11-12-15 As Seen in the Daily Record - Greta Kolcon of Woods Oviatt is interviewed regarding her involvement in WBASNY.
Greta Kolcon, Esq. a Partner in the firm's Litigation Deparment was interviewed by the current GRAWA President regarding Greta's involvement in WBASNY. Greta is currently the Vice President for WBASNY.
GRAWA President’s Message: GRAWA, WBASNY a great duo for attorneys
By: Jill Paperno November 10, 2015 0
Jill Paperno
So what does GRAWA do and how does it differ from other local bar associations?
GRAWA is one of 18 chapters that make up a statewide organization, the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York. WBASNY is a voice for the women’s bar across the state and in Albany. Belonging to a statewide organization presents many opportunities, including networking, learning about different regional ways of handling matters, participating in substantive committees, and of course, gathering for fun events.
WBASNY provides benefits to members and chapters, including a lobbyist in Albany who works to achieve the goals of our organization, discounts on goods and services for members, and at times amicus support in briefs that address issues of importance to WBASNY’s mission.
One of the most pleasant experiences I have had with WBASNY is seeing how easy it is to become involved on the statewide level, and develop relationships across the state. GRAWA has been fortunate in having several members who participate at the statewide level or who have been recognized for the efforts they have contributed to the organization.
As GRAWA’s president, I serve as a member of the WBASNY Executive Committee, and GRAWA also has local board members every year who serve as chapter delegates to the statewide Board of Directors. This year, GRAWA’s delegates are Katherine Courtney, Wende Knapp and Katherine McClung.
In addition to our chapter’s representatives, many of our members serve in leadership roles on the statewide level. Last year, Heather Neu co-chaired the WBASNY Annual Convention Committee and received the prestigious Doris S. Hoffman Outstanding New Lawyer Award, and she currently co-chairs the WBASNY Membership Committee.
Recently, Meghan McGuire was recognized as a WBASNY Rising Star. Past GRAWA President Eileen Buholtz co-chairs the Statewide Judiciary Committee, which rates candidates for the New York State Court of Appeals. Past GRAWA President Heidi Schult Gregory co-chairs WBASNY’s Committee on Health Law and Reproductive Rights. And this past spring, Past GRAWA President Greta Kolcon became vice-president of WBASNY after serving as WBASNY treasurer the year before.
Greta and I met recently to discuss some of the goals of WBASNY and this year’s work. In an effort to both familiarize our local community and encourage other GRAWA members to get more involved at the local and statewide level, I invited her to share this month’s column with me. I asked her to address some of the following questions, which she answered below:
Why are you involved with WBASNY?
Greta: My experience with WBASNY developed directly out of my involvement with GRAWA. WBASNY’s mission is to promote the advancement of the status of women in society and of women in the legal profession; to promote the fair and equal administration of justice; and to act as a unified voice for its members with respect to issues of statewide, national and international significance to women generally and to women attorneys in particular.
WBASNY’s mission resonated with me on a personal level from my personal experiences and observations of continuing gender inequities that persist in our profession and our society. It was readily apparent to me that WBASNY offered unique and important opportunities for lawyers across the state to learn from each other, challenge each other and work together to advance the rights of women.
What do you think are WBASNY’s greatest contributions to the work of women attorneys in New York?
Greta: WBASNY provides a means of joining local chapters across the state, and is currently celebrating 35 years as a statewide organization, with the theme of “Leadership, Loyalty, Legacy.” As a chapter based organization, many of WBASNY’s projects develop from the “grass-roots” in the chapters, which is very different from a “top down” leadership model. Ideas are welcomed, opportunities are accessible and the stories of fellow members are inspiring. It allows attorneys to participate in a broader legal community, to access education and advance their careers, to mentor and recognize colleagues, and to serve the profession and the community at large.
What are some of the ways in which WBASNY influences policy and law in New York?
Greta: WBASNY is regularly consulted by the judiciary and members of the state legislature for input. WBASNY members work on important task force projects, WBASNY officers regularly testify on statewide issues, and WBASNY holds an annual lobby day in Albany to meet with representatives about critical issues. To name only a few, WBASNY has advocated for changing laws in the areas of domestic violence, in achieving equity in marital dissolution, in achieving fairness in custody decisions, in initiatives against crimes of sexual violence and in initiatives against sexual discrimination in employment.
However, WBASNY’s influence is not limited by the geographic borders of New York state. WBASNY is a registered non-governmental organization of The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, where members participate in critical dialogue on issues of international importance. WBASNY partners with organizations such as the League of Women Voters to conduct programs such as the upcoming United Nations briefing on Global Healthcare Issues and Educating the Youth of the World. And recently, WBASNY worked to help a group of international women attorneys create and form the first women’s bar association in Croatia.
What have you personally gained from your involvement?
Greta: New York state is a large, complex, diverse and fascinating place to live and practice law. My role as vice-president for WBASNY has given me opportunities to see how challenges and opportunities for members of chapters across the state are similar and sometimes very different. In addition to WBASNY’s 18 chapters, WBASNY has more than 35 standing committees, including a broad array of working substantive law committees. My responsibilities as a statewide officer include serving as a liaison to several other chapters and a number of those committees.
On a personal level, I have had the opportunity to expand my knowledge of issues that go far beyond those that I deal with directly in my professional practice. I have worked with attorneys, judges, and academic and political leaders whose experiences in life and in the law are vastly different than my own. I am proud to represent the Greater Rochester area and to highlight the contributions of our local legal community.
One of the reasons many of us went to law school was to work to make the world a better place. WBASNY, and GRAWA as one of its chapters, offers members the opportunity to do just that.
Jill Paperno is the 33rd president of GRAWA. She is first assistant public defender at the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office, where she has practiced for over 28 years.
