Just Do It!

“The most effective way to do it…is to do it! -Amelia Earhart

As the sun sets on another day, it is hard to believe that my term as President of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation is winding down and yet, feeling a bit melancholy, there is so much to celebrate!

We can all be proud of the tremendous efforts as a board and committee members for the stick-to-itiveness we demonstrated, including the culmination of ROCK 17- Game Changers!?While the largest annual fundraiser of the Foundation usually takes place in February, we changed course to adjust due to the lingering impact of the pandemic and shift the event into a May timeframe.?Without skipping a beat, I’d like to recognize our co-chairs; Mike Riley, Leslie Wargo, and Matt Kucharson and the committee who kept their eyes on the goal and led us to one of the most successful ROCK events to date. They knocked it out of the park!?After, 18 months, we were back in person, recognizing our Pogue Award recipient, Robert Klonk, of the Oswald Companies while celebrating the 94th Birthday of Dick Pogue who attended this stellar event, raising more than $200,000 before we even opened the doors to the Rock that evening!

Other milestones saw us connecting in person at the Halloween Run, Public Servants, International Women’s Day, and Mock Trial. We’ve also seen increased activity inside the CMBA Conference Center.

Enabling the CMBF to continue its work, largely falls on the shoulders of Nominating & Governance Committee and Co-Chairs, Kerin Kaminski, and Richard Zeiger, who help us consider the individuals who will carry our message forward, developing leadership.

Heard of the Fellows??They are distinguished members of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association who make contributions dedicated to the Bar Foundation Endowment making a huge impact through their pledges. Led by Eric Levasseur and the Fellows Committee, we reached our goal for new Fellows and other members who moved up a level within the program. There’s always room for more, so check out Fellows Facts on the website!

The Grants Committee is another viable group within the board. The committee work is invaluable to our organization and sustainability.?Congratulations to Committee chair, Meredith Shoop, who is the incoming President-elect of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation 2023-2024!!

And where would we be without our Finance Committee??Thank you to Paul Capka, Chair, and the committee for maintaining our focus and considering our options to collaborate and maximize opportunities for the Foundation. Of course, Dave Mechenbier is always there to offer his insights and advice to support us.

After joining the CMBA in 2014, I proudly joined the CMBF Board in 2016. As I reflect on the past eight years, what has become tremendously clear is that the spirit and practice of philanthropy is something that I believe jointly improves the human condition. It is not merely the giving of financial resources, but giving of one’s expertise, passion, talent, and experiences. So, in other words, anyone can be a philanthropist. We all come from varying walks of life and profession, which contributes to the uniqueness of how we view the organization and how and why we choose to make an impact. I firmly believe that deep down, we all want to make the world a little better than the condition it was in when we entered it. This has been my primary motivation over these past eight years and believing that the efforts of one can make a difference! I’m most proud of the positive influence and culture. This is a team effort with many people stepping up to help.

As I reflect on my tenure, I’ve gained an appreciation for understanding that for a nonprofit to be truly successful, all parts of the organization are mutually valuable and must all work together in an intentional way to accomplish sustainability.

I had a great team of elected and appointed executives, including 8 committees and chosen leaders who in turn selected members they could work with in achieving their committee objectives. Indeed, they were great and did exceptionally well. They worked tirelessly, ensuring that our aim and objectives were met, not only achieving our goals, but exceeding them. To my team, I say a big “thank you” once again. Bravo!

All this was made possible working with a wonderful CMBA staff, leadership and dedicated professionals who give their best daily, ensuring that I/we succeeded. We are blessed with a fearless leader in Becky Ruppert-McMahon, alongside Caitlin Peterson, Brennan Donnellan, Jacqueline Barona, Mary Groth, and the entire team!

A shout-out to my counterpart in the CMBA, Rose Fini, who completed our triple threat-the first for the power of three women leading our organization.

As I pass the gavel to our President-Elect, Larry Zukerman, I send my congratulations and support, advocating the next group of leaders for continued success on our trajectory. I’m looking forward to being part of the next chapter! Let’s Dream Big!

Serving on the board of directors of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation has been one of the most valuable and rewarding experiences I have had so far. Thank you, CMBF, for allowing me to fulfill my aspiration of leaving my mark!

Thank you for the opportunity of allowing me to serve as your first business affiliate President of the CMBF!

“Forget about the fast lane. If you really want to fly, just harness your power to your passion.” -Oprah Winfrey

Lee Ann originally joined the CMBA as a Business Affiliate Member in 2014. She quickly became active?in both the?Women in Law and Estate Planning Sections.?In 2016, she joined the CMBF Board of Directors where she immediately and significantly contributed her networking and fundraising capabilities. She served as co-chair of Rock the Foundation in both 2018 and 2019, the Foundation's signature fundraiser. She is also a Foundation Fellow.??