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TLAW: Winter 2006 Newsletter
In Re TLAW
Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women
Winter 2006
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Greetings!

As our calendar year closes, TLAW has been busy building our membership base, welcoming new admittees to the bar and attending or co-hosting various functions throughout the state. In this issue you will read about some of our activities.

Woman Suffrage Memorial Dedicated
Under the blazing heat of the Tennessee August sun, dozens of women, some even daring to wear the heavy women’s attire of the 1920’s, marched to Market Square in Knoxville to re-enact a women’s suffrage parade and dedicate the Women Suffrage Memorial. TLAW President Jackie Dixon led the TLAW delegation which was attired primary in white, the color the suffragists usually wore. TLAW recording secretary, Heather Anderson, literally carried the TLAW banner in the parade. Other TLAW members who marched included Judge Patsy Cotrell, Margaret Behm, Marcia McMurray, Amy Hollars accompanied by her young daughter, Sharon Frankenberg, Pamela Reeves, and Martha Lionberger. The memorial stands in honor to the achievements, on behalf of all women, of Lizzie Crozier French of Knoxville, Anne Dallas Dudley of Nashville, and Elizabeth Avery Meriwether of Memphis. The keynote speaker at the event was the Honorable Martha Craig Daughtrey, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, who is, herself, a looming figure in women’s history. (Judge Daughtrey and organizer, Wanda Sobieski are pictured here.)

In her address, Judge Daughtrey gave an eloquent history of the movement and applauded the efforts of the suffragists, noting the important role of Tennessee in the movement. Characterizing their efforts as “herculean”, the Judge told how Tennessee women, to the great amazement of many, actually convinced the General Assembly to grant women the right to vote in presidential and municipal elections in Tennessee.” She made clear the enormity of the issue by describing the sacrifices that some had made in order to obtain the vote. “[M]ore militant women suffragists under the leadership of Alice Paul . . . had chained themselves to the White House fence, been dragged off to prison and force fed in response to hunger strikes.” The most difficult campaign of all – what the Judge referred to as “the last-ditch, in-the-trenches, ‘bring in the heavy artillery’ battle” – was to be fought here Tennessee. It involved not only Tennessee’s own stalwart suffragists, but also the national pro- and anti- forces, which descended on Nashville in the unnaturally hot August of 1920 and set up the battle headquarters in the new Hermitage Hotel, just opposite the state Capitol.
TLAP is here to help our members
One of the most shocking sessions in my law school orientation was that each of the first year students in my class was given information on depression and counseling the eve of our first day of law school. At that time, I learned that this profession suffers from a very high depression rate. Unfortunately, for many lawyers it goes beyond depression and into suicide as we have witnessed this year by some of our own. As the holidays approach, for those suffering from clinical depression, this season can be particularly difficult and exacerbate their depression and a need for help.

The Tennessee Lawyers Assistance Program offers free and confidential assessment, referrals, interventions, education, advocacy and peer support services for lawyers, judges, bar applicants, law students and their families. TLAP services address a range of health and personal issues such as: alcohol/drug abuse, stress burnout, marital/family problems, depression, compulsive gambling, eating disorders, sexual compulsivity, and old age/senility.
The Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society Recognizes Justices
By Donna Roberts

On October 5, 2006, attorneys and judges from across the state convened at Loew’s Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville for the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society Dinner. It was a very special evening planned to honor our present and our immediate past Tennessee Supreme Court Justices, including recently retired justices E. Riley Anderson, Adolpho A. Birch Jr. and Frank F. Drowota, III, as well as recently appointed justices Cornelia A. Clark and Gary R. Wade. The dinner program also recognized the dedicated service Chief Justice William M. Barker and Justice Janice M. Holder. The event, which coincided with the Court’s opening session in Nashville, was itself historic, as the opening of the Court has not typically been celebrated in Nashville. The evening was memorable and fun-filled, with tributes (and a few roasts) made to each honoree. TLAW member, Marlene Moses, was instrumental in planning the program, and did a wonderful job as the event’s emcee.
President's Column
By Jackie Dixon

This issue of the TLAW newsletter features some of the great activities that TLAW has been involved with as well as upcoming activities for its members. We are excited to share this news.
New TLAW Executive Director Hired
TLAW is proud to announce that Tessa Lemos Del Pino has recently begun as our new Executive Director. Tessa joins us after several years in administration and research at Columbia University. Her most recent position there was Director of Finance and Administration at the Center for Global Health and Economic Development in the Mailman School of Public Health where she oversaw the financial and administrative aspects of running an organization with employees all over the world doing research and work related to HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other detrimental diseases and illnesses that affect the economic development of third world countries. While with Columbia University, she also did some policy work, research and grant writing on welfare reform issues. Her work included investigating the health outcomes of women and children on welfare as well as overseeing and studying a national demonstration project, which served recovering addicts who were welfare recipients. Prior to working in the academic environment, Tessa practiced law in Central Washington, where she currently maintains an active license to practice law. She lives in Nashville with her husband, Jerome Del Pino, and their daughter.

Tessa is excited to be a member to the TLAW family as we take on new initiatives to increase our membership and activities. Please welcome her aboard.
Report from our Middle Tennessee Director
By Amy Hollars

Leaders of the Putnam and Cumberland County Bar Associations have graciously invited me to attend their annual Christmas parties and to speak briefly about TLAW and the benefits of membership. The Putnam County Bar Association's Christmas Party is Friday, December 8th at 6:00 p.m. at the Town Center in Cookeville, Tennessee. The Cumberland County Bar Association's party will be held on the following night, December 9th, at Lake Tansi in Crossville, Tennessee.
ETLAW Representative Report
By Sharon Frankenberg

ETLAW has had a big year in 2006. We celebrated more than 20 years as an organization with a Presidents' Reunion at the home of Sharon Frankenberg in January. ETLAW has sponsored several CLE luncheons this year which featured speakers U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Richard Stair, Jr.: Linda J. Mowles of Lewis, King, Krieg & Waldrop; Carol S. Nickle of Nickle & LaFevor; Judge Joseph M. Tipton of the Court of Criminal Appeals; Theresa M. Costonis with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility; Professor Judy Cornett, UT College of Law; Chris Lovin of Lattimore, Black, Morgan & Cain; and Donna R. Davis of Butler, Vines & Babb. We also met with the newly elected Judge of Knox County General Sessions Court , Andrew Jackson, VI.

On December 13th, we will have our annual Holiday Luncheon at Club LeConte at noon. We will collect and prepare donated gifts to benefit the YWCA. Contact Sharon Frankenberg for details at (865) 539- 2100. Elections will be held at that time.
Save the date
TLAW Annual Meeting and Convention with TBA, TTLA and TJC

June 13 - 15, 2007

Music City Sheraton, Nashville, TN
Upcoming CLE
TLAW is co-hosting a CLE on Lawyer and the Good Life.
Please welcome our new members

RENEW your TLAW membership for 2006-07. Click the "Quick Links" section for a membership form and dues invoice. Questions about your membership? Contact Tessa at tlaw@tlaw.org.

"If women want real power and change, they must run for public office and use the vote more intelligently." - Sandra Day O'Connor
Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women
Tessa Lemos Del Pino, Executive Director

email: tlaw@tlaw.org
phone: 615.385.5300

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Tennessee Lawyers' Association for Women | P.O. Box 331214 | Nashville | TN | 37203