by Mei Tsang, Eric Sather, and Heidi M. Plummer
Mei Tsang: This year I am proud to serve as President of the Orange County Bar Association and even more proud to tell you about our inaugural (and hopefully annual) OCBA Community Fair coming up on October 25, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Lions Park in Costa Mesa. To make this vision possible, I gathered a Blue Ribbon Fair Planning Committee—myself, our Membership Committee chairs Caroline Djang and Kelly Galligan, our DEI Committee chairs Eemaan Jalili and Rebekah Thomas, our Well-Being Committee chairs Eric Sather and Heidi Plummer, and our Secretary Sharon Oh-Kubisch. Together with OCBA staff, we’ve poured a lot of creativity and energy into shaping something that blends service, celebration, and family fun.
Recently, I sat down with Eric and Heidi to talk about the origin story of the Community Fair and why we’re holding it now.
Origins of the Fair Eric: What inspired you to host this Community Fair? Mei: When I was a young girl in China, I always dreamed of planning a community fair. No, seriously, this came to me a few years ago as I was planning the OCBA Annual Summer Social with our DEI co-chairs, Rebekah Thomas and Eemaan Jalili. I was struck by how much joy those events brought. People who don’t usually attend bar functions would show up, smile, and linger. It was fun, yes, but also deeply connective.
That got me thinking: how can we expand this sense of joy, accessibility, and community spirit? I love fairs. The OC Fair, the Great Park Irvine Fest, Fountain Valley Summerfest—they all have this magical way of bringing people together across different backgrounds. Then, in one of those late-night “what if” moments, it clicked: why not blend the energy of a fair with the mission of OCBA? Plus, I’ll admit, I’ve always wanted to bring my dog, Lulu, to an OCBA event. She loves people and grass, so I thought, “Lulu deserves this too.” And just like that, the seed of the Community Fair was planted.
The Purpose Heidi: What are the main goals you hope to achieve through this event? Mei: At its heart, the Fair is about showcasing our legal community to the broader Orange County community. Our legal ecosystem is robust, innovative, and frankly, one of the strongest in the country. Yet most of our events are limited to lawyers. This time, we want to invite everyone—friends, family, kids, and yes, dogs.
It’s also the perfect setting for the OCBA Volunteer Appreciation Reception. Every year, OCBA runs on the tireless contributions of its volunteers, whether they’re mentoring students, running pro bono clinics, or chairing committees. This fair is our way of saying thank you.
Connecting Mission to Community Eric: How does this fair align with OCBA’s mission and values? Mei: Our Mission Statement is: To Enhance the System of Justice, To Support the Lawyers Who Serve It, and To Assist the Community Served By It. We have a robust justice system here in the county, and this will help everyone get to know the various courts, affiliate and affinity bars, and non-profits better. Our attorneys are served because this is ultimately a volunteer appreciation event, and we will all be better for it.
Challenges and Choices Heidi: What’s been the most challenging part so far? Mei: (smiles) Scheduling meetings! But seriously, the hardest part has been narrowing down ideas. We dreamed big—dunk tanks, flash mobs, you name it. At one point, we joked about a ferris wheel. Luckily, our Executive Director, Dennis Slaughter, and Associate Executive Director, Rebecca Mannara, reminded us to keep logistics manageable. Their steady hands have been crucial.
Eric: How did you choose the location and date? Mei: We wanted grass, openness, and a central location. Lions Park in Costa Mesa has everything: a stage, playground, and wide lawn. And thanks to Mayor John Stephens, a long-time OCBA member, we secured it.
The date, October 25, 2025, was intentional. By late October, the weather should be mild. It’s also a Saturday, which is unusual for us but deliberate. We want members to bring families, friends, and pets. It’s free, casual, and easy to pop in and out of. My hope is that the relaxed setting sparks new kinds of connections among lawyers who usually only see each other in courtrooms or conferences.
Partnership and Support Heidi: What kind of support have you received from local partners? Mei: It’s been overwhelming and heartwarming. The OC Superior Court, Collaborative Courts, UCI Law School, Western State, Chapman, and nearly all of the affiliate and affinity bars are participating. Nonprofit partners like Community Legal Aid SoCal, Public Law Center, Project Youth, Constitutional Rights Foundation, and Veterans Legal Aid will all have a presence. It’s a reminder that our legal community is bigger than we sometimes realize. Bringing everyone into one park creates a synergy you can’t manufacture.
Entertainment and Talent Heidi: We heard there is an OCBA Talent Show? Mei: Yes! Believe it or not, the OCBA has hosted fairs in the past, and attorneys performed. Lawyers are multi-talented—musicians, comedians, magicians. This year, we’re reviving that tradition. Acts auditioned and we’ve lined up some incredible performances.
Eric: Who’s performing? Mei: I can’t reveal everyone, but I’ll tease this: Judge Franz Miller will be there with his amazing dogs. If you’ve never seen a judge and his pups perform tricks, trust me—it’s worth the trip. We also have a band—Fireside Chats—and stations for jewelry making, trucker hats with OCBA patches, bubbles, photo booths, and face painting. It’ll be festive from start to finish.
Food and Appreciation Heidi: Will there be food and drinks at this event? Mei: Absolutely. We’ll have three food trucks—tacos, burgers, and shaved ice. Anyone can purchase, but OCBA volunteers get a free meal and special swag. And no, it’s not just a cookie, we’re going bigger this year. Volunteers make OCBA thrive, so celebrating them is key.
Well-Being in Focus Heidi: Which committee would you highlight for attendees to learn more about? Mei: The Attorney Well-Being Committee, led by Eric and Heidi. Lawyers often forget we’re human. If there’s anything we lawyers can’t afford to ignore, it’s the one reminding us that sleep, exercise, and maybe even hobbies still exist. We’re masters at cross-examining witnesses, but not so great at cross-examining ourselves when we’ve had three coffees, no lunch, and a looming deadline. The Well-Being Committee makes it okay to admit we’re human, and it’s the only committee where showing up in yoga pants might actually count as networking.
Eric: What would you like the legal community to know about the Attorney Well-Being Committee and its role within the OCBA? Mei: I would like the legal community to know that the Attorney Well-Being Committee exists not just to remind you to drink more water (though we’ll say that too), but to bring serious awareness to the very real challenges attorneys face in balancing demanding careers with personal health. Too often, conversations about stress, burnout, or mental health are whispered in hallways, if they happen at all. Our goal is to destigmatize those conversations and normalize the idea that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Heidi: So… what’s on the horizon for the Attorney Well-Being Committee—are we talking serious programs, or should we start practicing our Zumba moves in the office hallway? Mei: Both. We believe attorney wellness deserves the full spectrum. Yes, there will be Zumba (because what better way to shake off a tough deposition than with questionable dance moves?). Yes, there will be sound baths because sometimes the only cure for a deadline is lying still while someone plays bowls that sound suspiciously like your stress level. But woven into all the fun is something profoundly important: programming on suicide prevention and mental health awareness. It’s not all lighthearted, but it’s all essential. Our goal is to create a space where lawyers can both laugh and learn, sweat it out and speak up, and walk away knowing that well-being isn’t a side note to the profession—it’s the foundation.
Hidden Treasurer Eric: What resources do you think attorneys often overlook that they’ll discover by attending the Fair? Mei: Our membership committee co-chairs, Kelly Galligan and Caroline Djang, along with the OCBA staff will be there to showcase the benefits of joining the OCBA. If you are reading this, then you are likely an OCBA member already, but many are not yet members. We want to showcase the amazing resources attorneys tend to overlook. We know where to find obscure case law from 1872, but somehow miss that the OCBA has wellness programs, a DEI committee, mentorship opportunities, legislative resolutions (where you get to actually make changes to the law), and tons of networking events at various committee and section meetings. The Fair is like a treasure hunt—except instead of gold doubloons, you might walk away with a new mentor, a CLE credit, or the sudden realization that a sound bath is more relaxing than reading the Code of Civil Procedure before bed.
Defining Success Heidi: What would success look like for you once the fair is over? Mei: If everyone leaves with a smile, a balloon animal, or at least one temporary tattoo, we’ll call it a triumph. We just want everyone to have a great time and get to appreciate our legal community a bit more. If anything, we got our dogs out for a nice walk!
Final Invitation Mei will be bringing her dog Lulu and will celebrate her mom’s birthday, Eric will be bringing his daughters (who plan to paint his face), and Heidi will bring her 93-year-old father. That’s the spirit of this event: multi-generational, family-friendly, and joyfully inclusive.
So mark your calendars: October 25, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Lions Park, Costa Mesa.
Come join us at the OCBA Community Fair—a fair to remember.
Mei Tsang, is President of the OCBA and cannot wait to see you at the Community Fair. Eric Sather, is a family law attorney at Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente. Last year, Mr. Sather was the Chair of OCBA YLD, and is currently on the OCBA Board of Directors. Heidi M. Plummer, is the Co-founder of Bock & Plummer, practicing probate and business law.