president's messages
Outgoing President
A Year of Service, Growth, and Community at the Queens County Bar Association
It has been my honor and privilege to serve the Queens County Bar Association as president this past year. As the Queens County Bar Association marks its historic 150th anniversary year, the past year has been one of remarkable engagement, collaboration, and achievement for the organization and its members.
Throughout the year, the Association continued its mission of serving the legal profession and the community by offering an extensive array of educational, professional, and social programming. More than 150 continuing legal education programs, networking events, community initiatives, and special programs were presented, providing opportunities for attorneys, judges, law students, and community members to connect, learn, and grow.
Some of our programing this year included Law Day celebrations, Veterans Day programs, Friendsgiving, Pride Month programming, happy hours, breast cancer awareness events and a Past Presidents dinner. The Association’s popular “Meet the Judges” series allowed members to engage with members of the judiciary in a more personal and meaningful way, fostering stronger relationships within the legal community.
The year also saw the expansion of several important initiatives. The newly established Social Media Committee significantly enhanced the Association’s outreach efforts through a robust online presence showcasing programs, accomplishments, and member achievements on our Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn social media platforms.
At the same time, the revitalized Women in the Law Committee successfully launched multiple “Motions and Motherhood” programs, creating valuable opportunities for discussion and support among legal professionals balancing career and family responsibilities.
Community service continued to be a part of QCBA’s mission. Members, law students, and even our future lawyers (and our Pre-K students) contributed to projects benefiting veterans and local nursing home residents. These efforts reflected the Association’s longstanding commitment to public service and civic engagement.
The Queens County Bar Association was also honored by the New York State Bar Association with the Bar Leaders Innovation Award for its Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service project, recognizing the creativity and impact of the program developed through the efforts of dedicated volunteers and leaders.
All this programing is due to the hard work and dedication you, our members, put into this bar association, and I thank you.
The Association also benefited from the support and guidance of its Board of Managers, committee leaders, past presidents, affinity bar associations and of course QCBA staff who continue to invest their time, energy, and expertise in strengthening the organization. Their leadership and commitment helped ensure that the Queens County Bar Association remained a vibrant and welcoming professional home for attorneys at every stage of their careers.
As this chapter closes, another begins under the leadership of our new president Josh Katz. The Association looks forward to building upon the momentum of this anniversary year. With a strong foundation, dedicated volunteers, and engaged membership, the future remains bright for the Queens County Bar Association as it continues its legacy of service to the legal profession and the residents of Queens.
The first half of the 150th anniversary celebration has demonstrated the strength and vitality of the Association. The excitement surrounding this milestone serves as a reminder not only of the organization’s rich history, but also of the opportunities that lie ahead as it prepares for the next 150 years of service, leadership, and community impact.
Thank you for allowing me the honor to serve!
With my warmest regards,
Kristen
Incoming President
Celebrating Our Sesquicentennial!
Welcome to the 150th anniversary of the Queens County Bar Associatio
n! This glorious organization held its first meeting at the Garden City Hotel on July 19, 1876. We are the third oldest Bar Association in New York State, trailing only the New York City and the Onondaga County Bar Association, and among the 15-20 oldest in the country. It is my honor and privilege to serve as the President during this historic year.
As a practicing attorney, I’ve always felt that membership in the Bar Association was important. It’s made me feel like I am part of the legal community and has provided networking and education that helped me grow my law firm. Being a member of QCBA is voluntary, but for me was a necessity. As I became active with QCBA committees, I immediately recognized the value provided. As a member of the Board of Managers, and then as an officer, my perspective changed. My appreciation of the very important work done by the Bar Association increased exponentially.
QCBA is a not-for-profit, volunteer organization that shapes the practice of law in Queens. We help ensure access to justice in our Courts. We improve collaboration between bench and bar. We have a voice in the enactment of new laws in Albany, and in the appointment of qualified judges within our Borough. We fight for inclusion, and against discrimination. We have accomplished great things over the course of the last 150 years!
Bar associations across the United States, as with all organizations, are struggling with membership retention and recruitment. Of the 8,000 lawyers registered to practice law in Queens County, only about 10% are members of this great association. We need to change that! Every one of us must get the message out. Tell your colleagues about QCBA. Promote the fantastic committees, programs, CLE’s and community events, and get each and every lawyer to join us.
I am excited for the upcoming year as your president. I look forward to celebrating our historic anniversary throughout the year with you and the community at large (although unlike in 1876, Turtle Soup will not be on the menu!). Please plan to join us at our many wonderful events, including in-person and virtual CLE programs, our annual Golf and Tennis Outing (once again at the Woodside Club, this year on September 15), celebratory events at many of our courthouses throughout the year, our annual Judiciary Night, Friendsgiving, happy hour mixers, and so much more.
It is particularly thrilling that my term will culminate with a swearing in ceremony at the United States Supreme Court next May. It is the first time in nearly a quarter century that a delegation of attorneys from QCBA will participate in this monumental career achievement, and I look forward to sharing the experience with so many of you. A special thank you to Hon. Valerie Brathwaite-Nelson for all her efforts to make this happen.
As I begin my presidency, I reflect on those men and women who have held this office before me, an extraordinary collection of smart, dedicated and committed individuals. Many have already reached out to pledge their support and assistance, and I intend to seek their guidance as we chart our course forward. And I congratulate the newest member of the Past Presidents Club, Kristen Dubowski Barba. You devoted all of your energy to ensuring QCBA was successful and on behalf of a grateful Board and membership, I say thank you.
It is an honor to have as talented and dedicated an Executive Board and Board of Managers to work with me this year. We are all committed to delivering the best and most relevant association possible and I know the future of QCBA is in good hands. If you have any thoughts or suggestions, I would love to hear from you.
As we embark on this journey, I say thank you for the opportunity to serve as President…and cheers to the next 150!
Yours -
Josh