“The path from A to Z does not run in a straight line. It is filled with stops and starts along the way,” Hon. Marsha Steinhardt said. “It is rare to look at any given year and be able to say that the goals that were set in the beginning had in fact been fulfilled in the end, but we in the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association can truthfully say that from June of 2014 until June of 2015 was a wonderful year.”

In addition to Blank being installed as president, Sara J. Gozo was sworn in as President-Elect, Michele Mirman, Hon. Ellen M. Spodek and Marea Wachsman were named vice presidents, Meryl Schwartz was named treasurer, Natoya L. McGhie as recording secretary and Derefim Neckles as corresponding secretary.

In her last act as president of the BWBA, Judge Steinhardt looked back at some of the events that made the last year so strong including the “Lunch with a Judge” event and the “Night at the Brooklyn Museum” event. She was especially proud that BWBA member Andrea F. Composto was named president of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) and that the BWBA added over 100 members during her time as president.

“We are the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association, we are strong and getting stronger,” Judge Steinhardt said.

Afterward, Judge Hinds-Radix swore in Blank as the newest president of the BWBA.

“One of the things that I am proudest of is that Helene always wants to do what’s right rather than what’s popular,” Hinds-Radix said.

After she was sworn in, Blank thanked both Hinds-Radix and Steinhardt and said that without both of them she would not have been standing in front of Borough Hall’s packed ceremonial courtroom as the president.

“We are truly a dynamic and diverse group of women and men who are comprised of lawyers and judges from almost all aspects of our profession,” Blank said. “I’m truly honored to become president of the BWBA.”

Blank also talked about the mission of WBASNY and how she, as president of the BWBA, wants to fulfill those duties.

“I’m so lucky,” Blank said. “I’m hoping to make the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association an even greater and more meaningful organization as we go forward. It is such a diverse group of wonderful, smart women and men.”

Adams issued a closing statement where he commended the BWBA on its accomplishments.

“Make sure we continue a system where justice is administered to all of those regardless of their economic status,” Borough President Adams said in closing. “No one personifies that more than Brooklyn’s Bar Associations, all of them, especially the Women’s Bar Association.”

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