WBAI NEWSLETTER
Whitson-Owen. On December 4, our Membership Committee hosted our Annual Holiday Market where attendees enjoyed festive holiday shopping and socializing while benefiting the local nonprofit organization After School Matters. On November 29, the WBAI Community Outreach Committee participated in the Annual WBAI Holiday Gift Bag benefiting The Women’s Treatment Center (TWTC), a substance abuse treatment center providing comprehensive childcare for mothers battling addiction. At the bag party, festive bags were made for the families of TWTC with 100% of donations contributing to the purchase of the gift bag items, including hats, gloves, scarves, toiletries, hosiery and other supplies. The event was a huge success. In addition to committee membership opportunities, charitable events, and networking initiatives, the WBAI is proud to continue to offer the Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program to our membership in 2019. The MCLE program initiated by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism pairs new lawyers and experienced WBAI lawyers who act as mentors providing guidance to their mentees. Sponsored by over 80 organizations across Illinois, this mentoring program provides a flexible structure for practical learning within the context of the mentoring relationship. Whether you are a solo practitioner, an attorney at a firm, government agency, a corporate law department or a new attorney seeking your first practice opportunity you will benefit from the mentoring program experience. Please consider participating in this initiative. On January 16, 2019, the WBAI Annual Dinner Committee kick started their planning process for the 2019 Installation Dinner installing Corinne Heggie as our 103rd President. The Annual Dinner will be held on May 30, 2019, at the Hilton Chicago and is one of the best attended Bar Association events in the state. At the dinner, the incoming president, officers, and directors will be sworn in for the next bar year. The WBAI has worked hard in planning our “How To Get The Business” event which entails a panel of “Givers and Getters” to assist our members in learning how to market themselves to obtain
WINTER 2019
business. Due to the inclement weather in January, the event has been rescheduled for the Spring.
“Together with your participation and commitment, we will continue to be a strong organization affording our members the ability to promote and the opportunity to advance.” The WBAI will be hosting its Annual Judicial Reception on March 7, at the Chicago Cultural Center honoring Judge Russell Hartigan, Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier of the Illinois Supreme Court, Appellate Court Justice Joy Cunningham, and Judge Llana Rovner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The Judicial Reception Committee co-chairs are Courtney Lindbert, Whitney Siehl, and Lauren Tuckey Murray. We hope you resolve in this new year to continue attending the many programs and events sponsored by the WBAI. Together with your participation and commitment, we will continue to be a strong organization affording our members the ability to promote and the opportunity to advance. Sincerely,
Karie Jane Valentino 2018-2019 President Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
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