Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers Holds Annual Business Meeting and Banquet

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

On June 15, 2005, the Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers (M.A.W.L.) held its annual business meeting and banquet at the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge , Massachusetts . The final celebration of its One Hundredth Anniversary was marked with much socializing, a delicious dinner, the presentation of awards and scholarships, and a spellbinding keynote speaker.

The evening began with many M.A.W.L. members and guests attending a lively cocktail hour enjoying tasty appetizers and mingling with colleagues. Those in attendance included judges and court staff from the Supreme Judicial Court, the Appeals Court, the District Court, the Juvenile Court, the Land Court, the Probate and Family Court, and the Superior Court, as well as family members, M.A.W.L. members and their guests, and law students. A highlight during that hour was the opportunity for many to meet Lucinda Treat, General Counsel to the World Series Champions, the Boston Red Sox. She was more than happy not only to show off her championship ring but to let others hold it, examine it, and even try it on! Word has it that at least one person “claimed” the ring was stuck on her finger and that she could not get it off!

After cocktails, the banquet commenced. Seated at the head table were Chief Justice Margaret Marshall of the Supreme Judicial Court; outgoing M.A.W.L. President Carol Reiter (2004-2005); incoming President Jocelynne Deborah Welsh; the Hon. Karyn F. Scheier , Chief Justice of the Land Court; the Hon. Robert A. Mulligan, Chief Justice for Administration and Management; the Hon. Martha P. Grace, Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Department; the Hon. Lynda M. Connolly, Chief Justice of the District Court Department; the Hon. Barbara Rouse, Chief Justice of the Superior Court Department; Lucinda Treat, General Counsel of the Red Sox organization; and Deborah J. Patterson, Recorder of the Land Court.

Carol Reiter made welcoming remarks and introduced Jocelynne Deborah Welsh, the newly-installed President of M.A.W.L. for 2005-2006. President Welsh greeted everyone and presented former President Reiter with a gift in appreciation of her year of service. She introduced all of the Officers and Directors present including Attorneys Rosemary McAuliffe, Gail Otis, Lois Martin, Catherine Sinnott , Celia Weinstein, Elizabeth K. Steel, Deborah Habig-Shnek , Jane Barney, Michelle Lespasio , Rosemary Eacman , Denise Fitzgerald, Mary O'Malley, and Tracy Lyons. She also recognized M.A.W.L.'s oldest former president, Margaret Kelly Doyle, Esq., (1970-1971) who was in attendance that evening.

President Welsh presented the Unsung Hero Award to Kay Hodge, Esq. in appreciation of her assistance in advising M.A.W.L. Board Members on their important fiduciary responsibilities. This award is always a surprise to the unsuspecting recipient! Another nice surprise was that Jocelynne Welsh, who, with her committee, had worked very hard organizing the Banquet, had a gift bag for each guest already placed at their seat in honor of the Centennial Celebration. Each recipient received an umbrella with the M.A.W.L. logo, as well as a M.A.W.L. bumper sticker, and chocolate!

As part of the Centennial Celebration, M.A.W.L. recognized One Hundred Women of Distinction in Law and Public Service at this event. They included the Hon. Ruth Abrams (Ret.) who was the first female appointee to the Supreme Judicial Court, Andrea J. Cabral, Esq., the first female Sheriff of Suffolk County, Martha Coakley , the first female District Attorney of Middlesex County, the Hon. Joyce L. Alexander, U.S. Magistrate, as well as many former Presidents of M.A.W.L., several law professors and law school deans, presidents of local bar associations, and many more! Those in attendance received a white marble commemorative paperweight.

After Jocelynne Welsh's comments, Chief Justice Margaret Marshall who has graciously attended many banquets addressed the audience.

M.A.W.L. members Barbara Senecal and Maria Luise presented the annual scholarship awards to two well-deserving local law students. The Hon. Mary Muse (ret.) had planned to help with the presentations but was unable to attend. The past accomplishments and future career plans of the two scholarship recipients: Michelle B. Limaj , Boston College (2007), and Merritt A. Dattell , Suffolk University Law School (2007), were inspiring.

The Hon. Karyn F. Scheier , Chief Justice of the Land Court Department, and the 2005 Recipient of M.A.W.L.'s Distinguished Jurist Award, was warmly introduced by Deborah J. Patterson, Recorder of the Land Court . In her remarks, Chief Justice Scheier thanked everyone, especially her family and friends [including the Hon. John Fenton (ret.), for whom she had clerked] who were in attendance.

Finally Lucinda Treat, General Counsel for the Boston Red Sox Club, gave the keynote address. In her rousing speech she spoke of how few women, and especially female attorneys, were employed by baseball organizations when her career began. She said that over the years, more and more female lawyers have joined baseball clubs and are able to contribute meaningfully to the organizations.

As the time to end the Banquet drew near, everyone left feeling sated from the delicious dinner and the company, and looking forward to next year's event.