PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Greetings and welcome to our website:

I am pleased to serve as President of the White Plains Bar Association, affectionately
known as the “WPBA”, an organization well-known for its professionalism and
collegiality. Founded in 1947, we will celebrate our 65th Anniversary in 2012. Since
its inception, the WPBA’s membership has substantially grown. However, no matter
how large we become we are cognizant of our community and we fortunate in that our
members can always find a friend or mentor at any of our events.

Our membership consists of local solo practitioners, members of large Westchester
County firms, and local, state and county court judges. More than that, in keeping with
these times and recognizing the growth of the city of White Plains, the WPBA has
likewise evolved by expanding its membership to include Affiliate members, who are
business persons and entities (other than lawyers and judges). They, too, seek to
participate in the invaluable networking opportunities that the WPBA provides.

Aware of the importance of leading by example to maintain the good reputation of the
legal profession, we will continue to participate and sponsor Community Outreach
Programs which benefit the White Plains community, including among others: Take
Your Children to Work Day, Law Day, the Ninth Judicial District’s Gender Fairness
Committee's Essay contest for high school students; and the Summer Justice
Academy for Young Women. We will also continue our annual presentation of awards
to outstanding Pace Law School Students such as the Bon Vergari Public Service
Award, the Isaac Ruben Clinical Award and the Ethics and Professionalism Award.

Best of all, our tradition of bi-monthly luncheons with topics of local or regional
importance to the White Plains legal community and the community at large will
continue. Notably, past topics have included environmental issues, foreclosures,
presentations from local, state and federal judges, ethics and professionalism and
general issues of importance to civil and criminal practitioners. Also not to be missed
are our annual events: the Annual Holiday Party in December; Annual Meeting and
Golf Outing in May; and, the Past Presidents’ luncheon in June at which time the
WPBA will present its annual awards to Pace Law Students. Be sure to regularly check
this Website and your mail for the dates.

Of course, we can only do the above with your support. Annual dues are a modest
$50 and enable our paid members to take advantage of reduced prices at our events.
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.

Needless to say, membership in the WPBA offers endless opportunities for
professional and social interaction with our colleagues who live, work and/or practice
in White Plains. Please join us in this upcoming year which will end with our 65th
anniversary in 2012. I hope that we count on your energy and devotion to share your
legal knowledge and skills to further the evolution of the WPBA, our profession, and
the White Plains community.

Hope to see you at the WPBA!

Deborah A. Scalise

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