E-Honora: GRAWA’s Electronic Newsletter

2006 Installation Dinner
	NEW PRESIDENT -- Judge Craig Doran administers the oath to incoming GRAWA President Sara Stout Ashcraft.

On May 3, the 2006-2007 GRAWA officers and directors were sworn in by Ontario County Court Judge Craig Doran. Sara Stout Ashcraft will take over the presidency from Denine Carr next month. President-Elect for the new term is Greta K. Kolcon.

Heidi Schult Gregory will stay on for a second term as GRAWA secretary and Kathryn K. Lee will take over as treasurer, replacing Connor O'Brien.

Also serving on 6the 2006-2007 board of directors are: Program Committee Co-Chairs Amy Cote and Leslie E. Swift; Nominating Committee Chair Julie Ann Gordon; Media Committee Chair Anita L. Pelletier; Judicial Evaluation Committee Co-Chairs Sue S. Tebor and Eileen E. Buholtz; CLE Committee Chair Jennifer R. Natalie; Legislative Committee Chair Kimberly Fox Duguay; Membership Committee Chair Wendy P. Solovay; and delegates to the Women's Bar Association for the State of New York: Patricia E. Gallaher and Tara R. Johnson.

As the new slate of officers came forward to be sworn in, current GRAWA President Denine Carr expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to serve as the organization's president and for the hard work of the current board.

Director's Award

This year GRAWA selected Alice Holloway Young, Ed.D. as the recipient of the Director's Award. A gifted teacher, an untiring administrator and an energetic influence on higher education in Rochester, this 80-something dynamo was recognized for her many “firsts” over the past decades.

“Dr. Young has enhanced the lives of many,” Denine Carr began. “She was the first African American classroom teacher in the Rochester City School District, the first Vice Principal and Principal of elementary schools, and the first Title I Director of programs for educationally and economically deprived children. She wrote and supervised the District's first integration programs, including the Urban Suburban Program which is still in existence.”

Dr. Young's accomplishments include her participation in establishing Monroe Community College and serving as an MCC trustee for four decades. She presided as chair of the trustees for 20 consecutive years.

Other Awards Presented

Elaine Cole was recognized with this year's President's award, having just completed two consecutive terms as chair of the CLE Committee, and a total of seven terms on GRAWA's board over the years. Besides organizing several CLE programs this year, Cole has been instrumental in providing the necessary documentation to help GRAWA achieve its own CLE provider status. She was also a pivotal member of the Herstory Committee since the inception of the lecture series.

The Crennel-Branch Award, established to honor untiring and exemplary dedication to the GRAWA organization, was bestowed upon Nora Jones this year, in recognition of her efforts to keep the membership informed through website updates and her many articles for The Daily Record.

Brighton Town Judge Karen Morris was selected as this year's recipient of the Hanna S. Cohn Mentoring Award. Although Judge Morris attended the pre-dinner reception, she left before her award was presented -- as she had a previous commitment to be at a mentor-mentee dinner.

Keynote Address

Recently appointed as the Supervising Judge of the Family Court in the Seventh Judicial District, Judge Craig Doran emphasized the importance of staying open to new opportunities during his keynote address.

“Leave room for the possibility of new experiences,” he noted after sharing a personal story about he and his wife becoming foster parents. “No matter where you are in your career, there are things you can learn if you open your eyes to the possibilities. Don't let your day job or what you think you are supposed to do get in the way of your passion.”

Community involvement and service are extremely important to Judge Doran. He serves as an associate professor at Keuka College and previously taught at Finger Lakes Community College . He is, or has been, affiliated with the Keuka College President's Advisory Board, Canandaigua Kiwanis Club, the National Bank of Geneva Advisory Board, the Canandaigua and Geneva Chambers of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America Finger Lakes Council, the Alternatives to Incarceration Advisory Board, the United Way, and countless other area organizations.

Why A Women's Bar?

In her remarks, President Sara Ashcraft focused on the continued need for specialty bar associations.

“Women still earn only 76 cents to every dollar earned by men,” stated Ashcraft. “Great strides have been made in recent years, but there is still a need for parity. The general bar associations already have their plate full dealing with many general issues that impact the legal community. The women's bar -- or other specialty bars -- can focus on particular issues. GRAWA is not trying to be all things to all people. We have a specific mission.”

She went on the share some of her goals for the coming year, which include continuing growth of the mentoring project (currently approximately 22 pairs of mentor-mentees are active); scheduling more chamber chats as an opportunity for GRAWA members to get to know the judges; and renewing the efforts to get more women into judicial positions.