Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers Holds Annual Banquet

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Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers Holds Annual Banquet
by Elizabeth K. Steel, Esq.

On June 1, 2006, the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers held it's Annual Banquet at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge. It was a busy evening as M.A.W.L.'s new President was installed, the Distinguished Jurist Award was presented to the Honorable Bonnie H. McLeod-Mancuso, Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Superior Court, and the annual scholarship awards were presented.

Before the Banquet started, attendees enjoyed a cocktail hour outside the room where the dinner was held. They munched on delicious hors d'oeuvres including roasted vegetables, humus and feta cheese, along with mini crab cakes, spanikopita triangles and more. Many judges and other notables were present including Judge Judith Dilday and Judge Dorothy Gibson, both of the Middlesex Probate Court, Judge Nancy Gould of the Suffolk Probate Court, Judge Isaac Borenstein, Associate Justice of the Superior Court, Judge Mary Ann Driscoll of the West Roxbury District Court, and Judge Diana Maldonado of the Chelsea District Court. Also in attendance were Warren Fitzgerald, the President of the Massachusetts Bar Association as well as Marilyn Wellington, Esq., the new Executive Director of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Dean Robert Ward of Southern New England School of Law and President Mary Jane England of Regis College were present as well.

After the cocktail hour, everyone was invited into the dining room for dinner. Seated at the Head Table were Jocelynne D. Welsh, outgoing M.A.W.L. President; Judge Isaac Borenstein, Guest Speaker; Rosemary Eacman, incoming President of M.A.W.L.; Karyn F. Scheier, Chief Justice of the Land Court; the Honorable Bonnie Macleod-Mancuso, recipient of the Distinguished Jurist Award for 2006, and the Honorable Barbara Rouse, Chief Justice of the Superior Court. Margaret Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court , and a strong supporter of M.A.W.L., had planned to attend as she has in the past; however she unexpectedly could not make it. Jocelynne Welsh thanked everyone for coming and introduced Rosemary Eacman, Esq., as the incoming President of M.A.W.L. for the year 2006-2007.

As is customary, the incoming president organizes the Banquet. Rosemary carried on the tradition of arranging a first rate event! She started by giving out the evening's first award, the Unsung Hero Award, to Celia Weinstein, Esq. and Rosemary McAuliffe, Esq. They are currently members of the Board of M.A.W.L. This award is always a complete surprise to the recipients! Rosemary thanked them for their tireless efforts on behalf of M.A.W.L., saying that even though they had served M.A.W.L. well during their past presidencies, they continued to donate their time and energy to the organization. By the way, Rosemary McAuliffe recently attended her law school's fiftieth reunion!

Then President Eacman honored Professor Charles P. Kindregan, Jr., of Suffolk University Law School , with a token of M.A.W.L.'s appreciation for his fascinating lecture on Women in the Civil War. This lecture was open to M.A.W.L. members and held at the exclusive, members only Union Club in Boston, in March. President Eacman stated that she hoped to schedule another lecture at the Union Club with Professor Kindregan, who is a passionate Civil War buff. She also gave a gift to outgoing President Jocelynne Welsh in appreciation of her service as President of M.A.W.L. for 2005-2006.

President Eacman also recognized the members of the M.A.W.L. Board who were present by introducing them and having them stand for the guests to see. They included: Jocelynne Welsh, Celia Weinstein, Rosemary McAuliffe, Michelle Lespasio, Martha Rush O'Mara, Deborah Habig-Shnek, Mary O'Malley, Patricia Gorman, Lois Martin, Catherine Sinnott; Deborah Santello, Tracy-Lee Lyons, Elizabeth K. Steel, Margaret Henehan, Gail Otis, and Denise Fitzgerald. By the way, kudos to Tracy Lyons, who has just been appointed as a District Court Judge by Governor Mitt Romney. [Please accept this writer's apologies if any board members' names were omitted.]

Then everyone settled into a delectable dinner that included a salad, a main course of chicken, mashed potatoes and asparagus, followed by a very rich chocolate dessert. A vegetarian alternative was also available. For many of us, after the very filling hors d'oeuvres, it was hard to think about eating dinner; but we soldiered on! At this writer's table, Judge Nancy Gould, a past President of M.A.W.L., regaled everyone with amusing and interesting stories about her early days as a young lawyer in Boston.

After dinner, it was time for President Eacman to present the Distinguished Jurist Award to Bonnie Macleod-Mancuso. Judge Macleod-Mancuso was introduced by the Honorable Barbara Rouse. Judge Rouse told the audience about Judge Macleod-Mancuso's many laudable interests and activities. They included organizing the Annual Walk for Hunger, and being a Sweet Adeline Barbershop singer. She then got Judge Macleod-Mancuso to join her in a few verses of a song about the Supreme Judicial Court and the Superior Court, sung to the tune of “Yesterday” by the Beatles. This song, with the lyrics written by Judge Borenstein, had been sung by several of the judges at a Superior Court Judicial Conference recently. Judge Macleod-Mancuso then took the podium and addressed the audience. She thanked everyone for coming, including her family and close friends. Judge Macleod-Mancuso gave an emotional speech that was enjoyed by everyone present.

Then, Maria Luise, Esq. and Judge Mary Muse (ret.), of the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers Scholarship Foundation, presented Scholarship Awards to two deserving law students. They were Heather Cannady and Christina Dacchille. See the next article for more details about these amazing and very interesting young women.

The Guest Speaker for the evening's program was the Honorable Isaac Borenstein, Associate Justice of the Superior Court. He had been born and raised in Cuba until he immigrated to the United States in his youth. He spoke very eloquently about life in Cuba , focusing on women and the law. It was a very informative speech. At the end, incoming President Eacman, thanked him and said that she is hoping to organize a trip to Cuba with M.A.W.L. members and guests.

All in all, everyone had a good time, mingling, networking, dining and supporting the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers. We hope that you will stay tuned for announcements about M.A.W.L.'s future events.