March 2020

3/1/2020

A Message from our President

It’s time to celebrate Women’s History Month!  Every year, NNWLA hosts an event in March to celebrate National Women’s History Month.  This year, we are also celebrating the centennial anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment.  The theme of this year’s Women’s History Month is “Valiant Women of the Vote.”  The goal of the theme is to honor the original suffragettes who fought for the rights of women to vote as well as the women who continue to fight to ensure that everyone has the right to vote.  Women’s History Month reminds us that despite all the progress that women lawyers have made, we still have more to accomplish.  This theme is very timely for our state.  Nevada made the national headline last year when we became the first state to elect a female-majority legislature and also had a majority of females on our Supreme Court.  The outstanding women in our judiciary and legislature have accomplished a lot, and have hopefully demolished the sentiment that women do not belong in those positions.  This a remarkable milestone that NNWLA is proud to honor!

NNWLA celebrates this month by co-hosting an event with the National Judicial College featuring remarks from Former Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, Lieutenant Governor Kate Marshall, and Judge Robin Wright.  We selected these elected officials to share their own unique stories that showcase women’s achievements in Nevada.  NNWLA would like to invite everyone to join us on March 11, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. at the Governor’s Mansion to hear from these remarkable women.  We hope you will join us at this event!

I would also like to thank Judge Drakulich, Senior Judge Schumacher, and Professor Jean Sternlight for their thought-provoking lunchtime CLE discussion on Settlement Conferences this past month.  They provided us with insightful tips on how to successfully prepare, educate, and communicate during settlement conferences. Thank You!

---Kendra Bertschy

Last Day to RSVP is March 4th

In Support of our "Valiant Women of the Vote" event, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto sent NNWLA these remarks!

Learn more about Women's History Month:

"The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights." Gloria Steinem

Learn more about how March became Women's History Month from Women's History.org here.

March 8 - International Women's Day 
Read about the history of International Women's Day here

Think you know a lot about women's history? Take the National Women's History Alliance Quiz and test your knowledge, found here. Tell us in the comments below, the answers that most surprised you and why.

Learn more about Nevada women's history at the Nevada Women's History Project here!

Save the Date:

Save the Date: Spring Social and Clothing Drive with the Washoe County Bar Association

When: April 16, 2020 at 5:30pm
Where: 10 Torr, 490 Mill St., Reno, NV 89502
Perks: Hosted bar! Lawn games! Food trucks, Oh My!

AND don't forget to bring those gently used business clothes to donate to the Children's Cabinet. We will have collection bins set up so bring us those clothes, and then stay to socialize with lawyers in the community.

Get Your Law in Order: We're looking for volunteers to speak at the Children's Cabinet!

When: April 14th
Topic: Insert Your Practice Area Here!

The Children's Cabinet is looking for lawyers to provide basic information about the law, you will not be asked to represent anyone. They have special needs on topics such as emancipation, probate and estate planning, general law and procedure. Topics currently scheduled include:

February: Criminal law
March: Landlord Tenant law
April: WE NEED YOU!
May: Immigration law
June: Family law

If you're interested in volunteering, please email [email protected] with your practice area and we'll give you more information. Not sure what Children's Cabinet is? Learn more here!

Member Spotlight:

"My Cause" by Bronagh M. Kelly

When I moved to Reno in 2016, I knew that I wanted to become involved in the community. My practice area of Family Law enables me to volunteer at legal clinics and provide pro bono work, but I also wanted to volunteer in the non-legal community and do something outside my comfort zone.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities (“RMHC”) is something I have always heard about, but it wasn’t until I became involved that I really understood everything this charity offers to our community. Like many people, I knew RMHC was a place where families could stay when their children were receiving treatment in hospital. I have come to learn that it provides so much more than just a home away from home during difficult times.

The Reno Ronald McDonald House, the flagship program of Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Nevada, opened in 1987. The House welcomes families living more than 30 miles away from Reno who have a child receiving treatment at a local hospital or clinic. There are five community outreach programs through RMHC which address the health and education needs the children in our community. Those programs include: Travel for Treatment (1992), the RMHC® U.S. Scholarship Program (2000), the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile (2003) and the Ronald McDonald Family Room (2012). Since opening the doors in 1987, the House has hosted more than 7,870 families ranging from northern Nevada and California areas to international destinations.

RMHC has two major fundraising events each year; the Golf Tournament in Spring and the Red Shoe Gala in the Fall. The 35th Annual Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, May 29, at Red Hawk Golf and Resort. 100% of tournament and raffle proceeds go toward helping keep families together during difficult times. For information on how to be a sponsor or get involved, please check out the website here. Details about the Red Shoe Gala will be available very soon!

My role on the committee is to assist in the planning and organizing of the Red Shoe Gala. This includes everything from securing sponsors, obtaining auction items, planning the theme for the event (last year it was “House of Heroes” and we encouraged our attendees to dress as their favorite super hero!), to finalizing and tasting the food menu for the night. Volunteers donate a lot of time and energy to making the event a success and raising the funds to ensure the program can continue to provide the necessary services for our community members in need.

There are a number of other ways you can become involved with RMCH, either by donating your time or skills. Please feel free to reach out to me if you are interested in being involved with this fantastic organization.

Trivia:

Q: Who was the first woman credited with running for president?

Email your answer to [email protected].
Be the first to answer and dinner is on us at our April 16th Social at 10 Torr.