December News

CSW Law Firm was the winner of the Superior Business Products monthly office supplies give-away basket. The basket was accepted by Estate Administrator Kathleen Donnelly and Attorney Crystal Doolity.

____________________________________________________________________

November News

Cris Cioffi will attend a meeting of the Trustees of the New York State Bar Foundation on November 3, 2006. Immediately following, she will participate in a Nominating Committee of the New York State Bar Association.

____________________________________________________________________

10/14/06 Several CSW staff completed the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association’s Heart Walk at the Crossings of Colonie. The walkers raised $500. (Image below)

10/17/06 CSW Attorney’s and Staff were honored by the Chamber of Schenectady County as “Enterprise of the Year” at an awards dinner held at the Glen Sanders Mansion. The firm was recognized as a business of less than 100 employees that has shown great development in growth and management. (Image below)

10/17/06 Cris attended a seminar sponsored by the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York. The topic was “Retirement Benefits: Recent Developments.” The speaker was the nationally known Natalie Choate. New planning strategies allowing “charitable IRA rollovers” were discussed. This is great tool stemming from the Pension Protection Act of 2006, that will allow individuals to use their IRAs for their annual charitable giving, if they are so inclined.

10/18/06 Michelle presented a seminar on Real Estate Contracts for Better Neighborhoods, Inc.’s Homeowner Education Workshop at the Steinmetz Family Investment Center in Schenectady.

10/18/06 Deb Slezak and Crystal Doolity attended the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section Fall Executive Committee meeting in White Plains, NY. Deb also attended the New York State Bar Association’s Advanced Fall Institute on Medicaid – Eligibility and Recovery Issues, a three-day seminar in White Plains.

10/26/2006 CSW was proud to sponsor The Legal Project’s 11th Annual Pro Bono Reception at the New York State Museum Terrace Gallery on October 26, 2006.

10/30/2006 Deb Slezak coordinated a Pro Bono Senior Clinic as her responsibility as District Delegate to the Executive Committee in the NYS Bar Association’s Elder Law Section. The clinic was held on October 30, 2006, and provided free legal sessions to senior citizens.

____________________________________________________________________

September News

The CSW Law Firm supported Cris Cioffi during the death of her father, the late Dr. Lawrence A. Cioffi, allowing her a 3-week leave of absence from the firm to be with him and her family.

Deb Slezak gave a seminar on September 26, 2006, at The Town of Brunswick Family Community Center. The seminar covered planning for the time when one may need daily assistance in the home or at a nursing facility. The program also covered asset protection, the role of Medicare and Medicaid, and preparing for escalating nursing care costs.

_____________________________________________________________________________

August News

Cris Cioffi and Crystal Doolity attended the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section Executive Committee Meeting in Portsmouth, NH. Cris Cioffi was present in her capacity as Public Relations Chair and Crystal Doolity as Liaison to the Young Lawyers Section. Both remained for the Summer Meeting CLE which focused on hot topics in elder law, particularly the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and its effects on Medicaid Planning.

(Image below)

Deb Slezak spoke at Target on behalf of the Amsterdam Family YMCA and United Way, citing ways in which the United Way and the YMCA assist people in our community.
______________________________________________________________________________

July News

Michelle Wildgrube presented a seminar for first time home buyers at the Steinmetz Homes Community Center. This program was coordinated by Better Neighborhood, Inc., of Schenectady. Michelle Wildgrube presented on behalf of the Affordable Housing Attorney Assistance Program on the topic of Real Estate Contracts.

Crystal Doolity gave a presentation on estate planning and advance directives to Merrill Lynch customers in Westchester County.

The firm’s picnic was forced indoors by rain. Making the most of the circumstances, various board games were pulled out, and a championship Scrabble tournament was held. Michelle Wildgrube rained/reined/reigned victorious!

All the attorneys of CIOFFI SLEZAK WILDGRUBE P.C. attended a performance of the NYC Ballet, in Saratoga, sponsored by the Capital District Womens’ Bar Association.

Cris Cioffi and her spouse, John Sharkey, completed a 400 mile bike ride across NYS, riding the length of the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany in 8 days.
_____________________________________________________________________________

June News

Michelle Wildgrube was elected to serve a one year term as Secretary of The Legal Project. Michelle has served on the Board of Directors of The Legal Project since 2004 and this will be her second term as Secretary.

Michelle Wildgrube was elected to the Board of Directors for the Schenectady County Bar Association for a three year term. In addition, Michelle was elected to be the Schenectady County Bar Association’s delegate to the Federation of Bar Associations, an association of Bar Associations in the Fourth Judicial District.

Michelle Wildgrube was featured in the Albany Times Union Business Section in a regular feature entitled “My Other Life”. The article discusses Michelle’s involvement with Girl Scouts and can be read online by clicking this link AT HOME AT WORK

Cris Cioffi presented estate planning topics to members of the Junior League of Schenectady.

Cris Cioffi was elected to the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of the Capital Region.

As a Trustee of the Ellis Hospital Foundation, Cris Cioffi attended a seminar on liability of Not-for-Profit organizations, held in Saratoga.

Crystal Doolity completed the Leadership Schenectady program through The Chamber of Schenectady County. Part of the program was dedicated to community service which involved the class serving lunch in the Wallace M. Campbell Dining Hall at the City Mission of Schenectady. The class also completed a landscaping project at the City Mission.

Deb Slezak was named the Chair of the Personnel Committee of the Amsterdam Family YMCA. Deb has served on the Board of Directors since 1997 and is the immediate past President of the organization.
_____________________________________________________________________________

May News

On behalf of the NYS Bar Foundation, Cris Cioffi spoke to student finalists, their teachers and parents, at the NYS Bar Association’s Mock Trial Luncheon.

Cris Cioffi spoke at the Graduate College of Union University, presenting Human Resource issues for small businesses.

Cris Cioffi presented “Keeping Current on Elder Law Issues” at the Glenville Senior Center.

Crystal Doolity completed the Dennis Devlin Memorial 5K Run in Washingtonville, New York. The 5th annual run was held in memory of NYFD Battalion Chief Dennis Devlin and proceeds were donated to the Washingtonville Scholarship Fund and the NY Firefighters Burn Center Foundation.
_____________________________________________________________________________

April News

Cris Cioffi was a panelist in a seminar at Albany Law School entitled “Starting Your Own Law Practice”. It was sponsored by the NYS Bar Association’s Committee on Women in the Law.

Deb Slezak spoke at a seminar at LaPerla at Gregory House regarding nursing home care, protecting assets, and elder planning.

___________________________________________________________________

March News

CIOFFI SLEZAK WILDGRUBE participated in the Key for Women campaign, creating a television ad on Channel 13.

Deb Slezak was a guest speaker on a radio show in Amsterdam to discuss the YMCA and it’s role in the community.
_____________________________________________________________________________

February News

Cris Cioffi was elected to the Ellis Hospital Board of Directors, and appointed to the following committees: Mental Health, Quality, Planning. In addition, she Chairs an ad hoc committee formed to examine estate bequests to the hospital.

CIOFFI SLEZAK WILDGRUBE participated in Go For Red Day with the American Heart Association and Daffodil Days for the American Cancer Society.

CIOFFI SLEZAK WILDGRUBE sponsored a YMCA breakfast.