FAWL Journal 5/03...which recently published a 16-month study of the role of juries in America. He also is the co-author of the reconstruction of a long-neglected 1906 trial in the

2 Summer 2003 • FAWL Journal

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C O M M I T T E E

£ Siobhan H. Shea . . . . . . . . . . 561/655-4114President [email protected]

£Dinita James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 813/261-7858President-Elect [email protected]

£ Susan W. Fox . . . . . . . . . . . . . 813/273-4212Immediate Past President [email protected]

£Mary K. Wimsett . . . . . . . . . . 352/374-3656Treasurer [email protected]

£Deborah Magid . . . . . . . . . . . 305/530-2732Secretary [email protected]

£Vene M. Hamilton . . . . . . . . . 954/894-9333Journal Editor [email protected]

£Frances Grace Cooper . . . . . 941/308-3080Membership [email protected]

£Carolyn C. Coukous . . . . . . . 941/262-8800Public Relations [email protected]

£ Julie Koves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407/275-4451Treasurer-Elect [email protected]

£Pat Stephens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850/894-0055Executive Director [email protected]

Florida Association for Women Lawyers • P.O. Box 15998 • Tallahassee, FL 32317-5998 • 850/894-0055

ADVERTISE WITH FAWL … in print or on-line. Contact Pat Stephens at [email protected] or 850/894-0055.

BREVARD£Diane Baccus-Horsley . . . . . . . . . 321/727-9888

PresidentBROWARD£Jamie J. Finizio-Bascombe . . . . . . . 954/532-8200

President [email protected]£Sharon Glickman . . . . . . . . . . . . . 954/752-7701

Chapter Representative [email protected]£Meenakshi A. Hirani . . . . . . . . . . 407/599-7199

[email protected]£Kristen M. Jackson . . . . . . . . . . . 407/926-5764

[email protected] GEHAN (8TH CIRCUIT)£Howard M. Rosenblatt . . . . . . . . . 352/373-7100

President [email protected]£Arlene F. Austin 941/514-8211

President [email protected]£Wendy H. Girardin . . . . . . . . . . . 941/261-0533

Chapter Representative [email protected]£Gayle B. Carlson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 813/229-2900

[email protected]£Robin L. Rosenberg . . . . . . . . . . . 727/ 824-6199

Chapter Representative [email protected]£Amy Sullivan Croft . . . . . . . . . . . 904/355-1700

President [email protected]£Patricia M. Dodson . . . . . . . . . . . 904/632-2424

Chapter Representative [email protected]£Carolyn Delizia . . . . . . . . . . . . . 941/334-4121

President [email protected]£Carol Masio McGuire . . . . . . . . . 941/741-8121

President [email protected]£Janet L. Fuller, President . . . . . . . 352/629-7511

MIAMI/DADE£Deborah Magid . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305/665-3399

President [email protected]£Chantale Leif Suttle . . . . . . . . . . . 305/665-3399

Chapter Representative [email protected]£Jill K. Satterwhite . . . . . . . . . . . . 850/429-1888

President [email protected] SOUTHEASTERN£Suzanne Hernandez

President [email protected] BEACH£Michelle R. Suskauer . . . . . . . . . . 561/687-7866

President [email protected]£Dana M. Santino 561/659-1183

Chapter Representative [email protected]£Donna Rose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 727/443-2999

President [email protected]£Drucilla E. Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 727/588-9551

[email protected]£Sherri L. Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . 941/952-1070

President [email protected]. THOMAS£Carrie Turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305/512-7385

President [email protected]£Jennifer Suarez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 813/207-0272

President [email protected]£June McKinney Bartelle . . . . . . . . 850/414-3771

President [email protected] COAST£Patricia A. Baldwin . . . . . . . . . . . 561-337-5100

President [email protected]£Oliveann Lancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561/219-0911

Chapter Representative [email protected]/FLAGLER£Trisha L. Dellinger . . . . . . . . . . . . 386/615-9007

President [email protected]

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FAWL CHAPTER PRES IDENTS & REPRESENTAT IVES

The Florida Association for Women Lawyersgratefully acknowledges the following members of

Holland & Knight LLP

James R. Daughton, Jr., Esq. Lori K. Weems, Esq. Patricia Green

For assistance in coordinating the 2003 FAWL Legislative Agenda

FAWL Journal • Summer 2003 3

President’s Messageby Siobhan Shea

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Did you know FAWL has a seat onthe Board of Governors of the

Florida Bar? Both the Virgil HawkinsChapter of the National Bar Associa-tion and FAWL have unique, non-voting seats on our governing board.When I first attended a meeting forthe Board of Governors for the FloridaBar three years ago I was impressed byhow much work the Governorsactually accomplish in two days andhow much power the board has in theState of Florida. From disciplininglawyers, to recommending appoint-ments on the Judicial NominatingCommissions, developing legislativelobbying positions for the Bar anddeveloping long term planning toaddress the legal needs of children andindigent of Florida, the Florida BarBoard of Governors does vital work.

I have been fortunate to get to servea full year on the BOG as President ofFAWL, in addition to meetings I wasable to attend as President-Elect ofFAWL the prior year. This momentousservice has given me insight into howthe Bar is run and the personalities ofthe lawyers and staff, who serve us all.

President Tod Aronovitz, whoprobably should run for Governor orCongress one day, always made sureFAWL was included and our positionswere part of the process. Past StateFAWL President, Jennifer Coberly,especially made sure that I was up todate and consulted on FAWL issuesand that we got the word out aboutpositions and appointments to FAWLmembers statewide.

Having a seat on the BOG givesFAWL an inside track on what ishappening in the Bar and legislativeissues vital to the judicial system inFlorida. This year I attended theBOG’s legislative seminar and recep-

tion in Tallahassee to learn about ArticleV funding in Florida and ensure thatFAWL’s goals of protecting courtfunding, including funding for juvenileswere impressed upon our state’s leader-ship. The BOG also votes to approve barpositions on legislative issues andrequests from sections for lobbyingpositions. The agendas of FAWL and thebar have not always been identical.Several years ago FAWL decided toadopt a different lobbying position tokeep judicial elections, in the wake ofovertures to change the selection processfor JNCs. This year there has been agreat overlap in lobbying positions. Wehave worked with the bar and BOG forcomplete Article V funding. We adoptedthe same position as the Family LawSection, which was approved by theBOG to change the publication require-ments which violated women’s privacy,as advocated in our amicus brief. Inaddition to working with our lobbyistsJim Daughton, Patricia Green andLori Weems, I got to meet the Bar’slobbyist, Steve Metz and informed himof FAWL positions and our willingness towork with the Bar on shared issues.

FAWL’s seat on the BOG gives ourmembership a valuable opportunity tohelp get FAWL members appointed tokey positions. Every time there has been aBar Committee appointment or nomina-tion (including to the JNCs) I have madesure the news gets out by electronic mailand in the State FAWL Journal. It is vitalthat we keep this flow of informationfrom the Bar to FAWL membership andfrom FAWL membership to the Bar.

Working on the board and attendingBOG events you learn things about thelawyers and staff you would never guess. Ifirst met past Tallahassee FAWL President,President-elect Kelly Johnson at a Barlunch. She had just had her twins, and

Representing FAWL on TheFlorida Bar Board of Governors

was beaming with pictures anddetails. But there she was asbusiness like as you could ask anypowerful lawyer working for a bigfirm and about to undertakerunning for President-elect of theBar. Incoming President Miles

McGrane is making serving theneeds of children in the legal

system a priority for his presidency.Past President Terry Russell not onlycares passionately about serving thepoor in court, but he’s a really goodbaker and devoted family man. Jack

Harkness is not the stern persona somewould guess, but actually an extremelynice guy who can really cut a rug! Ifyou wanted to find a person to run anystate organization, law firm or Barfunctions, look no further than Tina

Ruffin. This refined single mom is oneof the best administrative workers Ihave ever seen.

Being on the BOG also gives FAWLan inside scoop on what will happenwithin the Bar. Pensacola GovernorAlan Bookman will likely run forPresident-elect and will do a fine jobserving all of us. Dignity in the Law willcontinue to be funded at least for thenext year, and many of the functionsfor the program are becoming ongoingbar staff priorities to continue toeducate the public about the great workwe do as lawyers and judges. An onlinefull service web portal, My Florida BarOnline, including free computerizedresearch for all Florida lawyers, is in theworks. The Bar budget continues to bea major source of work and FAWLmember Governor Jerry Beer andJesse Diner continue to work longhours to ensure it survives this tougheconomy.

Prior to joining the BOG meetings, Ihad been forewarned that this was agood old boys network. What I foundwas a diverse group of lawyers and Barstaff dedicated to improving thejustice system in Florida. Yes, therewere a few rare moments when I feltlike I was back at the lacrosse teamhouse I lived in at college. (Names anddetails deleted, but you know who youare!) But the most impressive thing Ihave found about the Board ofGovernors of the Florida Bar is that

£ PRESIDENT, Page 18


Joint Awards LuncheonFlorida Association for Women Lawyers

The Equal Opportunities Law Section of The Florida BarVirgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association

Friday, June 27, 2003 from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Orlando World Center MarriottIn conjunction with The Florida Bar’s Annual Meeting

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:Mark Curriden, author of “Contempt of Court”

Curriden is the legal affairs writer for “The Dallas Morning News”

which recently published a 16-month study of the role of juries in

America. He also is the co-author of the reconstruction of a long-

neglected 1906 trial in the book, Contempt of Court. This case set the

stage for 20th century federalism as well as providing predicates

for the ongoing struggle for civil rights.

A WA R D P R E S E N TAT I O N S

ROSEMARY BARKETTOUTSTANDING

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:

Kelly Overstreet Johnson

FRIEND OF FAWL AWARDS:Florida Senator Gwen Margolis

Florida Representative Arthenia L. Joyner

Tickets will not be sold at the door. Luncheon Tickets are $37 and should be orderedthrough The Florida Bar’s Annual Meeting brochure in the May Bar Journal or visit www.flabar.org to

download the Annual Meeting Registration Form. Mastercard or Visa credit cards are accepted.

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by SIOBHAN HELENE SHEAFAWL Presidentand WENDY S. LOQUASTOFAWL Assistant Historian

The FAWL Rosemary BarkettOutstanding Achievement

Award is an annual awardpresented by FAWL for thefollowing two purposes: 1) torecognize the outstandingachievement of women whohave promoted the status ofwomen in the community andthe profession, and 2) torecognize FAWL members fromall walks of life who have beenparticularly successful inovercoming stereotypes andmaking their mark as womenattorneys. Martha W. Barnett

richly deserves the honor ofreceiving the 2002 RosemaryBarkett Award.

President Siobhan Shea presented the award to Martha forher dedicated service and commitment to equality and protect-ing human rights. The presentation took place at FAWL’s annualluncheon on June 21, 2002, during The Florida Bar’s annualmeeting in Boca Raton. The sellout crowd in attendanceincluded bar leaders, members of the judiciary, the VirgilHawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association, andthe Equal Opportunity Section of The Florida Bar.

Martha’s career has been an inspiration to women lawyersover the last 29 years. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree

FAWL Rosemary BarkettOutstanding Achievement Award

in 1969 from Newcomb College, Tulane University of Louisi-ana, she received her juris doctor degree from the University ofFlorida, graduating in 1973. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phiand Phi Delta Phi, and was an editor of the University of FloridaLaw Review.

In 1973, Martha became the first woman employed by thenational firm Holland & Knight LLP. She is the firm’s firstwoman partner, the first woman to serve on its DirectorsCommittee, and the first woman to chair the Public LawDepartment, one of Holland & Knight’s firm-wide departments.

In 1994, Martha became the first woman to chair the Ameri-can Bar Association’s policy-making House of Delegates, ofwhich she had been a member since 1984. She served on theABA Board of Governors from 1986 to 1989, and again from1994 to 1996, and she has chaired a number of other ABAentities. She rose to the top of the ABA in 2000, when shebecame the second woman to lead the ABA as its President.

In Florida, Martha has served on the executive councils ofThe Florida Bar’s Tax Section and the Public Interest LawSection, and she is a Past President and former member of theBoard of Directors of the Florida Lawyers Prepaid Legal ServicesCorporation. She serves on the Board of Trustees of FloridaTaxWatch, and was Vice Chair of the Florida Sales Tax onServices Study Commission. She has been a Governor’s appoin-tee to a number of statewide commissions, and she recentlyserved on Florida’s Constitution Revision Commission and wasinstrumental in the adoption of the Basic Rights Amendment,which guarantees equality to women under Florida law.

Martha has also been active in various women’s organizations,including FAWL and Tallahassee Women Lawyers. She is afounding member and Past President of the Capital Women’sNetwork and a founding member of the Board of Directors of theFlorida Women’s Alliance. She participated in the United NationsFourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, in 1995.

“Do not be afraid to

be referred to as a

‘woman lawyer.’ ”

—Martha Barnett

Kelly Overstreet Johnson to Receive 2003 Award

Kelly Overstreet Johnson will receive the 2003 Rosemary Barkett Outstanding Achievement

Award on Friday, June 27, 2003 at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

The award will be presented at the joint luncheon sponsored with the Equal Opportunities Law

Section of The Florida Bar and the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association.

She is a partner in the Tallahassee office of Broad & Cassell where she is a member of the firm’s

Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Labor and Employment Practice Groups.

Overstreet Johnson is President-elect designate of The Florida Bar and served as a member of the

American Bar Association’s House of Delegates from 1992 to 1994. She is a member and Past-

president of the Tallahassee Bar Association and Tallahassee Women Lawyers. ■

£ BARNETT, Page 6

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She has received numerous awards for her contributions tosociety and the legal profession, including the 1996 ArabellaBabb Mansfield Award from the National Association of WomenLawyers, and the 1996 Hillary Clinton Glass Cutter Award. Shewas named to the National Law Journal list of “The 50 MostInfluential Women Lawyers in America” in 1998. Martha was arecipient of The Florida Bar Foundation Medal of Honor Awardin 2002.

Martha Barnett cares deeply about civil rights, as evi-denced by her work on the Rosewood case, which arose fromthe 1923 massacre of a mostly African-American town nearGainesville by a white angry mob. Martha was instrumentalin successfully representing the survivors before the FloridaLegislature in 1994 in a claims bill request, and ultimately thecase demonstrated how governments can, years after anincident, symbolically apologize for terrible racial injustice.Through her efforts, the survivors not only received compen-sation for their lost property, but a scholarship fund was alsoestablished with a preference for descendants of Rosewoodresidents. The case won Holland & Knight the ABA’s ProBono Publico Award.

An interesting personal note to this case surfaced after Marthabegan working on it and discovered that her father, a countrydoctor, had treated many of the Rosewood survivors who hadescaped to her hometown Lacoochee on the night of themassacre. The survivors had remained silent about the massacre

for over 50 years, and meeting people who were a part of herchildhood and being able to help them was a deeply rewardingpersonal experience for Martha.

All of these accomplishments show that Martha Barnett is abright, hard-working, dedicated lawyer, as well as persondevoted to public service. But there is more to Martha than herprofessional life. She is also a loving wife and mother. She mether husband, architect Richard “Rick” Barnett, on her first day ofcollege in 1965 and they have been together ever since—married for 34 years! They have two children, 28-year oldRichard and 22-year old Sarah. Martha believes that the hardestthing she has done is raise her children. She gives much creditto her husband, declaring she could never have done what shehas without him.

In accepting the award, Martha stated, “The Rosemary Barkettaward has special meaning to me, because it is named forsomeone I much admire.” Her advice to women: “Do not beafraid to be referred to as a ‘woman lawyer.’” She believes thereis a commonality among women. Our history in the legalprofession is more recent than our male counterparts; we facechallenges that men do not, especially balancing our profes-sional and personal lives and child-rearing responsibilities.Women need ongoing supportive groups like FAWL andTallahassee Women Lawyers. She also stresses that women needto mentor and reach out to one another. Barnett firmly believesthat she would not be where she is today without the womenlawyers who came before her. ■

The Rosemary Barkett Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented atthe Joint Awards Luncehon on Friday, June 27, 2003. See Page 4 forticket information.

£ BARNETT, from Page 5


Close friends and law

colleagues for many years,

Emma Roesing died in 1983

leaving Judge Mattie Belle

Davis funds in her will that

enabled Judge Davis to compile

and publish a History of Florida

Association for Woman Lawyers, Inc.,

1951-2002. The history book was

released at the 2003 FAWL

Midyear Luncheon in Miami and

is a gift to all FAWL members.

Members not attending the

luncheon receive copies of the

book through their local chapter.

Judge Davis, FAWL Historian, was on hand to attend the book

release at the FAWL Midyear luncheon and happily autographed

copies of the book she had worked on for more than a decade.

For more than half a century, Judge Davis saved newspaper

clippings, programs, photographs, and newletters documenting

2003 MIDYEAR HIGHLIGHTS

The Release of FAWL History Book by Judge Mattie Belle DavisFAWL CLE, “Managing Your Own Law Practice”

achievements of FAWL and its

members. Compiled and edited with

the assistance of Henrietta S. Biscoe

and Wendy S. Loquasto, FAWL

Assistant Historians; the history

book is dedicated to the memory of

Louise Rebecca Pinnell, the first

woman lawyer in Florida, to Anna

Brenner Meyers, who convened

the first gathering of women

lawyers in 1951 and to Roesing,

who wrote the resolution to

establish FAWL.

FAWL members attending the

luncheon stood to a champagne toast to Judge Davis in celebra-

tion of the event. The luncheon program also included keynote

speaker, Ellen Ostrow, Ph.D, a longtime FAWL Journal contribu-

tor, who spoke on “Finding Balance.” Dr. Ostrow was the last

presenter of the FAWL CLE “Managing Your Own Law Prac-

tice,” held earlier in the day. ■

SEE PAGE 8 FOR MORE PICTORIAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM FAWL’S MIDYEAR LUNCHEON


2003 MIDYEAR HIGHLIGHTS

Edith Osman with Judge Mattie Belle Davis.

Judge Gil Freeman, Ava Dopplett and Edith Osman.

FAWL Luncheon speakers (from left): Julie Koves,Diana Santa Maria and Kaye Baxter. Notpictured is Tammi Ann Clearfield.

Wendy Loquasto, Ellen Ostrow and Dinita James.

Judge Mattie Belle Davis with the attendees of the FAWL Luncheon.

Deborah Magid, Henrietta Biscoe, Judge Mattie BelleDavis and Siobhan Shea.

Judge Mattie Belle Davis and Journal editor VeneHamilton.

From left: Sharon Glickman, Kaye Baxter, SiobhanShea and Jamie Finizio-Bascombe.


BROWARD COUNTY WOMENLAWYERS’ ASSOCIATION

BCWLA hosted the Annual HolidayJudicial Reception on December at theTower Club in Fort Lauderdale. A toydrive for needy children was con-ducted in conjunction with the holidayreception.

Mike Papantonio, the attorney whohas handled cases throughout thenation related to such issues asasbestos, breast implants, DalkonShield, Fen-Phen, AIDS and theFlorida tobacco litigation, was theJanuary “Lunch and Learn” speaker. Heis head of the mass tort department atLevin Papantonio Thomas MitchellEchsner & Proctor, P.A. and spoke onthe topic, “Staying Motivated as aLawyer and Professional.” One hourCLE credit was available to attendees.

The Young Lawyers Division of TheFlorida Bar also recognized theChapter’s YLC committee with a thirdplace award ($800) during the Novem-ber 2002 Affiliate Outreach Confer-ence Awards.

On July 18, Candice Tobine will besworn in as BCWLA’s new Presidentalong with all new officers. U.S.District Judge Patricia A. Seitz will bethe keynote speaker.

CGAWL BREAKSNEW GROUND—

AGAIN!Last year, the Eighth

Judicial CircuitChapter of FAWL set aprecedent by changingits name. The former8-FAWL is now theClara Gehan Association for WomenLawyers, named for the first woman tomatriculate from the University ofFlorida Law School, one of the premier

women lawyers in the Gainesville area,and the inspiration for the formation ofour Chapter in the mid-eighties.

This year, we did it again! We believewe are the first local Chapter to have amale President—Howard Rosenblatt

has been a loyal supporter of women inthe law and an active member of ourChapter for 13 years. He has previouslyserved as chapter treasurer and vice-president, and we are pleased to have himas our President. He’s done a bang-upjob, and we had a busy year, full of funand professionalism.

Our President-elect is Kathleen C.

Fox, who was also the founding Presi-dent, and who hopes to live up to all thewonderful leaders in-between.

For years the local lawyers have goneto Cedar Key on the Thursday before UFHomecoming (for the first 20 years it wasmale-only, but the women fixed that!—but that’s another story). Since 1990 ourchapter of FAWL has had a party and hasincluded a dessert contest, with legal ortopical themes. In 1992 it was “JustDesserts,” “Intentional Tortes” in 1995and “Palm Beach County” in 2000 (theidea was, of course, to make the messiestdessert possible). This year the themewas developed during the early part ofthe Gator season, and the theme was“Gettin’ Creamed.” Fox, who entered thefirst dessert contest and didn’t win, andhas been in a snit ever since, entered thesame cheesecake (well, not the very samecheesecake) this year—and won!

Other activities include a CLE on theUSA Patriot Act (we’re nothing if notcurrent-event-ful!), followed by a Mealson Wheels holiday gift project and thenour annual Winter Solstice party inDecember. In the spring we’ll have ourannual retreat, when we get away from itall—sometimes east, sometimes west,always near the water—to plan our next

year, to schmooze, to play and tobond.

Aside from all these special events,CGAWL regularly meets the firstThursday evening of each month atLeonardo’s 706 and informally forlunch on the fourth Friday of eachmonth at a mutually agreed upon site,currently at Szechwan Panda II. Wewould love to have FAWL membersvisiting Gainesville at those times joinus for dinner, lunch and camaraderie.

CFAWL/CENTRAL FLORIDAUnder the leadership of our current

president, Kristen Jackson, CentralFlorida Association for WomenLawyers has had a busy year. Kristen isassisted by a very active executiveboard who tries to always follow ourmission statement:

The CFAWL is a professional organizationdevoted to actively promoting the advancementof women in the legal profession and expandingthe leadership role of its members in thecommunity at large. To achieve these goals,CFAWL will further the common interests of itsmembers and encourage camaraderie andlearning among its members. CFAWL willpromote women’s opportunities and rights,uphold the highest standards of integrity, honorand courtesy in the legal profession, promotereform in the law and facilitate the administra-tion of justice.

We publish our mission statement inour monthly newsletter and takeseriously our job to actively promoteour members’ legal practice and toincrease our leadership skills andpresence in the community at large.

The members of our 2002-2003Executive Board this year are:

• Kristen Jackson, Law Office ofKristen Jackson, President: As Presi-dent, Kris prepares the agenda andpresides over Board meetings, commu-

Rosenblatt

FAWL Local Chapter Happenings


nicates with the Board members, andprovides leadership for CFAWLactivities. Kris is a licensed CPA and hasher LLM in taxation. Kris maintains herown law firm in the following practiceareas: estate planning, elder law,probate, real estate, general business andcorporate law, and real estate law.

• Lori Milvain, McClane Tessitore,President-Elect: Lori has been active onour board for five years. She practicesprimarily in the areas of trademark andcopyright prosecution and litigation.

• Meenakshi A. Hirani, MeenakshiA. Hirani, P.A., State Representativeand CFAWL Website: Meenakshiactively represents CFAWL at the statelevel as our FAWL representative. Shealso designs and manages the CFAWLwebsite. She is the chair of FAWL’sBylaws Amendment Committee andassisted FAWL in the development of amission statement. Meenakshi has asolo practice in Winter Park specializ-ing in the areas of business law, civillitigation and estate/probate law.

• Mary Ann Etzler, deBeaubien,Knight, Simmons, Mantzaris, & Neal,LLP, Secretary: Mary Ann administersCFAWL’s mentoring program. Shespecializes in criminal defense,commercial litigation, employmentlaw, general civil litigation, insurancedefense and appellate law.

• Elizabeth Foshee McCausland,Cooney Mattson Lance BlackburnRichards & O’Connor, P.A., Treasurer:Liz is our current treasurer. Shepractices in the areas of general civillitigation and personal injury.

• Mary M. Stewart, Stump, Storey& Callahan, P.A., Treasurer-Elect: Marypractices in the areas of bankruptcy,collections, commercial litigation,community association law, foreclo-sures, and insurance defense.

• Brandy C. Hill and Barbara

Rudolph-Smith, Allen, Dyer, Doppelt,Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A., MembershipCo-Chairs: Brandy has the opportunityto work with the past-president BarbaraRudolph-Smith and learn from behindthe scenes what makes CFAWL such agreat organization. Brandy and Barbarahave sought to encourage new mem-bership by hosting a new memberreception. They continue to promotethe interest of our returning members

through luncheonspeakers andsocial andcharitable events.Both Brandy andBarbara work atthe same firm.Brandy practicesin the areas ofintellectualproperty, patents,trademarks andcopyrightsprosecution andlitigation. Barbarapractices in the areas of business andintellectual property litigation.

• Shirley Caro, Legal Aid Society of theOrange County Bar Association, Co-Editorof CFAWL Newsletter: Shirley works hardto produce our monthly newsletter. Sheworks at the Legal Aid Society of theOrange County Bar Association, handlingdomestic violence injunction hearings andfamily law matters.

• Tenesia C. Connelly, Legal AidSociety of the Orange County BarAssociation, Co-Editor of CFAWLNewsletter: Tenesia also is essential to thepublication of CFAWL’s monthly newslet-ter. She is an Equal Justice Works Fellowand staff attorney at the Legal Aid Societyof the Orange County Bar Association. Asan Equal Justice Fellow, Tenesia is cur-rently evaluating and reviewing Legal Aid’sfamily law delivery system and resources.As a part of her fellowship, Tenesia alsohandles family law cases.

• The Honorable Karen S. Jennemann,United States Bankruptcy Court, PublicRelations Committee Chair: JudgeJennemann has served as a director ofCFAWL for several years and currently isresponsible for CFAWL’s Public Relations.Judge Jennemann was appointed to theUnited States Bankruptcy Court for theMiddle District of Florida, OrlandoDivision, in November 1993.

• Sonica Rhodes Cinami, Dorothy J.McMichen, P.A., OCBA Liaison: Sonicainsures that CFAWL is informed andinvolved with the Orange County BarAssociation. She practices in the areas offamily law, child support, child custody,alimony, separation agreements, divorce,domestic violence, and property settlements.

• Haej Kim Smith, McGee & Powers,P.A., Programs Co-Chair: Haej is the co-

chair of the Programs Committee thatorganizes and plans the holiday partyand other various social events. She isalso the co-chair of the Judicial Recep-tion Committee, a function honoringfederal and state court judges in CentralFlorida. Haej practices insurancedefense with McGee & Powers, P.A.

• Keersten Heskin Martinez, Fisher,Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley &Dunlap, P.A., Programs Co-Chair: Asco-chair of the Programs Committee,Keersten is responsible for planning theyearly secretary lunch and the holidaylunch, as well as planning other socialevents throughout the year. Shespecializes in ERISA and family law.

• The Honorable Antoinette

Plogstedt, Ninth Judicial CircuitCourt of Florida, Judicial Liaison:Judge Plogstedt is the CFAWL judicialliaison representative. She was electedas a County Judge for the NinthJudicial Circuit Court in Orlando,Florida, in 2000.

CFAWL meets monthly at a localrestaurant. Our meetings start with asocial time for thirty minutes or so tonetwork and to catch up with old friends.During lunch, we have a speaker. Wefind that the better the speaker, thebetter the attendance at our luncheons.We work hard to find interesting anddynamic speakers. During this year, weeither have had or will soon hear fromthe following speakers: Six local judicialcandidates participated in a livelydebate; Crimestoppers, a division ofthe Orlando Police Force, demon-strated ways to live safer; LydiaGardner, our local clerk of court,hosted a luncheon at the courthouseand demonstrated technology available

CFAWL BOARD OF DIRECTORS [from left]: Brandy Hill, KristenJackson, Sonica Rhodes Cinami, Antoinette Plogstedt, Karen Jennemann, ShirleyCaro, Barbara Rudolph-Smith, Mary Stewart, Elizabeth Foshee McCausland,Tenesia Connelly, and Keersten Heskin Martinez


to practicing attorneys; Richard Crotty,our county commissioner, updated uson changes to expect in our commu-nity; Representatives from the Or-lando-UCF Shakespeare Festivalpresented an entertaining preview ofone of their upcoming productions;The Central Florida YMCA suppliedan energetic speaker to get us jazzedup to restart our exercise regimens forthe New Year; Sally Blackman, thedaughter of Justice Blackman, sharedher personal experience growing up inthe Blackman household after the Roev. Wade opinion was issued

In addition to our monthly lun-cheons, CFAWL sponsors a number ofannual events including:

• Professional Leader-

ship Development Semi-

nar helps to improve ourmembers’ leadership skills.Only CFAWL membersattend this event whichvaries greatly from year toyear, but always includes aprominent speaker andsometimes includes aninteractive presentation.

• Professional Women’s

Exchange is designed toprovide our members withan informal gathering tomeet with professional women in non-legal careers. The last two years theProfessional Women’s Exchange was agreat success. We hosted a wine tastingand served light hors d’oeuvres, but wehad no formal program. The informal-ity encouraged the numerous attendeesto explore other careers and tonetwork. Every person who attendedreceived a professional quality bro-chure including information on allCFAWL members as well as informa-tion on all of the other participants.Everyone had a good time at the funand festive event and left with a handyreference to use in making futureprofessional contacts and referrals. Aportion of the proceeds we earn fromthe Professional Women’s Exchange isdonated to a charity that supports acommunity cause important to women.

• New Members Reception towelcome new members to CFAWL.Typically, this event is a casual,cocktail hour event held in late

September or early October.• Judicial Reception to recognize the

contributions made by the local judiciaryand to give our members the opportunityto socialize with our judges at a friendlyevent. The Judicial Reception is held inApril or May of each year, often at an up-scale venue. For example, we have hostedthe Judicial Reception at the Orlando ArtMuseum and the new Shakespeare Theater.We always include some type of musicalentertainment. We receive a lot of compli-ments from the judges on this event.

• Mentoring Program to provideexperienced mentors to new members aswell as established members who areconsidering changing the type of lawthey practice.

• Charitable and Community Projects

vary every year. This year we supported alarge foster care facility, the Great OaksVillage, and supplied backpacks withschool supplies and holiday presents toan economically disadvantaged elemen-tary school. The members of CFAWL arevery, very generous with their time andtheir financial contributions.

From this list, you can see that theapproximately 200 members of CFAWLare very busy. We are always interested intrying new ideas, and we hope some ofour projects will inspire other chapters.—Submitted by: Karen S. Jennemann

COLLIER COUNTYWOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION

Formed in 1993, the Collier CountyWomen’s Bar Association (CC-WBA) iscommitted to promoting women asleaders in the Collier County legalcommunity. CC-WBA provides network-ing opportunities for its members toenhance their business development

prospects and it offers special resourcestailored to the needs of womenattorneys.

CC-WBA publishes a periodicnewsletter and it sponsors a Christmasseason reception for the local judiciary.The association meets on the fourthWednesday of every month at theCollier Athletic Club, 710 GoodletteRoad in Naples. These meetingsfeature a variety of speakers and oftenoffer free CLE credit. In addition tothe monthly meetings, CC-WBA alsoselected Amira Dajani Sweet as the“Women Lawyer of the Year” andhonored her at the December HolidayReception. Annual

2002-2003 Chapter Contacts:

Arlene F. Austin, President, 941/514-8211; Amira Dajani, President-elect,941/774-8470; Sharon Hanlon,Treasurer, 239/598-3222 and Wendy

Girardin, Chapter Representative,941/261-0533.

JACKSONVILLE WOMENLAWYERS ASSOCIATION

The Jacksonville Women LawyersAssociation (JWLA) was founded in1982 to provide support and network-ing for the women lawyers in Jackson-ville. JWLA membership is open to allattorneys, male or female, in Jackson-ville and surrounding counties. JWLAreaches out to the community bysupporting Hubbard House, the localwomen’s shelter. In addition, JWLAhas established a mentoring programin conjunction with the FloridaCoastal School of Law and promoteslegal scholarship and the Pro BonoSubcommittee has distributed a surveytoward the establishment of an annualpro bono service project. JWLA alsohosts the Annual Judicial Reception,an event at which the judges of localstate, federal and administrativebenches are recognized for theircontribution to the legal community.In addition to monthly membershipluncheons, JWLA sponsors a varietyof events, so visit their website atwww.jwla.org.

2002-2003 Officers: Amy Croft,President; Paola Parra, President-elect; Allison Miller, Treasurer, andPaula Brice, Secretary, and PatriciaDodson, Chapter Representative.

CFAWL’S HOLIDAY GIVING: School children receiving holidaygifts contributed by CFAWL members.


LEE COUNTY CHAPTERLee County Association for Women

Lawyers has 25-30 members, all ofwhom are located in Lee County.Signature events include an AnnualLaw Day Judicial Reception, with aLaw Day Award presented to anOutstanding Jurist, and an AnnualMeeting in December.

On April 16, Carrie Lund presenteda one-hour mini-seminar on “Acting forLawyers.” Free theatre tickets were alsoraffled to attendees.

The Honorable Sheri Polster

Chappell was recognized at the 2003Judicial Appreciation Reception.


Carolyn Delizia, President; Tyra

Read, Vice-President, Helene

O’Connell, Treasurer; Laurie H.

Anton, Secretary; and Kennetha

Donohue, Membership Chair.

NOVA SOUTHEASTERNUNIVERSITY CHAPTER NEWSFAWL was recognized by the NSU

Student Bar Association as the MostImproved Organization of the Year atthe Barristers Ball. This is an honor thatcould not have been achieved withoutthe dedication of all our members.Thanks to all for attending meetings,helping with fundraisers, and believingin our organization.

This has been a very exciting andinformative semester for FAWL NSUChapter. One of our members,Rebecca Knox, was honored byhaving her essay published in theAutumn 2002 edition of the FAWLJournal. At each of our general meet-ings, we’ve have had the great fortuneof having a guest speaker. The commontheme that seems to run through all thespeeches is finding balance within youas well as with our law school obliga-tions and our personal obligations.

Our first speaker, Audrey Christle with

Lexis-Nexis, spoke on alternative careersafter receiving a law degree. A need tobalance her first love of teaching with herlove of the law steered her in the direction ofworking for Lexis-Nexis as a representativewho goes to various law schools and lawoffices to teach them how best to utilize thevaluable tools Lexis-Nexis offers.

Our second speaker, Siobhan Shea,spoke of the lack of direction she at firstthought her law career was taking thatwould ultimately put her in a position ofbeing able to practice as an appellatelawyer, be president of FAWL, and be amother. One of the most prolific state-ments Ms. Shea spoke of was a story ofher days working in a large law firm inwhich she had a female boss who was notsympathetic to her choice to have afamily and a career. The story horrifiedmany of us who deep down understandthat as women, we are our most critical ofourselves and of other women.

Our third speaker, Judge Melanie May

of the 4th DCA, spoke of the need foreach of us to find that balance and to staytrue to ourselves. Whether we work at alarge firm or become a judge, or practicein a home office next to our baby’snursery, each of us has to make thedecision that is right for her and not letthe judgments of others interfere withwhat we know to be right for ourselves.

In addition to speakers, we have partici-pated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancerwalk for Miami-Dade, worked with otherorganizations within the law school to helpfeed the homeless, and donated baby itemsto a transitional shelter for women. It hasbeen a great semester in which the commu-nity of women lawyers has given to us andwe have been able to give to our communityin various ways. Next semester, we lookforward to Pfizer speaking on the subject ofstress management.

Election results of the 2003-2004 Boardare as follows:•Suzanne Hernandez, President

([email protected])•Kathryn Whitehead, Vice President

([email protected])•Alexis Brown-Gelb, Secretary andTreasurer ([email protected])

Plans are being made for the new boardto be inducted into office at the BrowardCounty Women Lawyers Associationmeeting on July 18, 2003.

PALM BEACH CHAPTERThe Palm Beach Chapter received

the Palm Beach County Legal Aid’sSpecialty Bar Association Award attheir annual Pro Bono Recognitionevent held on June 1, 2003.

The Chapter was honored by Lt.Gov. Toni Jennings and the Depart-ment of Juvenile Justice at a ceremonyin the Florida Capitol Rotunda duringApril for Breakfast and Books mentoringprogram at the Florida Institute forGirls in West Palm Beach, a high riskresidential juvenile facility. See TheFlorida Bar News, April 15, 2003, pg. 1or the April issue of the FAWL Journalfor more information.

The Palm Beach County Chapter ofFAWL sponsorsbi-monthlyluncheons, a newmember receptionand an annualjudicial receptionat the Breakers inPalm Beach. Ongoing projects include amentor scholarship fund for youngwomen in juvenile detention; Dress forSuccess, which outfits and counselswomen seeking employment; and TakeStock in Children, which our chapter haschosen to give scholarships this year.


Michelle R. Suskauer, President, 561/687-7866; Cynthia Spall, President-elect, 561/833-1100; Elizabeth Stone

Shavitz, Secretary, 561/864-2388;Sharon Bock, Treasurer, 561/355-4994and Dana M. Santino, ChapterRepresentative, 561/659-1183.

PINELLAS COUNTY ASSOCIATIONFOR WOMEN LAWYERS

The Pinellas County FAWL Chapterhas established its Stetson UniversityCollege of Law award. The premiereaward of $500 was presented to aStetson student who is a single parentin need of financial assistance. Donna

Rose, Pinellas County FAWL Presidentpresented the award to the student atthe 2003 graduation ceremony. TheYoung Lawyers Division of The FloridaBar recognized the program as a part oftheir Affiliate Outreach ConferenceAwards of November 2002.

This holiday season, Lorrie

Robinson again chaired our drive to

LEE COUNTY SPEAKERS LUNCHEON

[from left]: Claire Avery, Helene O’Connell,Robert Cacioppo, Carrie Lund Cacioppo and LoriTomaselli.

Suskauer


bring in donations of holiday presentsfor needy children in the local area.This was our second year of participa-tion and we filled her office to over-flowing once again.

Ann Shaw graciously agreed to hostthe annual holiday party once again.This social is well anticipated bymembers who relish the opportunity torelax while being treated to a spectacu-lar view of the Island Estates’ annuallighted boat parade.

Pinellas County FAWL also assistedthe Clearwater Bar Young Lawyers withtheir Christmas in January program,the Affiliate Outreach program hasgranted Pinellas County FAWL $250.

Any PCFAWL member wishing toobtain a copy of “A History of FAWL1951 to 2002,” by Judge Mattie Belle

Davis may pick the book up at the lawoffice of Vicki Kaufholz, 3000 Gulf toBay Blvd. Suite 203, from 8:30 a.m.until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.Additional information can be obtainedby calling 727/669-5888.

ST. THOMAS LAW SCHOOLThe St. Thomas University Law

School Chapter of FAWL electedofficers for 2002-2003 were: President,Carrie A. Turner; Vice President,Victoria Vidre; Secretary, Vicky

Kothari; Treasurer, Analise Perales;Marshall, Lody Jean and NewsletterEditor, Audrey Faust.

FAWL at STU has created a Pro BonoMiddle School Teaching Programwhich invites all law students to teachthe law at a local middle school for probono credit (need 40 hours of commu-nity work to graduate). The Chapterimplemented the program last year andit has been an ongoing success. The lawstudents love working with the kids, andvise versa. Daphane Clements, pastsecretary, is credited with creating theprogram and setting it up.

In October, the chapter had theGuardian Ad Litem on campus toeducate law students on the dependencysystem in Miami and how they can helpabuse and neglected children. Many ofour members joined as a result. Mem-bers also Raced For the Cure on Oct. 19at Bayside in Downtown Miami at theKoman Breast Cancer Walk.

A benefit food and clothing drive

benefited thehomeless inNovember.Working withDeborah

Magid, pastsecretary andcurrentpresident ofthe Miami-DadeChapter ofFAWL, ourmembershand madecrafts to

donate to the PACE Girl’s school in Miamifor their November craft fair.

Members also joined Phi Alpha Delta,American Trial Lawyers Association, andthe Entertainment and Sports LawSociety in the Nov. 15 fund raiser tobenefit Children in Distress and Toys forTots in the form of a law school Thanks-giving Feast.

Other activities include a Habitat forHumanity project with a local law firm; aFAWL Cook-Off Contest where food willbe sold to the student body and allproceeds will go to a chosen charity; the“His House” Easter Project when mem-bers get together to make Easter basketsfor underprivileged children and the endof the year dinner with the Miami-DadeFAWL Chapter.

TWL’S 20TH ANNUAL JUDICIALRECEPTION WAS A SUCCESS!

Tallhassee Women Lawyers hostedtheir 20th Annual Judicial Reception instyle Oct. 14. With the “Ice Mammals”and the “Sunlight and Shadows” exhibitsas their backdrop, the reception attend-ees were able to mingle with theircolleagues, judges, and other guests atthe Mary Brogan Museum.

In addition to the huge attendance and

great food and drink, TWL was proudto award three law students withscholarships during the reception. Thefirst scholarship recipient was Ramona

Hupp, who is a third-year law studentand has been active in educating lawschool colleagues about legislativeissues that impact women. Ms. Huppwas awarded a $500 scholarship. Thesecond scholarship recipient wasMichelle Lee Fontaine, who is asecond-year law student and formerparalegal. Ms. Fontaine was awarded a$1,000 scholarship for her work inmentoring female FSU students andinitiating a mentoring program at bothFAMU and FSU. The final scholarshiprecipient was Kylie Doyle, who is afirst-year law student and recentgraduate of the University of WestFlorida. Ms. Doyle was also awarded a$1,000 scholarship for her work inmentoring teenage girls and speakingto groups of abused women.

TWL would like to give specialthanks to all of the 20th Annual JudicialReception Sponsors and Contributorswho helped make TWL’s 2002 JudicialReception a resounding success!

May TWL events included two CLEseminars, “The 6th Annual Ethics andProfessional Seminar: SubstanceAbuse” and “Evidence Tips From TopLitigators.”

TWL celebrated Law Day with theassociation’s first “Legacy of ExcellenceProgram.” Thirteen middle and highschool girls were selected on the basisof essays written prior to the program.The day included a visit to theSupreme Court with Justice Peggy

Quince, a tour of several law firms andFlorida State University School of Law,a welcome and tour of the First DCAby Judge Marguerite Davis and aclosing reception/ceremony with thefamilies of the girls. ■

PINELLAS FAWL PLAYS

SANTA: The organizationconducted a donation drive forneedy children in the area.

TWL LAW DAY: Thirteen middle- and high-school girls celebrated Law Day with TWL.


NAME

TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP: ❏ New Member ❏ Renewal ❏ Student

Florida Bar Number ❏ Check here if not a member of The Florida Bar

Firm/Employer

Law School (Student Members Only)

Mailing Address City State Zip

Business Phone Home Phone Fax

E-Mail Address

Areas of Practice:

Payment includes local and state dues. Check appropriate chapter and remit corresponding paymentto chapter address or FL Assn. for Women Lawyers; P.O. Box 15998; Tallahassee, FL 32317-5998.

❏ Brevard Cnty. Assn. for Women Lawyers, ATTN: Kathleen Smith, P.O. Box 6699, Titusville 32782-6699 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50❏ Broward Cnty. Women Lawyers Assn, 350 E. Las Olas Blvd., #1000, Ft. Lauderdale 33301 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60, $35 Students❏ Central FL Assn. for Women Lawyers, P.O. Box 3351, Orlando 32802 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75, $35 Students❏ Clara Gehan Association for Women Lawyers, 8190 Alderman Rd., Melrose, FL 32666 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $45❏ Collier County Women’s Bar Assn, 5811 Pelican Bay Blvd., #201, Naples 34108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60, $40 Gov/Student❏ FAWL at Stetson, 1401 61st Street South, St. Petersburg 33707 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15 Student❏ Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, P.O. Box 173565, Tampa 33602 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $70❏ Jacksonville Women Lawyers Assn., P.O. Box 1923, Jacksonville 32201 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $80❏ Lee County Association for Women Lawyers, P.O. Box 280, Fort Myers, Florida 33902-0280 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60❏ Manatee County FAWL, P.O. Box 1591, Bradenton 34206-1591 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50❏ Marion County Chapter, ATTN: Janet Fuller, 1130 S.E. 17th St., Ocala, FL 34471 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60❏ Miami-Dade FAWL, P.O. Box 110708, Miami 33111-0708 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60, $25 Students❏ Northwest FL Chapter of FAWL, ATTN: Patricia Lott, 25 W. Cedar St., #500, Pensacola 32501 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60❏ Nova Law Center Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15 Student❏ Palm Beach Cnty Assn. for Women Lawyers, ATTN: Sharon Brock, 301 N. Olive Ave., W.P.B. 33401 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60❏ Pinellas County Association for Women Lawyers, 133 N. Fort Harrison Dr., Clearwater 33755 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65❏ St. Thomas University Law School Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10❏ Sarasota FL Assn. for Women Lawyers, 100 Wallace Ave., Ste. 240, Sarasota 34237 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65❏ Tallahassee Women Lawyers, P.O. Box 10567, Tallahassee, 32302 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60❏ Treasure Coast Assn. for Women Lawyers, P.O. Box 2904, Stuart, 34995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $65, $35 Gov/Student❏ Volusia/Flagler Assn. for Women Lawyers, P.O. Box 15211, Daytona Bch 32114 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60, $10 Student❏ Not affiliated with a Local Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30

Florida Association for Women LawyersMEMBER APPLICATION

Application also available at website: http://www.fawl.org/

All applications submitted through the FAWL office are forwarded to local chapters

along with payment for local dues or send to the address noted for each chapter below.

Join nowfor the

2003-2004membership

year and saveyour Chaptermailing costs.


by WENDY S.LOQUASTOFAWL AssistantHistorian

Several of the FAWL Local Chaptershave been holding 20th anniversary

celebrations. In fact, the HillsboroughAssociation for Women Lawyers(HAWL) hosted a gala 20th anniversarycelebration on October 24. 2002. Myown chapter, Tallahassee WomenLawyers, will be 23 this June and we’realready planning for the upcoming 25thin 2005.

It is no coincidence that chapters arecelebrating 20-something anniversariesnow. Although the idea of establishinglocal women’s bar associations bubbledup from time to time during the first 28years of FAWL, it was not until March1980 that FAWL’s Bylaws were amendedby adding a “Local Chapters” section tothe “Membership” article as follows:

Members residing in a givencounty or other regional area shallbe encouraged to form a chapterof FAWL. Upon application offive (5) or more members, andprovided the chapter shall adoptthe Bylaws of the Association, theBoard of Directors may issue acharter to the local chapter.

Considering the times, the birth ofLocal Chapters is really no surprise.Statistics gathered by Past PresidentEdith Osman (1989-90) show that therewere only 175 women lawyers in theentire state in 1966, and that there wereonly 684 women lawyers in 1975! Withso few women lawyers, the idea of astatewide organization, rather than small

The Birth of Local ChaptersFAWL Blossoms Throughout the State

local associations, made sense. The late-1970s, however, saw the effect of thewomen’s movement and women finallyaccounted for ten percent of the enteringclasses in law schools! The legal environ-ment was not particularly friendly towomen, however, and steep inequitiesexisted for women in legal profession.Thus, with women increasing in numbers,yet facing many gender bias issues, thebirth of Local Chapters can be moreeasily understood as a type of grassrootsmovement.

As explained by Past President Irene

Redstone (1978-80), the time was ripefor the birth of Local Chapters and thepush toward positions of power:

Because of the small number ofwomen lawyers attending theAnnual Meeting, held in conjunc-tion with The Florida Bar annualconvention [in June 1978], itappeared that women could notafford either the time or money,or both, to make the trip tomeetings. It was commonknowledge that the majority ofwomen lawyers were being paidabout 50% of men lawyers,although doing the same amountand quality of work. It seemedonly common sense to havesmaller meetings close to home,where only one day was requiredand very little expense, but wouldoffer an opportunity for network-ing among women lawyers.There was a need for helpingqualified women to be elected orappointed as judges and inpolicy-making posts, so theBylaws were [also]amended toprovide a procedure for FAWL toendorse and support qualifiedwomen.

Regional areas were quick to respond

to the Bylaws amendment for LocalChapters. The Dade County Chapter ofFAWL, which had been meeting as aninformal association for lunch for manyyears, held its initial organizationalmeeting on May 27, 1980, and perma-nent officers were elected at a dinner onJune 24, 1980. Past President Delphene

Strickland (1968-69) was instrumental informally organizing Tallahassee WomenLawyers in June 1980. Dianne Jay

Weaver had been elected President ofthe Broward County Chapter and shereported an average of 40 to 50 womenlawyers at luncheon meetings in 1980.The Orlando Chapter, now C-FAWL,was also formed in 1980 in immediateresponse to the Bylaws amendment. TheVolusia County Chapter was admitted toFAWL in 1981 and Hillsborough, NovaLaw Center, Palm Beach County, and theTenth Judicial Circuit Chapters wererepresented on the 1982-83 FAWL Boardof Directors.

Today, FAWL has 21 chapters: BrevardCounty, Broward County, Clara Gehan(8th Judicial Circuit), C-FAWL, CollierCounty, HAWL, Jacksonville, LeeCounty, Manatee County, MarionCounty, Miami-Dade, Northwest(Pensacola), Nova Southeastern Univer-sity, Palm Beach County, PinellasCounty, Sarasota County, St. ThomasUniversity, Tallahassee, Treasure Coast,and Volusia/Flagler. And we will soon be22 chapters when we welcome back theKeys in the newly reformed MonroeCounty Chapter.

The growth and success of the LocalChapters is part of a wonderful legacy forFAWL. Gone are the days when a womanlawyer might be the only female at alocal bar meeting. Today, women lawyersnetwork with other women in their LocalChapters, and then they introducewomen to the “establishment” barassociations in their areas, thereby


increasing their network of contacts to allareas in their community’s legal profes-sion. Gone are the days when the onlyavailable mentors were open-mindedmale lawyers. Women can now easilyfind women mentors in their LocalChapters, both in the practice of law andin the balancing of their professional andfamily lives. Gone, too, are the dayswhen women’s bar activities were limitedto the annual and mid-year Florida Barconventions. Local Chapters haveexploded with activities and opportunitiesover the years, with the result that womenhave to actually pick and choose whichprograms they will be involved in. Byclimbing the ladder in their Local Chap-ters, women are also attaining positions ofpower in The Florida Bar governance,independent of FAWL’s nonvoting seat onthe Board of Governors.

Today, most FAWL members onlyexperience FAWL through their LocalChapters. From my own personalexperience, I know that only a handful ofTWL members attend the quarterlyFAWL Board Meetings or the FAWLRetreat. This fact begs the question: HasFAWL been surpassed by its LocalChapters? Even more inevitable is thequestion, “Do Local Chapters still needFAWL?” I believe the answer to the firstquestion is “no,” because FAWL has astatewide importance that no LocalChapter can hope to attain, and theanswer to the second question is “yes,”because FAWL provides a statewide voicefor women lawyers.

These are not new questions for FAWL.Ten years ago, when Mary V. Brennan

was President of FAWL, she answered thesame questions I have answered today. Inher FAWL President’s Message, she wrote:

WHY ME?Occasionally a member will tell

me it’s terrific that somebody(FAWL) is doing all of this work[for example, supporting womenjudges and justices, filing amicusbriefs in cases concerning women,representing women in The FloridaBar, empowering women through

nonstop efforts to help qualifiedmembers get elected or appointedto various offices, and lobbying inthe Florida Legislature], but can’tit be done without her involve-ment? Suppose FAWL takes aposition she doesn’t like oranother Chapter supports a localcandidate in their area whom shewould not have supported, orsuppose she doesn’t want tosupport any issues or candidatesat all.

The answers to those questionsreally depend on whether youbelieve that our voices are morepowerful in unison than individu-ally. There are a number of FAWLChapters around the state that arelarge enough, active enough, andpowerful enough to further theiragendas individually without thenecessity of joining with otherFAWL groups in other areas. AndFlorida is big enough, with asufficiently diverse population, toinclude women lawyers who havediffering philosophies on whichissues should be important to–andeven the need for the existenceof—women’s bar groups.

For over 40 years, FAWL haskept those (occasionally) disparatevoices together, all workingtoward the day when there wouldnot in fact be a need for itsexistence. Its philosophy andactivities have evolved throughwildly differing political climateswhich gave rise to wildly differingattitudes toward women andtoward lawyers: from theEisenhower years and JuneCleaver, through Beatniks,Twiggy, the Summer of Love,disco, Billy Carter, Reaganomics,L.A. Law and now (yes!) HillaryClinton here to help with ourhealth care. I, for one, think we’rewinning, and that we’ll all keeppulling on the same end of the rope.

With the publication of The Unfinished

Agenda: Women and the Legal Profession by theAmerican Bar Association Commissionon Women in the Profession in thesummer of 2001, we learned that womenhad increased in numbers as law partners,general counsels, and federal judges, butthey remain under-represented inpositions of greatest status, influence, andeconomic reward, and they still earn onaverage $20,000 less than their malecounterparts. Thus, it is apparent thatgender bias, while less obviously inten-tional now, continues to exist by creatingbarriers for women through unconsciousstereotypes, inadequate access to supportnetworks, inflexible workplace structures,sexual harassment, and bias in the justicesystem.

It was FAWL that used its statewidevoice in the Florida Supreme CourtGender Bias Study Commission andGender Bias Study ImplementationCommission in the late 1980s and early1990s, and it is apparent from thecomments made by the Chapter Repre-sentatives at the FAWL Retreat in August2002 that the Local Chapters continue todepend upon FAWL to be their statewideand national voice on women’s issues. So,as your Local Chapter celebrates itsanniversary this year, consider as part ofthat celebration FAWL’s role in its birthand FAWL’s statewide voice, whichcontinues to speak for women lawyersthroughout the state. ■

For over 40years, FAWLhas kept those(occasionally)disparate voicestogether, all working toward theday when there would not in factbe a need for its existence.

—MARY BRENNAN

ADDENDUM FROM THE FAWL OFFICE: FORMING A CHAPTERMembers residing in a given county or other regional area shall be encouraged to form a chapter of the asso-ciation. Upon application of five members and provided the chapter shall submit By-Laws consistent with theArticles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Association, the Board of Directors may issue a charter to the localchapter. For additional information contact the FAWL office at 850/894-0055 or e-mail [email protected]. ■


[From left]: Deb Werner (HAWL Boardmember), Hilarie Bass (speaker) and SusanEtheridge (HAWL member).

Hillsborough Celebrates 20 YearsAnother highlight of the dinner was

the PowerPoint™ presentation ofHAWL’s history created by Dinita James

and Bill Jenkins that took members on anostalgic trip throughHAWL’s 20-year history. Thehistorical montage was sowell-received that an encorepresentation will be given atan upcoming meeting.

A special part of theevening was the recognitionof HAWL’s past presidents.Of the twenty past presi-dents, seventeen attendedthe dinner. Two others arecurrent members who wereunable to attend due to out-of-town commitments and

one past president has moved to Tennes-see and was unable to attend.

HAWL’s current president, Gayle

Carlson, one of the founding members ofHAWL, also addressed the group andaffirmed that they should feel proud andcelebrate HAWL’s accomplishments overthe past 20 years. She noted that it isimportant to build on what has beenestablished and to continue HAWL’s proudtradition of service to the community andits mission of promoting gender equalityin the legal profession and under law. ■

Some of the founding members of HAWL, from left: Karen Buesing, Martha Curtis, Susan Bennett,Alice Nelson, Marilyn Kershner, Shirley Arcuri, Gayle Carlson, Linda Hanna, Leslie Stein, Mary Quinlan.

HAWL members [from left]: CatherineNovack, Connie Pruitt and Meredith Wester

Past presidents and current president: [back row from left:] Lorena Ludovici, Jeanne Tate, Karen Lewis,Hon. Mary Scriven, Margaret Mathews, Martha Curtis, Mary Quinlan, Jeanie Hanna, Leslie Stein, ClaireCarraway. front row from left to right: Dinita James, Susan Fox, Hon. Charlene Honeywell, Marian McCulloch,Marilyn Kershner, Shirley Arcuri, Fran Rackoff, Gayle Carlson.

Past presidents [from left]: Fran Rackoff,Marilyn Kershner and Shirley Arcuri

The Hillsborough Association forWomen Lawyers ( HAWL) marked

its 20th anniversary with a gala dinner onOctober 24. The celebration dinner was ahuge success with 110 inattendance, thanks to theenthusiastic efforts of theTwentieth Anniversarycommittee. It was a timefor celebrating pastaccomplishments, renew-ing long-time friendships,and reminiscing.

HAWL’s accomplish-ments through the yearsinclude numerous awardsand recognitions it hasreceived including TheFlorida Bar’s Professional-ism Award for collaboration with theHillsborough County Bar Associationand the George Edgecomb Bar Associa-tion on the annual Gender, Ethnic andRacial Equality luncheon and seminar.Other significant awards include thePublic Service Award from the NationalConference of Women’s Bar Associationsin 2000, The Florida Supreme Court’sVoluntary Bar Association Pro BonoService Award in 1998, and the 13thCircuit’s Pro Bono Committee Award forOutstanding Project in 1997, all forHAWL’s Pro Bono DomesticViolence Injunction AssistanceProject.

Highlights of the dinnerincluded an inspiring speechby Hilarie Bass, member ofthe ABA’s Commission onthe Status of Women in theProfession. Ms. Bass re-counted the progress womenhave made, but also remindedmembers of goals remainingto be achieved.

Claire Carraway [left], HAWLcurrent board member, Chairof 20th Anniversary Commit-tee and past president; andJulia Waters, HAWL member.


Loislaw andFAWL AnnouceMember Benefit

Loislaw, an electronic legal research

company, and FAWL are pleased to

announce a benefit for members of the

association. For more information on the

specific benefits available to FAWL

members, please refer to the Loislaw ad

on page 19.

Loislaw and FAWL will also develop a

collaborative plan that identifies specific

substantive areas, FAWL leadership and/

or other identified entities to utilize Law

Watch, the Loislaw intelligent search

agent on a complimentary basis. In turn,

Loislaw will provide revenue to FAWL

through advertising in the Journal or

sponsorship of specific substantive

events.

Loislaw already has similar relation-

ships with the Hillsborough Bar, the Palm

Beach Bar and the Jacksonville Bar

Association. Robert Butterfield will

serve as the contact for FAWL members

or chapters in Florida. He may be

reached at 863/607-9239 or e-mail:

[email protected]. ■

they are down to earth and sincere aboutthe work they do for all of us.

Some of the most fun about being onthe BOG has been the down timebetween meetings. There was the highenergy battle of the boards betweenBOG and the Young Lawyers Division,

which proved tough competition underthe leadership of YLD President Juliette

Roulac. Thanks to my husband, Jeff, forhelping in golf. It was fun playing againstmy best friend and past PB County FAWLPresident Lisa Small. (Sorry that yourparrot, Napoleon, deserted to be part of

the winning team’s photo!)I am looking forward to our last BOG

meeting in Key West. It will be hard forme to leave this group of dedicatedprofessionals who have made my term somemorable! Perhaps one day I will returnto serve FAWL and the Bar. ■

FAWL Calendar of Events

June 26-27, 2003ANNUAL MEETING

Orlando World Center Marriottin conjunction with The Florida Bar

Thursday, June 26, 2003 - 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.FAWL BOARD MEETING

Members will be asked to approve bylaw amendments

and elect officers as noted in the April 2003 issue of the FAWL Journal.

Friday, June 27, 2003 - 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.JOINT AWARDS LUNCHEON

with the Equal Opportunities Law Section and the Virgil

Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association

Registration to attend the luncheon is through The Florida Bar.

Luncheon tickets should be ordered through The Florida Bar’s 2003 Annual Meeting

brochure in the May Bar Journal or visit www.flabar.org

Friday and Saturday, July 25-26, 2003BAR LEADERS WORKSHOP

Renaissance Vinoy Resort, St. Petersburg, FLDesigned for voluntary bar leaders, Officers and Committee ChairsTrain and network with other voluntary bar leaders around the state.

For registration information contact Toyca Williams, The Florida Bar Voluntary Bar Liaison

at [email protected] or 850/561-5764.

To secure the room block rate of $115 (single/double) contact the Vinoy

at 1-800-468-3571 prior to June 26, 2003 to ensure the reduced rate.

Saturday, July 26, 2003 - 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.FAWL ANNUAL RETREAT

The Salvador Dali Museum1000 Third Street South - St. Petersburg, FL

Plan now to send several members of your Chapter. Meet other FAWL leaders

as we plan for the coming year. Registration is through the state FAWL office.Call 850/894-0055 or [email protected]

£ PRESIDENT, from Page 3



by ELLEN OSTROW, Ph.D.

Turning Point was thename of a 1977 film

that fit within what wasthen called the genre of

“women’s films.” Anne Bancroft andShirley MacLaine had shared their youngwomanhood training to become primaballerinas. But Shirley MacLaine’scharacter became pregnant, forcing herto forfeit her dance career. The filmdepicts their reunion, 17 years later, asAnne Bancroft prepares to leave thestage, ballet being a profession of theyoung. The climax is a fight between thetwo women, each envious of what theother had achieved. Professional successor family—in the 70s, women in balletwere faced with this zero sum choice.

Today, almost 30 years later, womenlawyers are struggling to make theirprofession aware that this is not really achoice at all.

Still, both men and women will alwaysbe confronted with turning points. Apsychological turning point is defined as“a period or point in time when a personhas undergone a major transformation inviews about the self. Life events anddifficulties, life transitions, and internalsubjective changes such as self-realiza-tions or reinterpretations of past experi-ences may be associated with the feelingthat life has reached a ‘turning point.’ “ 1

BEYOND THE BILLABLE HOUR™

Turning PointsThen indecision brings its own delaysAnd days are lost lamenting o’er lost days.Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute;What you can do, or dream you can, begin it;Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

—JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE

Turning points are perceived, long-lasting redirections in the path of anindividual’s life. Often they are broughtabout by some objective shift in theenvironment. Events like making partner,losing your job, the birth of your childand the death of a loved one can instigatea major transformation in your view ofyour self, your identity, or the meaning ofyour life.

Such transformations can also bebrought about by a more gradual process.For example, chronic job stress may elicita period of personal reflection resultingin the decision to make a change.

Sometimes a turning point is createdby the absence of an expected event. Forexample, a lawyer who has worked hardto become a partner in her firm, only tofind herself working harder than ever, orone who discovers that wealth andpossessions have not fulfilled the empti-ness in her life might find herself at aturning point.

Interestingly, women report moreturning points than do men. At leastamong attorneys, this is often triggeredby the same circumstances facing thecharacters in the film—the decision tohave a family, or the arrival of a child cantransform your view of yourself. Andalthough this typically involves positiverealizations, all too often you’re con-fronted with a negative response fromyour workplace.

Psychological turning points involve

major changes in how people feel orthink about important parts of theirlives—such as work and family—as wellas beliefs about themselves. They mayinvolve realizations about oneself that arenew and affirming, or new and upsetting.Most fundamentally, they make the needfor change unmistakably apparent.

Turning points are common in the livesof men and women lawyers. Here aresome examples:

A woman attorney in her late 30s

hears the ticking of her biological

clock. A successful associate in a largefirm and well-positioned for partnership,she begins to consider the kind of life shewants to lead. She faces the reality thatcareer alone will not satisfy her. Shewants children. And, she wants to workin an environment that will support hercontinued career success and her commit-ment to family. She wonders if there is alegal workplace that will provide this.

A male attorney in a challenging

transactional practice is invited to

become a partner in his prestigious

firm. He knows he can be successful; hecan envision how much money he’llmake. But he thinks about how he’llexplain his work to his young son. Hedecides that making his own fortune andhelping corporations amass theirs is notwhat he believes he was put on this earthto do. But he wonders what his callingreally is.

A midlife attorney reflects on all of

his successes and his accumulated

wealth. He’s proud of the work he’s doneand of the life he’s been able to providehis family. But he’s beginning to feelmarginalized in the firm. Last year thefirm reduced his shares: increasingly, theyounger power brokers in the firm areignoring his efforts to offer the benefit ofhis years of experience and wisdom. Heconsiders retiring but feels he still hasmuch to contribute. He wonders where


he might find a place to develop hisundeveloped strengths—and where theywill be appreciated.

A woman in the legal department of

a corporation was stunned to find

herself criticized for being a poor

corporate citizen after cautioning the

company about the risks associated

with a new product they were about

to release. She’d thought she was doingher job and yet they treated her like atraitor. She wonders if there is a place forher in the legal profession where herskills and her integrity will be valued.

If you are at a turning point, here aresome approaches that may ease the process:

TRANSITIONS VS. CHANGESUnderstand that while changes are

events, transitions involve a process. Thestarting point of a transition is not theoutcome. Transitions require us torelinquish our old identity—thereforetransitions begin with losses that must begrieved.

THE “NEUTRAL ZONE”William Bridges2 calls the period after

letting go of our old identity the “neutralzone.” It’s a limbo period between theidentity you’re leaving behind and thenew one you’ve yet to form. A period ofconfusion and self doubt, it’s often easy tosecond guess yourself, to think there’ssomething wrong with you, and tobelieve you must be making a mistake.During this period sustaining motivationfor change is a challenge. You have totolerate what lawyers tend to like least:ambiguity. Unfortunately, avoidingdiscomfort is not an option.

BE OPEN TO EXPERIENCEIn order to become clear about what is

truly meaningful and to decide where tocommit your time and energy you’ll needto remain open. Pay attention to yourintuition. Don’t fight with yourself aboutyour values. Consider options you mightnot have considered before. In spite of allof your legal training, try to trust yourfeelings.

BELIEVE STRESSCAN BE A TEACHER

Uncertainty about your identity can bevery stressful. This is particularly the casewhen your turning point was triggered bya negative event over which you had nocontrol such as job loss, marital distress,infertility, and death. But if you findyourself facing something negative andstressful, allow yourself to learn from theexperience. Even these painful occur-rences can allow you to become clearabout what is truly meaningful in yourlife. It’s also an opportunity to discoveryour strengths.

BE FLEXIBLETurning points are times of reappraisal

of your life. During such times we oftensee things about ourselves that aredifficult to face; we also discover newpotential within ourselves. When we’reflexible in terms of our perspective,attitudes, beliefs and plans, the process iseasier to undergo and we gain moreinsight.

BUILD ON CONTINUITIESEven in times of radical transition,

some things in your life will remain the

same. During turning points we oftenreaffirm our connections to loved ones,our spiritual beliefs, or our abidinginterests. Hold onto these to stay thecourse and build upon them.

RECALL PAST SUCCESSESYou’ve been through law school. You’ve

faced difficult challenges as a lawyer.You’ve demonstrated to yourself that youhave the resources to face this turningpoint. If it’s helpful, write down all thedifficulties you’ve already overcome inyour life.

GET SUPPORTConnect with others who’ve faced their

own turning points. Invite the peoplewho care about you to understand the“crisis” you’re facing. Hire a professionalcoach to become your guide on thisjourney.

PERSEVERETransitions take time. Like a larvae in a

cocoon, you need time to transform intoa butterfly. As a lawyer, you may tend tobe impatient. Try to accept that there willbe a period of uncertainty and thatpremature closure will hurt, not help,you. ■

NOTES1Wethington, E. (2003) Turning points as

opportunities for psychological growth. In

Keyes, C. L & Haidt, J. (Eds.) Flourishing—Positive

Psychology and the Life Well-Lived. Washington,

D.C.: American Psychological Association. p. 39.2Bridges, W. (1991) Managing transitions—Making the

Most of Change. Reading, MA: Perseus Books.

Ellen Ostrow, Ph.D. established LawyersLifeCoach.com to coach busy lawyers who might benefit from the insights gained from 22 years as a psychologistcombined with her experience and familiarity with the legal profession. She provides individual and group coaching and consultation to attorneys and law firmsthroughout the country on issues related to work/life balance, strategic career design, effective communication, and client and associate development andretention. Call 301/578-8686 to find out more about Ellen’s coaching.

Events like making partner, losing your job, the birth of your child and

the death of a loved one can instigate a major transformation in

your view of your self, your identity, or the meaning of your life.


The cost of prescription medicines hasreceived increased scrutiny during

this past year as Congress contemplateddifferent options for providing drugcoverage for Medicare. Much of thefocus has been on rising drug costs. In1970, prescription drug spending wasequal to $115 per person per year (in2000 dollars). Today it exceeds $400 perperson per year. But this rise is not due toincreases in price. In the past decade,prices for prescription drugs rose by <1%above the general inflation rate. Much ofthe increases in drug expenditures is dueto aging of the population, concomitantincreases in the number of prescriptionsper person, and availability of newproducts for existingor new diseases (e.g.HIV/AIDS,Alzheimer’s disease).

Studies show thatdrug spendingactually accounts fora relatively smallpercentage ofoverall health care costs. As a percent oftotal health care spending, drug costshave not changed much since 1960 (10%in 1960 and 9.4% in 2000). Hospital andphysician costs continue to be dominantcauses of increases in health care spend-ing overall.

What is lost in most of the discussionsurrounding prescription drugs are thenoticeable benefits that have occurred inthe population. The impact of newmedicines and improvements in healthcare are probably most tangible in thearea of life expectancy. Since World WarII, the average life expectancy in the U.S.has increased more than 10 years.

Since 1980, the FDA has approvedover 600 new drugs, with 93% inventedby private pharmaceutical companies.

At the Heart of the Matter:The Value of Medicines

by DAVE WHALEY, PharmD

Bringing a new medicine to market is along, costly, and risky process. A recentstudy by the Tufts Center for the Studyof Drug Development estimates that eachnew medicine costs an average of $802million to develop, takes an average of 15years to reach patients, and has a 30%chance of generating enough revenue tomeet or exceed the average research anddevelopment costs. On average, only oneout of every 5,000 medicines tested isever approved for patient use.

For example, what impact havemedications had in the area of heartdisease? Before this question can beanswered, we must first look at theimpact of this disease on our society.

IMPACT OF CARDIOVASCULARDISEASE

Since 1900, heart disease remains theleading cause of death in both men andwomen except 1918. The latest figuresshow that heart disease claimed 958,775(53.5% were women) lives within the USin 1999, accounting for 40% of alldeaths. Overall, heart disease affects 61.8million Americans. In women, 24% ofCaucasian, 40% of African-American,and 27% of Hispanic women have heartdisease. In 1993, the US paid an esti-mated $151 billion in heart disease costs.Of this, only 7% ($11 billion) was fordrug therapy. This year, the US will payan estimated $330 billion in heart diseaserelated costs and disability.

Unfortunately, many women and men

with risk factors for heart disease are stillundiagnosed or untreated. Table 1reports data from the National Healthand Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES III).

IMPACT OF MEDICINESON HEART DISEASE

Over the past 20 years, the rate ofdeaths due to heart disease has declined.Economists at Harvard and Stanford havedemonstrated that medicines accountedfor 50% of the dramatic reduction in USheart attack mortality rates between 1975and 1995. Over that time period, thechance of dying within 30 days of a heartattack dropped from 27% to 17%. This

reduction means that over 50,000 peopleper year who would have died within 30days of a heart attack in 1975 nowsurvive.

The modifiable risk factors for heartdisease include high blood pressure, highcholesterol, diabetes, and cigarettesmoking. Over the past 20 years, we haveseen new or improved medicines becomeavailable for the treatment of these riskfactors. There are even medicinesavailable for smoking cessation.

The most potent medicines forlowering cholesterol are the “statins,”such as Lipitor. Studies using statins showthat treating high cholesterol in peoplewithout heart disease can reduce thechances of having a heart attack or dyingby 31% over 5 years. Using these drugs

Table 1. Percent of Population with Undiagnosed or Untreated Cardiovascular Disease

UNDIAGNOSED UNTREATED UNDER TREATED TREATED

High Blood Pressure 7 .8% 7.6% 5.2% 4.0%Diabetes 2.7% 1.4% 2.6% 0.5%High Cholesterol 16.7% 15.3% 1.8% 1.2%


in patients with heart disease reduces thechances of dying by 42% over 5 years.Because of the difficulty in assigningdollar values todeath, let’s look atthe comparative costsof hospitalizationsfor heart diseaseversus medicines.The American HeartAssociation reportsaverage hospitalexpenses for heartdisease at $7,937 perdischarge forMedicare patients.This amount wouldequate to 12 years ofLipitor treatment($55 per month for10 mg, cost fromwww.drugstore.com).

Longstanding hypertension (Bloodpressure >140/90mmHg) is clearly one ofthe most modifiable risk factors for heatdisease. It has been estimated by one ofthe largest trials ever conducted, that forevery 2mmHg reduction in bloodpressure, we see a 6% reduction in risk ofheart attack and stroke. In addition to thecardiovascular risk, hypertension leads toblindness, kidney failure, congestiveheart failure and early death. There aremany medicines that help control blood

Figure 1. Cardiovascular Disease DeathRates for Men and Women in the US

pressure and selection ofthe best agent is highlyindividualized based onage, sex, race, diet,amount of BP reductionneeded, co-morbidities,interacting medications,and many other factors.However, the mostimportant facet of bloodpressure control ismaintaining bloodpressure below the 140/90mmHg goal.

CONCLUSIONMedicines have made a

tremendous impact inreducing heart diseaserelated deaths. Unfortu-

nately, much of the benefit due tomedications on life expectancy anddisease-related complications is lost in

the debate over drug coverage and price.Research shows that a significant numberof men and women within the US are stillundiagnosed, untreated, or under treatedfor the risk factors for heart disease, suchas high cholesterol and high bloodpressure. If you have been prescribedmedicines for your high cholesterol, highblood pressure, or diabetes, we at Pfizerencourage you to take your medicationsregularly. The benefits clearly outweighthe costs. ■

Figure 2. Drug Innovations and Mortality:Declines in Mortality Rates for Cardiovascular

Diseases Treated with Drug Therapy (1965-1996)

ATHEROSCLEROSIS

ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

BARRYUNIVERSITY

2ND DEPENDENCYCOURT PRACTICE

CONFERENCE

June 28, 2003

BARRY UNIVERSITYSCHOOL OF LAW

CO-SPONSORS:University of Miami,

Children & Yourth Law Clinic

Florida Associationfor Women Lawyers

Florida’s Children First, Inc.

The Florida BarPublic Interest Law Section

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:

The Future of Juvenile Court inthe Unified Family Court, Trendsin Children’s Law; Mental Health

Commitment of DependentChildren under New Rule 8.350;Public Benefits for Immigrants;

Educational Stability; Interviewing/Deposing Children; Breaking the

Separation of Powers Barrier:Getting Specific Order for

Services; A Constitutional Primerin Dependency Law.

For additional information, refer tothe law school’s website athttp://www.barry.edu/law

This article is part of a continuation of related health care topics basedon a survey of FAWL’s membership at the 2002 FAWL Annual Meeting.


By KATRINA WOZNICKIWEnews correspondent

WASHINGTON (WOMENSENEWS)—Awoman’s address makes a big difference inher life economically, socially and evenmedically. Yet no matter where a womanlives, whether it’s Hawaii or Maine, she stillhas yet to achieve equality with her maleneighbors, according to a new survey.

The Status of Women in the States2002 report, released by the Institute forWomen’s Policy Research, paints a dimpicture for women in troubled pockets ofthe country, particularly in the South,where women continue to earn signifi-cantly less than men and less than womenin the Northeast and West Coast. Also inthe South, women face major hurdles inobtaining adequate health care andrelatively few women hold positions ingovernment.

The report ranked states based on fiveareas: women’s participation in politics,employment and earnings, social andeconomic autonomy, health care andreproductive rights.

Massachusetts, which failed to makethe top of the list when the survey waslast conducted in 2000, is now rankedNo. 1 for women alongside Minnesotaand Vermont. The report attributes itsimprovement to the rise of then-Lt. Gov.Jane Swift, who became governor in April2001, and also for the state’s increase inreproductive rights, including requiringinsurance companies to cover infertilitytreatments and contraception andallowing same-sex couples to adopt theirpartner’s children. Massachusetts alsodoes not enforce a waiting period forabortions, though the state does mandateparental consent for minors’ abortions.

Hawaii earned high marks for havingthe best reproductive freedoms forwomen, and was dubbed “the valedicto-rian of reproductive rights” by theinstitute’s director of research, BarbaraGault. Washington state ranked high forhaving the most women involved in keygovernment offices—including two U.S.senators—and the District of Columbia

IN THE STATESWomen’s Well-Being Varies Dramatically by State

proved to be the best place in thecountry for a woman to earn a living.

TWO STEPS FORWARD,ONE STEP BACK FOR WOMENIN MANY STATES

The author of the report summed upthe complex data this way: “Even if awoman went to college in Massachusetts,opened her own business in California,got pregnant in Hawaii, earned her livingin Washington, D.C., and ran for officein Washington state, she would still nothave equality with men,” said report AmyCaiazza, study director for Status ofWomen in the States and the institute’s

Working Group on Social Indicators. “Inthe 21st century, in the United States ofAmerica, a woman needs to live in atleast four states and the District simulta-neously, just to reach a level of nearequality in this country.”

Women continue to struggle, with thereport finding several examples of twosteps forward, one step back. Between1995 and 1999, the number of womenliving in poverty fell in 42 states from13.7 percent to 12 percent nationwide,though there is now concern amongwomen’s advocates that those figureshave crawled back upward since theattacks of Sept. 11, 2001, when manyservice and low-paying jobs, often filledby women, disappeared eradicated andthe economic slow-down deepened.

The Milken Institute, an economicthink tank, issued a report earlier thisyear showing more than a quarter millionjobs had been lost since the last quarterof 2001, many of them in retail, foodservice, travel, and tourism, includingcasino jobs. According to the NationalWomen’s Law Center in Washington,women make up 62 percent of the service

industries’ workforce, such as hotelcleaners and waitresses, and about half ofall jobs in retail.

But the Milken report says theeconomy is proving more resilient thanexpected and the economic forecast for2003 looks brighter than it did in 2002.

Other forward motion for women’sreproductive freedom, according theWomen’s Policy Research’s report,includes the fact that 19 states adoptedlaws requiring insurance coverage forprescription contraception. Also duringthat time period, 20 states introducedlegislation to expand unemploymentinsurance coverage to cover parentalleave, though none of these bills haspassed. With the advent of antiretroviraldrugs, AIDS cases have declined amongwomen coast to coast, from 9.4 cases per100,000 to 8.7, though the diseasecontinued to ravage certain populations,particularly African American women andother minorities between 1996 and 2000.

WOMEN IN SOUTHERN STATESHAVE FEWER BENEFITS

Mississippi, since 1998, continues to beranked by institute researchers as theworst state for women. Other states inthe South—Alabama, Arkansas, Okla-homa, Kentucky and Tennessee—also fellto the bottom of the list. The Southcontinues to do poorly for women, thereport asserted, with fewer women ingovernment, higher rates of women inpoverty, lower health-care status, and lessearned per dollar compared with men.

Heidi Hartmann, the institute’s founderand president, said there are only ninestates where the average female workermakes $30,000 or more each year, whilethere is just one state in which theaverage men earns less than that.

“I think that’s a pretty shocking fact,”Hartmann said.

While the South took a beating in thisreport, the institute did acknowledgestates taking steps to assure better livesfor their female residents. Louisiana, thereport authors noted, has 20 percent ofits women living in poverty, yet hasworked to broaden its definitions of

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Institute for Women’s Policy Research:www.iwpr.org

National Women’s Law Center:www.nwlc.org

Milken Institute:www.milkeninstitute.org


domestic abuse and has made it possiblefor women to seek a mammogramwithout a doctor’s written permission.

Indiana, Florida and Pennsylvania werealso ranked as some of the worst statesfor women. Indiana fell into that categoryfor the first time primarily because thenumber of women in its legislaturedropped by half from 2000 to 2002.

WELFARE, SEXUALLYTRANSMITTED DISEASESALSO PROBLEMS FOR WOMEN

Women’s economic well-being has alsobeen influenced by the implementation ofthe 1996 federal welfare laws. Nine stateshave instituted so-called family capsdenying benefits to children conceived orborn while a mother is on welfare.

The report found that cases ofChlamydia, a difficult to detect sexuallytransmitted disease that can causeinfertility, grew nationwide from 336 to404 cases per 100,000 women between1997 and 2000. According to the report,rates are highest in the District ofColumbia, which had 1,009 cases per100,000 women, compared to Vermont,which had the lowest rate at 143 casesper 100,000 women. There were 763cases per 100,000 people in Mississippi,which has the second-worst chlamydiarate in the country.

The authors said the report indicatesstates’ weaknesses and strengths and canserve as a guide to states to show wherethey have their work cut out for them. Butwomen’s advocates were still disappointedthat at the dawn of the 21st century, therewas still such a long way to go.

“I’d like to think all our states provide adecent environment for Americanwomen,” Gault said. “But the reality isthat many do not. Our search for the onestate that could earn the Ms. Americatitle came up short. Those who thinkfeminism is dead, or should be, need totake a closer look at the data.” ■

Katrina Woznicki is a freelance journalist inWashington, D.C.

Copyright 2002 Women’s Enews.Permission granted for publication.


£Martha Cook has been elected as acircuit court judge in HillsboroughCounty.£Judge Cheryl Thomas, previously

appointed by Governor Bush, wassuccessfully elected in an opposedrace to retain her seat.£Kathy Castor has been elected as a

Hillsborough County Commissioner.Castor was state FAWL president in1998-99.£The Capital City Bar Presidents’

Council honored Tallahassee WomenLawyers’ member Nancy A.

Daniels, Leon County PublicDefender, in the presentation of thesecond annual Richard W. ErvinEqual Justice Award at the Law DayBanquet at Tallahassee UniversityCenter Club. Another TWL memberMelanie Ann Hines served as thekeynote speaker. The event issponsored jointly by The FloridaGovernment Bar Association, TheInns of Court, The Tallahassee BarAssociation, The TallahasseeBarristers Association and TheTallahassee Women Lawyers.£Barbara Anne Eagan and Siobhan

H. Shea have been appointed by TheFlorida Bar’s incoming Bar President,Miles McGrane, as Vice-Chairs of theAppellate Court Rules Committee.Eagan is a member of the CentralFlorida Chapter and 2000-2001FAWL President. Shea is a pastpresident of the Palm Beach Chapterand the 2002-2003 FAWL President.£Rebecca O’Dell

Townsend, anattorney with theTampa office ofGrayHarris, recentlyspoke on a panel withDon Fehr of theMajor League Baseball Player’sAssociation regarding “The Future ofAmerica’s Favorite Pastime,” at the14th Annual Southern RegionalEntertainment and Sports LawSeminar and 8th Annual IntellectualProperty Law Institute in PuertoVallarta, Mexico. Townsend was one

of GrayHarris’ attorneys involved inrepresenting Major League Baseballand Baseball Commissioner BudSelig, the Tampa Bay Devil Raysand Florida Marlins in anti-trustlitigation. She focuses her practiceprimarily in the area of appellatelaw and research and writing. She isa member of the Florida Bar Appel-late CLE Committee. GrayHarris(www.grayharris.com) is a 30-year-old, full-service firm with offices inClermont, Lakeland, Melbourne,Orlando, Tallahassee and Tampa.£The law firm of Joyce Sibson

Dove, P.A. has announced that withthe addition of Meghan Boudreau

Daigle as a practicing lawyer for thefirm, the firm is the first mother anddaughter team practicing in theSecond Circuit. The firm is unsurehow many mother/daughter teamsare practicing together in Florida,but their dual practice and mutualgraduation from FSU College of Lawis thought to be a first. The firmspecializes in corporate law, probate,children’s law, and international anddomestic adoption. In addition tothe Tallahassee office located at 203North Franklin Boulevard, offices arelocated in Crawfordville andApalachicola. Daigle is a graduate ofthe 2002 class of the Florida StateUniversity College of Law. Herundergraduate degree is in commu-nications from the Florida StateUniversity. Dove is a 1992 graduateof The Florida State UniversityCollege of Law. Her undergraduatedegree is from Smith College,Northhampton, Massachusetts.

Congratulations toFAWL Members

MOTHER-DAUGHTER

LAW FIRM [from lef t]:Meghan Boudreau Daigle, Harriet W.Williams, General Master who sworeDaigle into The Florida Bar in her capacityas a notary, and Joyce Sibson Dove.


£Lois Frankel, former DemocraticRepresentative to the Florida Legisla-ture and a past officer of the PalmBeach County FAWL, has been electedmayor of the city of West Palm Beach.£Julianne M. Holt, Public Defender of

the 13th Judicial Circuit, hosted a 40thanniversary program on March 21,2002, commemorating the UnitedStates Supreme Court decision Gideon v.Wainwright. Mayor Dick Greco issued aproclamation on behalf of the City ofTampa proclaiming the day “GideonDay.” The Board of County Commis-sioners also issued a special proclama-tion recognizing the 40th anniversaryof the landmark decision. Gideonestablished nationwide a criminaldefendant’s right to counsel whenliberty is at issue regardless of theability to pay for an attorney. Prior to

this historic decision, poorcriminal defendants in Floridawere only appointed counselwhen charged with a capitalcrime or if other specialcircumstances existed.£The law firm of FowlerWhite Boggs Banker hasnamed Susan Elizabeth

Johnson-Velez as a share-holder. Johnson-Velez is in theEnvironmental and Land Use

Group. She is certififedby The Florida Bar inCity, County and LocalGovernment law. Ms.Johson-Velez’s practiceis focused on the areasof land use, administra-tive, and environmental law, includingland use and zoning matters forcommercial, industrial, and residentialdevelopment; federal, state and localenvironmental permitting and compli-ance, general regulatory compliance,and administrative hearings. Shepreviously served as an AssistantCounty Attorney for HillsboroughCounty. Ms. Johnson-Velez receivedher B.A. from The University of Texasat Austin and her J.D. from theUniversity of Missouri–Columbia,School of Law.

£Rhea F. Law, president and CEO ofthe law firm of Fowler White BoggsBanker, received the Florida Volunteerof the Year award at theSouthern EconomicCevelopment Council’s(SEDC) Annual Confer-ence in Birmingham. Lawwas recognized forproviding a vision of thefuture and leadership which hasresulted in new industry, investment inthe community, and the creation ofjobs. Ms. Law is a member of FowlerWhite Boggs Banker’s Government,Environmental and Land Use Depart-ment and concentrates her practice inthe area of acquisition, permitting,environmental representation, land useand zoning matters.£Collier County Chapter member Judith

E. McCaffrey and Nathan J. Kutt

have announced the formation of thenew law firm of McCaffrey & Kutt, P.A.The firm’s areas of concentration arecorporate, banking and securities law.Located in Southwest Florida, the firmservices clients throughout Florida, onthe East Coast of the United States, inEurope and Latin America.£Merriann M. Metz has joined the law

firm of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster,Kantor & Reed, P.A. as an associate. Her


GIDEON ANNIVERSARY [from left]:The Honorable E.J. Salcines, The Honorable Joseph Spicola,Belinda Womack, Public Defender Julianne Holt, The HonorableManuel Menendez, State Attorney Mark Ober.


practice areas includereal estate transactions,development andfinance. Metz earned herlaw degree from StetsonUniversity College ofLaw (J.D. 2002). She

received her undergraduate degree inbiology (B.S. 1999) from University ofSouth Florida. At the University ofSouth Florida, Metz was a board oftrustees honor scholar and on the dean’slist. At Stetson Law School, she was onthe honor roll, a Stetson ambassador, adean’s fellow, an intern for Chief JudgeHonorable Elizabeth Kovachevich

and a research assistant to ProfessorJulian Kossow – real property profes-sor. Metz was also vice president ofStetson Law Young Republicans. She isa member of the Orange County BarAssociation, The Florida Bar and theCentral Florida Association for WomenLawyers. In the community, she isinvolved in Junior Achievement and theJunior League of Greater Orlando.£Evelyn L. Moya, recently elected

Vice-president of Sarasota FAWL, hasbeen elected Secretary of GulfcoastLegal Services. Additionally, she wasnominated to the Sarasota CountyCommission Advisory Council on theStatus of Women. Moya practicesfamily and healthcare law in Sarasota.£Tallahassee Women

Lawyers member Kim

O’Connor, announcesshe is available inTallahassee as a Legaland GovernmentalConsultant and lobbyist.O’Connor is also host of “FLORIDALAW REPORTS,” a radio call-in talkshow in Tallahassee 9–10 a.m. Saturdaymornings on WTAL 1450 AM, 850/671-1450. To contact her call or writeto: P. O. Box 20332, Tallahassee, FL32316-0332; phone: 850/576-7870;Email: [email protected].£Barbara O’Horo-

Benton has joined thelaw firm of Lowndes,Drosdick, Doster, Kantor& Reed, P.A. as anassociate. Her practiceareas include real estatetransactions, development and finance.O’Horo-Benton earned her law degreefrom Florida State University Collegeof Law (J.D. 2002). She also received

her undergraduate degree, with honors,summa cum laude (B.A 1999) fromFSU. She is a member of the FloridaState University College of Law AlumniAssociation board of directors and amember of The Florida Bar and wasrecently named among Orlando’s BestLawyers by Orlando Magazine.£Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara

J. Pariente, the Court’s first Jewishwoman justice, served as keynotespeaker at the B’nai B’rith Justice Unit#5207 Annual Installation Brunch atwhich Broward County Judge Jane D.

Fishman was installed as the unit’s firstwoman judge president, on Sunday,March 9, 2003 at the Marriott Renais-sance Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. JudgeFishman was appointed to the CountyCourt by the late Governor LawtonChiles in October, 1998. Prior to takingthe bench she was a full time facultymember at Nova Southeastern Univer-sity Law Center and maintained a privatepractice specializing in criminal appealsand death penalty litigation. JudgeFishman graduated from Brooklyn LawSchool in 1975 with a Juris Doctordegree. During law school and immedi-ately thereafter Judge Fishman wasassociated with the general practice firmof Kunstler, Kunstler & Hyman. Shelater served in the New York CountyDistrict Attorney’s Office AppealsBureau, before relocating to Florida in1979. Fishman is married toLew Fishman, a criminaldefense attorney, and theyhave two daughters. She isan active volunteer. Inaddition to her work withB’nai B’rith, she is a memberof BCBA, BCWLA, and theStephen Booher Inn ofCourt. In addition, she is theVice President of Ritual atTemple Kol Ami and is amember of the NationalCouncil of Jewish Women,Hollywood Section.£JoEllen Silberstein, an

appellate law attorneypracticing in Sarasota, hassubmitted Black LitigationBag Series #5, as her entry inthe juried art show at theSarasota Art Center. Prior tobecoming a lawyer,Silberstein was a successfulgraphic artisan New York


City and has has won several awards forher work. Notable for lawyers is a starkrendition in acrylic of Miranda v. Arizona,which was featured at the Sarasota ArtCenter in 2002.£Candice Tobin has been appointed to

serve on The Florida Bar’s 22003-2004Civil Procedure Rules Committee.Tobin is President-elect of BrowardCounty FAWL.£Sarasota FAWL members Joan

Donnelly, Susan Maulucci, Evelyn L.

Moya, Sharon O’Day and Barbara

Whitmore were honored by theWomen’s Legal Fund of SarasotaCounty, Inc. at the organization’sFamily Law Day Luncheon in April.The non-profit organization enableseligible clients to obtain legal represen-tation in familiy law-related matters andprovided legal representation to morethan 300 clients in 2002.£The Fall 2002 issue of the University of

Florida Journal of Technology Law & Policy(JTLP) is available for subscribers andsingle issue requests. The issue featuresscholarly articles on a wide range oftimely intellectual property law andtechnology issues and contains a“Tribute to Grace ‘Betty’ W. Taylor,”devoted Professor and Advisor. JTLP ispublished twice a year, spring and fall.For subscription information, contactStaff Editor Victoria A. Redd [email protected]. ■

Florida Association for Women LawyersP.O. Box 15998, Tallahassee, Florida 32317-5998850/894-0055

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PA I DTallahassee, FLPermit No. 119

See Page 18 for more details

on FAWL calendar events.

JUNE 26-27, 2003£ANNUAL MEETING

JUNE 26, 2003£FAWL BOARD MEETING

JUNE 27, 2003£JOINT AWARDS LUNCHEON

with the Equal Opportunities Law Section andthe Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association

JULY 25-26, 2003£BAR LEADERS WORKSHOP

JULY 26, 2003£FAWL ANNUAL RETREAT

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Ford & Harrison LLPHolland & Knight LLPFOR CONTINUED SUPPORT.

Documents

FAWL Journal 5/03...which recently published a 16-month study of the role of juries in America. He also is the co-author of the reconstruction of a long-neglected 1906 trial in the