"When I think of Anne it brings only smiles and warm, happy thoughts. Anne is such a fine person. She’s not only beautifully fulfilled every leadership task assigned her, but regards everyone in a friendly, sincere, engaging manner that just keeps spirits high and makes us all want to stay involved and keep enjoying our time with American Lawyers Alliance. Anne is a jewel of a person! Delightful, authentic, dedicated. Anne’s sense of purpose is what every organization needs. Her sense of humor always makes it fun! We admire the love and partnership she exudes for her beloved Al and family. I can’t think of a more deserving person for this high honor."

Mary Ellen Borgelt

"Anne is a delightful person with an amazing knowledge of procedure and protocol which, as a newbie officer of ALA, I have found to be most refreshing and frankly, a lifesaver! I have not known her long but based on everything I have heard, she is MOST DESERVING of this Lifetime Achievement Award!  As former past president, she has continued to be a wonderful resource and dear friend to many many in our organization. After conversations about her life in California she has made me want to come out to visit her lovely state! She has my utmost respect and congratulations, and I look forward to working with her for many years to come."

Dominique Varner



"When Jennifer and I contacted Anne about her being selected for this ALA Award, it was clear from her response how honored and pleased she was to receive this award. She commented that this news made her day, week and year! Anne certainly is worthy of receiving one of our highest honors that we give.

"Originally from England, Anne has brought a touch of British charm to The National Capital Lawyers Auxiliary and to the ALA. It is always a joy to work with her on the many various committees and a privilege to call her friend.

"Anne, congratulations on this well deserved honor!"

Sue Bennett

"Anne has worn many hats in The American Lawyers Alliance and is truly an  invaluable asset to our organization.  I admire Anne for so many things, including her  unwavering work ethic and her  ability to successfully accomplish any  task that is put before her. However, even more remarkable is that Anne accomplishes all that she does with kindness, grace, and humility. Anne is a classy lady and a lovely person.  She is very deserving of this Lifetime Achievement Award, and I am not only  thankful for the opportunity that ALA has given me to work with Anne, but  even more thankful for her sweet friendship!! "

Jennifer Benesh

"Anne is organized, hard-working and dedicated. She has been a stalwart leader at the local and national levels and has championed law-related education throughout her many years of service. Her insight is invaluable and I join with others in our gratitude for her continued involvement.   

"I first met her when I was ALA President and we invited the Presidents of the local and state auxiliaries to the ALA Midyear Meeting in New Orleans. She was President of NCLA then and came to that ALA meeting. I found her delightful and I talked to her about getting involved in ALA in the near future. 

"She has contributed so much to ALA especially as Secretary and President.  This is part of her summary of her year as President: "This year as President has been a great honor and wonderful experience. The 2017-2018 Board have been a joy to work with, and have made my job so much easier, as well as enabling the ALA to have a very successful year. August and September - commenced planning for the Mid-Year meeting in Vancouver, BC with Lucy Harrison and Janet Bullinger; wrote new President’s message for the website; communicated with Texas and Florida auxiliaries after hurricanes Harvey and Irma; wrote message for September newsletter, which told members of various award deadlines and information on Mid-Year Meeting, and stressed my goal to communicate as much as possible this year with members. October -attended annual luncheon hosted by the National Capital Lawyers Auxiliary at the Congressional Club in Bethesda, MD for the spouses of the Justices of the Supreme Court. I wrote an update email to the membership after this event, and again reminded members of various award deadlines and to send in their dues. December and January – wrote a message for the January newsletter, which included registration information about the Mid-Year Meeting. Reminders on deadline dates for applications for these awards and payment of annual dues were also included. February -Sixteen board members attended our ... Mid-Year Meeting at the Four Seasons in Vancouver, B.C... At our Board Meeting on February 1, we announced and distributed the Auxiliary Support Awards totaling $5,000 to ten Auxiliaries... Prepared another message for Spring Newsletter and continued to communicate with the Chairs of the Meeting and Planning Committee and the TOY and JCE Award Committees. May - I returned to Washington D. C. to attend the 42nd Annual NCLA Law Day Essay Contest Awards at the U. S. Supreme Court. As a supporter of this event, I gave a short speech about ALA and why we thought this event so important. June – I prepared my final message for the June Newsletter...Our Annual Meeting took place from August 1-4 at the Swissotel in Chicago ... At our Executive and Board meetings, we voted to budget no more than $1,000 for 2018-2019 for retaining and electronic storage of all documents, minutes and historical items including photos... The Awards Breakfast took place on August 3 at the University Club of Chicago. That evening we had a wonderful dinner cruise on the Odyssey ship..."

"Our organization owes many thanks to Anne and I am so delighted she is being honored with this prestigious award!"

Jeanne Skilton

"Anne is the most self-effacing woman I’ve ever met. She quietly and efficiently gets anything done she is asked to do. Anne see things that need attention and proceeds accordingly, and she does it was ease and a smile. 

She can juggle more balls simultaneously than anyone which was required when she and her husband Albert had 4 homes in several states and they traveled extensively with his practice in international law with an emphasis on patent law.

"Family is number one with Anne and she has a lovely family with a high achieving lawyer daughter and 2 grandchildren.

"I’m pleased to call Anne a friend."

Diane Harmon 

"Anne was a Godsend to me when I became president of the American Lawyers Alliance!  Her expertise on all matters ALA - from the specifics and significance of each meeting to understanding our bylaws to the most minute procedural details - were a wealth of knowledge to be drawn upon, and she graciously "held my hand " throughout my term as I incessantly pestered her with questions. 

"I first met an when she was ALA President and came to a Texas Lawyers Auxiliary meeting in 2017.  Her story of coming to the United States and the path to citizenship was so moving there was not a dry eye in the room.  She is the personification of all things ALA and I am thrilled that she will be recognized and honored!"

Noel Roberts 

"Anne is more than deserving of this honor! Not only was she an excellent secretary in making sure that the minutes were accurate to the last detail, she was an excellent resource when any of us had questions about the right procedure to follow regarding ByLaws and Procedures! Anne always kept us on track with her delightful British accent - which thankfully she has never lost ! - in advising us of what we should do! And she is an excellent dinner companion and I am so pleased to call her my friend! One story of mine about how special Anne is - -she remembered that I had met a gentleman in Santa Barbara a number of years ago when I had taken my father to attend a Marine Pilot reunion in Santa Barbara. When the gentleman passed a few years ago it made the local paper in Santa Barbara and she remembered that I had known him and sent me the notice. That’s just one of the ways she is a special friend. And the meetings are never as much fun when she is unable to be there! "

Barbara Smallwood

"I have had the privilege of knowing Anne Santorelli since about 2009. I always enjoy seeing her and talking with her at our meetings and activities. 

"She is a lovely lady - always very kind, knowledgeable, and efficient. 

"Congratulations Anne, for many jobs well done!"

Jan Lamoreaux

" I am delighted to hear that Nancy Johnson has been chosen Volunteer of the Year. I have been a co-chair of the Kalamazoo County Bar Memorial Committee for several years and, in that capacity, it has been my pleasure to work with Nancy on the Memorial Events where we honor attorneys who have passed on. Not only does she do a great job in coordinating the snacks provided during the social time after the event, but she is always so pleasant to deal with. She does your organization proud."

Thomas Richardson

"I got to know Nancy while we both worked on the Michigan Lawyers Alliance Board. She was a a wonderful Recording Secretary and did that until MLA disbanded. She is delightful and hard-working. 

"As you can read, she has done so much to keep Kalamazoo Lawyers Alliance relevant. Nancy nominated Alice Gordon for the 2019 ALA Volunteer of the Year Award and referred to Alice affectionately as the "energizer bunny" of the Kalamazoo Lawyers Alliance. Well, now we can affectionately refer to Nancy as the "energizer bunny" of Kalamazoo Lawyera Alliance, too.  You can read all the things that she did and still does for KLA. If other local organizations had more like Nancy Johnson they would be be doing as well as KLA! 

"I nominated Nancy for ALA Director and am so happy that she was chosen and that she accepted this position. We can use some more "energizer bunnies" in ALA. "

Jeanne Skilton

"Working behind the scenes for years, Nancy and her cohorts at the Kalamazoo Lawyers Alliance have put their stamp on the KCBA’s new attorney admission programs, and especially the memorial ceremonies we conduct semi-annually to honor lawyers who have passed away in the preceding months. Nancy has helped the KCBA be there for lawyers at the beginning and the end of their legal careers in our community.

""Nancy is organized and responsive, of course, but also respectful of tradition. The refreshments that she and her colleagues regularly provide at the end of each ceremony provide not simply a social focal point following the formal events, but a nod to an earlier era. Homemade punch and pastries in the courthouse anterooms may seem quaint and outdated to outside observers, but in an important way they keep us linked to a time when the courthouse was the center of a broader legal community, not simply a parade ground for plaintiffs and perpetrators and prosecutors and their stories of human suffering. Nancy’s volunteer work provides a necessary reminder about the dignity of our profession and the role it plays in resolving our disputes. 

"The human touch that the Kalamazoo Lawyers Alliance brings to the KCBA does not just happen, and we clearly see Nancy’s hand at work in preserving the best traditions of our bar. I applaud her selection as Volunteer of the Year. "

Scott W. Dales

Chief Judge

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Michigan