The key to making the most of your WLAM membership is to get involved! A great way to do so is to join one of our WLAM committees; use the WLAM Committee Preference Form. For more information, please contact the Committee Chair of the Committee you are interested in joining. If a committee has yet to be assigned a chair, please contact WLAM President, Tanya Grillo.
STANDING COMMITTEES:
Awards & Nominations Committee
Chair (Immediate Past-President): Nicole Smithson
The chair of this committee works with state and regional leadership to identify and develop interested members for leadership positions within the Association. This committee handles the annual nomination of state officers and submits a proposed slate to the Board of Directors for approval. This committee also evaluates members and/or regions nominated for Association awards. To become a member of this committee, you must be appointed by your Region or the State President of the Association.
Regional Development Committee
Chair: Amanda Skeel
This committee works with interested members to establish new regions and/or student chapters in the underrepresented areas of the State of Michigan. This committee also works with existing regions and/or student chapters to establish mentoring opportunities.
Annual Meeting Committee
Chair (Current President-Elect): Kirsten Silwanowicz
This committee plans and manages the annual statewide meeting (including the content of the meeting program, obtaining sponsors and speakers, securing a location, promoting the meeting in the media, onsite facilitation at the meeting, and subsequent evaluation follow-up).
Membership Committee
Chair (Current Vice-President): Kristina Bilowus
Our committee collaborates to encourage new members and help WLAM retain current members. We are responsible for maintaining and evaluating existing membership services and creating programs to promote membership retention and growth. Further, we evaluate future potential member services and submit recommendations to the Board for implementation.
Finance Committee
Chair (Current Treasurer): Abril Valdes Siewert
The chair of the Finance Committee submits the annual budget for adoption. This committee works together with the Director to maintain Association finances (including preparation of monthly financial statements, consolidated quarterly reports, and the Association’s annual tax return). This committee also ensures accuracy and compliance with the Association’s financial policies and procedures. This committee generally consists of the State Treasurer and the treasurers of each active region and/or student chapter.
Technology & Communications Committee
Chair (Current Secretary): Angela Medley
The chair of this committee oversees the maintenance of the Association’s website and other media sources (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, listserv, etc.), the distribution of the Association’s quarterly electronic newsletter (e-Focus), and the distribution of referral emails to members. This committee works to ensure that the Association’s media sources are current and up to date with accurate leadership contact information, past event content displayed, and timely information is provided regarding upcoming events.
Bylaws, Policies & Procedures Committee
Chair: Lindsey LaForest
This committee reviews the Association’s bylaws, policies and procedures and makes recommendations for appropriate changes to the Board of Directors and the membership.
Legal Affairs, Legislative, and Candidate Rating & Endorsement (CREC) Committee
CREC Co-Chairs: Jacky August, Kristina Joseph Costantino, Melanie Smith
Legislative Chair: Alexandra Casperson
This committee performs the following activities:
- CREC (Candidate Rating & Endorsement Committee) – Reviews, rates or endorses, and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding candidates and/or potential appointees for judicial, quasi-judicial, and in some cases non-partisan appointive positions.
- Legal Affairs/Amicus – Identifies cases in which the Association can participate as amicus curiae, brings such cases to the Board of the Association for consideration, and, when necessary, coordinates such participation. This committee also addresses any other response to existing law.
- Legislative – Reviews and recommends support or opposition to legislation of interest to the membership.
Program Committee
Chair: Roshundra Simmons
This committee works at the state and regional level to perform the following activities:
- Career Development – Develops and establishes workshops and seminars that educate members regarding developing laws, technology and provides tools for career development.
- Networking – Develops and establishes networking activities at the regional and state level for Association members. This committee also coordinates networking activities with other organizations/associations.
- Charitable – Develops and establishes charitable activities at the regional and state level for Association members. This committee also coordinates charitable activities with other organizations/associations.
Historical Preservation Committee
Chair: Nicole Smithson
This committee will work to preserve, archive and present the history of WLAM.
Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Co-Chairs: Kristin Fernandez
Educate, coordinate activities, and facilitate internal and external outreach with WLAM committees, other bar associations and members of the legal community to further D&I initiatives.
The Diversity and Inclusion Committee will develop educational tools and programming, in conjunction with other WLAM committees and collaboration with external organizations to (1) raise awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion to the structure and action of the organization, (2) assist members in facilitating and encouraging D&I discussion, engagement and initiatives through the organization’s internal and external communications, (3) assist the profession and the general public with D&I initiatives that are in line with the WLAM mission statement.
SBM Resources on Race and Justice
WLAMom Committee
Co-Chairs: Laura Helderop and Susan Chalgian
WLAMom focuses on providing resources and advocacy for WLAM’s members with families, no matter what stage of parenthood they are in. WLAMom strives to be an open and nurturing environment, one in which its members can come together to navigate and balance parenting and lawyering.
Leadership Class Committee
Co-Chairs: Lindsey LaForest and Nina Paolini-Lotarski
This committee works with interested members to create an annual program focused on the development of future female leaders. This committee designs core leadership classes focused on mentoring and networking development with experienced women lawyers and judges from a diverse background of the law. In addition, the committee will guide and support the Leadership Class as they develop and implement a community service project.
WLAM Journal
Co-Chairs: Alexandra Casperson
This committee puts together the WLAM Journal bi-annually, including article submissions, ads and sponsorships, layout/design, and editorial duties.
Working Towards Nine Podcast
Co-Chairs: Nicole Smithson
This committee is responsible for putting on the WTN Podcast. Committee members determine topics, reach out to potential speakers, record and edit episodes, and secure sponsors.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES (Ad Hoc)
Gender Equity Committee
Chair: Kristina Bilowus
This committee develops programs and services to: (1) assist members in dealing with gender bias; (2) raise awareness among the bench, bar, law schools, law enforcement, state government and/or general public of the continuing problem of gender bias; and (3) attempt to reduce the frequency and severity of the incidents and effects of gender bias on individual lawyers and members of society.
Domestic Violence Awareness Committee
Chair: Jen Smith and Viola King
This committee will work with the State Bar of Michigan as part of a taskforce to establish a domestic violence assistance program.
Pro Bono Committee
Chair: TBD
This committee will manage pro bono requests made to the organization.
Affinity Bar Coalition
Chair: Tanya Grillo
This committee will include liaisons from other affinity bar associations and will work to keep channels of communication open between affinity bars.
