Q&A with Board Members: Honoring 20 years of service
by Holly Hartung, Lawyers Clearinghouse
We recently honored two board members for their 20 years of service with Lawyers Clearinghouse.
Lawyers Stephen Nolan of Nolan Sheehan Patten LLP and Cindy Rowe of Rowe Resources were presented with plaques at the holiday party to commemorate their combined 40 years board service.
To find out what kept them coming back to board meetings year after year, why they got into law in the first place and some fun facts that might surprise you, read the each other their Q&A Sessions below:
Cindy Rowe
Q: Why did you choose to go into law?
A: The law is a reflection of our values, how we chose to bring order to our society. I wanted to understand this process and work with people who are excited about using the law to take steps towards economic and social justice. I’ve taken an “alternate” career path for lawyers — my consulting practice is now based on working with advocacy and social justice-based non-profit organizations, helping them with their structures — creating fundraising development plans, helping them establish fundraising structures and special events, working with their board members to integrate them into the work of running the organization — the things organizations need to do to have the stability to carry out their missions.
Q: How did you get involved with Lawyers Clearinghouse?
A: I was working in the State House on housing and community development legislation when I encountered the Lawyers Clearinghouse.
Q: What are your interests outside of work and LC?
A: I enjoy working with people, helping them to engage more in their community and getting them to see that real change is possible (that explains all those community meetings, I guess!). As Chair of the Brookline Democratic Town Committee, I also spend a lot of time connecting people with their legislators and campaign opportunities. When I have the time, I enjoy indulging in the many cultural opportunities available in our state — theater, especially!
Q: What is your favorite LC memory?
Perhaps the surprising moment was when I was handed a plaque for serving on the board for 20 years! Time flies when you’re having fun. I also have to say that getting to introduce the Governor at our annual meeting two years ago was a highlight for me. It’s not every day you get to hand the Governor a bag of candy and tease him that you got to buy it pre-tax (in a year when he had threatened to levy a tax on food items containing sugar).
Q: What can LC do to keep other board members around for 20+ years?
A: Keep growing the programs and services we offer non-profits. In my time on the board, we’ve moved from offering legal services to housing non-profits to providing these services to all non-profits and homeless individuals, and offering an amazing array of workshops. We’ve also had fantastic staff members who make it easy and fun to be on the board.
Q: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
A: That I can’t cook (or, maybe that’s not such a surprise!) . We moved last year and spent a lot of time on the kitchen design, which was pretty funny, because I think I’ve used the stove maybe four times. My friends have often threatened to find episodes of an old TV show for me called “How to Boil Water.”
Stephen Nolan
Q: Why did you choose to go into law?
A: I majored in environmental engineering in college and I worked for the Great Lakes Program Office of the EPA. Based on that experience I concluded that by combining my engineering training with a legal education I could accomplish more “good” than as an engineer.
Q: How did you get involved with Lawyers Clearinghouse?
A: I was working at Hill & Barlow at the time, and Richard Rudman, one of the founding co-chairs of the Clearinghouse, was also working at the firm. Based on his example, I took a pro bono case that ended up leading to work on a large low income housing tax credit project. When Richard left the board, he recommended that I succeed him, which I did.
Q: What are your interests outside of work and LC?
A: Traveling with my wife and, when possible, my three sons. I also like to bicycle and hike.
Q: What is your favorite LC memory?
When I received an award at the annual meeting a few years ago. My wife and sons attended the meeting and it was nice for them to meet a lot of people who I have worked for over the years. It helped them understand better what I do in my professional life.
Q: What can LC do to keep other board members around for 20+ years?
(Jokingly) Increase the pay…Aside from that, I think the Clearinghouse has kept my interest over the years because of its terrific mission, great staff and motivated board. The constant effort to improve what we do and to expand our mission of helping others keeps my enthusiasm high.
Q:What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
A: I have climbed all 48 4,000-foot mountains in the State of New Hampshire.