It has been an extraordinary honor to serve as President of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association during this landmark year, which marked our 50th Anniversary and Jubilee. This milestone offered us the opportunity not only to reflect on our rich history, but also to reaffirm our mission of advancing and supporting women in the legal profession. Our programs brought together past leaders, current members, and future generations, highlighting the enduring strength and impact of our organization over five decades. We look forward to celebrating with everyone and setting the path forward at the Annual Dinner and Installation of Officers on June 3, 2026.

The last month of my Presidency began with joining the Saturday hiking group for a walk in Katonah on May 2, 2026. The day was cool with sun through the clouds; the Muscoot Reservoir looked glassy and still, and, importantly, full. We thank Marie A. Corliss, Esq., Principal Attorney and founding member of Corliss Law Group, P.C., along with her team, for conceiving these easy Saturday hikes around Westchester. It gives us a wonderful way to begin the weekend with some air and conversation.

Health and wellness initiatives have been a consistent part of my platform, but the WWBA has long recognized the benefits of promoting health and wellness to offset the demands of legal practice.  Many past Presidents have offered golf outings, apple picking, step challenges, or other walking opportunities, and of course we all appreciate outdoor networking events, especially when the weather works in our favor!

In a field that is tightly linked to high stress, long hours, adversarial work, and constant deadlines, initiatives that support wellness aren’t just “nice to have,” but directly affect whether attorneys can function effectively over time.  As attorneys we are obligated to provide competent and ethical representation.  Chronic stress, poor mental health, or substance misuse can impair judgment, diligence, and communication—core duties of the profession.  Promoting wellness helps protect those standards.  There’s also a clear community-building benefit.  While legal work can be isolating or overly competitive, wellness events create lower-pressure environments where members can connect as people, not just as counsel.

Lastly, from a retention and sustainability angle, the profession has well-documented attrition issues, especially among early-career attorneys.  If a bar association, like ours, strives for a stable, diverse, and engaged membership base, we cannot ignore the conditions that push people out.  Wellness initiatives help people stay in the field longer, and bar associations are increasingly expected to lead on well-being.

For a quick wellness year-in-review, our first General Membership Meeting in September featured a question-and-answer session with Dr. Kimberly Bonds Grocher, a licensed psychotherapist, executive coach, and speaker, known for her work in mental health, wellness, and leadership development.  Dr. Grocher spoke with members about “Thriving in the Chaos: Mastering the Professional-Caregiver Balance,” addressing the common circumstance when professionals are required to look after the care of others close to them.

Also in Fall 2025, the WWBA entered teams in the Westchester Heart Walk, benefiting the American Heart Association, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association, and Making Strides of Westchester, benefiting the American Cancer Society (joining the pacesetting Team ORBACH).  We raised significant funds while spending empowering days with chapter members and the broader community.

On October 25, 2025, the WWBA Wellness Committee arranged a private tour of botanical highlights and an all-around rejuvenating afternoon at the New York Botanical Garden.  On November 13, 2025, the committee presented a virtual program, “Pelvic Health Across the Lifespan: What Every Woman Should Know,” at which Geri White PT, DPT, WCS, Pelvic Health Physical Therapist & Owner of Hudson Valley Physical Therapy (Hartsdale) demystified pelvic health through every stage of a woman’s life, from young adulthood to menopause and beyond. 

More recently, on April 23, 2026, the WWBA Wellness Committee, together with the Westchester County Bar Association Well-Being Committee, coordinated “The 5 Daily Resets,” a presentation and workshop with Jennifer Monness, founder of JLM Wellness.  Jennifer is a Stress Education Specialist and Nervous System Regulation Strategist, who partners with companies, healthcare systems, universities, and leadership teams to help high-performing professionals manage chronic stress, improve focus, communicate more effectively, and sustain performance without burning out.  During the session Jennifer walked us through five “resets”—a framework of small, repeatable daily practices identified as movement, breathwork, mindfulness and mindset, sleep recovery, and nutrition for resilience.  After having time to practice some of the techniques, participants left feeling more connected and centered, and with a more complete understanding of how making time for these practices can support our performance throughout the workday.

Thank you to the sponsors whose generosity made this important April wellness program possible:  TrustHouse Elite Private In-Home Nursing and Concierge Care, Tompkins Financial Advisors, Kern Rappy Dispute Resolution, and Pinnacle Taxx.

Wishing you all a healthy and active summer ahead. 🍃