WWBA November 2020 Newsletter - M

Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

NOVEMBER 2020 

WWBA 

MAKING STRIDES AGAINST 

BREAST CANCER WALK 

Adrienne J. Orbach 

O 

n October 18, 2020, Team 

Orbach members walked to 

raise funds for the American 

Cancer Society’s event, Making Strides 

Against Breast Cancer. Due to COVID- 

19 the American Cancer Society was 

unable to host the 16,000 + walkers at 

the Manhattanville College Campus that 

annually congregates. Instead, we 

walked one by one and two by two. 

Despite the obstacles, this year did not 

stop us as many walkers know first-hand 

the benefits that the ACS offers to patients, 

family members and caregivers. 

We walked and collectively as a team we raised $10,414.00 and are currently at 

$11,107.00 since the walk. Donations are still being accepted and can be made on 

line (https://mobileacs.org/rnvpj ) or by sending a check payable to the American 

Cancer Society to the attention of team leader Adrienne Orbach (Law offices of Adrienne 

J. Orbach, PLLC, 399 Knollwood Road, Suite 311, White Plains, New York 10603) to 

submit for credit to the Team. All contributions, no matter how small, are welcome. 

More Breast Cancer Walk Photos on Page 5 ➥ 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 


Immigrant Students: Legal 

Rights, Challenges and 

Needs in Public Schools 

(page 4) 

An Interview with 

Heather R. Gushue 

(page 5) 

Giving Back 

(page 6) 

Upcoming Events 

(page 10) 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News 

news 

www.wwbany.org 

SAVE THE DATE 

VIRTUAL SHOPPING 

EXTRAVAGANZA 

Through November 28, 2020 

Zoom 

NON-PERFORMANCE 

THEORIES OF 

IMPOSSIBILITY AND 

IMPRACTICABILITY IN 

THE COVID ERA CLE 

November 18, 2020 

Zoom 

VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB 

“Monogamy” 

November 23, 2020 

Zoom 

PRESIDENT’S 

MESSAGE 

Hon. Lisa 

Margaret Smith 

November is the 

month when we give 

thanks for all of our 

blessings. I, for one, 

would like to thank 

each of the members 

and friends of 

the WWBA who 

have responded to 

my October message, 

about my journey 

with breast cancer. Those responses 

have been heartfelt and uplifting, and 

at times they have made me cry as others 

have shared their own journeys with 

cancer. The prayers and good wishes I 

have received have buoyed my spirits 

and nourished my hope. No matter 

my diagnosis, I give thanks for my 

health, and for the health of all those 

who walk this life with me, including 

my WWBA family, my Court family, my 

extensive network of friends, and my own 

immediate family. 

Thanksgiving allows us to pause, 

to consider, and to remind ourselves 

that we are, indeed, fortunate. This 

year, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, 

it can be difficult to feel connected 

to distant loved ones, unable to 

travel to or from our usual full Thanksgiving 

tables. I know that I am frustrated 

by knowing I cannot make my usual 

array of pies (my sister makes the crusts) 

because there will be few at home to 

eat them, as we continue to protect 

ourselves and our loved ones by remaining 

apart. The blessing is that we have 

ways to remain healthy, by listening to 

doctors and scientists, by wearing masks 

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

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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 

Page 2 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

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President’s Message 

from page 1 

“[W]e can give 

thanks for our 

loved ones even 

when we cannot 

share a table 

with them.” 

and by remaining socially distant, and we 

can give thanks for our loved ones even 

when we cannot share a table with them. 

Consider sharing a virtual table, via video, 

with the loved ones who cannot be with 

you. This is also the time of year when 

WWBA would be having networking 

events, and when we would be looking 

forward to our overwhelmingly popular 

holiday party, and we are fortunate that 

we are able to find other ways to join together. 

Please set aside November 28, 

the Saturday after Thanksgiving, known as 

Small Business Saturday, when we will celebrate 

our own local businesses and artisans 

by holding a Virtual Holiday Party 

through an all-day shopping extravaganza, 

to be hosted by our very own 

Dolores “Jerry Lewis” Gebhardt. I can’t 

wait to hear her patter! This year we should 

avoid shopping malls and crowded shops, 

so I encourage you to do your holiday 

shopping online, through our WWBA vendors, 

on Saturday, November 28. Each 

vendor will have 30 minutes during which 

to show off their wares, and everyone in 

attendance will have contact information 

for each vendor, to order whatever you 

choose from their array. The WWBA Foundation 

will also participate, as they do at 

our usual Holiday Party, so please join us 

to show your support for the Foundation, 

as well. 

So, as I pause, and as I consider that 

I am fortunate, I find that I am thankful 

that during the initial days of my retirement, 

I have the WWBA to keep me busy. 

I am thankful to join the list of astonishing 

women who have served this organization 

as its President, and who continue to serve 

WWBA in so many ways, including Ancontinued 

on page 9 ➥ 

Editor’s Note 


“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for 

all abundance.” 

~ Eckhart Tolle 

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 


Half Page Display Ad 


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 



Business Card Ad 




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

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IMMIGRANT STUDENTS: Their Legal Rights, Challenges 

and Needs in the Public Schools 

Julie Passman, Alison Morris 

and Susan Mills Richmond 

On Wednesday, October 

21st, the Westchester Women’s 

Bar Association’s Education 

Committee, along with the Diversity, 

the Families, Children 

& the Courts and the Immigration 

Committees hosted a Zoom 

CLE on Immigrant Students: 

Their Legal Rights, Challenges 

and Needs in the Public 

Schools. The program was cosponsored 

by Neighbors Link 

and Student Advocacy. 

The genesis of this program 

was the Education Committee 

co-chairs’ interest in learning 

more about the rights and challenges 

of immigrant students 

from their perspectives as attorneys 

practicing in areas of 

education law and as concerned 

community members. 

Based on the positive response 

to the program, it is clear that 

the challenges and issues facing 

immigrant students is a 

topic that touches many of us 

on a personal, professional 

and human level. 

The CLE program, which 

offered 1.0 credit in Diversity & 

Inclusion and .5 credits in Professional 

Practice, was initially 

scheduled as in-person 

evening event on April 1st, but 

COVID-19 took over our lives 

in early spring, and the program 

was postponed. The 

WWBA transitioned to Zoom 

programs, and the Education 

Committee embraced the new 

WBASNY CLE requirements. 

While the structure of the program 

remained largely the 

same, the Education Committee 

made some adjustments to 

accommodate the Zoom format. 

Now that our communities 

and the world have endured 

several months of COVID-19, 

it was important that the presenters 

provided some updated 

context for the topic. 

The program featured an 

esteemed panel of experts and 

attorneys: 

■ Carola Bracco is recognized 

as an expert on immigration 

issues in the New York 

metropolitan area, and she is 

the Executive Director of Neighbors 

Link, a community center 

in Mount Kisco and other 

Westchester communities that 

provides education, employment 

and legal services to immigrant 

families. Carola 

shared with participants her 

perspective as a member of a 

family that immigrated to the 

United States, and she discussed 

the many challenges 

faced by immigrant students 

and their families in Westchester 

County, including language 

and cultural barriers, bias, fear 

regarding undocumented status, 

and access to community 

programs. 

■ Elizabeth Mastropolo is 

an immigration law attorney at 

continued on page 7 ➥ 

MAKING STRIDES AGAINST BREAST CANCER WALK 

from page 1 

Page 4 


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An Interview with Heather R. Gushue 

Susan L. Pollet 

Chair of the Archive and 

Historian Committee 

Q: When and why did you 

become involved in the 

WWBA? 

A: I became a member of the 

WWBA in September 2019 

after transitioning from working 

at Hogan Lovells LLP in 

its NYC office to practicing 

in Westchester County as an 

associate at Shapiro 

Gettinger Waldinger & 

Monteleone LLP. Soon after 

becoming a member of the 

WWBA, I was appointed cochair 

of the Appellate Practice 

Committee in December 

2019. I joined the WWBA 

for the professional opportunities 

that the organization 

has to offer in Westchester 

County and to be involved 

with an organization that advances 

legal issues involving 

women. 

Q: Which WWBA activities 

have you participated in? 

A: Unfortunately, the 

COVID-19 pandemic began 

soon after I became co-chair 

of the Appellate Practice 

Committee. I did attend the 

WWBA holiday party in December 

2019 and look forward 

to attending more inpersona 

and virtual events in 

the future. 

Q: Tell us about your legal 

background. 

A: I have followed what some 

may consider a non-traditional 

path. I would describe 

it as diverse and varied, but 

one that has always drawn 

me to being a litigator with 

an interest in research, brief 

writing, and appellate practice. 

“Litigation in general presents 

many challenges for all attorneys 

either coming from clients, 

adversaries, or judges. I have found 

that being a woman in a field that is 

predominately male dominated is the 

biggest challenge . . . My perspective 

as a female litigator allows me to 

challenge the status quo.” 

After graduating law 

school in Florida and taking 

(and ultimately being admitted 

to) the Florida bar, I moved 

to New York in the summer of 

2016. I then took the New York 

State Bar in February 2017 

and obtained my first job as 

an attorney in September 2017 

at the Appellate Division, Second 

Department as an Appellate 

Court Attorney. In this position, 

I learned from dedicated 

and intelligent public 

servants and I also gained invaluable 

experience that I currently 

draw upon in my private 

practice. 

I spent two years in London, 

United Kingdom where I 

obtained my L.L.M. from the 

University College London. 

After returning to NYC, I began 

working at Hogan Lovells 

LLP where I worked primarily 

on consumer finance matters 

within the litigation department. 

I ultimately became cosupervisor 

of the appellate 

practice in the consumer finance 

department and drafted, 

edited, and argued numerous 

appeals and trial court motions 

for almost 7 years. 

Currently, I have been 

practicing in the litigation department 

at Shapiro Gettinger 


Waldinger & Monteleone LLP 

in Mount Kisco for almost one 

year. 

Q: Tell us about your legal 

practice, including what you 

like most about it and what 

you find most challenging. 

A: My litigation practice primarily 

focuses on commercial, 

real estate, employment, estate, 

and community association 

matters. I find great pleasure 

in drafting briefs and participating 

in oral argument. I 

enjoy researching and formulating 

creative and winning 

arguments. I cannot and will 

not advance arguments that I 

do not believe will be successful. 

I will work endlessly until I 

know I have the answer that 

will resolve my clients’ issue(s) 

in their favor. 

Litigation in general presents 

many challenges for all 

attorneys either coming from 

clients, adversaries, or judges. 

I have found that being a 

woman in a field that is predominately 

male dominated is 

the biggest challenge (in fact 

a recent NYSBA study looking 

into equality for women attorneys 

in the courtroom shows 

that approximately 25% of attorneys 

in lead counsel roles 

Heather R. Gushue 

are women). And, this has 

become an issue that I am 

particularly passionate 

about. My perspective as a 

female litigator allows me to 

challenge the status quo. 

Q: How do you think the legal 

profession will change in 

this time of the coronavirus 

pandemic, and how do you 

believe it will impact women 

in the profession and in the 

community? 

A: The legal field is going to 

have to adapt and embrace 

technology. After litigating 

numerous cases in packed 

New York courtrooms, our 

old “normal” cannot continue. 

Courts have started 

creating virtual and remote 

courtrooms, and this will 

likely continue. Additionally, 

litigators will have to get comfortable 

with video depositions. 

This is a great opportunity 

for women to improve 

upon their technology skills 

and use those abilities to gain 

an advantage in the virtual 

courtroom. 

There is no doubt that 

this pandemic has affected 

all professionals regardless of 

gender. However, profescontinued 

on page 7 ➥ 

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GIVING BACK: Fighting Breast Cancer 

Lisa Margaret Smith 

“[E]very step on my solo 

journey gave me a way to Give 

Back to those fighting breast 

cancer, including myself.” 

On Sunday, October 18, 2020, I joined Making Strides 

for Breast Cancer, along with men and women from Team 

Orbach (WWBA’s small but mighty team), and walkers from 

all around the country. There is a piece about our efforts 

with photos on pages 1 and 4 of this newsletter. We chose 

to walk alone, or in small groups. For me, every step on 

my solo journey gave me a way to Give Back to those 

fighting breast cancer, including myself. I walked for 3 miles 

– just under 5 kilometers, and it was glorious. I wore a sign 

that said “BEAT BREAST CANCER,” and was dressed entirely 

in pink, and while many people just drove right past, 

others honked, or waved. The most supportive were the 

motorcyclists, giving me a fist in the air, and a V for victory, 

and numerous horns were blown. Every acknowledgement 

mattered to me, and the fabulous support of my fellow 

Team Orbach members (we shared photos later that day) 

made me smile for the rest of the day. 

The day was sunny and quite balmy – I had dressed in 

layers, and was glad to shed my jacket part way through 

the walk. The sky was dotted with puffy white clouds, and 

the sun shone on the gorgeous autumn leaves that waved 

from their branches and crunched under my feet. I do not 

know how much money either Team Orbach or the American 

Cancer Society raised during this year’s Making Strides 

for Breast Cancer, but I do know that my effort was important, 

and allowed me to Give Back in a way that was special 

to me. ◗ 

Editor’s note: Please send your Giving Back moments, large or small, for 

inclusion in the Newsletter. 

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Page 6 


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An Interview with Heather R. Gushue 

from page 5 

sionals with children will 

face the most challenges 

with potential school closures 

and increased distance 

learning. There is 

no question that women 

will have more demands 

placed on them in relation 

to their responsibilities at 

home. I am hopeful that 

law firms and the legal 

community will be mindful 

of these challenging times 

and permit work from 

home scenarios when 

needed. Women can 

again use technology to 

help them achieve the 

same quality of work that 

they had achieved pre- 

COVID-19. 

Q: When you are not practicing 

law, what are your activities 

in the community pre 

and post coronavirus pandemic? 

A: I am a mom to three wonderful 

girls under the age of 

8. They keep me quite busy! 

Pre-COVID-19, you could 

find me around my hometown 

of Chappaqua on the 

weekends with my 3 girls. 

Unfortunately, post- 

COVID-19, my community 

activities have been on hiatus 

so I can meet my family 

and work obligations. 

Q: How have you been balancing 

your career and family 

life? 

A: I am extremely grateful to 

have a supportive husband. 

We work together so that we 

can each have “alone time” 

to clear our heads and pursue 

hobbies. We communicate 

our needs and are able 

to support each other. For 

me, running and yoga are 

my go-to activities for balance. 

Q: What advice would you 

give new lawyers entering the 

profession? 

A: (1) Work hard. The learning 

curve is steep. I have 

been practicing over 14 

years and I am still learning; 

(2) Find a mentor. I am 

currently working with two 

accomplished litigation attorneys 

who provide me 

support and guidance. 

These relationships help 

me achieve my professional 

goals; (3) Exercise. 

Exercise releases endorphins. 

We need that. Also, 

sitting all day in front of a 

computer is not good for 

physical or mental health. 

Get outside!; (4) Enjoy life. 

Life right now is serious 

enough. Get lost in the moment 

and try to have some 

fun. ◗ 

IMMIGRANT STUDENTS: Their Legal Rights, Challenges 

and Needs in the Public Schools 

from page 4 

Neighbors Link Community 

Law Practice, providing direct 

legal assistance to immigrants 

throughout the 

Hudson Valley in a wide 

range of cases before the 

United States Immigration 

and Citizenship Services and 

the Immigration Court. Elizabeth 

also co-chairs the 

WWBA Immigration Committee. 

As part of the panel 

program, Elizabeth discussed 

laws and policies related to 

immigration status of students 

and their families, including 

Deferred Action for Childhood 

Arrivals (DACA), the 

Trafficking Victims Protection 

Act (TVPA), application for 

Special Immigrant Juvenile 

Status (SIJS), and the presence 

of ICE officials. 

■ Stefanie Shabman, Legal 

Director of Student Advocacy, 

Inc. in Elmsford, is an 

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attorney and educational 

advocate representing students 

who are significantly at 

risk for academic failure and 

those who are faced with 

school access issues, such as 

suspension or residency challenges. 

Many of Stefanie’s 

clients live in poverty, are 

non-English language speakers, 

or are single parents or 

foster care parents. Stefanie 

shared with attendees a host 

of strategies on advocating 

for immigrant students in the 

educational setting, including 

addressing parent access to 

educational materials in native 

language, access to appropriate 

special education 

services and programs for 

English language learners, 

and cultural competencies. 

■ Stephanie Roebuck, a 

partner at Keane & Beane in 

White Plains, represents 

school districts and municipalities. 

She has been an 

adjunct professor at 

Manhattanville College 

School of Education, teaching 

a class in School law, and 

she is a frequent presenter for 

the New York State Bar Association 

and the State and 

County School Board Associations. 

Stephanie shared 

the school district perspective 

on the issues facing immigrant 

students and discussed 

the seminal case of Plyler v. 

Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982), 

which held that undocumented 

children have a right 

to attend public schools. She 

discussed school districts’ role 

in managing requests from 

government agencies to enter 

school buildings, and addressed 

the role, efforts, and 

challenges public school districts 

face in protecting immigrant 

students and ensuring 

equal access to the school 

setting. 

Following the panelists’ 

individual presentations, they 

were presented with two fact 

patterns and they offered their 

perspectives and opinions on 

each scenario: one fact pattern 

focused on a native English-speaking 

preschool student 

with a suspected disability, 

and a second fact pattern 

described a student enrolled 

in DACA who was anxious 

about ICE confronting her in 

her Westchester public high 

school. The panelists’ written 

materials and accompanying 

resources were a terrific 

complement to their presentations. 

Panelists wrapped up 

the program by addressing 

participants’ questions in the 

Zoom chat room. The engaging 

and dynamic program 

imparted to the 24 attendees 

a wide range of perspectives 

and insights on the 

challenges faced by immigrant 

students. ◗ 


Page 7

Chapter News and Announcements 

Announcements & Notes on Members 

❑ Susan L. . Pollet 

ollet, former WWBA President, published her third 

novel, entitled “Women in Crisis: Stories From the Edge.” Each 

chapter is the story of a different woman, speaking with her psychiatrist, 

about important issues which impact upon all women and the 

men who care about them. It is available on Amazon. https:// 

www.amazon.com/dp/1952570492. ◗ 

The Show will Go On!! 

WWBA Holiday Party to Take Place on 

Saturday, November 28, 2020 

This year’s Holiday Party will be virtual and will be like nothing we have 

ever done before. Our Party will be on Saturday, November 28 – Small Business 

Saturday. 

We will offer an all-day Zoom virtual shopping boutique! Many of our 

favorite vendors from prior years will be back, and one or two newcomers who 

I know you’ll love. Each vendor will get 30 minutes to show you their wares; you 

will already have in your possession a list of vendors, their contact information, 

and their time slots. You see, you like, you buy directly from the vendor . . . all 

from the comfort of home! One of the 30-minute slots will go the Westchester 

Women’s Bar Association Foundation, which will sell their cards as always….and 

they are planning a special half-our CLE as well. I won’t steal their thunder by 

giving it away, but I promise it will be a lot of fun. 

The whole thing will be hosted by yours truly, Dolores “Jerry Lewis” Gebhardt! 

We want this to be a big success, so plan to spend the day in your sweatpants 

while you safely shop for the holidays, and pick up half a CLE credit as well!” ◗ 

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 8 


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Westchester Women’s Bar Association New Members 

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

BAILEY M. ANDREE 

Student 

MARTHA GRAY 

Student 

STEPHANIE SIOUFAS 

Student 

ANNA C. BAILEY 

Student 

CAROLINA A. CARASA 

Student 

AINE M. DILLON 

Student 

RENEE CAMPBELL FANCHER 

Student 

MAKAYLA MCDERMOTT 

Student 

TERESA PICCOLO 

Student 

JULIANA M. RUPERTO 

Student 

 

AMALIA TALTY 

TY 

Student 

ALEXANDRA L. TAMBURRINO 

Student 

JESSICA ALLISON TAYL 

YLOR 

Student 

MIRANDA ZUMBADO 

Student 

President’s message 

from page 3 

gela Morcone Giannini, Kim 

Berg, Lisa Denig, Susan 

Edwards Colson, Robin Carton, 

Lucia Chiocchio, Lisa 

Bluestein, Lonya Gilbert, 

Dolores Gebhardt, Deborah 

Scalise, Dawn Arnold, Jody Fay, 

Kathleen Donelli, Kathy 

Rosenthal, Linda Markowitz, 

Carla Glassman, Susan Pollett, 

Jo Ann Friia, Marianne 

Sussman, Jane Gould, Virginia 

Knaplund, Mary Kelly, and 

Sondra Miller. I am also thankful 

for those Past Presidents who 

are no longer with us, but who 

have left us a legacy of service 

for which we all must be thankful, 

including Karen Z. Bell, 

Ingrid Braslow, Barbara Kaiser, 

and our first President, Cheryl 

Bradley. I am thankful for the 

extraordinary support of the 

WWBA’s officers, including 

President-Elect Amanda Fried, 

Vice Presidents Natanya 

Briendel, Jennifer Gray, and 

Jacqueline Hattar, Treasurer 

Elizabeth Z. Marcus, Corresponding 

Secretary Jennifer 

Robinson, and Recording Secretary 

Julia Passman. I am 

thankful for the other members 

of my Executive Committee, 

“This year, let Thanksgiving be 

an opportunity to be truly 

thankful, and to honor your 

thankfulness by giving back in 

some way, large or small.” 

Immediate Past President Angela 

Morcone Giannini, and 

Past Presidents Lisa Denig and 

Lisa Bluestein. I am thankful 

for our State Directors, our Local 

Directors, and all of our 

chairs and co-chairs of committees. 

I am thankful for our 

members who serve as 

WWBA’s representatives on 

WBASNY Committees. I am 

extremely thankful for the extraordinary 

work and dedication 

of our Executive Director, 

Elisabeth Campos, who keeps 

us on track and who provides 

amazing service to our organization, 

always with good cheer 

and without fuss. I am thankful 

for this organization and all 

its members, for maintaining 

commitment to WWBA’s mission, 

“to promote justice for all, 

regardless of sex; to advance 

the social, economic and legal 

status for women through the 


law; to expand opportunities for 

women and to raise the level of 

competence and integrity in the 

legal profession.” 

No matter how stressed we 

may be by current circumstances, 

no matter how frustrated 

we find the situation, we 

must remember that there is always, 

always, something to be 

thankful for. I found an apt 

quote from Richard Carlson: 

“The trick is to be grateful when 

your mood is high and graceful 

when it is low.” This year, 

as we approach Thanksgiving, 

let us be grateful as well as 

graceful, remembering each 

and every one of our blessings. 

During my WWBA Presidency 

I am encouraging each 

of us to find ways to “Give 

Back” to our community and 

our world, in whatever way 

works for you. I suggest that 

Thanksgiving is a special time 

to think about how we can give 

back – and how we can be 

thankful for the opportunity to 

give to others. From Lisa Denig, 

who organizes volunteers for the 

Hillside Food Pantry, to Beth Levy, 

who organizes registration and 

voting drives, to Susan Brown, 

who serves as President of the 

WWBA Foundation, to all of the 

past presidents and officers and 

directors and board members of 

WWBA, each of us gives back, 

sometimes in small ways, but 

often in large ways. Each time 

a committee sponsors a program 

for our members, that is a 

way to give back to our legal 

community. Each time a group 

– such as the WWBA Book Club 

– gets together virtually, we are 

giving back to the members of 

that group, and even beyond 

(for example, I often talk about 

the book to others even after the 

meeting). Each time we donate 

to the Foundation, or to the 

Breast Cancer Walk, or to a local 

food pantry, we are giving 

back in a larger way. This year, 

let Thanksgiving be an opportunity 

to be truly thankful, and 

to honor your thankfulness by 

giving back in some way, large 

or small. ◗ 

Page 9

WWBA Schedule of Upcoming Events 

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

WWBA Virtual Holiday 

Shopping Party Sponsorship 

WWBA-Corporate & 

Commercial Committee 

11/9/20 through 

11/28/20 

11/18/20 

1:00-2:00 pm 

WWBA-Virtual Book Club 11/23/20 

6:00 pm 

Zoom 

Zoom 

Zoom 

WWBA is hosting a 

Virtual Shopping 

Extravaganza. The 

WWBA counts on the 

generosity of sponsors 

to help make the event 

possible. 

“I Just Can’t” 

Contractual Non- 

Performance Theories 

of Impossibility and 

Impracticability in the 

COVID era. 

1.0 CLE Skills Credit 

Virtual Book Club- 

Book: “Monogamy” by 

Sue Miller 

WWBA 11/28/20 Zoom Holiday Virtual 

Shopping Extravaganza 

Sponsorship information can be 

found online at www.wwbany.org. 

$20 WWBA Members/$40 Non- 

Members. Registrations and 

payment by 4:00 p.m. on 11/17 

online at www.wwbany.org or 

email 

executivedirector@wwbany.org 

E-Mail Lisa Denig for the Zoom 

link at lisadenig@yahoo.com 

Additional details on the event to 

follow online at www.wwbany.org 

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 November 2020 Newsletter - M

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