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Yarashus celebrates launch of 2009-10 term as MBA president

Issue November 2009 By Bill Archambeault

About 200 bar leaders, colleagues and family members celebrated the beginning of Valerie A. Yarashus' term as 2009-10 president of the Massachusetts Bar Association on Sept. 24 at the Top of the Hub on the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center in Boston.

"The common characteristics of the great ones are a depth of personal character and exquisite judgment," said Leo V. Boyle, Yarashus' partner at Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow PC in Boston, in introducing her. "That is where Valerie excels. She is a rock to many people."

Yarashus thanked her mentors, including Paul and Neil Sugarman of Sugarman and Sugarman PC in Boston, for their guidance throughout her career. She also credited the support of her colleagues and family and the staff of the MBA

She noted that nearly 100 years ago, 30 lawyers met to form the MBA as an all-inclusive bar association - at a time when the profession was anything but - including African-American, Jewish and women lawyers.

"Together, we are stronger than we are alone," she said.

In recognition of the MBA's centennial celebration next year, as well as the organization's 15 50-year members honored at the event, Yarashus drew a direct line between the MBA's past, present and future.

"Like the founders of this wonderful organization, these 50-year honorees have given themselves to causes larger than themselves," she said. "They've carried those values with them for the last 50 years, and now, our job is to carry those forward for the future."