WWBA September 2020 Newsletter
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
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
SEPTEMBER 2020
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!
continued on page 3 ➥
Page 1
The Westchester Women’s Bar Association is a Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
WWBA Member Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2020
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
Page 2
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
“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
1-4 Issues - $575.00 per issue
Half Page Display Ad
5-10 Issues - $275.00 per issue
1-4 Issues - $300.00 per issue
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
5-10 Issues - $165.00 per issue
1-4 Issues - $180.00 per issue
Business Card Ad
5-10 Issues - $60.00 per issue
1-4 Issues - $75.00 per issue
Classified – office space, furniture/equipment, employment & situation wanted (up to 5 lines)
Members - $50.00 first issue; $25.00 each succeeding issue; Non-Members - $75.00 per issue
Back Cover (3/4 page)
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.
Page 3
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
“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 ➥
Page 4
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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.
continued on page 8 ➥
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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
continued on page 13 ➥
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
Page 5
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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
continued on page 11 ➥
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
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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
continued on page 9 ➥
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
Page 7
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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:
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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
continued on page 11 ➥
A Leader in Serving the
Legal Services Community.
That’s Sterling.
Expect the highest caliber of personal service and
banking expertise.
Expect extraordinary.
Contact banking professionals experienced in
serving your unique needs at 914-367-9000,
or email team556@snb.com
Jamie O’Connell
Wealth Director
701 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10604
T 914 299 3050 F 955 498 2839
jamie.o’connell@bnymellon.com
www.bnymellonwealth.com
Larry McElroen, Senior Managing Director
Michael Henderson, Senior Managing Director
Anthony Forgione, Managing Director
Moira Kiernan, Managing Director
Luis Rivera, Associate Managing Director
To learn about Sterling’s full suite
of services, visit snb.com.
Member
FDIC
Page 8
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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! ◗
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
Page 9
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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. ◗
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
Page 11
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.
Page 12
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
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) . ◗
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News
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