In This Issue

• Legislative Luncheon
• Kendra Scott Supports DRP
• Lunch with the Judges
• Member Social
• Black Family Land Trust
• A Word from Our Sponsor

From the President

I threw my back out a few years ago helping my dad install a fireplace insert. Although I had always been a chiropractic skeptic, when the rest-and-Advil approach didn’t work and I couldn’t sit without terrible pain, I took my sister’s advice and saw a chiropractor. Two adjustments later and—wow!—I’m a convert to chiropractic care.

Sometimes I need a similar approach to make sure my head is on straight. Although Saturday and Sunday should mean rest and relaxation, my husband and I find ourselves so overbooked with places to go and errands to run that weekends are as exhausting as the workweek. This past weekend was no exception. But this time, even though we had a million things to do, we decided instead to treat ourselves to an adjustment by spending Saturday afternoon with friends. The errands still need to be done but the time spent with friends was chiropractic care for my spirit. All work and no play had gotten me a bit out of alignment; four hours on the gorgeous first weekend of Spring with my friends straightened things up.

I feel the same way about the MRWBA. Wednesdays, like every day ending in Y, can be quite busy, and too often I end up eating at my desk while I work. Many times driving over to Willow Oaks is the last thing I have time for, but I have never left a luncheon feeling worse than I arrived. An hour or two with the amazing women of the MRWBA is sometimes just what I need to clear my head, remind myself of what’s important in my career, and put things back in alignment. Thank you for helping “adjust” me. I hope you are getting as much out of your membership as I am!

Joanna Suyes, Esq.,
2018-2019 MRWBA President 

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Legislative Luncheon Scheduled for April 10th

Join MRWBA  for our Annual Legislative CLE Luncheon at Willow Oaks. The program will feature a panel of state legislators who will discuss bills from this year's General Assembly session and the legislative process. This annual luncheon provides a great opportunity to hear the inside story from local legislators and to participate in a Q&A with them on the burning issues of the 2019 General Assembly session.

1.5 hours of CLE Credit applied for.

LEGISLATORS IN ATTENDANCE (CONFIRMED)

Delegate Dawn Adams	Senator Amanda Chase
Delegate Jeff Bourne	Senator Rosalyn Dance
Delegate Debra Rodman	Senator Siobhan Dunnavant
	Senator Jennifer McClellan

Click here to register.

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Kendra Gives Back to the DRP

Join MRWBA at a Kendra Gives Back Party on Wednesday, May 8th, at Kendra Scott in Short Pump Town Center. Enjoy sips, sweets and jewels while shopping for a cause! Twenty percent of all purchases between 5 and 8 p.m. will be donated to the MRWBA’s Domestic Relations Pamphlet.

Can’t attend? Orders placed by phone between 5 and 8 p.m. will qualify too!

Kendra Scott is a loving mom, a driven entrepreneur, and a passionate designer who believes the truest form of success is giving back in a meaningful way. Since she began her company, Kendra has lived by three core values: Family, Fashion and Philanthropy. She created a brand and culture that authentically values giving back and making a positive difference in the community. The Kendra Scott company maintains a focus on its customers and the causes close to their hearts, abiding by the mantra “What Matters to You, Matters to Us.”

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Pro Bono: Black Family Land Trust

For those interested in learning more about the March pro bono opportunity with the Black Family Land Trust, there will be a CLE on Curing Title Defects/Heirs Property/BFLT at the upcoming Virginia United Land Trust Conference in Richmond at the Hilton Richmond Downtown on Wednesday, April 10, from 10:30 to noon. (Attendees must register for the entire conference to attend this session. The registration fee is between $150 - $175 and includes other interesting sessions and events.) To learn more about the event, click here. 

To learn more about getting involved with this organization email Crista Gantz at the Virginia State Bar or visit www.bflt.org.

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March Meeting

Thanks to all our members who were able to attend the March luncheon, Women in Leadership: Knowledge is Power. Moderated by Past President Elizabeth Hanes, the panel discussed with membership how to best position oneself to be appointed to committees, commissions and various leadership positions in statewide bar associations as well as gubernatorial appointments. Our panelists were:  Kelly Thomasson, Secretary of the Commonwealth; Karen Gould, Executive Director of the Virginia State Bar; Valerie O’Brien, Executive Director of the Virginia Trial Lawyer’s Association; Ray White, Executive Director of the Virginia Law Foundation and Virginia CLE; and Lucia Trigiani, Past President of the Virginia State Bar. This panel provided valuable insights to our membership as well as providing them with the tools to advance themselves in statewide bar organizations. Thanks to all our panelists for their thoughtful presentations and thank you also to our moderator.

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From Our Sponsor

Locke & Quinn provides client-oriented legal services and solutions to important family law and personal injury matters. When you hire an attorney from our firm, you will meet and work directly with your attorney. We listen to our clients’ concerns and objectives to form ideas and strategies to achieve positive outcomes. Our highly specialized attorneys represent civilians and military personnel in courts that handle family law matters. In addition, we represent people injured by someone else’s negligence.

Since 2005, we've offered internships and externships to over sixty students from high school through law school. The internships include full-time and part-time summer internships as well as part-time internships during the school year. Locke & Quinn believes in giving back and supporting the Richmond Community, which is why we support over 30 events and organizations like the Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Congressional Coalition for Adoption, the National Association of Women Business Owners, YWCA, and many more, including MRWBA. To learn more about Locke & Quinn, please visit our website.

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