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Happy October, OCWLA Members & Friends!
No Tricks, Just Treats—and Plenty of Work Still to Do
October has arrived, bringing cooler evenings, a little Halloween fun, and one of OCWLA’s most exciting months of the year.
September reminded us what community looks like in action. Ourlunch-hour CLEcreated an opportunity to learn and connect in the middle of a busy workday. We joinedOCTLA for its inaugural women-only “Sip into Fall” event, where new introductions became new connections, and continued our collaboration withMommy Esquire. We also celebrated alongsideFLOC at its Galaand look forward to supporting our sister affiliateOCKABA at its upcoming Gala. Each of these moments reflects something important: our impact grows when we reach beyond our own organization and build community together.
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September also brought our legal community together at theOCUB Annual Reception. I was grateful to receive theLegacy Award, but what stayed with me most was seeing so many friends, colleagues, and organizations in one room united by service and community. It was a meaningful reminder that lasting legacies are collective—they are built through relationships, collaboration, and investing in one another.
We are also incredibly proud of OCWLA memberAnnee Della Donna, who will be honored at theCalifornia Women Lawyers Awards. Seeing our members recognized for their leadership and contributions is always worth celebrating.
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And now, October brings our biggest “treat”:OCWLA’s 50th Annual Gala!
WhileOCWLA is proudly celebrating its 51st year as an organization, this year marks our 50th Annual Gala—a remarkable milestone in its own right. With a Roaring Twenties theme, we will honorJudge of the Year Adrienne Marshak, Attorney of the Year Kelly Galligan, and Advancement of Women Award recipient Crowell & Moring. It will be a night to celebrate our honorees, recognize the women who built this organization, and look toward the legacy we are creating for those who will follow.
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October would not be complete without a little Halloween spirit. Join us for ourHalloween Coffee Meetup—costumes, caffeine, and connection. After all, it is one of the few mornings when looking a little frightening before your first cup of coffee is completely appropriate.
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But beneath the costumes, celebrations, and perhaps a little too much candy is the real message of this month:
The work continues—and each of us has a role in it.
The women who came before us fought for space in courtrooms, boardrooms, bar leadership, and the judiciary. Our responsibility is not simply to occupy that space. It is tokeep it, expand it, and make room for the women coming behind us.
So this October, I challenge each of us to do something intentional.Mentor someone. Sponsor someone. Make an introduction. Nominate a deserving woman for leadership. Invite someone new into the room—and when you get there, make sure her voice is heard.Support our sister organizations, celebrate the accomplishments of other women, and look for opportunities to turn connection into action.
There may be ghosts and goblins roaming around this October, but there is nothing mysterious about how progress happens. It happens because people choose to participate. They show up, reach back, open doors, and then hold those doors open for others.
As we gather for our 50th Gala and celebrate how far OCWLA has come, let’s also ask ourselves what we are doing to shape its next 50.
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Enjoy the treats. Celebrate the milestones. Then let’s get back to work.
Happy Halloween
Heidi Plummer
2026 OCWLA President
Bock & Plummer, Attorneys at Law
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