September 2017 Newsletter

Thanks to all who participated in our 2017 Women's Bar Leadership Summit in New York City in August. We were energized and inspired by the speakers, conversations and opportunities to see old friends and meet new colleagues. Planning is now underway for our 2018 Women's Bar Leadership Summit, which we have just confirmed will be on Friday, August 3, 2018 in Chicago. Here are a few photos from the 2017 Summit. To see more, click here. Our photographer, Nick Carter, took dozens of photos, so if you attended the Summit and are curious to know if there are photos in which you are featured, please email us.

President's Message

by Robin Bresky

What a memorable summer it was! Our August 2017 Summit in NYC was a success. Our speakers were excellent and our attendance was great. It was so exciting to meet so many women from our member organizations across the country. Along with the swearing-in of our amazing board, I was honored to be sworn-in as the NCWBA President for this year.

September certainly was not as wonderful as August. With hurricanes Harvey and Irma, many of our member organizations had serious difficulties. I live on the east coast of Florida, and we were extremely lucky that we did not get a direct hit from Irma. Large areas of the Florida Keys, the west coast of Florida, and portions of Miami were not so fortunate. Our state bar, women's bar associations, and legal aid organizations will all have opportunities to assist those in need. That information will be forthcoming to our members. I was personally grateful to those of you who reached out during this frightening time.

Now we will carry on with our mission. As a reminder, the NCWBA advocates for the equality of women in the legal profession and in society by mobilizing and uniting women's bar associations to effect change in gender-based processes and laws. We have amazing programs to offer in the spirit of moving our mission forward. We are also looking to further our mission by expanding our membership. If you know of any women's bar associations that are not members, please remind them that joining the NCWBA will unite them with sister organizations and add to our collective voice. I am looking forward to a powerful year ahead. Thank you!

Free GOOD Guys Webinar October 20

Please register for GOOD Guys 101 scheduled for Friday, Oct 20, 2017 12:00 PM PDT if you are
*Ready to organize a GOOD Guys program, but not sure where to start
*Unsure how to present the financial case for diversity and inclusion
*Need up-to-date information about bias interrupters
*Ready to learn from nationally known Diversity Champion Sheryl Axelrod.

Join us for a free one-hour webinar to learn all you need to know about the financial case for diversity and bias interrupters from Sheryl Axelrod, and get your organization ready for its own GOOD Guys program!

Benefits of GOOD Guys ("Guys Overcoming Obstacles to Diversity") programming:
*Engage men for the advancement of women and diverse professionals.
*Learn about the profitability of diversity & unlock its potential.
*Learn how to put on your own GOOD Guys program.
*Be part of the solution - become a diversity champion!

GOOD Guys is a program that spreads the message about why GOOD Guys are essential to the advancement of diverse professionals, which includes honoring GOOD Guys for their efforts, providing information about cutting-edge techniques to interrupt bias, and the latest on how diversity at the top makes more money for businesses.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar via GoToWebinar®. Click here to register.

GOOD Guys is a model program designed for replication by law departments and nonprofit organizations. For more information about GOOD Guys, click here .

Hurricane Relief

The long-term consequences of the hurricanes which have caused destruction and hardship across the southern United States and the Caribbean are not yet known, but we do know that lawyers have been and will continue to be at the forefront of relief efforts. Click here for information from Texas Women Lawyers about help in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. October 13 is the last day to donate professional clothing for those who lost their work attire in the storm. NCWBA treasurer Misty Blair reports that 14 big boxes of clothing were sent to Houston from the Women in the Profession Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys to assist in the effort.

The American Bar Association is a great source of information on up-to-date volunteer opportunities for those who want to offer legal assistance to storm victims. Click here for details.

If you know of attorneys who are admitted to practice in the US Virgin Islands, please ask them to volunteer to help. They need not be physically present in the islands but can assist with a hotline. Click here for more information.

Finally, for those of us not directly affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, this is a wake-up call to consider what our bar groups need to do to prepare for disaster. Are your essential records accessible from more than one geographic location and by more than one individual? Click here for a template of a formal disaster plan. Although intended for use by larger organizations, it provides guidance on the type of issues that would need attention in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

Save the Date--February 2 in Vancouver!

We're making plans now with the Canadian Bar Association's Women Lawyers Forum - BC Chapter for an event on the Friday of the ABA midyear meeting. We hope to see you there. Stay tuned for more details!

2018 Law Day Theme Announced

The American Bar Association has announced the theme for Law Day: Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom. Click here to learn more about Law Day, which is celebrated on May 1 each year, and to get information on how your bar group can participate.

Are You on the NCWBA Listserv?

Are you a member of the NCWBA listserv? The listserv is an interactive resource for lawyer referrals and listings for unique jobs for lawyers and law faculty. It is a place to share questions about best practices for women's bar associations and announcements of possible interest to you and members of your associations. To join the NCWBA@yahoogroups.com list, send an email to Diane stating your name, interest in joining the list, and your affiliation with a women's bar association. You'll receive an automated invitation. When you click on "join mailing list," your list membership will be complete. Questions? Email us.

Women Lawyers News

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

National Conference of Women's Bar Associations | info@ncwba.org | http://www.ncwba.org
PO Box 82366
Portland, OR 97282

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