Annual Report for Staten Island Women s Bar Association

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2012-2013 Annual Report for Staten Island Women s Bar Association On June 5, 2012, the Staten Island Women s Bar Association (SIWBA) held its installation of new officers and directors at the

The slate for the 2012-2013 membership year was: SIWBA President, Edwina Frances Martin, Esq.; First Vice President, Anna E. Vira, Esq.; Treasurer, Rian Silverman, Esq.; Recording Secretary, Brooke T.

1 Annual Report for Staten Island Women s Bar Association On June 5, 2012, the Staten Island Women s Bar Association (SIWBA) held its installation of new officers and directors at the Surrogate s Court in Richmond County. The Honorable Robert J. Gigante, Surrogate, Richmond County, performed the ceremony. The slate for the membership year was: SIWBA President, Edwina Frances Martin, Esq.; First Vice President, Anna E. Vira, Esq.; Treasurer, Rian Silverman, Esq.; Recording Secretary, Brooke T. Skolnik, Esq.; WBASNY Director for SIWBA, Manju Sunny, Esq.; Corresponding Secretary, Dawn Reid-Green, Esq.; and Second Vice President, Eve Lynn Newman, Esq. For the membership year, the SIWBA sponsored a number of events in Staten Island as well as participated as co-sponsors for events scheduled throughout New York City, thus reinforcing our motto linking women attorneys throughout Staten Island and beyond. Below is a brief summary of these activities: 1

On September 29, 2012, the SIWBA sponsored a networking and membership barbecue and

The event was held at the residence of President Edwina Frances Martin.

Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert: Welcomes at the event were delivered by the

2 On September 29, 2012, the SIWBA sponsored a networking and membership barbecue and fundraiser for Seaman s Society for Families and children. The event was held at the residence of President Edwina Frances Martin. October 18 th, 2012, the SIWBA co-sponsored a Breast Cancer Awareness Breakfast with Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert: Welcomes at the event were delivered by the Honorable Barbara Panepinto, Honorable Karen Wolff, SIWBA President Edwina Frances Martin, and the Honorable Judith N. McMahon, Administrative Judge of Richmond County; a presentation on recent breast cancer research developments was also delivered by Jeannine Marotta of the American Cancer Society. 2

3 On September 19 th, 2012, SIWBA co-sponsored a training for its pro bono project, CLARO: The Staten Island Civil Legal Advice and Resources Office. This is a project that SIWBA co-sponsors with the Richmond County Bar Association, Wagner College, and The Feerick Center for Social Justice at Fordham University School of Law. CLARO is a limited, legal advice program that assists unrepresented debtor-defendants in debt collection cases filed in New York City Civil Court. The SIWBA held its Annual Holiday Reception honoring Members of the Richmond County Judiciary on Tuesday, December 4, 2012, the in The Tea House Garden of the Hilton Garden Inn, Staten Island, NY. Over 200 Richmond County attorneys, and friends and supporters of the SIWBA gathered to honor members of the Richmond County Judiciary and the evening's special honoree, the Honorable Judith N. McMahon, Administrative Judge of Richmond County. At the event, Judge McMahon announced in her acceptance speech that Richmond County would create a special part for Superstorm Sandy related cases should the number of cases warrant it. Also, the SIWBA donated $1,000 from the net proceeds of the event to the Superstorm Sandy Relief Fund created by Project Hospitality and the Staten Island Advance. The Holiday Reception Committee was co-chaired by Anna E Vira, SIWBA First Vice President, and Brooke Tiffany Skolnik, SIWBA Recording Secretary. Reception Benefit Committee members included Edwina Frances Martin, Esq., Eve Lynn Newman, Esq., Dawn Reid-Green, Esq., Patricia Anne Taylor, Esq., Manju Sunny, Esq., Denise Marangos, Esq., and Duane Felton, Esq. 3

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On February 11 th, 2013, the SIWBA hosted a lively program at the Staten Island Museum (Stuyvesant Street) on "The Impact of Bankruptcy on Your Practice" with experienced practitioners Kevin Zazerra

The evening began with a presentation from Sharon Bean of the American Heart Association on Women and Heart Disease for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women month to bring awareness on

On February 23, 2013, the SIWBA, in association with the American Association of the University of Women (AAUW) of Staten Island, sponsored a free event entitled View from the Bench - A Conversation

5 On February 11 th, 2013, the SIWBA hosted a lively program at the Staten Island Museum (Stuyvesant Street) on "The Impact of Bankruptcy on Your Practice" with experienced practitioners Kevin Zazerra and Gregory Flood; the program was moderated by Judge Philip Straniere. The evening began with a presentation from Sharon Bean of the American Heart Association on Women and Heart Disease for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women month to bring awareness on the dangers of heart disease and strokes for women. On February 23, 2013, the SIWBA, in association with the American Association of the University of Women (AAUW) of Staten Island, sponsored a free event entitled View from the Bench - A Conversation with the Administrative Judge of Richmond County. The event was a discussion with the Honorable Judith N. McMahon, Administrative Judge of Richmond County. On April 14, 2013, the SIWBA was a co-sponsor, with host Peace Action Staten Island, of a showing of the film Miss Representation; several other Island organizations co-sponsored the showing as well. This documentary exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. It challenges the media s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average women to feel powerful herself. The film, which was shown at the JCC of Staten Island, was followed by a panel discussion to engage the audience in responding to what they had seen. 5

On April 22, 2013, the SIWBA conducted its Annual Meeting and Gender Fairness Program at New Dorp High School. Students from throughout Staten Island high schools attended the standing-room event.

6 On April 22, 2013, the SIWBA conducted its Annual Meeting and Gender Fairness Program at New Dorp High School. Students from throughout Staten Island high schools attended the standing-room event. The panel included the following: Judge Barbara Irolla Panepinto (Acting Justice, Supreme Court, Richmond County), Andrew Sta. Ana, Supervising Attorney of Day One (the only organization in New York City solely devoted to the issue of teen dating violence), Assistant District Attorney Victoria Levin of the Office of the Richmond County District Attorney, Special Victims Bureau, SIWBA President Edwina Frances Martin, Sharlena Powell and Nedene Simon of Voices of Women Organizing Project (VOW)(which gives a voice to survivors of domestic violence by organizing survivors to influence, change and improve the many systems battered women and their children turn to for safety and justice), and Judge Karen B. Wolff (Family Court of the City of New York, Richmond County). 6

Immediately following the April 22 nd Gender Fairness event, the SIWBA held its Annual Meeting and Election of Officers and Directors. A nominating committee chaired by Yolanda Rudich, Esq.

A ballot vote was held and the following women were elected: SIWBA President, Dawn Reid-Green, Esq.; SIWBA First Vice President, Brooke T. Skolnik, Esq.

7 Immediately following the April 22 nd Gender Fairness event, the SIWBA held its Annual Meeting and Election of Officers and Directors. A nominating committee chaired by Yolanda Rudich, Esq., past president of the SIWBA, and including past presidents Patricia Anne Taylor and Catherine M. Paulo, presented the new slate for the SIWBA Board of Directors. A ballot vote was held and the following women were elected: SIWBA President, Dawn Reid-Green, Esq.; SIWBA First Vice President, Brooke T. Skolnik, Esq.; SIWBA Second Vice President, Marguerite Fiore, Esq.; SIWBA Recording Secretary, Ann Thompson, Esq.; SIWBA Corresponding Secretary, Eve Lynn Newman, Esq.; SIWBA Treasurer, Rian Silverman, Esq.; and WBASNY Director for SIWBA, Rosemary Palladino. Members also voted for the WBASNY Slate of Directors. : WBASNY President, Donna E. Frosco, Esq.; WBASNY President-Elect, Irene V. Villacci, Esq.; WBASNY Vice Presidents Andrea F. Composto, Esq., Jacqueline F. Flug, Esq., and Maureen Crush, Esq.; WBASNY Corresponding Secretary, Amy Baldwin Littman, Esq.; WBASNY Recording Secretary, Amy Saltzman, Esq.; and WBASNY Treasurer, Annette G. Hasapidis, Esq. On Thursday, May 16 th, the SIWBA was a co-sponsor of Starting Your Own Practice in New York, a New State Bar Association program offered for solo and small-firm practitioners. Chaired by Clifford R. Ennico, Esq., the program offered practical and useful tips for starting and running a solo practice in New York. On Monday, May 20 th, the SIWBA presented its final CLE program of the program year, an Ethics program presented by newly-elected WBASNY Director Rosemary Palladino, Ethics, The Rules Of Professional Conduct, And The Disciplinary Process. This workshop provided an overview and discussion of the ethical rules relating to professional misconduct, including recent changes in the rules, the process of disciplinary action and how to avoid common ethical mistakes. 7

Following are more photos from throughout the SIWBA 2012-2013 year: NYS Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman with SIWBA President Edwina Frances Martin, Esq.

From the Annual Diversity Reception of the New York State Bar s Association s Annual Meeting in NYC held on January 21, 2013: SIWBA President Edwina Frances Marin, Esq.

From the January 26, 2013 State Bar President s Dinner, which caps the Annual Meeting of the New York State Bar Association in NYC: SIWBA President and NYSBA Executive Committee At Large

8 Following are more photos from throughout the SIWBA year: NYS Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman with SIWBA President Edwina Frances Martin, Esq., on September 13 th, 2012, at the New York State Bar Association s Partnership Conference. Martin co-chairs the state bar s Committee on Legal Aid, which sponsored the conference. From the Annual Diversity Reception of the New York State Bar s Association s Annual Meeting in NYC held on January 21, 2013: SIWBA President Edwina Frances Marin, Esq., with NYS Court of Appeals Associate Judge Jenny Rivera; at the time of the Diversity Reception, Judge Rivera had just been nominated by the Governor for the Court of Appeals. From the January 26, 2013 State Bar President s Dinner, which caps the Annual Meeting of the New York State Bar Association in NYC: SIWBA President and NYSBA Executive Committee At Large member Edwina Frances Martin, Esq., pictured with Presidential Gold Medal Winner Barry Scheck; Mr. Scheck, along with Peter Neufeld, were honored for their work with the Innocence Project. The President s Gold Medal is indeed made out of solid gold! 8

Members and supporters of the SIWBA attending the 2012 WBASNY convention, where past president Yolanda Rudich received the Joan L. Ellenbogen Founder s Award.

9 Members and supporters of the SIWBA attending the 2012 WBASNY convention, where past president Yolanda Rudich received the Joan L. Ellenbogen Founder s Award. Pictured from left to right are: Gary Carsel, Patricia Anne Taylor (SIWBA Immediate past Treasurer and Past President), Larry Zinn, Yolanda Rudich, holding her award (past president), President Edwina Frances Martin, Edward Mickey burns, Manu Sunny (Director), and Rian Silverman (Treasurer). On June 6 th, 2013, at 3:00 p.m., the SIWBA New Officer and Director Installation will be held at the Richmond County Surrogate s Court. Ceremony to be performed by the Honorable Robert J. Gigante, Surrogate, Richmond County, with a special address from the Administrative Judge of Richmond County, the Honorable Judith N. McMahon. 9

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