

treatment of all people in 

society, the workplace, 

schools and court system.” 

We thank all of our generous 

donors, in particular the 

law firms, title companies, 

banks and members who 

stepped up as sponsors of this 

year’s Mocktail fundraiser, that 

made this scholarship and 

these grants possible. 

Finally, I am most proud 

to announce that the WWBAF 

recently received a generous 

grant from the Sterling National 

Bank Foundation, which we are 

charged to distribute to the local 

non-profits we support. 

As we look ahead to 2021, 

we find that the mission of the 

p 

PATRONS 

BENEFACTORS 

Law Office of 

Milton M. Kreppel & Julie S. Kattan 

FRIENDS 

Court Street Abstract, Inc. 

WWBA Foundation is aligned 

with that of our newly installed 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

President, the Hon. 

Lisa Margaret Smith who has 

challenged WWBA members to 

“Give Back”. And while the 

WWBAF is grateful for your 

generous donations in support 

of her challenge, I urge our 

WWBA members to do more 

to help us carry out our mission 

“… to eliminate gender 

bias and promote the fair and 

equal treatment of all people 

Dalco 

Reporting Inc. 

Black, Marjieh & Sanford 

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 

in society, the workplace, 

schools and court system.” 

Help us identify local non-profits 

that are deserving of our 

support; send their contact information 

to Susan Brown at 

sbrown@glassmanbrown.com 

and I will provide a Grant Request 

form for consideration by 

the WWBAF board. 

GIVE BACK by looking forward 

to another impactful year 

in which the WWBA Foundation 

makes a meaningful difference! 

◗ 

MARGARET 

NEUBART 

FOUNDATION 

KRAMER KOZEK LLP 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW 

Hon. Sondra M. Miller 

Walsh & Amicucci, LLP 

Christopher L. Mangold, PLLC 

Welby, Brady & 

Greenblatt, LLC 

Page 10 


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Giving Back: My Work with Hillside Food Outreach 

from page 4 

livery structure in place and 

an army of volunteer deliverers, 

the Westchester 

County Department of Social 

Services began regularly 

referring these cases to Hillside. 

During the first few 

weeks of the pandemic, Jim 

and I delivered food everyday 

to at least 3 or 4 families 

that were not our regular 

clients. The numbers 

have declined slightly in recent 

weeks but we are still 

providing this critical service. 

We wear gloves and masks 

and leave the food on the 

doorstep so there is no contact. 

We then call and let 

the clients know their delivery 

is waiting for them. The 

“Thank you’s” and “God 

bless you’s” that we get on 

that brief phone call - some 

choked with tears-illustrates 

the desperation so many of 

“[W]hen Covid-19 hit our region 

particularly hard, we were 

honored to be able to step up and 

deliver much needed food . . . to 

those who were ill or included in 

high risk groups who could not 

leave their homes.” 

these families are facing during 

this crisis. 

I also serve as a Hillside 

Hunger Hero, making a regular 

monetary donation every 

month to help advance 

Hillside’s mission. Jim and I 

have volunteered for food 

drives and I have even conscripted 

several WWBA members 

to help at the warehouse 

unpacking food pallets and 

shelving items. We also attend 

Hillside’s yearly Gala 

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Fundraiser in the Fall, although 

we assume that it will 

be cancelled this year. 

Jim and I feel blessed to 

have the means and ability to 

help those less fortunate than 

us on a regular basis, especially 

with such an essential 

need like healthy food. And 

when Covid-19 hit our region 

particularly hard, we were honored 

to be able to step up and 

deliver much needed food 

(and Tylenol and disinfectant 

wipes) to those who were ill 

or included in high risk 

groups who could not leave 

their homes. We have seen, 

firsthand, the devastating toll 

this virus has had on our 

county, most prominently 

among the poor, elderly and 

minority communities. We 

drive away from every delivery 

we make profoundly grateful 

for our health, our financial 

security and our families. 

I am certain that, one day, I 

will look back on all the many 

accomplishments in my life 

and count volunteering with 

Hillside-especially during this 

challenging time-as one of the 

most valuable things I ever 

did. 

If you would like to volunteer 

with or donate to Hillside 

Food Outreach, please 

visit their website at 

www.hillsidefoodoutreach.org. ◗ 

Panel Discussion on 

Police Reform 

from page 6 

and the Women in the Courts Committee for the Ninth Judicial 

District. 

This diverse group of panelists all expressed the importance 

of this conversation and highlighted several points on police 

reform. Key takeaways included that Qualified Immunity needs to 

be re-examined and policy needs to be enshrined in law to make 

a real difference for victims of police brutality. Another takeaway 

is that the phrase “defund the police” is a misnomer. Rather, a 

reallocation of resources is necessary so that appropriate resources 

are more readily available depending upon the needs of any 

given situation. For example, mental health professionals should 

be available to address someone having a mental health crisis 

rather than being met by law enforcement professionals, who are 

not trained mental health professionals. The panel also emphasized 

the need to give law enforcement better tools to deescalate 

situations. 

It was an engaging and educational program that addressed 

a timely and difficult topic. Many thanks to the speakers, sponsors 

and attendees for their support. ◗ 

Uncertainty is the New 

Normal 

from page 8 

bed and explain that they will be more productive being dressed 

and at a desk as if they were in a classroom. Also encourage 

your child to eat three healthy meals per day and try to get in 

at least one physical activity each day. 

c. Although social opportunities may look different, it is critical 

to connect with others and make the effort to be part of those 

opportunities. Some students are feeling that they may not want 

to join clubs, saying “They are just zoom calls.” Encourage them 

to participate and try anything and everything that interests them, 

regardless if it is “in person” or “virtual.” 

d. Encourage your child to take time for themselves each day. 

Step away from the news, coursework and do something that they 

enjoy, and find relaxing or rejuvenating. Although college may 

look a little different this year, talk to your child about how exciting 

and positive the experience is. Encourage them to take in 

every moment, learn new things, meet new people, be presentfocused 

and enjoy the experience. 

The WWBA Education and Wellness Committees thank the 

panelists and the 22 members and guests in attendance. ◗ 


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Chapter News and Announcements 

Announcements & Notes on Members 

❑ The matrimonial and family law firm of Goldschmidt & Genovese, LLP is delighted to 

announce the expansion of its firm to include three past presidents of the WWBA: 

partners Kathleen Donelli and Dolores Gebhardt and Chief Counsel, the Hon. 

Sondra Miller (ret.). ◗ 

Urgent Need for Committee Chairs 

Have you ever wanted to be more involved in the Westchester Women’s Bar Association? 

NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! We have need of Chairs or Co-chairs of a 

number of committees, please consider whether your talents could be shared by volunteering 

to serve in that capacity. Being a Committee Chair or Co-chair is fun, sometimes 

challenging, and always looks good on your resumé. The requirements include 

attending monthly Board Meetings, currently being conducted remotely at 5:30 pm on 

the first Wednesday of each month, sponsoring or co-sponsoring at least one program 

during the upcoming year between now and June, and bringing in just one new member 

for WWBA during the year. Programs may provide CLE credit or not, that is the 

choice of the organizers of the program; they may feature WWBA members or outside 

experts in a particular field who are willing to share their expertise; there may be a 

charge for the program, in the organizers’ discretion. 

The Committees currently in need of Chairs or Co-chairs include Networking (desperately), 

Public Relations, also Social Media (Public Relations and Social Media could 

work together, and keep in mind that our Executive Director, Elisabeth Campos posts a 

lot of WWBA’s events on social media), Construction, Cyber Law, Practice Management, 

and Women in Leadership. Any WWBA member who is interested can volunteer 

to serve as a Chair or Co-Chair. We also need Co-chairs for the Past Presidents’ 

Committee, but of course only past presidents are qualified. Any WWBA member who 

is inclined to take on one of these positions, or even just to talk about it, should contact 

WWBA President Lisa Margaret Smith at lisamsmith@rocketmail.com. ◗ 

Giving Back to Our Community 

WWBA’s Voter Registration Drive 

Each WWBA member should have received a flyer in late August about voter 

registration procedures and deadlines, accompanied by registration forms in both English 

and Spanish. If you have not received it, please email President Lisa Smith at 

lisamsmith@rocketmail.com, and she will send you a copy. All members are encouraged 

to share the flyer and registration documents with family, friends, and any organization 

or group you may belong to, in order to encourage every eligible voter to 

register to vote. You may be surprised the reasons people often give for not registering 

– surveys show that many people are never invited to register, so they don’t; people will 

also say they are not interested in politics, or they intended to register but never got 

around to it; some will say that no candidate or political issue inspired them to vote, or 

that they did not want to register because they are concerned about their personal 

information not being adequately protected; one reason given is that registering is not 

convenient, or that they do not know how to register. Information from https:// 

www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2017/06/why-are-millions-ofcitizens-not-registered-to-vote, 

last checked 9/1/2020. The Voter Registration Drive 

being conducted remotely by WWBA is intended to overcome all of those reasons, and 

to make it as easy as possible for unregistered citizens to register to vote. They may 

register online, by mail, or in person, all of the information is in the previously distributed 

flyer and accompanying forms. This is a completely nonpartisan effort. Thank you 

for participating in this effort on behalf of WWBA. ◗ 

Become a New 

Member Today 

RENEW YOUR 

WWBA MEMBERSHIP TODAY 

FOR THE PERIOD 

JUNE 1, 2020 TO MAY 31, 2021. 

RENEW NOW! DON’T WAIT! 

WWBA Membership includes 

membership to the Women’s Bar 

Association of the State of New York 

(WBASNY). 

January 31, 2021 is the closing date in 

order to count the WWBA members 

towards our certification to WBASNY and 

assure our number of delegates. 

Renewing before this date will allow our 

Westchester Chapter (WWBA) to continue 

to be a strong presence in our statewide 

organization (WBASNY) while you will 

enjoy its many benefits, events, 

newsletter and CLE programming. 

Hélène Côté, Sherry A. Bishko, 

Elisabeth Campos 

It is easy to renew by going to the 

WWBA Website at www.WWBANY.org. 

You can use a credit card or 

PayPal to make payment. 

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Westchester Women’s Bar Association New Members 

The Westchester Women’s Bar Association proudly welcomes our newest members: 

TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF OUR MEMBERS, 

THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE WWBA ONLY. 

President’s Message 

from page 5 

who is at least 18 years old can 

and should have a say in our 

country’s future. 

How else can you Give 

Back? There are things both 

large and small that you can do. 

I have been reaching out to a 

90 year old member of my 

church choir who has sheltered 

at home during the pandemic. 

I have visited her on Sundays, 

sometimes bringing a small gift, 

or singing to her, or just chatting, 

at a safe distance and 

masked, of course. I call her 

and send her notes, maybe once 

every week or two. It is a small 

thing but she cherishes those 

human contacts, and I get a 

great deal of enjoyment from it 

myself. Surely you know someone, 

perhaps only an acquaintance, 

who is likely to be lonely 

during this difficult time. Take a 

chance, reach out to that person, 

your gesture of Giving 

Back will mean more than you 

can know. Do you have ideas 

for Giving Back? Let us know 

what they are, and be creative. 

Perhaps you can call a local 

“Surely you know someone, 

perhaps only an acquaintance, 

who is likely to be lonely during 

this difficult time. Take a chance, 

reach out to that person, your 

gesture of Giving Back will mean 

more than you can know.” 

elementary school and offer to 

read a book over Zoom to a 

group of kindergarteners, either 

one time or on a regular basis; 

perhaps you can take baked 

goods or a pizza, to your local 

firestation or ambulance corps 

or emergency room; perhaps 

you can sign up for the first time 

to become a mentor to a law 

student who undoubtedly needs 

extra guidance during this challenging 

time; perhaps you can 

contact a local youth organization 

and offer to give a presentation 

about something you are 

good at B teach them via Zoom 

to knit, or to sew on a button, 

or to do calligraphy, or tell them 

about the three branches of government; 

or just Give Back the 

old fashioned way by donating 

to the Westchester Women’s Bar 

Association Foundation or any 

other not for profit that satisfies 

your personal standards. I am 

very certain that whatever you 

choose to do, you will get more 

in return than you have given, 

just as I have gotten so much 

warmth and love and caring 

from my 90 year old friend. 

This organization is at an 

important crossroads. We face 

a terrific challenge to remain 

valuable to our members and 

our community, despite the continuing 

challenge of the pandemic. 

I encourage each of you 

to find ways to stretch our 

boundaries and our audience, 

to come up with new CLE offerings, 

presentations, remote networking 

and social opportunities. 

I know that we can achieve 

great things during this year. My 

hope and prayer for each of you 

is that you stay safe and healthy, 

that you find value in your lives, 

in family, in work, and in play, 

and that you find ways to Give 

Back. ◗ 

Newsletter Correction 

Last month’s newsletter contained two photographs on the bottom 

of page 4. The photograph on the left is from Orange Regional 

taken on April 18th while the photograph on the right is from 

Montefiore Hospital, taken on May 11th. These two hospitals are not 

beneficiaries of the funds raised by the WWBA. “Meals for Medical 

Warriors Go Fund Me” was created to garner support to provide 

weekly meals to the Emergency Room Staff at Orange Regional Hospital 

(Middletown NY) and Montefiore Hospital (Bronx, NY) . ◗ 


Page 13

WWBA Schedule of Upcoming Events 

COMMITTEE DATE/TIME PLACE TOPIC RSVP (also online at www.wwbany.org) 

Hudson Valley Hispanic Bar 

Association 

9/22/20 

6:30 pm 

WWBA Book Club 10/6/20 

6:00pm 

Virtual Book 

Club 

Board of Directors Meeting 10/7/20 

5:30 pm – 

American Cancer Society 

2020 Walk 

7:30 pm 

10/18/20 

9:00 am – 

12:00 pm 

Zoom 

Zoom 

Zoom 

Manhattanville College, 

Purchase, New York 

Celebrating Hispanic 

Heritage Month 

Hispanics: Be Proud of 

Your Past, Embrace the 

Future 

Book: 

The Beauty in 

Breaking” by Michele 

Harper 

While the pandemic has 

changed our event plans 

for this year, we are still 

fighting back boldly 

and relentlessly against 

breast cancer. Your 

support matters now 

more than ever, and we 

hope that you will join 

us for a safe, contactless 

drive-through parade at 

Manhattanville College 

on the morning of 

Sunday, October 18th! 

We will be inviting 

teams to come in shifts 

between 9 a.m. and 12 

p.m., so stay tuned for 

more details coming 

very soon. 

RSVP to pablo368@hotmail.com 

by 9/14/20 

Email Lisa Denig for the Zoom 

link at lisadenig@yahoo.com 

No RSVP necessary 

For more information go to 

www.wwbany.org 

Visit www.wwbany.org for more 

information 

WWBA is a chapter of WBASNY, which is an approved provider of CLE credit. Full and partial scholarships for CLE programs based 

on financial need are available. For information on the guidelines and procedures for applying, please contact the person running 

the program. All requests are strictly confidential. All programs are for transitional credit unless the program states otherwise. 

Unless otherwise indicated, events are for WWBA members and invited guests only. 

The opinions expressed by any program presenter are the presenter’s own, and do not reflect 

the official position of the WWBA. 

REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND THE WBASNY WEB PAGE 

AT WWW.WBASNY.ORG. 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO RECYCLE 

Connect 

with 

us 

THE WWBA MEMBERSHIP PERIOD FOR 

2020-2021 BEGINS ON JUNE 1, 2020. 

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TOD 

ODAY AT 

WWW.WWBANY 

.WWBANY.ORG 

.ORG

WWBA September 2020 Newsletter

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