6 | July/August 2022 | BAEC Bulletin his decision making. He pushed for the Member Assistance Program so that all of us would have access to care when mental health and substance use disorder arise. I learned a lot from watching his thoughtful, steady and servant leadership. I will be a better leader because of our time together. What brought me to your service Sometimes, when something big happens, I am struck by how many things had to happen in a very precise way to allow for the incident to occur. How leaving the house just a minute earlier or taking a different route could lead to an accident or the avoidance of one. I guess the election that made me your President makes me ponder the same: What major and seemingly minor occurrences led me to be in this position at this time? For my sixth grade graduation, I had to list what “I wanted to be someday.” I wrote that I wanted to be a lawyer. Yet, as I was about to graduate from Canisius College, I was heading toward a career in social work. When I approached my favorite professor, Dr. Jesse Nash, to ask him if he would write a letter of recommendation for a MSW program, he pulled me into his office and, spent the next hour convincing me to apply to law school instead. In an hour, he resurrected my dream of a career in law. I often wonder how different my life would be if he hadn’t given me the gift of his time and belief that I could accomplish not just what I dared to dream, but so much more. What if my first job in law had not been in corporate law? I wouldn’t have gotten the job at Rich Products, which has been my home for almost 35 years. If not for the pandemic, I would have been concerned that my business travel would make serving as President impossible. I have been asked why I would want to serve as president. Obviously, it is a big commitment. As an in-house lawyer, I won’t get more business, and I am not looking for another job at this point in my career. I never thought of it that way. When asked to serve, I believe that if you have the ability to do so, you step up. If I can contribute to the success of this association and its members, I want to do all I can to do just that. How will I serve you Whatever circumstances, life choices and experiences have put me here in this position and time, I am called upon to decide how I will serve this organization these twelve months. The pandemic has changed how people work and interact. As an organization committed to serving its members, I believe this is an ideal time to assess what our members want and need
from us. We will listen to you and develop plans based on what we learn. I also will study how the hybrid and remote work of today may adversely impact women. Access and visibility are key to advancement. With more women opting to work remotely as they continue to integrate their work life with their responsibilities outside of work, it stands to reason that women may lose some of the ground they have gained toward that ever-evasive parity we strive to achieve. The BAEC will also audit all of our programs and offerings to make sure they are consistent with our diversity, equity and inclusion goals. We will also continue our work on attorney wellness, as the pandemic has left us more fragile, depressed, anxious and reliant on unhealthy substances. The priorities are many, the goals are lofty. But I have the most amazing Board and Committee Leadership to help me march forward, and a terrific BAEC staff led by Anne Noble, to help me along the way. These are my plans. But we all know that things happen that we never planned for. I know we will together rise to whatever challenges comes our way this next year. Enjoy the Beautiful Buffalo summer with those you love and stay safe. I welcome your feedback as I serve. I know that diverse perspectives help in making the best decisions. With sincere gratitude for the people and both the good and bad experiences that have resulted in my being ready for this challenge as well as your support in electing me as President,
Jill •
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