PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Greetings and welcome to our website:

I would like to begin by thanking the membership for electing me as President of this
auspicious organization. I have been a member of the WPBA for 20 years. While the
programming presented has always been top notch, it has always been the
camaraderie and networking opportunities that I have enjoyed the most. The WPBA
provides an important service of bridging the gap between members of the bar and
members of the judiciary, as well as between practitioners with divergent practice
areas. And, I am proud to take the helm and continue that tradition.

This year promises to be particularly exciting. I am pleased that we already have
scheduled all of our programs and events for the entire year beginning with a
'Welcome Back' social event on September 22, 2009. This will be followed by our
annual Candidates Luncheon where we provide Ninth Judicial District Court
candidates the opportunity to introduce themselves to members of our group.
November's presentation will be on workplace violence. We will conclude 2009 with
our annual Holiday Party in December, an event free to paid members which has
become increasingly popular each year.

We'll break free of our winter doldrums with a presentation on Reverse Mortgages in
February and thereafter an Ethics CLE in April. We'll wrap up our year with our Golf
Outing/Dinner in May and our Past Presidents luncheon in June (wow . . . summer
already?) Details for all these events can be found elsewhere on this website as can
photographs of these and other past events.

I would also like to announce that this year we will be forming various committees to
facilitate the actions and guide the directions of our organization. Specifically, we will
be forming a committee for: Membership; By-Laws; Website; Food/Venue; Golf; and
Programming/Flyers. These committees will provide our members with an opportunity
to get more involved with the WPBA. Stay tuned for additional information!

In addition to the programs for members, the WPBA will continue our strong outreach
programs including Law Day, Take Your Child to Work Day, Gender Fairness Essay
Contest and the giving of annual awards to outstanding Pace Law School Students
(as designated by the faculty). This year we also sponsored several White Plains High
School students who participated in the Young Women's Justice Academy, a week
long program at Pace Law School, hosted by the National Association of Women
Judges.

However, none of the foregoing would be possible without your dues. Annual dues are
a very modest $50 and enable our paid members to take advantage of reduced prices
at the luncheons and attend the holiday party gratis. Additionally, we offer Affiliate
Membership for non-attorneys. Dues notices will be going out shortly. Please send in
your check as soon as possible. Also, please make sure that you send in your current
e-mail address as it is our intention to 'go green' and offer an 'opt-out' of receiving
'snail-mail' for those who so choose.

I would like to personally thank everyone who has and will continue to be involved with
the WPBA. This is a great organization and I am looking forward to a fantastic year and
to seeing you all at many of our upcoming functions.

Yours,

Andrew K. Brotmann

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