Dear MSJDN Members,
It has been an honor to serve as the President of the Military Spouse JD Network over the past year.
MSJDN’s job is to serve our members, our military community, and the legal profession. Starting last June, we initiated membership dues which have helped us ensure long-term security for the organization while simultaneously strengthening infrastructure and implementing more benefits programs and keeping costs down for our educational programs, like Making the Right Moves and Homefront Rising. We launched mentoring program for our members in early in 2015. We also launched a free monthly webinar program focusing on issues impacting military families and topics important to our military spouse attorney community. Be on the lookout for a revamped website which will be released soon, featuring improved forums and better access to resources for MSJDN members!
Through the Military Spouse JD Foundation’s Justice for Military Families program, we have served over 30 families of fallen service-members and connected countless others to pro bono counsel or provided referrals to low-cost service-providers. We are excited to expand the scope of JMF’s service this summer with the launch of our Ask a Lawyer website which will provide military families a forum to address legal questions and receive answers and advice from pro bono counsel. Not only will this support our fellow military families, but it will provide our members an opportunity to serve our community while utilizing their skills and building their resumé.
I’m excited to pass the gavel onto our incoming 2015-2016 President, Eleanor Vuono, who brings a wealth of knowledge about the Army JAG world and a ton of creativity and passion as a legal professional, mentor, and long-time member of MSJDN. Please consider applying to serve on next year’s Board so you too can help shape the future of MSJDN – nominations are open through April 10!
We’ve been all over the country this past year. Homefront Rising in June 2014 in Tampa and in DC in May 2015. Participation at the ABA Annual Meeting in August 2014 in Boston, the ABA Legal Career Development event in Chicago in January 2015, the ABA Mid-year Meeting in Houston in February 2015, and the ABA Leadership Conference in March 2015. Making the Right Moves in San Diego in October 2014. Our 2015 Annual Reception in DC next month. I’ve had the privilege to meet many of you at these events and more informal MSJDN get-togethers hosted across the country.
Since joining MSJDN in 2011, my work on behalf of this organization has been among the most gratifying professional experiences of my career. Participate, contribute, attend an event, join a committee, volunteer, submit something for one of our publications or blogs, invite another military spouse attorney to join us, let us know how we’re doing. Send your thoughts and comments to us at info@msjdn.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
We are here to serve you and our military community.
My best regards,
Rachel Winkler
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