The Toledo Women's Bar Association

The Honorable Alice Robie Resnick Founders Award was created in 2011, to honor the vision and accomplishments of the founder of the Toledo Women’s Bar Association: former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Alice Robie Resnick. The award was first presented on May 25, 2011, to its namesake in commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the TWBA. At the request of the Nominating Committee Holly Taft Sydlow presented the award. At the conclusion of the TWBA’s 25th year, on May 23, 2012, the award was then presented to the TWBA’s first President, Holly Taft Sydlow.  At the request of the Nominating Committee, Magistrate Judge Vernelis Armstrong and Justice Alice Robie Resnick presented the award. On May 25, 2022, in celebration of the TWBA's 35th Anniversary, retired Sixth District Court of Appeals Judge Arlene Singer was presented the award by past TWBA presidents Holly Taft Sydlow and Sarah Skow, for her creation of and continued dedication to the Toledo Women Lawyers History Project.

The Founders Award is the TWBA’s highest honor and is intended to recognize only those extraordinary individuals who have deeply influenced and significantly contributed to the vision, direction, and growth of the TWBA. The recipient’s influence or contribution must be consistent with the TWBA’s mission statement and should have a lasting, positive influence on the TWBA and/or its members. The influence or contribution may be current, one that spanned many years, or one made years ago from which the TWBA benefits today. In keeping with its significance, the award should only be presented on very special occasions, for example, milestone anniversaries of the organization or other unique circumstances. The prestige of the Founders Award requires that the criteria be general in nature thereby allowing members of the Board of Directors to exercise flexibility and discretion in the evaluation and selection of a worthy recipient. Any current member of the TWBA Board of Directors may nominate any past or present member of the TWBA for this award. Nominations shall be submitted to the current TWBA President, who will then inform the Nominating Committee Chair of the nomination. The award nomination will be discussed by the board, who will then vote on whether to accept the nomination and present the award during that year.

The Founders Award shall be awarded at the Annual Meeting of the TWBA, if and when a nomination is received and approved by a majority of the board members present for the vote.