Please send CFAWL event pictures to cfawl.pr@gmail.com and don’t forget to use the #CFAWLCONNECTS
CFAWL Monthly Luncheon
On January 8, 2021, CFAWL hosted its first monthly luncheon of the New Year, featuring Lui Damiani, Executive Director of the Victim Service Center of Florida (“VSC”). The VSC is a nonprofit organization serving victims of crime in Central Florida. Like many of us, the VSC faced significant challenges this past year, but it also made notable achievements in serving our community, including expanding its services to Seminole County.
At the luncheon, Mr. Damiani discussed the role of the VSC and the initiatives it has launched to serve our community during these unprecedented times. We also heard stories of individuals that VSC has helped, including, Rachel, who shares her story from being a victim of sexual violence to a survivor. You can view her story here. Remember, YOUR voice is THEIR voice. If you would like to get involved with VSC, please use this link for more information.
We hope to “see” you all at our next virtual luncheon on February 12, 2021. More details to follow soon.
Cookie Decorating Party
CFAWL hosted its virtual “Cookie Decorating Party and Recipe exchange” event via Zoom.
All #CFAWL members who signed up and participated received a complimentary kit from CassyCakes complete with cookies, frosting, and decorations!
Needless to say, we had a “sweet” time sharing some of our favorite cookie recipes to help get into the holiday spirit!
Se7enbites Remote Rendezvous
This week, #CFAWL had an amazing time attending a masterclass in holiday baking with Chef/Owner Trina Gregory-Propst of the delicious Se7enbites Bake Shop! We learned how to make three dishes for Thanksgiving, as Chef Gregory-Propst answered our questions about Thanksgiving cooking/prep.

Poker with a Purpose
Last week, #CFAWL had a blast hosting its virtual โPoker for a Purposeโ Tournament where our members had a chance to compete against each other in virtual poker games. We had a $25 entry fee and a $5 spectator fee as our โbuy-ins,โ but all money collected was donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida!
CFAWL Virtual Fall Festival
We had a wonderful time at our Virtual Fall Festival last night! We enjoyed Halloween stories, crafts, cocktails
trivia, and costumes!!! Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with us! We got a couple shots of the fun, but add your pictures in the comments if you got โem!
Garden Gnome Project – Gardening with the Court
Making it #WayBackWednesday to when CFAWL hosted its virtual “๐๐ช๐ป๐ญ๐ฎ๐ท๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ฎ ๐๐ธ๐พ๐ป๐ฝ ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ท๐ฝ: ๐๐ธ๐ ๐ฝ๐ธ ๐ค๐ผ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฝ ๐จ๐ธ๐พ ๐๐ช๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ธ ๐๐ช๐ด๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ท๐ฐ๐ผ ๐๐ป๐ธ๐,” featuring former Judge Jose Rodriguez who taught us how to garden using materials found around the house. It was an informative outdoor event that was fun for all ages and also conveniently dovetails into #CFAWL‘s social media raffle for this month.
P.S. If you didnโt get to make a garden gnome with us, no worries! Gnomes made or acquired on your own time still count! Good luck!
Pandemic Pen Pals Event
CFAWL Luncheon with Justice Wells
Backpack Project 2020
CFAWL is honored to have co-hosted the Backpack Project with Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association to provide backpacks to in-need students at Washington Shores Elementary, Greater Oaks Village and Rock Lake Elementary! Thank you to all of you we were able to raise over $7,000 to purchase backpacks during a time of unique and virtual learning!
Cooking with the Court – Vegan Edition
This week, we had an amazing time Cooking with the Court: Vegan Edition with Judge Tom Young making Black Bean Avocado Enchiladas! Thank you to Judge Young for teaching #CFAWL how to make such a delicious and tasty dish, right before the weekend! If you missed it, you can find the recipe here: https://www.budgetbytes.com/black-bean-avocado-enchiladas/
Centennial Suffrage Celebration
This week, #CFAWL had an amazing time at its Centennial Suffrage Celebration! We toasted the Anniversary of the #Ratification of the 19th Amendment with signature cocktails and enjoyed several rounds of trivia featuring questions about inspiring women (and supportive good guys) from the turn of the (last) century to the present! CFAWL is always proud to support the local community, so our trivia round winners received gift cards from women-owned businesses including Quantum Leap, the Falcon Bar, and the Peaceful Peacock to name just a few! We want to thank our special guests from the League of Women Voters for joining us! It was a wonderful night to celebrate the accomplishments of the past, while also recognizing that work continued and thereโs much to do even today!
We hope that you will join us on September 3, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. for our next event, an edition of our virtual book club focused on Working Women just in time for Labor Day! No reading requirement for this one; come share your favorite book featuring working women or professional advice. Weโll have some thought provoking discussion, and weโll get some ideas for the next story to add to our fall reading lists. BYOB&B (Bring your own books and beverage!). Please RSVP to Nicolette Kramer at nicolettekramer@gmail.com to attend this virtual event.
Virtual Field Trip
#CFAWL took a (virtual) trip to Boston for a kid-friendly event to explore the Waterworks Museum. This one-hour program gave kids an introduction to the water system and provided interactive craft activities using materials that are pretty easy to find around the house. It was a lot of fun and a great way to spend time with the kiddos!
Cooking with the Court
Judge Michael Kraynick was in the โlime-lightโ as he showed #CFAWL how to make Key Lime Cake Pops using lime juice straight from Key West, Florida! We then topped our pops off with white chocolate and graham crackers!
Midday Munch!
Chocolate chip cookies inspired by Stella Parks’ BraveTart Cookbook for our Remote Rendezvous: Mid-day Munch edition! It was part instructional video, part history lesson, all delicious!
Paws for Peace
Huge thank you and congratulations to CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers and chair Jessica De La Cruz for spearheading #CFAWLโs Harbor House Paws for Peace project! This is a cause Iโve 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 canโt take with her – and thereโs 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. Iโm 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 Macyโs Thanksgiving Day Parade playing a piccolo? CFAWLโs members – thatโs 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: Mayanneโs 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 wonโt stop laughing until youโre 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
Cc: Orange County Bar Association
Florida Association for Women Lawyers
Paul C. Perkins Bar Association
Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA)
The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division
Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida




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, โWho Am I?โ 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 SFAWLโs 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 womenโs 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 weโre looking forward to seeing the great work C. Andrew Roy will do! And donโt forget to save the date for CFAWLโs own Passing the Gavel ceremony on July 12! ?โโ๏ธ #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! โ๏ธ #CFAWLconnects #flayld
CFAWL June Luncheon
Thank you to everyone who joined #CFAWL for our #CFAWLFirstFriday luncheon last week, featuring John M Stewart! We canโt wait to see John Stewart installed as The Florida Bar President later this month. And we canโt wait to see you all at our own board installation on July 12! ? #savethedate#installationseason #CFAWLconnects โ 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! Donโt forget to attend our own monthly luncheon next Friday, June 7, featuring Florida Bar President-elect John Stewart. RSVP now at cfawl.org/
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 โplayed by the rules,โ 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 โHealthy Hourโ 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! ?โโ๏ธ #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 ??โโ๏ธ Weโre so thankful that our past presidents continue to be such big supporters of #CFAWL ?AND weโre 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 canโt 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 Womenโs Law Caucus; we attended and enjoyed the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Floridaโs Judicial Reception and the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Associationโs 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 Associationโs annual Poker Tournament, #CFAWL threw a practice #Tablefor8 Texas Hold โEm 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 #flayldโ with Arti Hirani and Kathleen Shea.
CFAWL 2019-2020 Board Selection


Epic Night
#CFAWL had an epic time axe throwing this week! Watch out – some of our local judges have great aim ??โโ๏ธโ #CFAWLconnects
CC: Epic Axe Throwing Orlando; Florida Association for Women Lawyers; The Florida Bar
April Networking Luncheon
What a great luncheon we had on Friday, #CFAWL! Former U.S. Congressman Ric Keller and Immediate Past President of the Orange County Bar Association Liz Foshee McCausland led a great networking session. They said we can get to really know anyone using 3 questions: What is your passion? Which celebrity have you met, and how was your โbrush with greatnessโ? And what is your secret talent? It led to some great stories, including the incredible true story of how CFAWL connected Ric with Liz more than a decade ago – which ultimately helped free her mom from a Vietnamese prison ? Not a dry eye in the house after that one! #CFAWLconnects #networkingthatsnotwork
CC: Florida Association for Women Lawyers; The Florida Bar




CLE Fun with Technology
#CFAWL Past President Barbara Leach gave the most awesome Technology CLE presentation to our members yesterday! Weโre so lucky to have her supporting CFAWL. Huge thanks to our CFAWL CLE chairs Tina Leger and Marina Ellis for pulling together this event, to the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association and the YLS CLE chairs Lauren Millcarek and Lisa Ann Thomas-Esq for partnering with us, and to Principal Financial Group – Central Florida Business Center for sponsoring this #free CLE. We all learned some tips and tricks for using technology to make our practices – and our whole lives – easier! ?โ?#microefficiencies #CFAWLconnects #YLSlearns#getthattechnologycredit
CC: Florida Association for Women Lawyers; Orange County Bar Association; The Florida Bar

Voluntary Bar Events
Itโs been a busy month for the Orlando voluntary bar association community! Here, #CFAWL members are pictured at the most recent luncheons for the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association and the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA). We canโt wait to see you all at our own monthly luncheon on April 5! ? #CFAWLconnects #OrlVBA

5th DCA Investiture
#CFAWL was on hand last week to celebrate the investiture of Judges Jamie Rutland Grosshans and Meredith Sasso to the 5th DCA! Itโs great to see more women on the appellate bench ?โโ๏ธ?โโ๏ธ #CFAWLconnects
CC: Florida Association for Women Lawyers; The Florida Bar; Florida Bar Diversity & Inclusion Committee
March Luncheon
Thanks to everyone who turned out for our March luncheon with new Chief Judge Don Myers – especially to the many judges who came out to support him! #CFAWL was excited to hear Judge Myersโ plans for the Ninth Circuit โ๏ธ #CFAWLconnects
OCBA Law Day 5K
#CFAWL had a great time at the OCBA Law Day 5K last week! Congratulations to CFAWL board member Mary Walter Ingram for co-chairing a great event! ??โโ๏ธ #CFAWLconnects


Paul C. Perkins Lunch
#CFAWL members attended the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association luncheon last week featuring Tyrone King, speaking about key deposition tips and tricks. Congratulations on a great meeting, CFAWL member Brandon Sapp! #CFAWLconnects#OrlVBA#PCPBA

Table for 8 – Judges’ Edition
YLD Evening with Judiciary 2019
Yet another amazing turn out for the YLD Evening with the Judiciary this year! Thanks to everyone who came out in support of OCBA for this great annual event!


Congratulations Judges Sanders and Arendas!
Congratulations and welcome to our latest county court judges, Judge Gabrielle N. Sanders and Judge Christine E. Arendas!
Judge Arendas (pictured here at the investiture with current president Arti Hirani and long time CFAWL member Leslie Stewart) served as CFAWL president in 2010-2011.
#whenthereare9 #womenpower



HBA February Lunch
Congratulations to the Hispanic Bar Association putting on a great event with speaker Veronica Figueroa!
February Luncheon
Thanks to everyone who came out for #CFAWLโs monthly luncheon, featuring Chief Judge Lauten! CFAWL is so lucky to have such a great relationship with our judiciary โ๏ธ #CFAWLconnects




Babs Bakes Cookie Decorating for Charity
Our Past President Barbara Leach Law, PL of Babs Bakes hosted a charity cookie decorating party! All proceeds benefited our signature charity, A Place for Children ? #CFAWLconnects#CFAWLcares




GOABBA Lunar New Year
Congratulations to #CFAWL member and #GOAABA President Annie Kwong on a successful Lunar New Year event! โค๏ธ#CFAWLconnects#OrlVBAGreater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA)

Paul C. Perkins Judicial Reception 2019
Congratulations to #CFAWL member Brandon Sapp and his organization the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association for a successful Judicial Reception! Weโre happy that many of our members were able to attend both our women judges panel and the reception – a busy night in the #OrlVBAcommunity! โ๏ธ


Perspectives from Women Judges Event
Thanks to everyone who turned out for #CFAWLโs 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! ?โโ๏ธ #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).
Networking Across Florida
It was a busy weekend for #CFAWL! Kathleen Shea and Erica Cipparone made the pitch for an #AOC grant from the YLD for CFAWLโs #younglawyers activities. Great job, ladies! ? #CFAWLcares #AOC2019#FlaYLD
January Social 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). And donโt forget to join us at our own monthly luncheon on February 8 – cfawl.org/luncheon-reservations ? #CFAWLconnects #VBA #OrlVBA
CC: Florida Bar Diversity & Inclusion Committee; The Florida Bar; The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division; Orange County Bar Association
OCBA Luncheon
Congratulations to past #CFAWL president MaryAnn Etzler for winning the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.โs Jake Stone Pro Bono Award this year! We appreciate all you do for the community.
And it was great to see longtime CFAWL member Wynne McFarlin killing it at the Orange County Bar Association luncheon (as always!) as the Legal Aid President, and past CFAWL board member Judge Alice Blackwellserve as the excellent keynote speaker for the Access to Justice luncheon! So proud of our CFAWL community ? #CFAWLconnects #A2J#OCBA #probonomatters
Angel Tree Turn Out
WOW. ? How amazing is the haul for the #CFAWLAngelTree project this year?! Dozens and dozens of needy kids at Rock Lake Elementary will receive these toys, gifts, and warm clothes later this week thanks to all the generosity of our incredible #CFAWL members! We could not be more thankful to spend the holidays in such a giving community. Huge thanks to our Chair Brian Lawrence for all his hard work bringing this yearโs project together, and to all of you who donated to this great cause! ?โค๏ธ #CFAWLcares#CFAWLconnects #CFAWLholidays#dogoodfeelgood
January 2019 Luncheon
Angel Tree 2018
WOW. ? How amazing is the haul for the #CFAWLAngelTree project this year?! Dozens and dozens of needy kids at Rock Lake Elementary will receive these toys, gifts, and warm clothes later this week thanks to all the generosity of our incredible #CFAWL members! We could not be more thankful to spend the holidays in such a giving community. Huge thanks to our Chair Brian Lawrence for all his hard work bringing this yearโs project together, and to all of you who donated to this great cause! ?โค๏ธ #CFAWLcares#CFAWLconnects #CFAWLholidays#dogoodfeelgood
2018 Holiday Party
We had a great time celebrating the holidays at our December Luncheon!
December Events
Itโs been a busy time of year for #CFAWL members! We supported our PR Director Lauren Millcarek at the Federal Bar Association – Orlando Chapter New Members Reception. We partnered with the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association to put on a #metoo CLE. CFAWL members also attended YLSโs great luncheon featuring John Morgan. We applauded CFAWL member Judge-elect Amy Carter as she received FAMU Lawโs Distinguished Alumni Award. We attended SFAWLโs first event as a new #FAWLchapter. And we supported CFAWL member Annie Kwong at the holiday party for the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA). Finally, we partied hard at our annual ugly sweater party. Phew! Itโs that time of year ? Congratulations all on these great events – canโt wait to see you all at our own holiday party lunch on Friday!
#metoo CLE
THANK YOU to our amazing panelists, Mary Ann Morgan, Ava Kirshenbaum Doppelt, Hon. Faye Allen, and Jared Brooks; to our #CFAWLco-chairs Kathleen Shea and Tina Leger, and their #YLSLearnscounterparts (and CFAWL members) Lauren Millcarek and Lisa Ann Thomas-Esq; to the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association for co-hosting and The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Divisionfor funding this event; and finally, to all of YOU who attended! It was incredible to see a mix of men and women, young lawyers and experienced practitioners, lawyers and judges, and all sorts of bar leaders in our audience for this hugely important discussion.
Celebrating with Seminole!
โTis the season of…the more, the merrier! #CFAWLis so happy to welcome a new chapter to the #FAWL fold – SFAWL in Seminole County. Donโt worry – CFAWL will continue to serve Orange, Osceola, AND Seminole Counties, as we have for (wow!) nearly 40 years. ? But if you live or practice primarily in Seminole, feel free to check SFAWL out too! Weโd love to see some double-members ? Welcome to the sisterhood, SFAWL! ?โโ๏ธ #CFAWLconnects
Want to hear more? Contact SFAWLโs new president Shannon Snedaker for questions about SFAWL. And if youโre a Seminole CFAWL member with questions, feel free to give our Membership Director Heather McDonald Kolinsky or our President Arti Hirani a call. Weโd love to hear from you! ?๏ธ
cfawl.org/membership
CFAWL Judicial Reception 2018
What an incredible Judicial Reception! A huge thank you to the many judges who attended, to our amazing chairs Kathleen Shea and Marina Ellis and their wonderful committee, to our fabulous sponsors who made all this possible, and most importantly, to all of our awesome #CFAWL members! Our community is so lucky to be served by such kind, caring, hardworking judges, and CFAWL is honored to celebrate our judiciary! โ๏ธ
Basket Brigade with YLS
#CFAWL had a great time attending the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Associationโs Basket Brigade happy hour last night! ? Philanthropy is one of CFAWLโs favorite things ? Donโt forget to sign up for CFAWLโs own holiday philanthropy – our annual Angel Tree Project! ? Email Chair Brian Lawrence at brian.lawrence@lowndes-law.com to join the committee, and check your next e-blast for details on signing up to serve as an angel to a child in need this holiday season.
November Events – Part II
#CFAWL had another busy week! First, we had a table at Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.โs annual Breakfast of Champions Fundraiser – such a wonderful cause weโre always happy to support. โบ๏ธ Then, our special Table for 9 version of our #Tablefor8, with a #SCOTUS theme – we even made #RBGโs famous Dissent Collar! ?โโ๏ธFinally, we met up at Disney to celebrate the ending of Epcotโs Food & Wine Festival – a good time was had by all at the happiest place on Earth!??
November Events – Part I
Itโs been another busy few weeks for #CFAWL and our local #VBAcommunity!
First, CFAWL members attended the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida‘s Fortaleza Project, benefiting Feeding Children Everywhere – some of the meals we packed are going to the Panhandle for #HurricaneMichael relief! We also attended the fabulous Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association Pink Party, benefiting Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation. ? #CFAWLcares #HBACF#OCBAYLS#YLS#OCBA
Next up, we attended CFAWL board member Lauren Millcarekโs installation as President of the Federal Bar Association – Orlando Chapter. She gave a shout-out to CFAWL and how important the relationship is among our local #OrlVBA organizations! ??โโ๏ธ #FBAorlando
A few days ago, CFAWL also attended a mediation CLE put on by GOAABA – Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association, featuring CFAWL member Michelle Jernigan. Finally, today we attended the monthly Paul C. Perkins Bar Association luncheon discussing building your brand. #GOAABA President Annie Kwong and #PCPBA President Brandon Sapp are both active CFAWL members. ?
CFAWL loves being a part of this hardworking community! #CFAWLconnects
November Luncheon
Thanks to everyone who came out for our #FirstFriday luncheon today! On #LoveYourLawyerDay, itโs particularly appropriate that #CFAWL was able to celebrate its close relationship with the Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Law Association (CFGALLA), a fellow #VBA that we love! โค๏ธ And hey – donโt forget to check out #CFGALLAโs big annual meeting on November 29!
It was also wonderful to hear from Djuan Rivers, the Vice President of Disneyโs Animal Kingdom. As the overseer of the Pandora expansion to the park, he had some great insight to share about expanding a business under unique circumstances, getting buy-in from your employees, and living and working with passion. An inspiring way to head into the weekend! ?#CFAWLconnects
October Happenings
#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 Boardโs Judicial Liaison, Hon. Bob Leblanc, for co-hosting this great event! โ๏ธ 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
FAWL Summit 2018
CFAWL Partners

Busy day for #diversityandinclusion in the bar community, and #CFAWL members, as always, were happy to be a part of it! Pictured here: happy faces at Paul C. Perkins Bar Association‘s monthly luncheon and at Florida Justice Associationโs Diversity & Inclusion Reception ?
The fun continues this weekend – CFAWL will be joining the Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Law Association (CFGALLA) for a joint voluntary bar event on Saturday at 1:00 pm at Lake Eola for #ComeOutWithPrideOrlando! Check our page for details ?#CFAWLconnects#OrlVBA#PCPBA#FJA#CFGALLA
CC: Florida Bar Diversity & Inclusion Committee; Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA); Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida; Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association; Orange County Bar Association Foundation; Orange County Bar Association; The Florida Bar; The Florida Bar Leadership Academy


September Table for Eight
We had a wonderful time enjoying fine dining and good friends at the September Table for Eight – Thanks to Tony Sos for his hospitality!



View from Above
CFAWL (and friends!) had a great time at ICON Orlando! Thanks to everyone who was able to join us for this unique event.

Supporting Our Friends
CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers came out in full force yesterday to support CFAWL member Brandon Sapp for his first general body meeting as President of the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association! Congratulations on a great meeting and speaker ? #CFAWL looks forward to working with #PCPBA this year! #CFAWLconnects #diversityandinclusion #OrlVBA
(PS – have you seen CFAWL members doing great things around town? Make sure you send a photo to cfawl.kudos@gmail.com so we can congratulate our members for all their awesomeness! ?)
CC: Florida Bar Diversity & Inclusion Committee; Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. โ with Lauren Millcarek, Brandon Sapp, Tenesia Hall, Paul C. Perkins Bar Associationand James Smith Attorney at Law at UCF Executive Development Center.
Magical Dining
Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers‘ August program: a magical night of dinner and conversation with some #CFAWLfavorites ?
?
? If you missed out, donโt worry – our September program at ICON is coming up on the 18th! Email Kayla Monique at Kayla.mudge@gmail.com to RSVP
? #CFAWLconnects#CFAWLprograms #magicaldining
CFAWL September Luncheon
Thanks to everyone who came out for another wonderful #CFAWLFirstFriday luncheon today! We had two great speakers in Chris Castro and Clayton Louis Ferrara, founders of the sustainability nonprofit IDEAS For Us ?
? They educated us on how Orlando is sustainably managing its massive growth and how IDEAS for Us is helping to do the same worldwide – of particular interest to CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers because of how lack of sustainable growth disproportionately harms women, and because womenโs access to education and reproductive healthcare is demonstrably key to sustained, healthy growth in developing economies around the world. Go to ideasforus.org to check out more. What an engaging, inspiring discussion, #CFAWL!
? #CFAWLconnects
(PS – thanks to one of our annual sponsors, First GREEN Bank, for coming and saying hi to our members today! We you)
CC: Florida Association for Women Lawyers


Table for Eight

A fantastic time was had by all at CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers‘ first Table for 8 of the year – Burgers, Beer & Board Games! ?
? Many thanks to Brian Lawrence for hosting an amazing night
? And donโt forget to renew your #CFAWL membership this week so you can participate in the next awesome #T48! cfawl.org/membership
โบ๏ธ#CFAWLconnects#CFAWLT48 cc: Florida Association for Women Lawyers โ eating burgers with Kimberly Hosley, Heather McDonald Kolinsky, Brian Lawrence, Brandon Sapp, Mary Walter Ingram, Tina Leger and Jamie Billotte Moses.
Supporting Our Friends
CFAWL President Arti Hirani was very busy last week, attending events in support of the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA), the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida, the Paul C. Perkins Bar Association, and the Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Law Association. #CFAWL looks forward to working with GOAABA, HBACF, PCPBA, and CFGALLA this year! #CFAWLconnects#diversityandinclusion#intersectionalitymatters โ with Lauren Millcarek, Annie Kwong, Brandon Sapp, Michael Andriano-Esq, Ani Rodriguez-Newbern and Jessica Travis.

August Board Meeting
Many Thanks to Board Member CJ Bosco for sponsoring the delicious nibbles for our August 2018 Board Meeting (and a collective shout out and kudos to our President and Board for keeping “official business” under 40 minutes duration so we could enjoy each other and socialize). GO TEAM!

2018 Backpack Fundraiser – Event Photos
Our 2018 Backpack Project Happy Hour was a great success! #CFAWL loves that weโve been able to support the kids at Rock Lake Elementary through A Gift For Teaching year after year โค๏ธ This year’s event was held at The Brass Tap – Mills Park, where members of CFAWL – Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers and YLS made this yearโs YLS and CFAWL Backpack Project Happy Hour another smashing success!
?#CFAWLconnects #CFAWLcares (
?: YLS)
Register for Our Upcoming Lunch – We Post Photos and Eat Salad (and sometimes Fish or Chicken)
Did you miss #CFAWLโs last luncheon over the 4th of July holiday? Donโt let that happen again! โบ 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 youโre at it, mark your calendars for #CFAWLFirstFriday luncheons for the rest of the year!
?
โ
#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! ?โโ๏ธ
โ#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 ? Donโt miss out on what we’ve got planned – renew your membership now! (cfawl.org/membership
โบ) #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 โ 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 #CFAWLโs 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 weโve celebrated, weโre getting down to business – our annual board retreat is tomorrow, and we canโt wait to plan another fantastic CFAWL year for you all. So if youโre not a member yet, youโre going to miss out on all the fun! Join us: cfawl.org/membership
โบ #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 โ 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