The second of three planned mentoring events was held at the home of Diane Cecero. With no formal agenda, the largely a social event provided an opportunity for some newer GRAWA members to meet more experienced colleagues.

“I really enjoy serving as a mentor,” said Cecero, one of the original members of the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys which was organized in the early 1980s.” It is so wonderful to meet the next generation of women lawyers and to help them navigate the profession.”

Mentoring Committee Chair Audrey Peartree spoke of the need for more mentors. “This year we have more mentees than mentors, so anyone who has some significant work experience should consider getting involved.”

GRAWA President Denine Carr made a point of inviting a recent “transplant” to the Rochester area, noting: “Gayle Elledge just moved to Rochester in December, and I figured the mentoring event would be a nice casual setting to meet a few people,” said Carr. “One purpose of these gatherings is to provide a smaller forum to get to know other GRAWA members, and to catch up on what's going on in the organization. The smaller setting also makes it easier for our newer and younger members to reach out to other GRAWA members -- not just their own mentors.”

In fact, at this particular event, there were only a few “pairs” of mentor-mentees on hand, but everyone mingled and shared news from job changes to good books to read.

“I was initially reluctant to take on the post of a GRAWA mentor,” admitted Barbara Orenstein. “I felt I wasn't exactly a fount of wisdom and wondered what exactly I had to pass on to my mentee -- who is smart and very together. However, it is becoming clearer now that after more than 20 years ‘in the business,' there is in fact quite a lot that I am able to pass on to -- and learn from -- Shelly Fagan. This is truly a win-win set up, and a lot of fun.”