Letter from the chair

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, I think we have all realized how important our volunteer efforts are-and the potential we possess to aid those in need. I urge everyone to contribute to the fund established by ISBA President Robert K. Downs and Illinois Bar Foundation Russell K. Scott for the victims of the hurricane. Donations can be made by check or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express). By mail: Illinois Bar Foundation, 424 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62701; by phone (credit card): 1-800-252-8908; or at the Web site: www.isba.org. Checks should be made out to: Illinois Bar Foundation-Katrina Legal Relief Fund.

The establishment of the Katrina legal Relief Fund by Mr. Downs and Mr. Scott less than a week following the hurricane's devastation in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida makes me proud to be an ISBA member. I am proud that our profession acted so quickly on behalf of those in need. I am sure that many of you have acted in your own personal way to assist those in need of help- not only helping the victims of the hurricane but also providing quality legal services to the citizens of Illinois. For example, Meg Benson, Executive Director of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, writes in this issue about her organization assisting people in probate court-people who cannot afford private attorneys. Attorney Anita Ponder writes about assisting women with legal issues surrounding franchises. These are examples of hardworking, conscientious attorneys making our community a better place to live and practice law.

This year our committee has a full agenda. First, we are introducing a new element to our committee meetings-we plan to have a guest speaker at each committee meeting followed by our business meeting. We were delighted to have Daniel Rosman, Assistant General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Human Services speak to us in August about the plans of the Task Force on Genetics & Human Reproduction. The task force, established by President Downs and chaired by family law leader H. Joseph Gitlin, will address this emerging and complex area of law including surrogacy and reproductive rights. In October, Michele Latz, Director of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, will speak to our committee about the Pay Day Loan Reform Act, which has the potential to affect women and many of our clients in positive ways.

On November 10, 2005, our committee, together with the Committee on Minority and Women Participation, will co-host a brown bag lunch at the Chicago Regional Office: "How to get elected to ISBA offices." First Vice President Irene Bahr and other well-known ISBA leaders will share their experiences with us and give us helpful suggestions for running for Assembly, Board of Governors and Third Vice President as well as advise us as to how to get appointed to a committee or section council. Please contact the ISBA at 312-726-8775 to register for this event.

Five years ago, our committee collaborated with a number of other committees, section councils and bar associations to present an informative and riveting seminar on Domestic Violence. Due to the success of that seminar, we are currently formulating a proposal to present another Domestic Violence seminar in the spring of 2006.

In addition to the special events already mentioned, our committee will continue to comment on legislation that is presented to us, publish quality newsletters, propose continuing legal education and cable TV programs, participate in the Women Everywhere Project, promote and implement alliances with other ISBA committees and section councils as well as other bar associations and address any women's issues we are presented with. I am honored to lead such a dynamic, energetic committee. I invite ISBA members to contact me with ideas, comments or concerns. I can be reached at 312-814-1569.

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Ms. Ritchie is the Deputy General Counsel of Central Management Services, a State of Illinois agency. She is the 2005-2006 Chair of the ISBA Women in the Law Committee.