The WBA congratulates member Mary Sue Ramsden on being the 2009 recipient of the Lynette Norton Award presented by the PBA Commission on Women in the Profession at their annual luncheon meeting on June 3, 2009. The Lynette Norton Award was created in memory of Lynette Norton, a founding member of the PBA Commission on Women in the Profession who died in 2002. Norton was an advocate for young women in the legal profession and worked to promote literacy and women’s rights. The award is designed to recognize and encourage female attorneys who excel in litigation skills and who are devoted to mentoring female lawyers. Mary Sue is truly deserving of this award. She has been instrumental in establishing a mentoring program as Chair of the Family Law Section of the ACBA. In addition to her various committee appointments with the PBA and ACBA, Mary Sue served as co-president of the WBA from 1998-2000 and as its secretary from 1996-1998, and is a past recipient of the Susan B. Anthony Award. Way to go, Mary Sue.

The WBA was recently inducted into the 2009 Honor Roll of legal organizations welcoming women professionals established this year by the Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession. One of just nine inductees to this inaugural Honor Roll, the WBA was the only non-law firm chosen for this distinction. The WBA and other inductees were selected for instituting programs and/or initiatives that have resulted in assisting women lawyers continue and advance in their professional careers. The Honor Roll was created by the WIP in the hope that highlighting successful programs will inspire other legal organizations to recognize the importance of and implement similar programs. The WBA is proud to be among the first inductees to the Honor Roll. Thanks to WBA member Mary Sue Ramsden for nominating the WBA.