2009-2010 MWL
Committees: Profiles at a Glance
Co-chairs and members of MWL's committees coordinate
countless events, projects and initiatives each year. MWL has begun another
exciting year, with planning in full gear. All MWL members and the greater legal
community are invited to participate in any of the upcoming events and projects.
To join a committee or learn more about committee involvement,
contact a committee co-chair (see below) directly, attend an upcoming committee
meeting, or contact the MWL office at 612/338-3205 or
mwl@mwlawyers.org.
Visit
Board
and Committee Meetings for specifics about upcoming Committee meetings.
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Attorney to
Attorney Mentor Program
Co-Chairs:
Sarah Fleegel, Jackson
Lewis LLP,
612-359-1771
Irina Palchuk, Faegre & Benson
LLP, 612/766-7972
Margaux Coady Soeffker, Attorney
at Law
The Attorney to Attorney
Mentor Program shall administer a mentor program, bringing together experienced
attorneys and newer attorneys, and thereby creating opportunities for attorneys
to establish informal mentoring relationships.
Meeting Details:
Typically the second Thursday of the month (We'll meet on Monday, September
14th, and then the 2nd Thursday in October through May; no meeting in December);
12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. at the MWL office of various Minneapolis/St. Paul legal
employer locations.
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The Chapter Development Committee
shall foster the development of MWL chapters throughout the state, and shall also maintain a relationship with each MWL chapter or group,
both new and existing, providing support as needed.
Meeting Details: To be
announced . . .
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Communications
Co-Chairs:
Laura Hammargren,
Dorsey & Whtiney, 612/ 492-6735
Barbara Jones, Minnesota Lawyer,
612/584-1543
The Communications Committee shall focus on both
external and internal communications for the association. The Committee
shall also develop programs and initiatives to assist our members to communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, the media and
community as a whole.
Meeting Details:
First Friday of the month, 1:00 p.m. at the Minnesota Lawyer office (730 - 2nd
Avenue South in Minneapolis) or via teleconference. (2nd Friday in September due
to the Labor Day holiday).
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Community Action
Co-Chairs:
Bridget McCauley Nason, LeVander, Gillen
& Miller, 651/451-1831
Alison Knoche Prosser,
American Express
The Community Action Committee shall promote MWL’s
image and heighten its visibility, and the visibility of its
members, within the legal community, the law schools and the public at large.
Through its activities, the Committee
shall also act as liaison to other bar, professional and community groups, as
well as work with organizations, both within and outside the legal community, to
achieve complementary social goals.
Meeting Details: First
Thursday of the month, 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Amore Coffee (917 Grand Avenue
in St. Paul)..
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Development
Co-Chairs:
Nicole Siemens, Lindquist &
Vennum, 612/371-5787
Elizabeth Wefel,
Flaherty & Hood, P.A., 651/259-1924
Abby Wilkinson, Faegre &
Benson, 612/766-7152
The Development Committee shall serve as the lead group, in
collaboration with the Board of Directors, to implement MWL’s ongoing individual
membership recruitment and retention efforts, as well as solicit legal employer
sponsorship support.
Meeting Details: Third Wednesday of the month, 8:00 a.m.; once per quarter
the committee will meet in person at a location to be determined. All
other monthly meetings will be held via teleconference.
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Diversity
Co-Chairs:
Jill Gaulding, University of Minnesota
Law School, 612/ 626-0938
Rachel Hable, First American Title
Insurance Company, 612/ 305-2018
The Diversity Committee shall
coordinate MWL’s annual diversity events and other programs as appropriate. The
Committee shall also consider how MWL can increase its diversity in all areas
and work with the Board of Directors and Committees on implementation. The
Committee shall maintain relationships with other minority bar groups.
Meeting Details: First Tuesday of the month, 12:00 noon at the MWL office
or via teleconference, beginning in October 2009.
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Judicial Appointments
Co-Chairs:
Jessica Bierwerth, Dakota
County Attorney's Office, 651/ 438-4493
Ann O'Reilly, LeVander Gillen &
Miller, 651/ 451-1831
The Judicial Appointments
Committee
shall encourage more women applicants to seek judicial appointment through
seminars, mentorships and various publicity measures. The Committee shall operate in
accordance with the policies, guidelines, and procedures adopted by the Board of
Directors.
Meeting Details: meets on an "as needed" basis.
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Leadership
Co-Chairs:
Christine Middleton,
Family Solutions Law Group,
612-656-4245
Melissa Dosick Riethof,
Meagher & Geer, 612/338-0661
Holly Robbins,
Littler Mendelson, 612/ 313-7631
The Leadership Committee
shall coordinate events and programs that promote leadership development
opportunities for MWL’s membership.
Meeting Details:
meets on an "as needed" basis.
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Member Services
Co-Chairs:
Michelle Grant, Dorsey & Whitney
LLP, 612/ 340-5671
Heather Toft, Special
Counsel, 612/340-0229
The Member
Services Committee shall create the means by which MWL’s leadership and
membership can provide feedback regarding the goals, activities, and services of
the association. The Committee shall also identify opportunities for program and
member service development and work in conjunction with other MWL committees to
implement such programs
Meeting Details: First Thursday of the month, 11:30 a.m. via
teleconference.
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Professional
Development
Co-Chairs:
Cindy Eidnes,
Beacon Hill Legal,
612/ 290-4221
Tammy Friederichs,
Friederichs & Thompson, P.A., 952-814-9004
Jennifer
Huelskoetter, Bowman & Brooke LLP, 612-339-8682
Karen Opp, Lominger International,952/345-3681
The Professional Development Committee shall
address issues related to the professional development of women lawyers,
including career planning, job placement and changes, client development and
skills enhancement.
Meeting Details: Second Wednesday of the month, 12:00 noon at the
MWL office or Minneapolis/St. Paul legal employer locations or via
teleconference.
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Professional Parents
Co-Chairs:
Jennifer Ampulski, Travelers,
651/ 310-2273
Samantha Gemberling, Gemberling
Law Office, 651/ 209-6151
Heidi Staloch, Gurstel,
Staloch & Chargo, 763/267-6700
Meeting Details: To be
announced . . .
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Program
Co-Chairs:
Susan Aase, University of Minnesota Disability Services
Heather Diersen,
Fourth Judicial District, 612/348-7908
Brooke Swenson, Briggs and Morgan, 651/
977-8855
The Program Committee shall be responsible for planning and coordination of
MWL’s major annual events, including the Holiday Benefit, Winter Celebration,
Joint Dinner of Professional Women's Associations and the Annual Meeting.
Meeting Details: Last
Tuesday of the month, 12:00 noon at the MWL office or via teleconference.
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Publications
Co-Chairs:
Molly Borg, Briggs and Morgan,
612/977-8726
Megan Clinefelter, Faegre & Benson,
612/766-7000
Angela Hall Slaughter,
UnitedHealth Group, 952/931-5334
The Publications Committee shall
be responsible for publishing MWL’s quarterly journal, With Equal Right.
Responsibilities shall include: developing a theme for each issue; soliciting
authors for each issue; editing each issue; and serving as a liaison between
MWL, the designer and the printer.
Meeting Details: First Wednesday of the month, 12:00 noon via
teleconference.
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Public Policy Advocacy
Co-Chairs:
Stacy Bettison, Rotenberg
Associates, 612/336-7703
Kelly Francis, Hennepin County
Attorney's Office, 612/596-9001
Kate Westad, Lommen Abdo,
612/336-9322
The Public Policy Advocacy
Committee shall facilitate public policy advocacy activities by making
recommendations to the Board on issues that MWL should advocate and provides the
implementation steps for those activities. Activities may include facilitating
legislative tracking on selected issues and providing testimony at hearings,
identifying cases for which MWL should submit amicus briefs and facilitating
preparation of those briefs. In addition, the committee shall monitor and
assigns issues to MWL members for drafting letters to the editor, etc.
Click
HERE for more details about the work of
the Public Policy Advocacy Committee.
Meeting Details: Third
Tuesday of the month, 12:00 noon at various Minneapolis/St. Paul legal employer
locations or via teleconference.
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Silent Auction
/ Scholarship Fund
Co-Chairs:
Madeline Brooks, Beacon
Hill Legal, 612/344-9900
Christine Swanson, Kelly &
Lemmons, 651/ 224-3781
Meeting Details: meets on an "as needed"
basis.
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Student to Attorney Mentor Program
Co-Chairs:
Morgan Bianco, Attorney at
Law,
Andrea Pavelka, Geraghty
O'Loughlin & Kenney, 651/291-1177
The Student to
Attorney Mentor Program shall administer a mentor program for attorneys and law
students. The Committee shall also establish and maintain a working relationship
with the career development / placement offices and women students'
organizations at each of the Minnesota law schools to aid in committee goals.
Meeting Details: meets on an "as needed" basis.
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Technology
Co-Chair:
Gabriela Reyes-Noyola,
Igbanugo Partners International Law Firm
Stacy Doepner-Hove, University of
Minnesota,
612/ 624-5866
The
Technology Committee shall further MWL’s mission through the use of technology
and shall advance the goals and objectives of MWL and its committees through
enhanced technical services and support.
Meeting Details:
3rd Monday of the month, 12:00 noon at the MWL office or via teleconference.
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