Recent events > Past Luncheons, Programs, and Events
JULY 2009 LUNCHEON: Kristin Beall: Home Improvement 101. July 10, 2009. Ms. Beall presented a program about doing it yourself and offered tips for dealing with contractors. Ms. Beall has a Master of Arts, Communications, University of Central Florida, 1997; A Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance, Stetson University, cum laude, 1996; and is a Licensed Building Contractor; and a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson. She also is a Certified Green Professional, National Home Builders Association.
BEAD LOUNGE: July, 28, 2009. Approximately 25 CFAWL members took over the Bead Lounge on Corrine Drive in Orlando. If you've never been, this is the perfect place to channel your inner creative energy to fashion beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry that will have your friends recommending you quit your day job and become a designer. Our members made the most elegant and stylish creations, and had a great time bonding, selecting the perfect beads, and learning the art of jewelry-making. Everyone loved it so much, they recommended this become an annual CFAWL program.
AUGUST 2009 LUNCHEON: Barbara Bergstrom: Etiquette and Protocol Specialist-Internationally Accredited. August 7, 2009. Ms. Bergstrom discussed various issues of professional etiquette. She was educated in private preparatory schools in Chicago and attended the University of Texas, where she majored in mass communications. Following certification by the nation's most prestigious etiquette and protocol school in Washington, D.C., she established the International Association of Independent Etiquette and Protocol Consultants. Currently, Barbara serves as Vice-President and Chief Protocol Officer of the International Council of Central Florida under the auspices of the U.S. Secretary of State.
BACKPACK PROJECT: August 20, 2009. CFAWL YLS partnered with OCBA YLS on the Backpack Project this year. The groups collected thousands of dollars of donations and supplies for the students and teachers of Rock Lake Elementary School. A CFAWL committee dropped off supplies to help ensure a successful year for the school. OCBA started the project eight years ago and selected Rock Lake when the school was ranked as an “F.” Rock Lake is now ranked an “A” school. Additionally, in 2009, Rock Lake was nominated as the State of Florida’s number one school in exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years under Title I. This honor qualified Rock Lake to be considered for an award on a national level, and at the Title I Conference in February 2009, Rock Lake became one of fifty-seven schools in the nation to receive a Distinguished School Award.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH FAIR: August 26, 2009. CFAWL hosted its first Community Outreach Fair ("COF") at the law firm of Dean, Mead, Egerton, Bloodworth, Capouano & Bozarth, P.A. The purpose of the COF was to educate CFAWL members and their colleagues and guests about various non-profits in the Central Florida community and ways to become actively involved therewith. To say the event was a smashing success is an understatement. Over 300 CFAWL members and community professionals attended the event to visit over 80 non-profits, including organizations such as A Gift for Teaching, the Central Florida Police Athletic League, Earth Angels United, Grandma's House, the Orlando Ballet, Rock Lake Elementary School, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida and many, many more. All those in attendance had a great time mingling in the white wine and cheese room, chocolate fountain and coffee room, and cake and red wine room. These tasty beverages and decadent desserts were made possible through the generous contributions of corporate and individual sponsorships. Further, attendees who visited a minimum of 20 nonprofits at the COF were eligible to win door prizes such as tickets to Wet & Wild, one-on-one personal training sessions, a gift certificate to Ember, a golf polo, and much more.
SELF DEFENSE CLASS: September 23, 2009. CFAWL hosted a self-defense program in the evening led by Officer Smith of the Orlando Police Department. Officer Smith presented for approximately one hour on issues related to personal safety and demonstrate various tactics to use if attacked. He then allowed members wanting to practice those tactics to do so for about an hour, which was a real confidence boost to the women who have never had to react to a physical attack.
OCTOBER 2009 LUNCHEON: Dr. Kendrick from Florida Hospital. October 2, 2009. Dr. Kendrick presented on robotic surgery, technological improvements helping to identify female cancers, and new protocols, drugs, procedures, techniques at Florida Hospital. Dr. Kendrick received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine, after which he completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Alabama Birmingham. Following residency, Dr. Kendrick also completed a three year fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Alabama Birmingham. His clinical interests include robotic surgery and the management of all gynecologic malignancies. Dr. Kendrick is a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Kendrick has been widely published in peer reviewed journals such as Gyn Oncology and Obstetrics and Gynecology. He has authored and co-authored over 45 peer reviewed articles, publications and abstracts.
NEW MEMBER RECEPTION: CFAWL hosted its New Member Reception on October 8, 2009, at the Orlando Downtown Marriott.
BALLET: On October 17, 2009, the Orlando Ballet co-hosted a party for CFAWL members and their children following the Orlando Ballet's performance of Cinderella. The children especially enjoyed the cupcakes and getting to meet Cinderella, Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother!
NOVEMBER 2009 LUNCHEON: Anne Franklin-Peiper: Northwestern Mutual. November 6, 2009. Ms. Franklin-Peiper discussed ways to hold onto more of our money when Uncle Sam wants to take more of it!
CHOCOLATE MAKING PARTY: November 10, 2009. CFAWL's Annual Chocolate Making Party took place at Farris and Foster's in Baldwin Park. This party was a blast this year and last year. It was a great time to not only bond with fellow CFAWL members, but to make delicious candies and holiday presents as well.
ROCK LAKE TEACH-IN PROJECT: November 18, 2009. Orange County annually hosts a "Teach In," an event where the community is invited into Orange County public schools to share experiences regarding career choices, goal-setting and academic preparation with students. For the second year in a row, CFAWL members were invited to "teach" 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classes at Rock Lake Elementary School. One of our members read Oh the Places You'll Go to her class to encourage them they can be anything they want to be. Another member gave a history lesson on the different branches of government.
PATH TO POLITICS: November 18, 2009. CFAWL hosted Path to Politics, a two-hour seminar presented by Mr. Mark Mills, director of the Political Leadership Institute, and held at the law offices of Gray Robinson. Path to Politics is a program designed to help attendees identify whether they want to run for elected office, and if so, the steps they need to take now, in advance of running for elected office, in order to appropriately position and prepare themselves before ever announcing a candidacy.
DECEMBER 2009 LUNCHEON: December 4, 2010. CFAWL hosted the choir from Rock Lake Elementary for a special holiday presentation.
2009 ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY: December 10, 2009. CFAWL hosted its annual holiday party at the home of President, Mary Ann Etzler. The holiday party is known for its holiday cheer, banquet spread, and the flowing chocolate fountains – a not-to-miss event for the holiday season. The party also gave members a great opportunity to drop off Angel Tree gifts, and see first-hand all the good our organization does for children in our local community.
ANGEL TREE PROJECT: December 18, 2009. This year, CFAWL’s Angel Tree project collected gifts for 65 children at Rock Lake Elementary School for the holidays. As part of the project, CFAWL hosted a party at the school’s media center, providing cookies, cupcakes and punch, and delivering the gifts to the deserving kids. At the party, the hildren opened their presents, which included clothes, bikes, scooters, dolls, basketballs and more. The children were elated to receive their gifts! The party is always a rewarding experience for the CFAWL members who attend, as they are able to see the true impact that CFAWL’s contributions have on the Rock Lake students.
FUNDRAISING FOR GREAT OAKS VILLAGE: CFAWL raised $477.00 for Great Oaks Village, a county-run foster home. The money raised went toward Christmas gifts for the children stuck in foster care during the holiday season.
JANUARY 2010 LUNCHEON: Shelley Lauten, President of MyRegion.org. January 8, 2010. Ms. Lauten presented on the status of our region, including SunRail, demographics, transportation, and other growth related issues.
HOLIDAYS IN JANUARY HAPPY HOUR: January 19, 2010. The Young Lawyers Sections of CFAWL, the OCBA, and the HBA co-sponsored a happy hour benefitting the Holidays in January project. Attendees were treated to unlimited wine and appetizers, and contributed almost $6,000.00 (including donations, grants, and matching funds) toward the project. The Holidays in January program provided educational materials for the Boys and Girls Clubs, presents and necessities for families of the Salvation Army, and items on the wish list of the Pediatric Oncology Unit at Arnold Palmer Hospital. These necessities and presents were gifted to children who were not otherwise remembered during the traditional holiday season.
FEBRUARY 2010 LUNCHEON: Doug Gaskins. February 5, 2010. Mr. Gaskins presented on various issues related to Business Valuations.
2010 PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S EXCHANGE: February 10, 2010. CFAWL hosted another successful Professional Women’s Exchange networking event. The event featured wine, hors d’oeuvres, and both a live and silent auction. Over 260 women from various professions registered for the event, and each attendee received party favors and a program containing all registrants’ business cards. The event raised almost $10,000.00, and a portion of proceeds benefitted A Place For Children.
MENTORING MINGLE: February 24, 2010. This event was held at Panera Bread on Lake Eola, and was open to all participants in CFAWL’s mentoring program.
POTTERY PARTY: March 2, 2010. CFAWL members enjoyed a ceramic party at Amazing Glaze, where we painted pottery at the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Orlando.
MARCH 2010 LUNCHEON: Betty Martinez Lowrey (from Walt Disney World). March 5, 2010. Ms. Lowrey presented on the topic of “How Talented Women Survive.” This topic focused on how women becoming leaders and taking on leadership roles can lead to improved financial stability.
2010 JUDICIAL RECEPTION: March 11, 2010. CFAWL hosted its annual Judicial Reception at the Courtyard at Lake Lucerne.
COOKIE COUSINS: March 30 & 31, 2010. CFAWL and its Young Lawyers' Committee hosted a get-away night at Cookie Cousins bakery in College Park. The event was open to all CFAWL members. Cookie Cousins provided delicious sugar cookies of various shapes and sizes, frosting/toppings to decorate and personalize the cookies, and demonstrations on basic icing techniques.
APRIL 2010 LUNCHEON: Mayanne Downs, Florida Bar President-Elect. April 9, 2010. Ms. Downs spoke to us on “Women in the Legal Profession” and how women can build their practices.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S LUNCHEON: April 21, 2010. This annual luncheon was for attorneys and their assistants, and was hosted at the Citrus Restaurant.
WINE EDUCATION SEMINAR AND WINE TASTING: April 22, 2010. The theme for the evening was "Discover California," featuring eight white and red wines from the state's most notable growing regions, paired with gourmet cheeses, crackers and breads. The first hour of the program was held in Total Wine's classroom, where attendees learned about grapes, varietals, and the first four wines were tasted. The second hour of the program was a time of mingling, where attendees sampled and learned about the second four wines at their leisure.
MAY 2010 LUNCHEON: Mark Brewer, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Central Florida. May 7, 2010. Mr. Brewer presented on the emerging marketplace and some of the new strategies being used by philanthropists across the region. He also introduced a new online tool from the Foundation for attorneys and their clients for finding and validating charities they want to work with in Central Florida
TEA WITH THE SEMINOLE COUNTY BAR YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION: May 22, 2010. CFAWL is co-hosted a tea at the Hart Sister’s Tea Room in Sanford, Florida. This fabulous event was open to all CFAWL members and Seminole County Women attorneys, and provided the opportunity for CFAWL members to interact with our friends in Seminole County!
JUNE 2010 LUNCHEON: Annual Past-President’s luncheon. June 4, 2010.
ROAD TO PARTNERSHIP: June 9, 2010. CFAWL and the law firm of Broad and Cassel hosted a seminar featuring a distinguished panel of women lawyers, who shared information and experiences concerning: 1) creating a map to partnership; 2) desired attributes of a partner; 3) expectations after securing partnership; 4) recommended associations and activities for associate attorneys; and 5) financial obligations associated with partnership. Speakers included Judge Donna McIntosh, Julie Frey, Heather Conger, Suzanne Gilbert, and Terri Ballard.