In my last President's message dealing with the horrific shooting in Parkland, Florida that took 17 innocent lives of students, their teachers, and a beloved coach, I made the statement: "[t]he change starts with each of us every day."

Now, more than ever, the change and a march towards civility must take place. That march should be led by the women of this generation. While the debate over Parkland will continue: one thing is clear. Americans, and our society as a whole, must be more tolerant of opposing views. Women, as mothers, daughters, grandmothers, sisters, or aunts are the natural bearers of the torch of civility.

Women must lead the charge.

As women are naturally creative, strong, and capable of seeing both sides of an issue, it is up to each of us to lead by example. We must show our fellow colleagues the respect that they deserve. We must teach our sons and daughters that diversity is to be embraced and respected. We must act as beacons for the next generation - engaging not with words of hatred, but with acts of love, kindness, and understanding.

As a country, Americans must get back to a place where civil discourse can be had without labeling someone a "bigot," a "racist" or a "libtard." These labels, and similar labels, do nothing to move forward the discussions that we need to have. They serve only to strengthen the walls that divide us.

I remember the days when people could reach across the aisles and have a respectful debate over issues of the day. Now, it seems that things have changed. We have become much more entrenched in our positions and much more defensive in our stance.

I ask myself why?

Perhaps, with the rise of social media where hateful words and opinions can be spewed with anonymity and without any consequences, reaching across the aisle is a thing of the past. Perhaps we have become so desensitized by television images of war and bombing and shootings that civility no longer matters. Perhaps, in a society where neighbors no longer speak to each other across a back fence, civility has gone by the wayside. Perhaps, in a society where children no longer go out and play, but linger in front of violent video games, television, and computers, civility carries no importance.

But I don't believe that is true.

For our country and our political system to function, women must embrace civility. Women must lead the charge. We must be willing to truly listen to opposing views. After truly listening, we must be tolerant of views different than our own and encourage others to do the same. This is imperative.

Over the years, I have seen civility in the courtroom sink to a new low. Even in briefs and pleadings, there seems to be more animosity. I have seen animosity directed towards judges in oral argument. It seems all too prevalent--and frankly, uncalled for.

It is time for a change.

I challenge you to make this a day of change.

A recent article in the Harvard Business Review reports that there is a significant financial impact and loss of productivity when incivility occurs in the workplace. The underlying study found that women were more likely to report instances of incivility from other women. To read more about this thought-provoking study, click here.

The National Conference of Women's Bar Associations  is pleased to announce the recipients of our 2018 Awards, which were selected from a field of outstanding submissions. 

The recipient of our 2018 Public Service Award is Florida Association for Women Lawyers for their Nursing Rooms in Courthouses.  Receiving an honorable mention in the same category is New Hampshire Women's Bar Association for their Women to Women Project.

The recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Member Program Award is Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women for their Empowerment Conference. Bexar County Women's Bar Association and Foundation is the recipient of an honorable mention in the same category for their LEAD Academy.

We will learn more about these programs and how they might be adapted for use by other women's bar groups when the awards are presented on August 3, as part of our Women's Bar Leadership Summit in Chicago. We thank all the organizations that submitted many extraordinary nominations, and we commend each of them for their work on behalf of their membership and the public. For information about previous award-winning projects, click here.

Many outstanding programs and services of women's bar associations have been refined and developed over a period of years. But organizations also must be nimble and strive to meet the needs of their membership as they become evident. In the wake of the 2016 Presidential election, women attorneys across the country expressed an unprecedented zeal for civic involvement and advocacy on behalf of themselves and all women in society. Two women's bar associations galvanized their members and the public at large by developing novel, significant Summits to address some of the most troubling and pressing issues of 2017. The Women's Bar Association of Massachusetts and the Lawyers Club of San Diego will receive recognition from the NCWBA with a special Advocacy Award as part of the 2018 Women's Bar Leadership Summit.

Plan to be in Chicago for the annual Women's Bar Leadership Summit. This year's theme is Sparking a "Change" Reaction. On Thursday afternoon, August 2, we will gather at Chicago-Kent College of Law for a GOOD Guys presentation, followed by a reception and screening of the film Dream, Girl. On Friday, August 3, we will have a full day of programs and opportunities to connect with other women's bar leaders at the beautiful offices of Jenner & Block. Our morning keynote speaker will be Dr. Arin Reeves, of Nextions, whose understanding of sometimes complex data and trends in the legal profession always leads us to new insights. Our Awards Luncheon this year will be at the legendary Chicago restaurant, Harry Caray's. In addition to honoring the inspirational work of our award-winning member organizations, we will hear from Fatima Goss Graves, President and CEO of the National Women's Law Center. Registration is now open. Cost for the Summit, including a continental breakfast, luncheon, and all materials is $250.

A small block of rooms has been reserved for us at the Westin Chicago River North at the conference rate of $239 per night, plus tax. Use this link to book, with availability on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you or your firm would like to sponsor the Summit, click here for more information. Sponsorship includes one or more registrations. 

We are delighted that in mid-April there will be GOOD Guys programs in Los Angeles and Washington, DC! GOOD (Guys Overcoming Obstacles to Diversity) Guys is a program designed to recognize that men must play an integral role in bringing about true equality in the legal profession. The  Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia is sponsoring a noontime GOOD Guys panel discussion on April 12. Click here  for details. On April 18, the  Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles will hold a reception followed by a GOOD Guys panel discussion. Click here for details.

GOOD Guys program materials are available here and can be tailored to a format that works best for you. Please let us know about your GOOD Guys programs and GOOD ideas by writing to goodguys@ncwba.org!

If you have "members only" capability on your bar association's website, your group could be eligible to earn nondues revenue and your members will receive a 15% discount on products purchased through the ABA Books for Bars Program. Click here to read the agreement. For a further description of the program and a list of participating bar associations, click here. For questions or more information, contact Althea Billins.

The Nominating Committee of the National Conference of Women's Bar Associations is still accepting applications for two-year board positions commencing in August 2018. Each member association is eligible to nominate a member to the NCWBA board. The board has three in-person meetings each year: two are in conjunction with the ABA midyear and annual meetings, and one is in a location designated by the president. Upcoming meetings are in Chicago (August), Kansas City/Topeka (October), Las Vegas (February 2019) and San Francisco (August 2019). Board members also participate in one telephonic board meeting each year and are active on two to three committees, all of which meet telephonically. For more information on how to submit a nomination, click here.

• Hon. Jane J. Boyle, United States District Court Judge, Northern District of Texas
• Jerry K. Clements, Partner and Chair, Locke Lord LLP
• Hon. Eva Martinez Guzman, Justice, Supreme Court of Texas
• Sandra Phillips Rogers, Group Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, and Corporate Secretary, Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
• Deneen Donnley, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, USAA

Remember to check  Women Lawyers News  for articles and unique tools to make practicing law just that much easier.          

Our membership year runs with the calendar year, which means that this is the right time to send in your organization's membership dues for 2018. Dues for 2018 have not increased, and are based on your organization's membership numbers. We rely on your membership dues and active participation in order to strengthen women's bar groups throughout North America.  Click here to download a membership form  to send in with your dues check. If you prefer to pay by debit or credit card,  click here . Questions? Ask us.