The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association began its 2011-12 term with an opening reception Thursday at The Florida Yacht Club in Ortega.
JWLA President Stephanie Harriett welcomed about 30 people to the reception and informed them of the programs planned for the monthly meetings.
“We are excited about the speakers we will feature to start off the new year,” said Harriett.
The Oct. 13 lunch event at The River Club will welcome guest speaker Susan Constantine, a body language expert called on to interpret the body language of Casey Anthony and her family during Anthony’s murder trial in Orlando.
The Nov. 10 event will feature former Ambassador Nancy Soderberg who is an author, public commentator and foreign policy expert. She is currently president of Connect U.S. Fund in Washington, D.C., an initiative to promote U.S. engagement in global challenges.
She also serves as a Visiting Distinguished Scholar at the University of North Florida and president and CEO of Soderberg Solutions, an international consulting firm.
Soderberg served in the White House as the third-ranked official on the National Security Council (1993-96) and as alternate representative to the United Nations (1997-2001), with the rank of ambassador.
The JWLA was founded in 1982 to provide support and networking for women lawyers in Jacksonville. Membership is open to all attorneys, male or female, in Jacksonville and surrounding counties.
The organization hosts monthly luncheons and an annual judicial reception to improve the administration of justice and to elevate judicial standards, promote the study of law, distribute legal knowledge to the general public and improve the relations between lawyers and the general public.
Its executive board includes Harriett, President-elect Katherine Schnauss-Naugle, Secretary Kate Mesic, Treasurer B.J. Taylor, Vice President of Public Relations Millie Kanyar, Vice President of Events - Opening Reception Susannah Collins, Vice President of Events - Holiday Party Banda Crawford and Vice President of Events - Judicial Reception Vanessa Zamora Newtson.
356-2466