From the 2011 President

The Northern California chapter of AAML made progress during 2011 in furthering its mission: “To provide leadership that promotes the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the practice of family law.”

Last year’s symposium – “Taking Care of Business” – was our most successful ever, measured both in terms of attorney attendance and in terms of charity monies generated. Symposium Co-Chairs Tanya Prioste and Geniveve Ruskus feted attendees with fascinating educational programs and superlative social events. A sad and sobering moment occurred when the chapter made the posthumous presentation of the C. Rick Chamberlin Award to our beloved colleague Judith Soley. During a court recess, Judy and her client were murdered by an irate spouse who then took his own life. Judy’s daughter, family law attorney Leslie Soley accepted the award on her mother’s behalf. We will always remember Judy’s expert advocacy, warm personality and room-brightening smile.

Our $30,000 symposium profit was contributed to California organizations that assist families during divorce, including: Kids Turn (San Francisco County), VLSP Domestic Violence clinic (San Francisco County), Overcoming Barriers (Contra Costa County), Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County Teen Parents Project, Kids Turn Scholarships (Sonoma County), Life Works (Sonoma County), COPE - Impact Families (Napa County), Family and Children’s Law Center (Marin County) and Harmony at Home - What About the Children Program (Monterey County).

The attendance at last year’s symposium was so large that we outgrew our customary venue – The Lodge at Sonoma. This year’s symposium will be held at the Silverado Resort in Napa.

The four chapter educational presentations President-Elect Larry Moskowitz arranged for our members were among the best-attended programs in chapter history. As usual, our annual Judges Night meeting permitted Northern California bench officers to hear from each other regarding developments in their respective courts. Fellows Joe Crawford and Jennifer Crum organized a wonderful Associates/Mentees Night program in which Commissioner Richard DuBois and Fellow Diana Richmond discussed “How to Present Your Case to a Judge.”

Peesident-Elect Larry Moskowitz and his wife Louise Packard, Ph.D., welcomed Fellows to their home for our annual summer party. Larry Stotter, a founder of our Northern California Chapter, presented us with the original hand-calligraphed Charter dated June 2, 1974. Larry had also preserved many original letters and documents, which Chapter Institutional Memory Committee Chair Jennifer Jackson collected into a handsome binder and presented to the Chapter. Larry's book To Put Asunder, released in December 2010, is a readable selected history of family law over the past two thousand years.

During 2011 our chapter mentoring programs gave dozens of family law practitioners throughout Northern California opportunities to benefit from discussions, demonstrations and projects designed to enhance their skills.

Our amicus committee filed chapter briefs in In re Marriage of Valli and In re Marriage of Green. We are very grateful for the dedication and scholarship of Amicus Chair Diana Richmond. Diana received wonderful assistance in In re Marriage of Green from Fellows Ann Fallon and Barbara DiFranza. It is a special honor, and one that our chapter takes very seriously, to help shape California law in ways that benefit families.

The successes of 2011 were due to our enormously talented and hard-working Board of Managers: President-Elect Larry Moskowitz of Santa Rosa, Treasurer Brigeda Bank of Walnut Creek, Secretary Sharon Mah of Santa Rosa, Past-President Hal Bartholomew of Sacramento, Board Member Bob Blevans of Napa, Board Member Lorie Nachlis of San Francisco and Board Member Ellen Stross of San Mateo. Chapter Delegate Margaret Anderson of Santa Rosa continued her great work in representing us on the National AAML Board of Governors and Chapter Counsel Tom Wolfrum of Walnut Creek kept us legal and on track. We are ever grateful for the special abilities and attentiveness of our amazing Executive Director Paula Jackson.

Ron Granberg
Chapter President 2011