In May, I stood at the podium at our 125th Annual Gala and shared something personal. I told the story of how I first became involved with the Westchester County Bar Association— not as someone with a master plan or deep connections, but as a lawyer simply looking for community. I showed up to a program, feeling like an outsider. I wasn’t sure I belonged. But I kept showing up. And in time, I found my place.

That story wasn’t just about me. It was about the power of participation. About what happens when you raise your hand, take a seat, and step into something larger than yourself. It’s a message I want to return to now—not just because it’s how I ended up with the honor of serving as your president, but because it’s one of the most important truths I’ve learned in my career.

Showing up is powerful. It is underrated. And it is available to all of us.

Too often, we think opportunity is something we wait for. That it arrives in the form of a title, a job offer, or a stroke of luck. But more often than not, opportunity is something we create—by being present, by getting involved, by saying yes when we’re not sure we’re ready.

There is a quote I love from Dale Carnegie:  “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.” That is exactly what I have experienced, and what I have seen in so many others. The simple act of showing up —attending that meeting, volunteering for that project, stepping forward when it would be easier to step back— builds confidence, opens doors, and sets meaningful things in motion.

That is especially true in the legal profession. We work in a demanding field. Long hours, high stakes, constant pressure—it is easy to tell ourselves we do not have time to get involved.

That the bar association is for someone else. That leadership, service, mentorship—those are for later. But the truth is, everything we say we want in our careers—meaningful relationships, professional growth, a sense of purpose, and, if you are in private practice, business development—starts to take shape when we step out from behind the desk and into the community.

One of the privileges of this role is that I get to see the impact our members make every day. I see it in the committees that host CLEs, panels, and public service projects. I see it in the young lawyers who find mentors, and the experienced practitioners who step up to guide them. I see it in the quiet moments—the thoughtful emails, the encouragement offered, the connections made. None of it happens without people choosing to show up. Choosing to engage. Choosing to care.

It might be a single meeting. A casual conversation. A volunteer opportunity. It might be a moment where you think, “I don’t know anyone here,” or “I’m not sure I have anything to contribute.” But that moment might just be the one that changes everything. Because when you get involved, things begin to happen—sometimes in ways you cannot predict but always in ways that matter.

This year, as your president, I want to encourage each of you to think about what showing up could look like for you. It does not have to be dramatic. Maybe you attend a section meeting in an area of law that interests you. Maybe you reach out to a committee chair and offer to help with an upcoming event. Maybe you come to one of our community socials or volunteer for a panel at a local school. Maybe you take on a leadership role, even if it scares you a little.

Whatever it is, start somewhere. Start small if you need to. But start. The WCBA is more than an organization—it is a network, a support system, a launchpad. It is where relationships are built and careers are shaped. But none of that happens without participation. None of it happens without people willing to give their time, their ideas, their presence.

And here is the best part: you do not have to be perfect. You do not have to have all the answers. The bar association is not a place that expects you to arrive fully formed. It is a place that welcomes growth, learning, and connection. It is a place where showing up as you are is more than enough.

This year, we will be working hard to make it even easier to get involved. We are expanding opportunities for participation, encouraging collaboration across practice areas, and finding new ways for members to connect— whether you are a longtime participant or brand new to the WCBA. We are planning events that bring people together across practice areas and career stages, and we are especially focused on outreach to newer attorneys and those who have felt disconnected in recent years.

But it starts with you. It starts with a choice. A decision to say yes—to possibility, to community, to your own potential.

If you are already involved, I hope you will keep going—and bring someone new along with you. If you have been on the sidelines, consider this your invitation. Reach out. Raise your hand. Take the next step.

One of the most surprising things about getting involved is that it is not just about what you give—it is about what you get. In showing up for others, you show up for yourself. You build confidence, gain visibility, and find meaning beyond the day-to-day grind. You realize that you’re not alone in this profession. And you remember why you became a lawyer in the first place.

At the gala, I said that I am standing here, because I showed up—and that simple act remains the doorway to opportunity for each of us.

So, let us make this a year of participation. A year of connection. A year of showing up—for each other, for the profession, and for the future we’re building together.

I will see you there.