WIP Standing Committees

Annual Conference Committee:

The Annual Conference Committee shall plan an Annual Conference and shall propose programs for said conference consistent with and in furtherance of the Commission’s mission. All program proposals shall be submitted for prior approval by the Executive Council. Upon approval, the committee shall manage all affairs related to the Conference, including but not limited to, fundraising activities. All proposed fundraising plans shall be submitted for prior approval by the Executive Council.

Awards Committee:

The Awards Committee shall, consistent with and in furtherance of the Commission’s mission, solicit, consider and recommend nominees for awards within the profession and general communities. All such recommendations are to be submitted to the Executive Council for its consideration and approval. Specifically, the Awards Committee shall, according to criteria established by the Commission, solicit nominees for the Anne X. Alpern Award, the Lynette Norton Award, and the WIP Special Achievement Award and shall recommend an award recipient for each Award to the Executive Council for its consideration and approval.

In addition, the Committee shall, according to the criteria established by the Commission, solicit nominees of two awardees for the H. Robert Fiebach Promotion of Women in the Law Award. The first will be designated for a law firm (including solo practitioners) meeting the criteria, and the second will be designated to another entity (i.e. a non-profit organization, corporate law department or government agency) meeting the criteria. Both nominations shall be brought before the Executive Council for its consideration and approval.

Book Group Committee:

The goal of the Book Group Committee is to encourage small, independent group discussions with fellow WIP members at the local level, as well as during special segments of the Fall Retreat and Annual Conference. The group shall periodically review and choose one book to recommend to the WIP membership for reading and discussion at various events and localities throughout the year.

Communications Committee:

The Communications Committee shall plan, implement and oversee the public relations activities of the Commission, including but not limited to, placing articles and information about the Commission and its activities in the media and in publications of the PBA. The Communications Committee shall implement said activities only with the prior approval of the Executive Council. The Executive Council, in consultation with the Commission, may in its discretion appoint the following subcommittees: Newsletter; Networking Directory; List Serv; and Web Site.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee:

The Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee works to create a culture within the WIP and the PBA that effectively values diversity and fosters inclusion. The Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee aims to promote the full and equal participation of women of all backgrounds in the WIP, the PBA, the legal profession and the justice system in general. In order to achieve this mission, the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee will engage in proactive outreach to encourage women of all backgrounds to join the WIP, encourage (recruit, retain and engage) women of all backgrounds to participate fully in the WIP and the PBA, and assist women of all backgrounds to develop as leaders within the WIP, the PBA, the legal profession and the justice system.

Governance Committee:

The Governance Committee shall consider matters, and make recommendations to the Executive Council, related to the governance, including the policies, operating procedures and other procedures, of the Commission, the Executive Council, the Committees, subcommittees, and ad hoc Committees. The Governance Committee shall be responsible for ensuring accurate records of said policies and procedures in a form readily usable by the Executive Council and other interested persons.

Legislative Committee:

The Committee will be a forum where members can discuss federal, state, or local policy issues of interest. This committee may work in consultation with the PBA Legislative staff. Actions may include a recommendation to the WIP Executive Committee to pursue a PBA House of Delegates recommendation or to the WIP membership to pursue personal action. This committee shall be responsible for drafting any necessary recommendations and supporting reports to the PBA House of Delegates.

Membership Committee:

The Membership Committee shall be responsible for making recommendations for appointments to the Commission. In making such recommendation, the Membership Committee shall identify persons who have demonstrated their commitment to the mission of the Commission and shall give appropriate consideration to the goal of diversity within the membership of the Commission and the PBA. The Committee shall make its recommendations to the Executive Council.

Mentoring Committee:

The Mentoring Committee shall establish and oversee the Mentoring Program of the Commission on Women in the Profession. The Mentoring Program shall be committed to providing support and guidance to women lawyers through a voluntary network of women in the profession. The Mentoring Program shall focus on the individual needs of lawyers, establishing for them a meaningful partnership with another practitioner. The Mentoring Program shall strive to: 1) facilitate the integration of women lawyers into the profession; 2) encourage lawyers to achieve their full potential as members of the legal profession, whatever their area of practice, 3) assist women lawyers in attaining their goals within the profession, such as assuming positions of leadership within the legal community, and 4) offer the opportunity to provide support and encouragement to new lawyers and future leaders of the WIP and the profession.

Nominations Committee:

The Nominations Committee shall make recommendations for the appointment of the Chair or Co-Chairs of the Commission, the Vice-Chair or Co-Vice Chairs of the Commission, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer, if applicable. These recommendations are to be submitted to the Executive Council for approval. The process by which the Nominations Committee makes such recommendations shall include a timely call for nominations and a process of active recruitment.

Promotion of Women Committee:

The Promotion of Women Committee shall, consistent with and in furtherance of the mission of the Commission, engage in activities related to the overall promotion of women in the legal profession through the implementation of programs in various areas, including, but not limited to, Professional and Personal Leadership Development and Business Development; Women in Leadership; participation in the PBA and Local Bar Associations; and Elected and Appointed Judicial and Political Positions. The Promotion of Women Committee may work with other WIP committees to further the implementation of these programs. The Promotion of Women Committee shall implement any activity only with the prior approval of the Executive Council.

Public Service Committee:

This Committee promotes and provides service opportunities for WIP members and identifies and provides support for programs that enhance the health, well-being and power of women in our membership, our communities and our world. Task force activities have included participation in the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure, food drives to benefit food banks and clothing drives for the Dress for Success organization.

Quality of Life Committee:

The Quality of Life Committee shall provide support and resources with the goal of improving the overall quality of life through mindfulness, wellness, equity, workplace options and flexibility within the profession. The Executive Council, in consultation with the Committee, may, in its discretion, appoint subcommittees as needed to further the Committee’s goals.

Report Card Committee:

The Report Card Committee shall monitor issues related to the careers, advancement and status of women lawyers within the PBA and the Commonwealth, including but not limited to judicial, legislative and political office and other organizations’ appointments. The Report Card Committee shall report at least twice a year to the Executive Council concerning its work. The Committee shall compile statistics including but not limited to the number of women in PBA leadership, the PBA membership, and the judiciary on an annual basis. Those statistics and results shall be published in a Report Card which shall be available and accessible on the WIP webpage.

Retreat Committee:

The Retreat Committee shall plan an annual Retreat and shall propose programs for said Retreat consistent with and in furtherance of the Commission’s mission. All program proposals shall be submitted for prior approval by the Executive Council. Upon approval, the Committee shall manage all affairs related to the Retreat, including but not limited to, fundraising activities, if any. All proposed fundraising plans shall be submitted for prior approval by the Executive Council.

Spring Conference Committee (formerly the Midyear Meeting Committee):

The Spring Conference Committee shall organize and schedule the Spring Conference held every spring in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Mechanicsburg and any other location(s) as may be feasible. The Committee shall propose themes for said Conference consistent with and in furtherance of the Commission’s mission. All Conference proposals shall be submitted for prior approval by the Executive Council. Upon approval, the Committee shall manage all affairs related to the Conference.

WIP Committees