WWBA June 2021 Newsletter

Westchester Women’s Bar Association 

JUNE 2021 

WWBA 

WBASNY CONVENTION 2021 

WWBA Celebrates Our Members! 

Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith 

B 

y the time you read this the virtual 

WBASNY Convention 2021 will be 

over, but we still have much to celebrate. 

Our very own Adrienne Orbach was 

awarded the Hanna S. Cohn pro bono 

award on the Friday of the Convention. 

WWBA arranged for Adrienne to receive a 

proclamation for her achievement from 

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore. A photo of the 

proclamation is included with this article. The 

proclamation expresses our immense pride 

at Adrienne’s achievements which led to her 

receipt of this award. WWBA also sent flowers 

to Adrienne in celebration of this award. 

We look forward to congratulating Adrienne in person! 

In addition, on the Saturday of the Convention our own Shari Gordon was 

sworn in as one of three WBASNY Vice-Presidents for the upcoming year. The 

Installation ceremony was, of course, virtual, and WWBA helped Shari to celebrate 

by send her a bouquet of flowers. WWBA is extremely proud to have 

one of our members become an officer of WBASNY, in which position she will 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 


A Tribute to Karen Z. Bell 

(page 4) 

An Interview with 

Anne Aicher 

(page 7) 

“Giving Back” – WWBAF 

Awards Scholarships to 

Law Students 

(page 8 ) 

Upcoming Events 

(page 10) 

Westchester Women’s Bar Association News 

news 

www.wwbany.org 

continued on page 4 ➥ 

SAVE THE DATE 

EMPLOYMENT LAW PEER 

GROUP MEETING 

June 4, 2021 

WELLNESS COMMITTEE 

MEDITATION WALK 


WWBA INSTALLATION 

(VIRTUAL CEREMONY) 


PAINT NIGHT WITH 

WWBA PRESIDENT 


VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB 

July 19, 2021 

PRESIDENT’S 

MESSAGE 

As I write this 

message, it is 

spring, with yellow 

daffodils and 

white jonquils already 

wilted in the 

garden, cherry 

trees blooming in 

blazing pink, and 

Hon. Lisa 

Margaret Smith 

lovely scentsational 

lilacs beginning 

to show their beauty. For 

more than a year now we have remained 

apart from one another, 

from all but immediate family, from 

festive gatherings, and from solemn 

proceedings, including funerals of 

those we have lost. Now, just as the 

world around us is wakening and 

everything is lightly covered with 

green, we, too, are opening our 

lives, beginning to gather, and 

reawakening in every way. 

Before COVID I had a limited 

social life, usually I was too tired or 

too busy to make plans with friends 

and relatives, but now I feel renewed. 

Once my husband and I 

were fully vaccinated, plus the passage 

of two weeks to develop immunities, 

we began to socialize, and 

we have not stopped. It feels like a 

new beginning-fresh, and full of 

hope. It is my sincere hope that as 

we continue to open in society, and 

as we install new Officers and Directors 

on June 9, WWBA will also 

have a fresh, new beginning, full of 

hope. 


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 2021 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-Johnson, Hon. Lisa Margaret Smith 

Annual Dinner Souvenir Journal .................. Andrea B. Friedman, 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 ................................................................... Aisling Brady 

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 Netrosio-Johnson 

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

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

Intellectual Property ............................ Elizabeth M. Barnhard, Theresa Nugent 

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

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

Rebecca McCloskey 

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 ................................................................... Lisa M. Denig 

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 

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

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

Technology/Website ................................. Donna E. Frosco, Theresa Nugent 

Wellness ........................... Jennifer Netrosio-Johnson, 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 .. Lisa M. Bluestein, Gail M. Boggio (Alt.) 

WBASNY Nominations Committee .............. Lisa M. Bluestein, Gail M. Boggio (Alt.) 

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, Susan Mills Richmond 

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 

WBASNY Children’s Rights ...................................................................... Joy Joseph 

WBASNY Long-Range Planning ..................................................... Linda Markowitz 

WBASNY Professional Ethics, Discipline and Practice Committee ...... Deborah Scalise 

WBASNY Diversity Committee ........................................................... Janeen Thomas 

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

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Westchester Women’s Bar Association News

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President’s Message 

from page 1 

“My goal for WWBA 

this year has been 

to give back to our 

community and to 

our world. We have 

done an amazing job 

to meet that 

objective, and we will 

continue to do so.” 

We must, of course, follow the science, 

and the recommendations of the 

CDC and the New York State Department 

of Health. Nevertheless, it is my 

sincere hope that we can meet again 

in person, that we can convene for 

CLEs and social events in person. Because 

we now truly know how vulnerable 

each of us is, I hope that we will 

find ways to share those events with 

WWBA members and friends who may 

not yet be ready to gather in person. 

We have managed over this past year 

to find the technology to go forward 

with programs and events via various 

web platforms, and I suspect that as 

we move into a more hybrid situationwith 

some people attending in person 

and some people remaining virtual-we 

will need to upgrade and improve our 

technology. With that in mind, I invite 

any of you, or anyone within your orbit, 

who may be able to guide and 

advise us in obtaining and using such 

new or additional technology, to let me 

know at my email address, 

lisamsmith@rocketmail.com. With 

preparation and planning we can successfully 

navigate the upcoming transition. 

Let us work together to do so. 

* * * 

I want to remind all of you that 

WBASNY’s business year came to an 

end on May 31. By now you should 

have received a letter from me requesting 

that you renew your membership 


Editor’s Note 

“But experience has taught me that you cannot value dreams according to the 

odds of their coming true. Their real value is in stirring within us the will to 

aspire. That will, wherever it finally leads, does at least move you forward. And 

after a time you may recognize that the proper measure of success is not how 

much you've closed the distance to some far-off goal but the quality of what 

you've done today.” 

~ Sonia Sotomayor 

Best wishes for a peaceful, happy summer! 

Making Dates and Getting Published 

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS 

❑ Deadline for newsletter submissions is the 10th 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 Jill Oziemblewski at jill_oziemblewski@yahoo.com. 

❑ 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 10th 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 Jill Oziemblewski, following the guidelines above. 

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 

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 

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 10th of the month prior to publication. Ads are subject to space limitations. 

Contact Jill Oziemblewski at secretary@wwbany.org for any questions regarding advertising. 


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from page 3 

in WWBA, but I know that many of you 

put that letter aside. I know from my 

own experience that often I felt as 

though renewal should occur in December, 

so I would simply put the letter 

in my “To Do” pile. I am asking you to 

take the time NOW to renew your membership, 

or to join if you are not already 

a member, keeping in mind that 

WWBA runs on a June 1-May 31 business 

year. 

You might ask, “Why should I belong 

to WWBA?” The reasons are 

myriad. Let’s start with the WWBA mission 

statement, which reads: 

The mission of the WWBA is 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. 

That’s quite a mission, and one we 

can all believe in and support. If you 

agree with our mission statement (and 

I hope that you do), there that’s a good 

enough reason to renew your membership, 

or, if you are not yet a member, 

or have allowed your membership to 

lapse, then it’s a good enough reason 

to join us today. 

Another extremely good reason to 

join is the marvelous array of fun activities 

sponsored by WWBA, which 

have allowed us to socialize despite 

COVID, including book club, paint 

nights, wine tasting, a bike/walk event, 

a spin class, kickboxing and yoga 

classes, a walk in the woods with meditation, 

a trivia night focusing on the 

female United States Supreme Court 

Justices sponsored by the WWBA Foundation, 

a social evening hosted by 

multiple bar associations, including 

WWBA, and an amazing Holiday 

shopping spree, among other things. 

As we begin to open more and more, 

these social events will include a summer 

(or early fall) gathering for cocktails 

by the Hudson River (usually at the 

Red Hat restaurant), a Holiday Party 

which includes shopping opportunities 

as well as socializing, and a fabulous 

Annual Dinner with installation of Officers 

and Directors (usually pronounced 

the best bar association Annual 

Dinner in Westchester). 

The list of reasons to join WWBA 

continues. My goal for WWBA this year 

has been to give back to our commucontinued 

on page 8 ➥ 

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Expect the highest caliber of personal service and 

banking expertise. 

Expect extraordinary. 

WBASNY CONVENTION 2021 

WWBA Celebrates Our Members! 

from page 1 

be able to convey WWBA’s concerns directly to the leadership. 

WWBA also commends Sandra Forster and Lisa Margaret 

Smith for their work as members of the WBASNY Convention 

Committee for 2021. The original plan was to convene 

in person, but good sense overcame that plan, as it 

was clear that the rate of vaccinations had not yet stalled 

the pandemic sufficiently to make it safe to meet together. 

Creativity reigned as the Committee came up with a variety 

of CLE programs, as well as fun and social activities. ◗ 

Contact banking professionals experienced in 

serving your unique needs at 914-367-9000, 

or email team556@snb.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 

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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 

Page 4 


A Bright-Day Discovery and Tribute to 

~ KAREN Z. BELL ~ 

Susan L. Pollet 

ON A BENCH FACING THE RHINEBECK/KINGSTON BRIDGE, IS A PLAQUE IN HONOR OF 

DECEASED PAST WWBA PRESIDENT KAREN Z. BELL (1993-1995). 

THOSE WHO KNEW HER MISS HER SO. WE HONOR HER MEMORY. 


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Page 6 


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An Interview with Anne Aicher 

Susan L. Pollet 

Chair of the Archive and 

Historian Committee 

Q: When did you become 

involved with WWBA and in 

what capacity have you 

served the organization? 

A: I joined the WWBA in 

2019 after my managing 

partner, Moira Laidlaw, suggested 

it, and I’m so glad I 

did. The first year I joined as 

a member of the Real Property 

Committee, and in 2020 

I became a Co-Chair of the 

Real Property Committee 

along with Allyson Lanahan 

and Robbin Sweeney. We decided 

early on that we wanted 

to work together to educate 

ourselves and each other, so 

we have held several lunchand-learn 

sessions for 

WWBA members to learn 

some of the intricacies of real 

property law. 

“Too often as attorneys we are 

isolated from our fellow lawyers, 

but the WWBA has enabled us to 

bridge that gap, learn from each 

other and support each other.” 

neys, and for that reason it has 

been invaluable. I’ve enjoyed 

bouncing issues off my Co- 

Chairs and other members. Too 

often as attorneys we are isolated 

from our fellow lawyers, 

but the WWBA has enabled us 

to bridge that gap, learn from 

each other and support each 

other. 

Q: Please describe your legal 

background and practice. 

A: I began practicing law in 

1996 at a maritime law firm, 

but my true interest was real 

estate law. When I eventually 

found a firm with a real estate 

position, I mainly represented 

builders in new construction 

sales. In 1998 I joined my current 

firm, now known as Hollis 

Laidlaw & Simon. At HLS I’ve 

represented buyers and sellers 

Q: Why is your membership 

in the WWBA important to 

you? 

A: My involvement in the 

WWBA has enabled me to 

collaborate with other attorof 

residential and commercial 

real estate, as well as landlords 

and tenants in connection with 

lease negotiations, purchases, 

sales and refinances. 

Q: What has been different 

for you about practicing during 

this pandemic year? 

A: First and foremost, working 

from home was a new challenge. 

I’ve grown to appreciate 

it as I have two sons who, 

for much of the time, were attending 

high school and college 

virtually. The closings never 

slowed down. Attorneys and 

title companies adapted to 

manage various forms of closings. 

Some fully in escrow, 

some requiring attorneys or title 

closers to drive around dropping 

off checks and picking up 

documents. One closing was 

Anne Aicher 

outside at a picnic table on 

a hot summer day, and it was 

wonderful. I’m hopeful that 

we can continue to operate 

with more flexibility when the 

world gets back to normal. 

Q: How have you balanced 

work and home life over the 

years? 

A: To be honest, I recognized 

my limitations outside 

of the workplace. I was able 

to get involved in my sons’ 

schools and activities, but 

certainly had to balance my 


GIVING BACK: WWBAF Scholarships Awarded to 

Two Outstanding Law Students 

The WWBA proudly congratulates 

Gabriela Tavarez and Megan Farrell, 

graduating law students in the Class of 

2021 at the Elisabeth Haub School of 

Law at Pace University, who were selected 

as WWBAF scholarship recipients this 

year. 

The Justice Sondra M. Miller Scholarship, 

in honor of WWBA founding 

member and past President Honorable 

Sondra M. Miller, was awarded to 

Gabriela Tavarez. As provided on the 


Foundation website, numerous factors 

are considered when choosing a recipient, 

including “the applicant's history of 

community service, clinic involvement, 

ability to balance family and job-related 

responsibilities, academic record, ability to 

overcome personal adversity in pursuit of 

a legal career,” and a demonstrated commitment 

to the Westchester County community. 

The WWBAF observed that 

Gabriela was clearly the most highly qualified 

as she exemplified the qualities and 

values espoused by Judge Sondra Miller. 

This year a second scholarship, the 


Foundation Board Scholarship, funded 

by the WWBAF, was awarded to Megan 

Farrell. “Megan's application was 

uniquely compelling and highly deserving 

of our financial support and recognition 

as the winner of the WWBA Foundation 

Board Scholarship,” observed 

WWBAF President Susan S. Brown, Esq. 

Megan has previously continued served on page as a 9 volunteer 

with the WWBA. 

➥ 

Please join us for the Virtual Annual 

Installation program on June 9 to 

celebrate these promising scholarship 

recipients. ◗ 


Page 7

Chapter News and Announcements 

Announcements & Notes on Members 

❑ An Invitation for Submissions – After this June edition of the WWBA Newsletter there 

will be no edition until September. Please continue to write about WWBA events and 

send them to the soon-to-be-sworn in Corresponding Secretary, Jill Oziemblewski, at 

jill_oziemblewski@yahoo.com, for publication in the September edition. Submissions 

will be due no later than August 10 for the September edition. ◗ 

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from page 4 

nity and to our world. We have done an amazing job to meet that objective, 

and we will continue to do so. These efforts have included volunteering at 

Hillside Food Pantry, shelving donated food that will be distributed to those 

without enough to eat; making donations of pet food and other supplies to an 

animal shelter; working to increase voter registration in Westchester, and also 

around the country, in a non-partisan way; and providing wellness programs 

for the members and friends of WWBA. WWBA members supported the American 

Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Walk in October, not by walking in a group of 

hundreds, as we usually do, but by walking singly, or in very small groups, to protect 

our own health while raising funds to contribute to this extraordinarily worthy cause. 

Every year for more than 20 years WWBA has sponsored a Law Day/Take Your 

Children to Work Day event in May, providing civics education in a fun way to young 

students. Last year we did this virtually, reaching far more students than when it was 

in person, and we did so in May of this year as well. Additionally, the WWBA Foundation, 

which is the charitable arm of WWBA, has raised funds to provide scholarships 

to students at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and to 

provide grants to many worthy organizations. Last spring, in the worst of COVID, the 

Foundation donated food to emergency room departments at eight different hospitals. 

I feel confident that even after my Presidential year comes to an end, WWBA will 

continue to give back to the community in these and many other ways. 

WWBA also provides an extraordinary array of programs, both CLE and non- 

CLE, for our members and friends. These programs are an extremely important reason 

to renew your WWBA membership, or to become a member. Our programs this 

year, though virtual, having included multiple programs on diversity and inclusiveness; 

multiple programs on family law and domestic violence; multiple programs on 

real estate law; and the list goes on-data security, contracts, effects of COVID in the 

law, ethics, immigration law, employment law, and an amazing luncheon series in 

celebration of WWBA’s 45 anniversary, featuring a number of our members under 


An Interview with Anne Aicher 

from page 7 

time well. I know so many women who are able to work and be class mother and 

team mother and I give them so much credit. In the end, I think my boys are proud 

to have a working mother. I still made it to all of the school concerts and plays, 

and most of the baseball and football games, so I consider that a success. 

Q: What advice would you give to women in the legal profession? 

A: Keep at it. Always stay involved. It will be tempting to take a break when you 

have young children, but you never know what life will bring. I’m so glad I continued 

to work when my children were young because now I am able to support them 

fully on my own. ◗ 

Become a New 

Member Today 

RENEW YOUR 

WWBA MEMBERSHIP TODAY 

FOR THE PERIOD 

JUNE 1, 2021 TO MAY 31, 2022. 

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: 

TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF OUR MEMBERS, 

THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE WWBA ONLY. 


from page 8 

the heading “Learned Ladies in 

the Law.” Additionally, membership 

in WWBA automatically includes 

membership in our parent 

organization, the Women’s 

Bar Association of the State of 

New York (“WBASNY”), which 

gives our members access to 

many additional CLE and non- 

CLE programs and social events 

around the State. It is my hope 

that the use of virtual platforms 

will continue at the WBASNY 

level, even as we are no longer 

quarantined, to broaden the 

available resources for our members. 

Also, the strength of being 

part of a statewide organization 

allows us to be heard on relevant 

legislation at the state and 

federal level. 

These are just some of the 

reasons why membership in the 

WWBA is an important step for 

you to take. We also offer amazing 

levels of collegiality, both 

personal and professional advice, 

mentorship of one another, 

and the opportunity to become 

a leader, and, perhaps best of 

all, real friendship. 

Please join or rejoin WWBA 

today. Renew your membership, 

or become a member, by going 

to our website, wwbany.org, and 

click on “Membership” on the 

banner near the top, and “Join 

WWBA” in the dropdown menu. 

Finally, this is my last 

President’s Message, as we do 

not typically have a newsletter 

in July or August, and incoming 

President Amanda Fried will 

kick off the year with her message 

in the September newsletter. 

It has been my honor and 

my privilege, and a true joy, to 

have helped to lead the WWBA 

this past year. I offer special 

gratitude to the Executive Committee-Immediate 

Past President 

Angela Morcone Giannini, 

President-Elect Amanda Fried, 

Vice Presidents Natanya 

Briendel, Jennifer Gray, and 

Jacqueline Hattar, Corresponding 

Secretary Jennifer Robinson, 

and Recording Secretary Julie 

Passman, along with Past Presidents 

Lisa Bluestein and Lisa 

Denig. I am also appreciative 

of our Elected Directors, Kim 

Berg, Lisa Denig, Carla 

Glassman, Annette Hasapidis, 

and Jill Oziemblewski, and of 

our State Directors, Lucia 

Chiocchio, Deborah Farber- 

Kaiser, Shari Gordon, Ann 

McNulty, Angela Morcone 

Giannini, Adrienne Orbach, 

Susan Mills Richmond, and 

Janeen Thomas. I am grateful 

to the entire Board of WWBA, 

consisting of the officers and directors 

listed above, and all the 

chairs and co-chairs of the various 

committees. 

I do have three special notes 

of appreciation. First, because 

of Corresponding Secretary Jen 

Robinson’s pregnancy and the 

birth of her first child she became 

unable to edit the newsletter, 

and I asked Elected Director 

Jill Oziemblewski to help 

out. Jill graciously agreed to do 

so, and this coming year she will 

continue that task as she has 

been formally elected Corresponding 

Secretary for the year 

ahead. Jill’s willingness to step 

in warmed my heart, and the 

excellent work she has done on 

the newsletter made my job as 

President easier. Thank you, Jill. 

Second, our Past President 

Dolores Gebhardt has been an 

amazing co-chair of the Matrimonial 

Committee for many 

years, including preparing and 

presenting CLE programs on a 

regular basis; she has practically 

single-handedly kept the Holiday 

Party and Boutique going, 

including organizing a virtual 

Holiday Boutique in 2020, 

along with undertaking many 

other tasks that do not come with 

a title. Dolores has advised the 

Board that she will soon be 

sworn in as President-Elect of the 

Westchester County Bar Association 

(“WCBA”), and her 

commitment there will not leave 

time for her to also hold responsible 

positions in the WWBA, at 

least not until her three year 

commitment is complete (President-Elect, 

President, and Immediate 

Past President). We are 

very sad to lose Dolores from 

the Board, and from her Committee 

positions. We thank her 

for all she has done for WWBA 

over the years, we offer best 

wishes in her WCBA positions, 

and we look forward to having 

her return to the WWBA fold in 

2024. Thank you, Dolores, your 

participation in WWBA has been 

outstanding, and we will truly 

miss you. (This leaves some 

leadership opportunities for 

members who are ready to step 

up-we will especially need 

someone to lead us in the Holiday 

Party and Boutique for 

2021, please let me or Amanda 

Fried know if YOU are the one 

for that task-or two people could 

share the responsibility.) My 

third special thank you is to 

Elisabeth Campos, the WWBA 

Executive Director. Many of you 

have never seen Elisabeth, 

though she does attend the 

Annual Dinner when it is in 

person, in fact, many of our 

members may not be aware of 

Elisabeth’s existence, but I assure 

you that WWBA would not 

function without the competent, 

timely, and ever pleasant assistance 

of Elisabeth Campos. 

With rare exception Elisabeth 

responds to my emails within 

minutes, and always accomplishes 

the tasks at hand. She 

is also adept at politely reminding 

me of tasks that I have left 

undone! Thank you, Elisabeth, 

from the bottom of my heart for 

all you do for WWBA, and for 

your support of me personally. 

Although this newsletter 

message is my swan song as 

President, I am not going anywhere, 

and in my new position 

as Immediate Past President I 

hope to serve President 

Amanda Fried in any way that I 

can, and to continue to support 

the WWBA in every way 

that I can. Best wishes to one 

and all. ◗ 


Page 9

WWBA Schedule of Upcoming Events 

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

WCBA, WBBA, WWBA, 

and HVHBA co-host a 

“Multi-Bar Virtual Summer 

Social” 

WWBA and WCBA 

Employment Law Peer 

Group Meeting 

6/3/21 

5:30 pm to 

7:00 pm 

6/4/21 

12:30 pm to 

1:30 pm 

Wellness Committee 6/6/21 

1:00 pm 

Zoom 

Zoom 

Rockefeller State Park 

Preserve 

Networking 

Opportunities! Choose 

your own breakout 

rooms hosted by 

different leaders in our 

Bar community. 

Hon. Bruce E. Tolbert 

will be honored. 

A collaborative 

discussion on 

“Navigating 

Employment Law 

Matters in the COVID- 

19 Era and Beyond” 

Walk with Guided 

Meditation 

Registration via WCBANY.org 

$5 – Event Only 

$35 – Event with Goodie Bag of 

featured cheese & crudité, a sweet 

treat, and wine 

RSVP to Kim Berg to receive the 

Zoom link at 

kberg@gouldberglaw.com 

WWBA Virtual Annual 

Installation of Officers and 

Directors 

Paint Night with the WWBA 

President 

6/09/21 

7 pm to 8:30 pm 

6/17/21 

6:00 pm 

WWBA Virtual Book Club 7/19/21 

6:00 pm 

Zoom Webcast Event 

Zoom 

In-person Patio 

Gathering with Zoom 

option 

Featuring Our 

Distinguished Keynote 

Speaker, Justice 

Alexandra D. Murphy, 

Supreme Court Justice, 

9th Judicial District 

Book Selection: 

“Hamnet” by Maggie 

O’Farrell 

Invitation Online at 

www.wwbany.org 

$20 plus cost of paint kit. 

Registration by 5/27/21 Online at 

www.wwbany.org or email 

executivedirector@wwbany.orgto 

receive paint kit. 

Email Lisa Denig for all relevant 

information at 

lisadenig@yahoo.com 

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 

2021-2022 BEGINS ON JUNE 1, 2021. 

PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TOD 

ODAY AT 

WWW.WWBANY 

.WWBANY.ORG 

.ORG

WWBA June 2021 Newsletter

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