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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
31 ANNUAL RAM CONFERENCE
MISSION POINT RESORT, MACKINAC ISLAND
st
MAY 20, 21 and 22, 2015
Wednesday, May 20, 2015:
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Conference Registration
2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Presentation: Katie Strickfaden, JD, Wayne County Circuit Court.
Enhancing Court Responses in Cases Involving Domestic Violence: The
Creation of the Solution Oriented Domestic Violence Prevention Court. This
training describes and provides a context for domestic violence and batterer
conduct, discusses effective intervention and accountability mechanisms, and
assesses decision-making and court-related actions of survivors of violence
and their batterers. The goal of the training is to provide each attendee with a
more informed understanding of domestic violence and how these issues play
out in family division cases, and best practices for all referees to make
informed referee recommendations. Finally, the group will discuss the
Solution Oriented Domestic Violence Prevention Court, a specialized court in
the Third Judicial Circuit Court created specifically to address high conflict
domestic violence cases in their Family Division.
4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Amanda Kole, Macomb County Referee and President of RAM. Will
address the membership and discuss our organization’s strategic plan.
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Hospitality Suite: Meet and greet fellow Referees.
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Group Dinner – Mission Point Resort. Special Guest – Justice Brian
Zahra, Michigan Supreme Court.
8:00 p.m. to ???
Hospitality Suite will be open. Come and enjoy some rest and relaxation!
Thursday, May 21, 2015:
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast Buffet
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Presentation: Natalie Alane, Alane & Chartier, Lansing, Michigan. Ms.
Alane will address the Medical Marijuana Act (MMA) in relation to custody,
parenting time, and parenting issues, including current law and future trends.
10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Break
10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Presentation: Lars Framness, District Manager, Social Security
Administration Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Mr. Framness will speak to the
various benefits available through Social Security, including SSD, SSI (adults
and children), including ancillary benefits available to children because of their
parents disability, etc.
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Lunch (on your own)
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Presentation: Rebecca Decoster and Jude Pereira, Varnum Law, Grand
Rapids, Michigan. Ms. Decoster and Mr. Pereira will present on how a
parent’s serious mental illness impacts juvenile and domestic relations cases.
3:30 pm. to 5:00 p.m.
Joint Roundtable Discussion: Topic to be announced
6:00 p.m.
Dinner: On your own.
6:30 p.m. to ???
Hospitality Suite will be open.
Friday, May 22, 2015:
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast Buffet
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Executive Board Meeting: All are welcome to attend.
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Presentation: Edward Messing, Referee, St. Clair County. Mr. Messing
will provide his annual case law update.
11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Awards Ceremony and Conclusion of Conference.
(Please turn in your evaluation forms.)