Dear Members and Friends,
I hope this finds each of you healthy and well. I never imagined that my first opportunity to address each of you as President of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association would be in the middle of a pandemic while under quarantine. The world certainly looks a lot different than it did one year ago when the countdown to my term began.
The pandemic is responsible for unthinkable results. We are witnessing countless rates of infection; the number of those who are tragically succumbing to the virus is rising daily; many people are experiencing financial hardship; unemployment is skyrocketing; children are learning remotely with assistance of their parents, many of whom are also trying to work remotely; elective surgeries have been on hold; people are unable to see loved ones in nursing homes and/or hospitals; and we are socially distanced from family and friends. As lawyers, the pandemic brought courthouse closures statewide. Over the last couple of months, we have seen incremental changes to allow for motions on non-essential matters, remote conferences, remote notary, extensions of filing and discovery deadlines, and most recently, new filings via the electronic filing system. It has been a period of rapid change with constant modifications to procedures and protocols as judges and attorneys work together to administer justice to litigants across all practice areas. The impacts are far-reaching and constantly changing. As we slowly navigate through phases of reopening in New York and across the country, it remains unclear when we will safely be able to claim we are on the other side and what the process to get there ultimately looks like. What we do know is that everyone is impacted by the pandemic in varying degrees, and it is up to us as a community to ensure our family, friends, colleagues and neighbors safely reach the other side.
Over the last several days, we also witnessed the death of George Floyd and the resulting protests, riots and looting across the country. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the pandemic and the response to George Floyd’s death, either one of which would be a defining moment in history, are happening simultaneously. There is tremendous sadness, anger and frustration felt across the country. At a time when people are hurting, feel lost, feel discriminated against and/or marginalized, I keep coming back to one word: leadership.
Personally, professionally, county-wide, state-wide and internationally, we are on the precipice of what I hope will be great change as we navigate a moment in history unlike anything seen in most of our lifetimes. While not intending to minimize the challenges we face right now, through leadership we have the power to move through these adversities we face to see better days. More than the power, I submit to each of you that we have an inherent obligation to forge forward. As we begin to reopen throughout the state, but particularly here in Nassau County, we have an obligation to continue to fight for the voiceless, fight for equal access to justice and fight for gender and racial equality. We have a rare opportunity to further advance our mission as an organization during a time when it is needed most. We must rise to the occasion. I have no doubt that with the talented and strong members of our association, together with the support of the bench and bar, we will lead and rise to the occasion.
We lead by continuing to be a resource of information, which includes regular communications to our members regarding governmental and court procedure updates. We lead by offering programs that are topical to changes in the law and/or highlight impacts of the pandemic across all practice areas. We lead by continuing to fundraise and support various philanthropic efforts despite how we may personally or professionally be impacted by what is happening around us. We lead by assisting each other as we adapt to the new norms in our daily practices, especially those attorneys who may not be as comfortable with certain technological platforms that are required. Now more than ever, camaraderie is vital to our survival and success as practitioners and jurists. We also lead by voting on the legislative initiatives that the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York will support throughout the year.
What some of you may not know is that Nassau County Women’s Bar Association is a chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”). Membership in our local chapter directly impacts the number of delegates we have to WBASNY for voting purposes. The more members we have in our chapter, the greater the number of delegates, which means our voice will have a greater impact. WBASNY often serves as a resource to policy makers and legislators, and there are frequent, collaborative opportunities with other organizations, most notably seen in the amicus committee. The amicus committee reviews requests for amicus briefs on legal cases of significance. Whether it is serving as a delegate to WBASNY or serving as a representative of our chapter to one of the WBASNY substantive committees, we regularly vote on the initiatives pursued and on the amicus briefs submitted. Your membership in the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association directly makes a difference on a statewide level. We hope you will renew your membership or become a new member, to help ensure that we have a voice, we continue to break down barriers, and inspire the change we wish to see in the world. This is our call as an organization and leaders in the community, and I hope you will join me in this endeavor over the next year.
Ordinarily, I would be addressing you from the podium during our annual installation dinner. Sadly, we are unable to be together for this joyous occasion due to the pandemic. However, with triumph often comes innovation. Our Installation Committee, chaired by Allyson Burger, Esq. and Kelly Koster, Esq., has been working tirelessly to seamlessly put together our virtual Installation. We hope you received the invitation to join us on June 15, 2020 at 6 pm. You can watch our installation of the Board of Directors, Executive Officers and WBASNY Delegates from our Facebook page or our website: www.nassauwomensbar.com. We hope you will join us for the celebration.
To the intended award recipients at our annual installation dinner: Sasha Tinis, Esq. (The Bessie Ray Geffner Award); the Hon. A. Gail Prudenti (Virginia C. Duncombe, Esq. Scholarship Award) the Hon. Diane Dwyer (Rona Seider, Esq. Award), it is my sincerest hope that we will have an opportunity to safely be together and celebrate your accomplishments in the coming months. The recognition of your hard work is extremely well-deserved.
To our outgoing President, and my dear friend, Irene Angelakis – you epitomize the definition of a leader. For those of you who had an opportunity to review Irene’s farewell message, you know there was no shortage of innovative programs and successful fundraisers throughout the year, particularly as we transitioned to handling all matters remotely. The Board of Directors unanimously voted in favor of nominating Irene for the Distinguished Leader Award through the New York Law Journal, which should come as no surprise given her accomplishments throughout the year. Irene, you lead our organization with grace, vibrancy and true to dedication to our mission. I am forever grateful for our friendship and sage advice throughout the year. You are the barometer by which we will measure our success, now and in the future.
To the Past Presidents, you welcomed me into this organization with open arms shortly after I became admitted to practice and have been supportive of me every step of the way thereafter. I want to specifically thank the following people: Hon. Andrea Phoenix, Irene Villacci, Hon. Diane Dwyer, Hon. Helen Voutsinas, Hon. Linda Mejias, Hon. Cheryl Helfer, Hon. Diane Dwyer, Barbara Gervase, Martha Haesloop, Hon. Joy Watson, Mary Ann Aiello, Patricia Latzman, Kathleen Wright, Maureen McLoughlin, Roberta Fox, Simone Freeman and Elaine Colavito. I am truly touched by the outpouring of well-wishes and encouragement as I embark on this journey with each of you as my personal cheerleaders. Thank you for welcoming me to “the club”!
To the incoming Executive Officers, Directors and Delegates, I am extremely excited to work with each of you over the next year. You bring tremendous strengths and talents to our organization, and I am confident we will only continue to advance the work we did together under Irene’s leadership.
To my partners and colleagues at Abrams Fensterman, particularly Samuel Ferrara, Howard Fensterman, and the entire matrimonial department - there is no shortage of thanks I can offer for the unwavering support over the years. From sponsorships to your attendance at a variety of programs and events, you continue to support me and the organization. I consider myself truly lucky to have you as my office family.
To my amazing family – we may be scattered across the country, but there is no shortage of love for each of you. I have deep appreciation for your patience, that you encourage each of my endeavors and that you want to be involved despite the geographic distance. One silver lining to the pandemic is that you will have an opportunity to partake in my installation and remotely participate in other aspects of the upcoming year. Thank you for helping to shape who I am today and for being a beacon of strength as I take on this new challenge.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my husband, Michael. Little does he realize that he automatically assumes the role of photographer for our future events and programs once we are able to be together! All joking aside, Michael – you are the singular, greatest addition to my life. I never have to question your love for me because you show me each and every day. You are my partner in all aspects of life, and I know this new position is no different. You are one of the special ones. You selflessly and tirelessly worked to help patients in the hospital on ventilators suffering from COVID-19. You are a hero and leader in your own right, and you serve as an inspiration to us all.
With that, I will close with the following: our year together is not beginning how any of us envisioned, but I am encouraged by the work we can do together in the coming months before we pass the baton to my friend and our President-Elect, Lisa Cairo. Together, we are strong, we are tough, and we will do great things.
I wish each of you continued health and prosperity as we navigate our new norm, and congratulations to our 2020-2021 Officers, Board of Directors and WBASNY Delegates.
Best,
Andrea Brodie, President