Metro Richmond Women’s Bar Association

Relishing Our Relationships

I am so honored to be assuming the role of MRWBA President. The MRWBA is a phenomenal group of attorneys and an association with sophisticated and timely programs. I chose our theme for the 2013-14 MRWBA bar year as “Relishing our Relationships.” I picked this theme not just because as a former English major I thought it had good alliteration – and not just because I really like relish on my hotdogs – but because the theme has so much possibility.  

To “relish” means: to appreciate or enjoy something; or to have great appreciation and zest for something that brings pleasure. A “relationship” often stands for:

• The way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected, or,
• A particular type of connection existing between people or groups related to or having dealings with each other. 

It is important that we relish our relationships both within the MRWBA, with other bar and business groups, with our work colleagues and mentors, and with our families, clients and friends. The MRWBA had an amazing year this year with an extremely active Board, a relationship oriented President and incredible programs. A relationship we all learned to relish was our President Sakina Paige’s much hidden relationship of her father-in-law being Justice Clarence Thomas of the United States Supreme Court. Fortunately Sakina is still on our Board this upcoming year and willing to assist with giving us a toe in the door to more judicial program opportunities.

Finally, relish your relationship with yourself. It has taken me a long time to accept this – and I am still working on it – but I have learned it is “Okay” to not be perfect and it is a good thing to learn to laugh at ourselves when we do stupid things. For example, at the MRWBA’s mentor-mentee event featuring Chief Justice Kinser this past year – at the very end when we were closing down, the Chief Justice was still gracious enough to be talking to some of us. I said “we better let you go. You are probably looking forward to finally going back to your hotel room after a long day where you can finally decompose.” She graciously said “of course.” It did not even hit me until I got back to my car (mind you it had been a long day) and thought to myself “did I just say decompose?” OMG. Of course I meant what? “Decompress.” God forbid the Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court decompose! I just had to laugh at myself. Sometimes as lawyers we just take ourselves too seriously.

Next year the women’s bar will continue what Sakina and Ali Fannon as President before her and this past year’s board have achieved so far – and we will continue to relish our relationships. 

Colleen M. Quinn

President 2013-2014