Event Photos

Please send CFAWL event pictures to cfawl.pr@gmail.com and don’t forget to use the #CFAWLCONNECTS

Paws for Peace

Huge thank you and congratulations to  CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers and chair Jessica De La Cruz for spearheading #CFAWL’s Harbor House Paws for Peace project! This is a cause I’ve long advocated for and one very close to my heart. Nearly half of all domestic violence victims delay leaving their abuser because there is a pet being abused in the home that she can’t take with her – and there’s only one DV shelter in Central Florida that accepts survivors with pets, the amazing Harbor House of Central Florida. Thanks to a generous grant from The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, CFAWL was able to donate supplies, dog houses, and food to the #PawsforPeace kennel to ensure that they can continue their essential work. I’m very thankful to be on the board of an organization that puts philanthropy front and center! #CFAWLrocks #CFAWLcares#dogoodfeelgood

CFAWL is happy to support Orlando Police Department!

Treat the Treaters

Thanks to Mary Ann Morgan CFAWL got to Treat the Treaters.”  Last week CFAWL, through Mary Ann, delivered dinner to the the ER staff at Advent Health Orlando.  The meal came from Antonio’s in Maitland.  Watch Facebook for other opportunities to Treat the Treaters. Thank you Mary Ann for giving us the opportunity to help!

CFAWL March Luncheon

This Is Us: CFAWL’s Luncheon was a guided mingling/networking luncheon intended to help us all get to know each other better. Who has a real side hustle selling hot sauce? Who has run a 50k? Who has seen Wicked 19 times? Who thinks the garlic press is the greatest kitchen utensil? Who has marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade playing a piccolo? CFAWL’s members – that’s who!!!

OCBA Law Day 5K

All we do is WIN WIN WIN No Matter What!!!
Please congratulate our CFAWL OCBA Law Day 5K Team on winning the “MOST SPIRITED” TEAM!!

Yappy Hour

CFAWL “pawtied” at its Yappy Hour this past Sunday at Relax Grille on Lake Eola. Check out the “best dressed” attendees – Brad and Gizmo.

Grande Dame Tea

Sunday February 9th, CFAWL honored its Grande Dames – those women who have been practicing/judging for more than 20 years. It was an afternoon filled with laughter, camaraderie, memories, and inspiration. Thank you Deborah A. Cook and Valencia N. Poitier for your fabulous work on this event. It was wonderful!!!

Valentiny Tea

A wonderful time was had by all at the Mother Daughter Table for Eight! Members brought their daughters in their best party dresses to Amber Davis, Melody Lynch, and Mallory Widgren’s Valen-tiny Tea Party to enjoy light fare of tea sandwiches and desserts in Winter Park.

OCBA’s Got Talent

CONGRATULATIONS to our very own Attractive Nuisances who won Crowd Favorite at the Orange County Bar Association‘s Got Talent!

CFAWL at 2020 FAWL Lobby Days

CFAWL was Tallahassee Bound for this year’s FAWL Lobby Days. 

CFAWL Mid-Year Board Retreat

Good times and mimosas were had by all!

Angel Tree 2019

Thank you! Thank you!  Thank you!

AMAZING!  That is how to describe the party for 101 kids at Rock Lake.  Thank you all for your role in making it all happen!

You made this holiday so special for kids who would otherwise go without!

CFAWL Holiday Luncheon

Well, that’s a wrap on our #CFAWL lunches for 2019! The CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers enjoyed a wonderful holiday lunch at the Citrus Club.

Our chairs Kimberly Lorenz and Penelope Perez-Kelly were thoughtful in their inclusive decor, diligent in planning a fantastic line up of activities and performances; all while looking fabulously festive!

Team Talia!

The women of CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers St. Johns Association for Women Lawyers – St.JAWL and Jacksonville Women Lawyers rallied together to organize a Wicked theater outing in Jacksonville to support Talia Suskauer!  Gotta love the FAWL fans!

CFAWL Table for Eight – Mayanne Downs

Big Thanks to Mayanne Downs for a wonderful Table for Eight event. Mayanne graciously opened up her home AND wine cellar. What an amazing meal and even more amazing wine collection. What a wonderful evening! Thank you Mayanne!

Reflection from Jamie: Mayanne’s home is an example of a life well lived filled with memorabilia from world travels, treasured experiences, and cherished gifts from others. You smile from the minute you walk in and won’t stop laughing until you’re out the door.

CFAWL Thanksgiving Board Meeting

Thanks to our fearless leader for Thanksgiving Feast (complete with party favors)! #longlivestuffing

CFAWL Judicial Reception

This week, CFAWL’s annual Judicial Reception welcomed Supreme Court Justice Barbara Lagoa.  Justice Lagoa was eloquent, inspiring, and funny. It was a great turn out of judiciary and members of the bar. Special recognition to committee chairs Mallory Widgren and Fay Olga Pappas for putting on a spectacular event!  #CFAWLROCKS. 

Photo credits courtesy Kim Myers Robertson (kmyersrobertson@gmail.com). 

CFAWL Shopping Event

Thanks to all who came out for our private shopping event in Winter Park! What a great turnout and fun event. 

November Luncheon

CFAWL members learned how two of our own legal community members do tremendous good in our community while managing busy practices and raising their families. Catherine Green Davey and Kimberly Hosley talked about the sincere personal connections they have to their respective causes and how their legal skills help propel those missions.

If you want to learn about how to get involved with the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. or Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida please contact them TODAY!

CFAWL/OCBA Joint Luncheon

American Bar Association President Judy Perry Martinez of Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn inspired members of CFAWL and the OCBA to be beacons of hope and examples of democracy for our profession and our nation. She gave us examples of the necessary and vital work the legal profession is doing and must still do to secure fair and continued equal access to justice for all. Thanks to all who attended our joint luncheon!

Public Defender’s Open House

CFAWL was honored to attend the Public Defender’s Open House for New Lawyers. Programs Co-Chair Kathleen Shea attended on behalf of CFAWL. Here she is pictured with Paul C. Perkins Bar Association President Roger Johnson. #cfawlrocks

CFAWL Chefs

A great time was had by everyone who came out for the cooking class hosted by CFAWL events this week! 

 

Table for 8 Venetian Canal 

Fun was had by all who came out for this month’s Table for 8 hosted by Mary Ann Morgan. 

FAWL Board Retreat 

CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers showed up in full force and effect at the Florida Association for Women Lawyers Board Retreat and Board of Directors meeting. The involvement of the CFAWL membership on this statewide level is unsurpassed.

It is not to late to Join or Renew your CFAWL membership today and have your voice emboldened.

2019 Member Reception

Thanks to all who came out to kick off CFAWL’s 2019-2020 season! #CFAWLROCKS

 

CFAWL Movie Night

The CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers had popcorn, networking and outside sing-a-longs, at the CoCo Movie Night at Lake Eola! If you missed it, don’t worry! There are several more phenomenal programs coming up soon! Check out our events calendar!

OCBA Trivia Night

Tobi Epstein, Lauren Milcarek, Tina Leger, Amanda Sampaio Bova, and Jamie Moses represented CFAWL at the OCBA’s Trivia Night. They may not have won, but they definitely had the best looking table!

September Luncheon

Learning about microphones in Starbucks, 6am choices to be happy, forgiving ourselves (even for a cheesy yummy snack), and ferocious education as an adult, were just a few of the lessons from our CFAWL monthly luncheon with Spread Your Sunshine Mogul Attorney Melanie Griffin. Her CLE presentation on Imposter Syndrome packed the Citrus Club but more importantly her presentation made attendees feel rejuvenated!!

Our President showed how #CFAWLRocks by highlighting some of our rocking members:
Camy B. Schwam-Wilcox
Lisa Franchina
Ashley Wright
Elizabeth Collins Plummer
Ava Doppelt
Jessica D. Thomas

 

Table for Eight

Check out the fun that was had at our recent Table for Eight hosted by Nancy Weber and Ava Kirshenbaum Doppelt!!

Meeting with Representative Mercado

CFAWL President Jamie Moses and board members Lauren Millcarek and Traci Deen were honored to be invited by Representative Amy Mercado to discuss some upcoming proposed legislation! #CFAWL is proud to serve as a sounding board to our legislators concerning issues impacting women in Central Florida. #CFAWLrocks

 

CFAWL and SFAWL Skating Party

CFAWL and SFAWL “rolled” into fun and “skated” into new connections at their joint skate event!

 

#CFAWLRocks because #CFAWLGives!

CFAWL donated over $400.00 of items to Seniors First, including: razors, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, bed sheets, bath towels, wash cloths, and various pantry items. These personal care and pantry items will help several needy seniors citizens in Orange and Seminole Counties. Special thanks to the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar for providing CFAWL with grant money to make this all possible.

August Monthly Luncheon

#CFAWL literally ROCKED the August Monthly Luncheon today!!!! Barbara and Renee had real and figurative rocks throughout their presentation…but they showed us how to move them and make them into a strong foundation for success!!

#CFAWLRocks
#BigRocksFirst
#TechTips
#TwoFriendsnoFernslol
#RocksarepricelessorFortyDollars

Annual Back Pack Cocktail Hour

#CFAWL and Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association did a great job raising funds for the Annual Back Pack Project last night!!

#CFAWLRocks
#CFAWL
#ShareandLikeourPage

Congratulations Mamma Kim!

CFAWL showed out in support of former president (and incoming FAWL President!) Kim Hosley on the day she formally adopted her baby girl. And bonus kudos to Co-PR Director Jessica Thomas for rocking her first adoption trial! 

July Table for Eight

The first CFAWL Table for Eight for the 2019-2020 season is in the books! Homemade pizzas, a Cacti Craft, cannolis, “Who Am I?” and lots of camaraderie and laughter! Thanks to everyone who came out for this great event!  #CFAWLROCKS #T48Rocks

SFAWL Back to School Drive

CFAWL was proud to turn out in support SFAWL’s Back to School Drive!

CFAWL 2019-2020 Board Installation Luncheon

Thanks to everyone who came out for our Board Installation Luncheon and passing of the gavel! We were at a full house and are so happy to have the support of the community for CFAWL. #CFAWLROCKS!

FAWL Gala 2019

CFAWL came out in full force wearing white in honor of women’s suffrage at the FAWL Gala at the Florida Bar Annual Convention! Congratulations to FAWL Leader in the Law award winners Kathleen Shea,  Charity Tonelli and Amanda Sampaio Bova!

Congratulations, as well, to CFAWL Immediate Past President Kimberly Hosley for being sworn in as incoming FAWL President-elect, and to CFAWL member Mariane Dorris for her upcoming tenure as Journal Editor.

Kudos to CFAWL PR Director and FAWL Lobby Days Chair Lauren Millcarek and FAWL Legislative Director Traci Deen for their successful Lobby Days event this year, to FAWL Awards Chair Jessica Thomas for coordinating an awesome celebration, and to outgoing CFAWL President Arti Hirani and outgoing FAWL President Jennifer Shoaf Richardson for their fantastic year!

Coalition for the Homeless Project

CFAWL volunteered at the Coalition for the Homeless Center for Women and Families and Intake Center, painting the walls of a room in the Center and furnishing Intake. This #CFAWLcares event was made possible by a grant from @flabaryld ? #CFAWLconnects

 

Flower Arranging and Wine

CFAWL had a great time learning to make flower arrangements! Great program! ?? #CFAWLconnects

OCBA YLD Passing the Gavel

#CFAWL members had a great time attending the Passing the Gavel ceremony of the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association! Congratulations to Jill Davis on a great #OCBAylsyear, and we’re looking forward to seeing the great work C. Andrew Roy will do! And don’t forget to save the date for CFAWL’s own Passing the Gavel ceremony on July 12! ?‍⚖️ #CFAWLconnects

 

Professionalism Roundtable

Thank you to everyone who joined #CFAWL for our Professionalism Roundtable last night! Judges Cameron, Caraballo, and Starr gave our attendees great advice on professionalism in the legal community. Special thanks to The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division for making this event possible! ⚖️ #CFAWLconnects #flayld

 

 

 

CFAWL June Luncheon

Thank you to everyone who joined #CFAWL for our #CFAWLFirstFriday luncheon last week, featuring John M Stewart! We can’t wait to see John Stewart installed as The Florida Bar President later this month. And we can’t wait to see you all at our own board installation on July 12! ? #savethedate#installationseason #CFAWLconnects — with Kimberly Hosley, Gisela Laurent, Arti Hirani, Mary Ann Morgan, Meenakshi A. Hirani, Rebecca L. Palmer, John M Stewart, Barbara Leach, Jamie Rutland Grosshans, L.M. Bedwell and Eric DuBoisat Citrus Club.

 

 

 

SFAWL Judicial Reception

Congratulations to Seminole County Florida Association for Women Lawyers on their successful inaugural Judicial Reception! #CFAWLmembers were happy to come out and support our sister #FAWLchapter for this great event! ? #CFAWLconnects #firedup4FAWLFlorida Association for Women Lawyers

OCBA Luncheon

#CFAWL members had a great time attending the last Orange County Bar Association luncheon – congratulations to Richard Dellinger on a great year and to Tony Sos on his installation! Don’t forget to attend our own monthly luncheon next Friday, June 7, featuring Florida Bar President-elect John Stewart. RSVP now at cfawl.org/luncheon-reservations ? #CFAWLconnects#OrlVBA

 

 

 

 

2019-2020 Board Retreat

The incoming CFAWL Board of Directors and Leadership Team had their retreat to plan for the 2019-2020 CFAWL year (we get sworn in at the July Luncheon). Twenty one exceptionally busy women gave up their Saturday to do this. We laughed, we cried (in a good way), we “played by the rules,” and we established our goals for the year. Jamie’s motto for the year will be #cfawlrocks – and we have no doubt it will!

 

Healthy Hour

Thanks to everyone who came out to sweat with #CFAWL Young Lawyers at our “Healthy Hour” event at Rukus Cycling Studio! So grateful to The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division for helping us put on this event for #FREE for #HealthandWellness month! ?‍♀️ #CFAWLconnects#CFAWLyounglawyers #flayld #welllawyer#stigmafreeyld

Special Thanks To CFAWL’s Past Presidents

We loved seeing you all at our #CFAWLFirstFriday luncheon earlier this month! It was a special treat to see so many past presidents in attendance, and then to get to see so many again at our incredible Corks for a Cause event last week ??‍⚖️ We’re so thankful that our past presidents continue to be such big supporters of #CFAWL ?AND we’re so excited when we see them go on to do big things – like our Immediate Past President Kimberly Hosley, who has been chosen as President-elect of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers this year! Congratulations, Kim – we can’t wait to see CFAWL take on an even more prominent role statewide ? #CFAWLconnects#CFAWLpastpresidents #CFAWLforever

 

Corks for a Cause 2019

Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who joined us last week for our annual charity fundraiser, Corks for a Cause! ? We had an amazing night filled with wine, great food, spirited bidding on prizes, and amazing company – and best of all, we raised thousands of dollars for A Place for Children! ?

Thank you to our co-chairs, Lauren Millcarek, Melissa Vickers, Anne Marie Rossi Williams, and Deborah A. Cook, and to our committee members, Margo Murphy Meta and Tina Leger, for pulling off such a successful event; thank you to the #CFAWL board for supporting this night; thank you to our in-kind donors who provided us with such wonderful raffle and auction items; thank you to M Lounge for providing us with a stunning venue and Kai Streetfare for the delicious food; and finally, hugest of thank yous to all of our sponsors, without whom this event would not have been possible! ?CFAWL and A Place for Children (and Orlando Day Nursery) are so grateful for your support of this amazing cause! ? #CFAWLconnects#CFAWLcares #CorksforaCause

April Events

April was such a busy month for #CFAWL! We threw our first joint happy hour with Seminole County Florida Association for Women Lawyers and the CFTLA Women’s Law Caucus; we attended and enjoyed the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida’s Judicial Reception and the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association’s monthly luncheon; and we loved seeing longtime CFAWL members and supporters Denise Beamer, Carly Wish, and Tom Young be sworn in as new judges! What a great month!

Poker Night

In preparation for the Orange County Bar Association’s annual Poker Tournament, #CFAWL threw a practice #Tablefor8 Texas Hold ‘Em tournament earlier this month! Huge thanks to Charity Joy Tonelli and LaShawnda Jackson for hosting us at the gorgeous new University Club of Orlando for such a fun event! ? #CFAWLconnects

YLS Luncheon 

HBA Judicial Reception

Bingo With Seniors

Thank you to everyone who joined #CFAWL for our bingo with seniors event last week! ? We had such a great time socializing with our local seniors ? And thanks to a grant from The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, we were also able to provide much-needed personal care and household items to the seniors! Thanks to Kathleen Shea for putting on such an enriching event! ? #CFAWLconnects #CFAWLcares #flayld— with Arti Hirani and Kathleen Shea.

 

CFAWL 2019-2020 Board Selection

HBA February Lunch

Congratulations to the Hispanic Bar Association putting on a great event with speaker Veronica Figueroa! 

 

Perspectives from Women Judges Event

Thanks to everyone who turned out for #CFAWL’s joint event with Gunster, hosted at FAMU College of Law, featuring Judges Jamie Rutland Grosshans, Honorable Alicia L Latimore, Diana Tennis, and Tanya Wilson. It was great to hear the perspectives of such distinguished women judges! ?‍⚖️ #CFAWLconnects (Shout-out to our Orange County Clerk Tiffany Moore Russell for attending – we see you! ?)

February Events

#CFAWL is so proud to be a part of our diverse, vibrant Orlando bar community! This month, our members have attended the luncheons of Paul C. Perkins Bar Association (led by CFAWL member Brandon Sapp), Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association (led by CFAWL member Jill Davis), and Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA) (led by CFAWL member Annie Kwong).

#CFAWL has had a busy October!

First, our Members Reception, celebrating new and returning CFAWL members. Such a fun night! Special thanks to Tara Tedrow and Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed for hosting, and to past president Jessica McGinnis for serving as our honorary chair ??  Next we had our monthly luncheon, honoring retiring judges Marc Lubet, Sally Kest, and Jose Rodriguez. The judges – with a combined 50+ years on the bench – told stories both hilarious and poignant from their careers. Thanks to the huge crowd who turned out for such a special day – and thanks especially to our Board’s Judicial Liaison, Hon. Bob Leblanc, for co-hosting this great event! ⚖️  We came together in support of Orlando Pride, 2018. CFAWL Fall Float was a beautiful evening out on the water with family and friends. Our President Arti Hirani and CFAWL Backpack Project Chair Amanda Sampaio Bova, in conjunction with the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association and their President Jill Davis Simon, presented a check for over $5,000 to A Gift For Teaching to purchase school supplies for underprivileged kids. Many thanks for everyone who contributed! #CFAWLcares  Then, CFAWL attended the Orange County Bar Association‘s joint voluntary bar event celebrating Oktoberfest! A good time was had by all – CFAWL loves being a part of such a vibrant #VBA community ?#OrlVBA#OCBA  We held our successful Business Succession Plan free CLE the last week of October. Thanks to Event Chair Marina Ellis and CLE Chair Tina Leger for your hard work planning this event – and to the folks at Principal Financial Group for speaking! ? #CFAWLconnects  The week rounded out with our joint OCBA/CFAWL luncheon, with special guest Florida Bar President Michelle Rosenkranz Suskauer! #CFAWLconnects

 

 

Register for Our Upcoming Lunch – We Post Photos and Eat Salad (and sometimes Fish or Chicken)

Did you miss #CFAWL’s last luncheon over the 4th of July holiday? Don’t let that happen again! ☺ TODAY is the last day to timely register for our August luncheon this Friday (featuring the amazing City of Orlando Commissioner Patty Sheehan) – cfawl.org/luncheon-reservations ?? And while you’re at it, mark your calendars for #CFAWLFirstFriday luncheons for the rest of the year! ?✅#CFAWLconnects

Making A Difference

Happy faces from Florida Association for Women Lawyers President Jenny Shoaf Richardson and other #FAWL members after The Florida Bar Board of Governors voted to support the proposed #parentalleave continuance rule last week! The rule now heads to the Florida Supreme Court. #CFAWL members – have thoughts on the proposed rule? Share them with krgodwin@floridabar.org before August 15 – and share them with us here! ?‍⚖️⚖#CFAWLconnects #firedup4fawl (?: Miami Dade FAWL)

CFAWL Cares – Community Outreach

One of our favorite things here at CFAWL is philanthropy. So our #tbtthis week throws it back to our #CFAWLcares event last month at Samaritan Village – a long-term residential care facility for survivors of human trafficking. Our members painted, furnished, and decorated their therapy room – how cool is it that #CFAWL was able to help out with such an amazing cause?! ?? #CFAWLconnects

Many thanks to the The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division for helping make this event possible via their #AOC grant, and kudos to Lorraine Pitre and Hazel Gumera for organizing! ??#ThrowbackThursday

CFAWL 2018 Board Retreat

#CFAWL had such a phenomenal retreat last weekend! Our board, leadership team, and representatives of other voluntary bar associations met, bonded, and laid the foundation for another incredible CFAWL year ? Don’t miss out on what we’ve got planned – renew your membership now! (cfawl.org/membership ☺) #CFAWLconnects

Many thanks to Allora Day Spa – Thornton Park and Gaviota Seafood & Fine Peruvian Cuisine for hosting us, and U.S. Legal Support, Inc. for sponsoring! Shout out to Paul C. Perkins Bar Association, Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association, Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc., and Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter NBA for joining CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers! And happy, happy birthday to our Scholarship Committee Chair Jessica D. Thomas and Outreach Chair Hon. Faye Allen! Thanks for celebrating with us, all ?

Supporting our Membership

Yoga Event

Thanks to everyone who came out to meditate with #CFAWL this weekend! Kudos to Lorraine Pitre and Hazel Gumera for a great event ??Have a mindful week, everyone! #CFAWLconnects#mindfulness #motivationmonday#healthandwellness ?: Avi Sam — feeling relaxed with Brock Hankins, Celeste Thacker, Avi Sam, Lorraine Pitre, Vanessa Alexandra and Hazel Gumera at College Park Yoga.

Toast to the Board 2018

#tbt to #CFAWL’s Toast to the Board a few weeks ago! ?? Many thanks to Kimberly Lorenz for throwing an incredible party and Mary Ann Morganfor hosting us ? Now that we’ve celebrated, we’re getting down to business – our annual board retreat is tomorrow, and we can’t wait to plan another fantastic CFAWL year for you all. So if you’re not a member yet, you’re going to miss out on all the fun! Join us: cfawl.org/membership ☺ #CFAWLonaboat #CFAWLconnects#throwbackthursday

Swearing in of the CFAWL 2018-2019 Board 

With Heather McDonald Kolinsky, Kimberly Hosley, Celeste Thacker, L.M. Bedwell, Cj Hubbard Bosco, Lauren Millcarek, Lorraine Pitre, Kathleen Shea, Kayla Monique, Charity Joy Tonelli, Heather Meglino and Richard Dellinger at Citrus Club.

2018 FAWL Gala

#tbt to the awesome Florida Association for Women Lawyers Gala last month at The Florida Bar Annual Convention, at which #CFAWLmembers Celeste Thacker, Jessica D. Thomas, and Heather Meglino were honored as Leaders in the Law by #FAWL. Congratulations again, ladies! ? #CFAWLconnects #firedup4FAWL — feeling delighted with Jen Sullivan, Celeste Thacker, Jessica D. Thomas and Heather Meglino at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.

Our Fearless Leaders – 2017 and 2018 editions!

Women & Minority Business Certifications at the Local, State and Federal Level

(Speakers & Committee Chairs)

CFAWL Leadership Retreat 2016