It is a great privilege to serve as the 2012 president of FCWL. I first joined FCWL in 1992, when I was on hiatus from the practice of law after just moving to Fresno with a kindergartner boy and an infant daughter. I did not retain my membership in 1993 or 1994 because I was busy with the two aforementioned children, plus another infant (boy), and trying to figure out what being a “Fresnan” was all about. When I re-entered the work force in July 1995 as a staff attorney for the United States District Court, I renewed my FCWL membership and have retained that membership ever since.
 
The mission of FCWL always has been to promote the interests of the legal community at large and women in particular. In fulfillment of that mission, FCWL members are dedicated to ending gender and all discrimination, eliminating hostile work environments, promoting the appointment of female judicial officers, supporting outstanding female law students, and recognizing outstanding female high school mock trial participants. With advances in diversity awareness, we also are committed to supporting lawyers of both genders balance work obligations against family interests, acknowledging gender differences as sources of strength, and fostering respect for diversity in our bench, bar, and community.
 
We offer a broad range of educational topics (for which MCLE is offered) at our monthly luncheons. To ensure we meet the educational needs of our members, we ask for your input about topics of interest. Because the social and marketing aspect of FCWL is important to many members, we also will host a cocktail party in the Spring and a Holiday Party in December. As in years past we are delighted to collaborate in presenting a judicial reception honoring our newest female judicial appointee, the Honorable Barbara McAuliffe, as a Magistrate Judge for the District Court, as well as the Hanson dinner to honor an outstanding female lawyer and a deserving female law student.
We look forward to your participation in the coming year.