WLAM's 92nd Annual Meeting Shines a Light on Gender Equity Issues, Provides Useful Negotiation Strategies and Honors its Jean L. King Award Recipient
By Teresa A. Killeen If you missed WLAM’s State Annual Meeting at Greenfield Village on May 15, you missed out on a lot of value. The meeting’s theme “Unconscious Gender Bias: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You” drew in over 100 attendees. You could hear a pin drop as the panel of lawyers Kathleen Bogas and Jennifer Salvatore and State Representative Rebekah Warren rolled out their plan to bring proposed legislation on Pay Equity and Family Responsibilities Discrimination before the Michigan legislature. WLAM’s Gender Equity Committee has been working collaboratively with Rep. Warren and others to draft the legislation and develop a strategy to pass it. The panel covered everything from the reasons why the legislation is necessary to what potential unintended consequences might occur to how to lobby for its passage.
The meeting also included a panel on how to position yourself for increased compensation. Moderated by Elizabeth Jolliffe, the panel of lawyers Peggy Costello, Julie Fershtman, David Winter, Denice LeVasseur and Susan Hartmus Hiser shared their advice on how to identify and market to potential clients, position yourself within a law firm, build a referral base, define success for yourself and then make it happen.
Chief Justice Marilyn Kelly of the Michigan Supreme Court, a long-time WLAM member, administered the oath of office to the new State-wide Officers and Board of Directors: President Lysa Postula-Stein, President-Elect Hon. Angela Sherigan, Vice-President Hillarie Boettger, Treasurer Teresa Killeen, Secretary Julie Dykstra, Immediate Past President Kim Winokur, Directors-at-Large Julie Gafkay, Stacey King, Michele Rivas, Heidi Salter-Ferris and Suzanne Sukkar, Regional Directors Kelly Brushaber (Western), Michelle Lundquist (Macomb), Donna Mallonee (Great Lakes Bay), Cate McClure (Mid-Michigan), Julie Pfitzenmaier (Wayne), Kristen Pursley (Oakland) and Amy Reiser (Washtenaw).
WLAM member and employee rights lawyer Kathleen L. Bogas received the Jean Ledwith King Leadership Award. The annual award was created in honor of WLAM member Jean Ledwith King as a visionary and leading life-long advocate for women through her roles as a lawyer and political activist. The audience warmly recognized and applauded Ms. King who was present at the meeting.
Prior to the start of the meeting, Kim Winokur conducted executive board training for all of the members of the state-wide and regional boards. Susan B. Perlin, of Plante Moran, presented an overview of fiduciary duties, do’s and don’ts for a non-profit organization, and how to be more proficient at responsibilities and obligations as board members.
Long after the close of the Annual Meeting, members were still engaged in the “meeting after the meeting.” When you have people still talking an hour after a 3-½ hour meeting on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, you have ignited some strong energy!
Please click the following link to view pictures from the meeting: http://picasaweb.google.com/114721501752711869219/WLAMStateAnnualMeeting#
