DADS and MOMS of Michigan eNewsletter
May 2006
This is a brief report of some of the many activities going on around the state and country. There is a lot more to report so check the Dads and Moms of Michigan web site and the Message Forum for the latest news. Dads and Moms of Michigan will strengthen its focus on education and expand the programs around the state. DADS of Michigan PAC issues will begin to be published in a separate eNewletter.
For information call 248-559-DADS (3237)
Sign up for our eNewsletter at www.dadsofmichigan.org
Dads and Moms University Presents
Dads and Moms of Michigan University (DMU) is growing and the team is assembling a great expansion plan. We will be expanding resources for Dads, Moms, Stepparents, and Grandparents, and in the Moms of Michigan and Parenting forums to provide more resources for both Parents.
Oakland County DADS OF MICHIGAN FAMILY FORUM
1st Tuesdays, June 6, at 7:00 PM, Birmingham Community Center
Guest Speaker:
- What local candidates are running for state office?
- Where do they stand on Fathers' issues?
Hear from:
-
State Rep candidate Marty Knollenberg
- State Rep Paul Condino
- A representative
from candidate Dick DeVos's office
- and others
At the monthly
BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HOUSE, 380 S BATES, BIRMINGHAM, MI 48009
Agenda:
7:00 - 7:30PM Dads presentation
7:30 - 8:30 Candidate forum
8:30 - 9:30 Legal Roundtable
Monroe County Wednesday, 7:30 - 9 p.m., Regular meetings will continue every subsequent Wednesday evening at the same time. The meeting place is Bobby's Kitchen, 15391 S. Dixie Hwy. (Corner of S. Dixie and Dunbar). Local contact information: Pat McElligott, SE Michigan Regional Director 734-240-0225 mcelligott@ameritech.net
Wayne County 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:45 pm to 8:15 pm, Christus Victor Church, 25535 Ford Rd. (West of Telegraph, East of Beech-Daly), Dearborn Hts., 48127, Contact Fred Owens (313) 955-0913 dadshelpdads@yahoo.com or http://home.earthlink.net/~dadshelpdads
Kent County Education Programs
Domestic relations education sessions are being presented in Grand Rapids at the Kent County Courthouse on the second Tuesday of each month. (See the Education page)
For other locations and information, GO: http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/events.html
Dads Marathon, June 14-23, 2006
Robb MacKenzie is at it again with bigger dreams. Robb will be traveling from Lansing to Washington, DC on a bicycle marathon because "the best parent is both parents". With his bright yellow jersey emblemmed with DADS of Michigan and Children Need Both Parents, he will be greeted at many stops along the way. In 2005, Robb was greeted by his daughter in Lansing, whom he has fought Michigan courts just to have a relationship with. His Mom and stepdaughter were proudly displaying signs of support.
Track Robbs 2006 trek at http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/marathon06.html
See his 2005 trek at http://www.dadsofmichigan.org/marathon.html
Lansing Rally, MI Chairman, Jim Semerad
248-693-0558 June 13 & 14 (Launch)
dadspac@dadsofmichigan.org
Pittsburgh Rally, PA Chairman, Tony Taylor
Tony.Taylor@yahoo.com
412-352-4286 June 18
Columbus Rally, OH Chairman, John
614-309-5572 June 17
Washington Rally, DC Chairman, Paul Sielski
202-558-3735 June 22
paul@sielski.org
DADS and MOMS of Michigan New Affiliate
"Father": A Child's Right
http://www.fatherachildsright.org/
This Michigan web site provides excellent information on what is going on regarding Shared Parenting.
PARENTING RESOURCES
Dads and Daughters
http://www.dadsanddaughters.org/index.html
Dads and Daughters provides men with tools to be better fathers and advocates for our daughters.
Fathering Forum!
http://fatheringforum.com/index.html
We are all about experiencing together the adventure of fathering.
STEP MOMS
Stepfamily Association of America
http://www.saafamilies.org/index.htm
We're a national, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to successful stepfamily living. Our site provides educational information and resources for anyone interested in stepfamilies and their issues. If you're new here, see our Frequently Asked Questions: www.saafamilies.org/faqs/faqs.htm (FAQ) or browse the site map: www.saafamilies.org/sitemap.htm
Susan Wilkins-Hubley swclub@ican.net is a mom and stepmom to four children living in East Canada. Susan and her husband have successfully blended their family with a lot of hard work and Tylenol. Susan is the founder of the first and largest online community for stepmothers and second wives on the net:
http://www.childfun.com/articles/step
The Second Wives Club
The Second Wives Club is what women in blended families are looking for: Remarriage, divorce, child custody, and step parenting discussed in a solution-oriented, mature, and intelligent way; articles and news written by thought-provoking experts and journalists; personal accounts and advice from some of life's most interesting women. www.SecondWivesClub.com
MILITARY ISSUES FORUM
Many of the issues effecting military people are unique. This site will provide resources and news for our military community.
Military Parents Alliance (MPA)
http://www.militaryparents.org/
The Military Parents Alliance (MPA) works to publicize and legislatively address the many problems and injustices military parents face.
Survival Guide for Marriage in the Military
http://www.plaintec.net/
Contains two detachable self-grading questionnaires divided into nine categories (Communication, Conflict Resolution, Finances, etc.), a category assessment grader, plus in-depth "reflections" on each of the seventy-eight survey statements based on years of counseling experience and input provided by hundreds of military couples.
Dads and Moms of Michigan (www.dadsofmichigan.org) includes Dads of Michigan, Moms of Michigan, and Dads of Michigan PAC. These are volunteer responsible parenthood education organizations for fathers and mothers. They instruct on the importance of involved biological parents to the successful development of their children. Dads of Michigan PAC is an independent volunteer political advocacy group dedicated to legislation keeping both biological parents actively engaged in the lives of their children despite divorce and custody, in most instances. They believe men and women should be viewed equally under the law and their credo is: "fathers are responsible parents too...because the best parent is both parents." Dads of Michigan, the Michigan affiliate of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children, is also the developer of the Dads and Moms University of responsible education for teenage, divorced, and unmarried parents. This educational program employs several features to either directly or indirectly benefit nearly 2 million men, women, and grandparents and just under one-half million children each year in Michigan. For more information, please contact us at (248) 559-DADS (3237) or email info@dadsofmichigan.org.
Your financial assistance is vitally needed to help us meet our goals via the above projects. We ask you to please consider Dads of Michigan among your corporate and individual charitable contributions. Dads of Michigan is a volunteer, tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and qualifies for tax deductible contributions. Major credit cards are also now accepted.
DADS and MOMS of Michigan Code of Ethics and Business Conduct.
"Fathers are responsible parents too...because the best parent is both parents"