DADS and MOMS of Michigan eNewsletter
September 2007
We thank you for all of your support this year. We are having a wonderful 2007 so far, expanding programs and our outreach. The DC Rally 2007 was fantastic and Robb MacKenzie and Robert Pederson completed their amazing bicycle trek from Lansing to Washiongton, DC. Please take a look at the web site for some amazing pictures and videos. We are gearing up for the EPW Rally in Lansing, MI on September 26. We have partnered with several new organizations and Amerprise, a financial services company. We all experience the financial strain with divorce and custody and they will try and help you through this. We also congratulate Robert Pederson for being selected by Best Life Magazine in the Hero Dad Contest http://www.bestlifeonline.com/
Dads and Moms of Michigan has strengthened its focus on education to expand education programs around the state. For information and to help, call 248-559-DADS (3237).
Sign up for our eNewsletter at www.dadsofmichigan.org
Dads and Moms University Presents
DADS OF MICHIGAN FAMILY FORUM
BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY HOUSE,
380 S BATES, BIRMINGHAM,MI 48009
| 7:00 - 7:30: |
Dads Presentation |
| 7:30 - 8:30: |
Guest Speaker |
| 8:30 - 9:30: |
LEGAL ROUNDTABLE |
| For information, call 248-559 DADS (3237) |
OCTOBER: Tues Oct 2, 7pm - Oakland County Referee L. Savin
MICHIGAN EQUAL PARENTS WEEK & NATIONAL PUBLIC OBSERVANCE
An international event
BLOOMFIELD HILLS MI -- DADS OF MICHIGAN will sponsor observance of Equal Parents Week (EPW), September 23 – September 29, 2007. Equal Parents Week brings attention to the need for both parents to share their parental rights and responsibilities equally, the right of children to be raised and nurtured by both parents, and the right of families to exist and function as a family. These are civil and human rights inherent and inalienable to all families. Public and home candlelight vigils observing EPW and the victims of terrorism will also take place on Wednesday, September 26 and across the nation and world.
We have reserved the east steps of the Michigan Capitol for a rally on Wednesday, September 26 between the hours of 9:00 am and 11:00 am. See www.dadsofmichigan.org for more details.
Below is a link to a video produced from the 2006 Equal Parents Week rally: http://www.tellusnews.com/dads/
Equal Parents Week brings attention to the need for both parents to share their parental rights and responsibilities equally, the right of children to be raised and nurtured by both parents, and the right of families to exist and function as a family. These are civil and human rights inherent and inalienable to all families. Recent national tragedies further highlight the importance of parents and family. Public and home candlelight vigils observing EPW will also take place on September 26 across the nation and world.
“Non-intact families are governed by custody laws. Unless we carefully scrutinize those laws against what helps parents to effectively parent, our laws and policies will continue to have unintended adverse effects on parents, children, and families” said Patti Diroff of the Children’s Rights Council.
We agree with published comments of former state Michigan FIA director, Douglas Howard…”Fathers and mothers bring different qualities to children’s lives, and both are equally important. We believe all children need two parents, whether they live together or not, and all children need emotional and financial support from both parents.” In addition…“Paternity establishment is crucial to the long term emotional and financial stability of a child”, says former Governor John Engler. According to Kathy Hines, former CEO of the International Domestic Violence Resource Center in Detroit, “numerous studies and law enforcement experience show links between dual-parent absenteeism and certain types of domestic violence. We are in a crisis.”
“Considering the press attention the Attorney General has received, it is important to make reforms in more than just the child support collection and enforcement areas”, explains Jim Semerad, Chairman of Dads of Michigan PAC. “We must assist fathers and mothers in more than just their financial responsibilities and finally recognize our children also deserve the emotional, psychological, spiritual, and moral support that comes usually when both parents remain actively engaged in their development...in most instances. After all, they are basic, Constitutionally-protected civil rights.”
The Children’s Rights Council is a national non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that works to assure children meaningful and continuing contact with both parents and extended family regardless of the parent’s marital status. For more information or interviews, please call (248) 559-DADS (3237).
We are proud to present with PARTNERSHIP FOR DADS
The Eighth Annual Midwest Fathers Conference
Saturday, January 26, 2008
North Farmington High School, Farmington Hills, Michigan
Register now at: http://partnershipfordads.org/
Keynote Speaker: Lem Barney, Detroit Lions Superstar & Pro Football Hall of Fame Legend
Featuring 24 all-new workshops and our first-ever Kids Panel, with children of all ages
talking about what their fathers mean to them.
Breakfast and lunch are included. Child care available through the Farmington YMCA
Combined Federal Campaign 
Again in 2008, Dads of Michigan is an approved charty through the Combined Federal Campaign. CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace giving campaign. Pledges made by Federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season (September 1st to December 15th) support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits. To learn more about giving through CFC, enter http://www.opm.gov/cfc/. On your application, indicate CFC #62174.
Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
DADS and MOMS of Michigan has joined with Ameriprise to help you with some of your financial decisions. Your first consultation is free. They can help with financial planning if you are a single parent or you are going through a divorce.
Ameriprise will work with their clients to design a personal financial plan based on their life goals. This strategy focuses on helping them become more confident about managing their financial objectives. It is designed to provide solutions to both your everyday and long-term financial questions, and is personalized to meet the needs of high net worth individuals and those looking to simply get back on their feet. We continually monitor progress toward your financial goals and update your plan based on changes in market conditions and your individual situation. Whether you're looking for investment strategies, retirement income, funding for your child's education, or estate or tax planning strategies, we'll work with you on your terms.
Areas of Focus
• Investment Advice
• Retirement Planning Strategies
• Small Business
• Protection and Insurance
• Estate Planning Strategies
• Family Planning/Family Changes
• Saving for Education
• Asset Allocation
• General Financial Planning
Mark Ivezaj - mark.s.ivezaj@ampf.com
or Jason Coldicott - jason.a.coldicott@ampf.com
101 W. Big Beaver Ste 425 | Troy MI 48084
Office: 248.204.1170 | Fax: 248.204.1185
www.ameriprise.com
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.
DADS and MOMS of Michigan Code of Ethics and Business Conduct.
"Fathers are responsible parents too...because the best parent is both parents"
