Parting Words From Our President

CFAWL,

It has been such an honor to serve as your President this year alongside our dynamic and talented Board of Directors and Leadership Team. This year was not what any of us expected. But despite the challenges and setbacks we may have faced, we remained strong, stepping into the shoes of the protagonists we wanted to be to face the day and own our stories. Through that, CFAWL not only persevered, it thrived!

We held monthly programs to keep members connected within Central Florida and beyond, with members joining us from Colorado, Austin, Tallahassee, and Sarasota. We supported our communities by shopping at women and minority-owned businesses, by writing letters and sending valentines to those isolated by the pandemic, by providing for our angels at Rock Lake, and by donating to causes like the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Victim Service Center, and Conservation Florida.

We learned about our history, from the founding of our nation through today, emphasizing some of the lesser known stories about the fight for Women’s Suffrage. We found inspiration, promoted civic participation with our fellow voluntary bar organizations, and championed legislation during virtual lobby days. We even looked to the future at a virtual “Intergalactic Happy Hour” with our friends at the space coast.

Perhaps most importantly in these unprecedented times, we supported each other. We enjoyed happy hours and cocktail classes over zoom. We gardened, we explored, we cooked, and we crafted. We promoted each other, posting about accomplishments big and small. We had members recognized statewide by FAWL and by the Florida Bar. We also recognized our members locally through monthly book awards and our annual chapter awards. At the end, CFAWL was recognized as FAWL’s Chapter of the Year!

I am truly so proud of all CFAWL has accomplished, all you have accomplished during the twists and turns our story took this year. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next. We are in such great hands with our New President Heather Meglino and her team of incredible leaders for this year to come. I hope you will join us today for our pass the gavel luncheon, whether in person at the Citrus Club if you have RSVP’d or by watching us on Zoom at the link below.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 820 3752 0764

Passcode: 696013

Again, it really has been my privilege to serve you this year. Thank you for sharing your stories with me. Here’s to the next chapter.