September 12, 2012
Dear Fellows:
It is my pleasure to provide the details for our annual meeting in Chicago – celebrating our 50th Anniversary - which will begin on Tuesday, November 6, and continue through the swearing in of our next president, Alton Abramowitz, on Friday evening, November 9, and the Past President’s breakfast on Saturday morning, November 10.As you should know by now, we are moving back to our “home” for the last twenty years, the Chicago Renaissance!
The Executive Committee will meet Tuesday morning, followed by the Chapter Leaders lunch and meeting, the inaugural meeting of the Council of Committee Chairs, the Arbitration Reunion, and closing with the annual First-Year Members Dinner.
Wednesday, November 7, will be a full day of CLE, with a special Technology Symposium in the afternoon following the morning CLE. Please note that even though this symposium if FREE of any charge to you, you must sign up for it in advance so that we can plan work stations accordingly.
The Open Membership meeting will be held Thursday, November 8, followed by the Board of Governors meeting. The annual formal dinner/dance will be moving from its historic Friday night to Thursday night.
In the event that the Board of Governors does not complete all of its business on Thursday, it will reconvene on Friday, November 9. Otherwise, Friday afternoon will be a free day to enjoy Chicago. The former President-Elect reception has been rechristened the Presidential Inauguration and will feature the swearing in of president Alton Abramowitz on Friday evening.
Our CLE’s will be on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Please plan to attend, learn some new skills, and renew your friendships. Be sure to register and make your hotel and travel reservations early.
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
Our CLE Chair, Madeline Marzano-Lesnevich, has planned a series of informative programs designed to help you in your practice. She and her committee have spent many hours planning the program.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Wednesday’s Program Coordinator, Edward J. Thomas, has put together the first day of programming entitled “Useful Stuff You Need to Know.” Ed, with Daniel J. Jaffe and Robert C. Wood,will present “When Money Disappears Offshore—Discovery, Recovery, and Your Terrifying Liability.” Since 9/11, people who are caught hiding money by sending it offshore are subjected to draconian tax penalties, and they, as well as the lawyers who help them, face the real possibility of going to prison. Every family law lawyer needs to know: How are offshore transfers made? How could or should you have known about them? What should you have done to prevent them? More importantly, what, if anything, can you do to fix the problem without exposing either you or your client to terrifying levels of tax liability and/or going to prison?
This will be followed by the very knowledgeable and entertaining Ronald S. Granberg and Robert E. Blevans discussing “Phantom Income And Other Demons - How To Sell A Judge On Adjustments To Business Income.”Direct and cross examinations of forensic accountants is the most effective method of persuading a judicial officer to increase or decrease the amount of business income available for child and spousal support. This panel will offer an actual demonstration of how this is done and of the questions you need to ask when dealing with adjustments based on claims of phantom income, depreciation, principle payments on loans, and the paying party’s degree of control over cash flow.
And don’t forget the special Technology Symposium Wednesday afternoon. Melissa Brown has put together a superb program. We will have presentations on social media, including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn by Nicole “Niki” Black, a national expert on social media. Ben Stevens, The Mac Lawyer, will present on running your family law practice in the Cloud. Robb Lee, from our webmaster, Astonish Designs, will give us a tour of our new website. Jim McLaren and Robert Gray will tell us how to use technology, including iPads and PC based laptops at deposition and trial. The session will conclude with a hands-on demonstration with the participants using their own iPads and laptops with various apps and programs. You will also have the opportunity to get your picture on the website right then and there!
Thursday, November 8, 2012
For Thursday, November 8, 2012, Program Coordinator Cary Mogerman has put together a panel discussing “Double Dips, Flips and Trips - Property vs. Cash Flow Issues in Dissolution of Marriage Cases.” Should the earnings of a closely held corporation or small business owned by one of the spouses in a divorce, in whole or in part, be used as the basis of the value of a closely held business, or the basis of alimony and child support, or both? Does the valuation approach matter? Does it matter that the business is a large percentage of the marital estate? How do you treat accounts receivable, Subchapter S income and owner controlled income? What about pensions---assets or income stream? Miriam E. Mason, Roberta G. Stanley, and Mark I. Harrison, CPA ABV, will provide us with a national perspective on these topics, as well as suggested approaches in specific circumstances, informed by citations from throughout the fifty states.
For part two of Thursday’s CLE, Program Coordinator Sylvia Goldschmidt has invited Lynne Gold-Bikin and Dr. Stanley Clawar, noteworthy author of Children Held Hostage, to present “Alienation / Brainwashing / Estrangement / Disordered Attachment, Etc. – Whatever You Call It, What Can Be Done?” The program will focus on analyses of therapeutic, legal, guardian ad litem, parent coordinator and other interventions: what works and what does not work? Special areas will include: Predicting behavioral patterns for parents who damage parent-child relationships; how is “therapy” helping or hindering parent-child reconciliations?How do you measure meaningful change in a parent-child relationship? Is there a point of no return for a child? What interface do attorneys need with court-appointed professionals? What types of court orders are likely to bring higher compliance rates for the damaging parent? How do old definitions of confidentiality hinder legal actions and case continuity? Selecting a professional who can really facilitate change; what to do with “too many cooks in the kitchen” (multiple professionals in a single case); new perspectives on forensic counseling; and recommendations for new judicial approaches.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Finally, on Friday, November 9, 2012, Mike McCurley, Program Coordinator, will lead the AAML’s 50th Anniversary retrospection. The program features past presidents Mike Albano, Marlene Moses, Lindsey Short, and Cheryl Hepfer, all of whom will talk of the changes that have occurred in Family Law since the founding of the AAML.
Mike Albanowill speak on “What is No Longer Politically Correct” and Marlene Moses on “The Role of Psychology in Law Over the Past Fifty Years.” Lindsey Shortwill discuss “The Role of Property Rights in Law Over the Past Fifty Years” and Cheryl Hepfer “The Role of Women Lawyers Over the Past Fifty Years”.
SOCIAL EVENTS
The Arbitration Reunion will take place on Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday evening is the First-Year Members Dinner, for members who are in their first year of membership and attending their first annual meeting. This is an opportunity for new members to meet each other and the officers of the Academy.
The Spouse and Guest Event will return us to The Chopping Block for a cooking demonstration (and, of course, the opportunity to eat what you cook!). Join my wife, Lynda, for this event Wednesday morning.
The Foundation’s Annual Reception on Wednesday evening will be held at a new location: The Rookery at 209 South LaSalle Street in Chicago.
On Thursday, the elegant Black Tie dinner /dance will be held at the Renaissance. Instead of the “big band” sound we had in the past, we have selected a great smaller club band from Chicago – Maggie Speaks. I will also have the honor of awarding the Fellow of the Year and bidding a fond farewell to my many AAML friends. Also this year we have decided to not have assigned seating. You can reserve a table of ten if you wish. We will place the name of the “captain” of the group on a reserved sign on the table, but it will be up to you to make sure your guests know they are sitting at your table and where that table is. Otherwise, everyone can sit wherever they want and with whomever they find sitting at their table!
Friday night’s free reception will feature the swearing in of Alton Abramowitz at the Ivy Room at Tree Studios. The festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. sharp!
I am delighted to continue the tradition of a Past-Presidents meeting on Saturday. This year it will be a breakfast from 9:00 to noon. I am inviting all Past-Presidents to attend this event, November 10, 2012,to make suggestions and share their wisdom with the incoming leadership.
MEETINGS
The Executive Committee will meet Tuesday morning. The Chapter Leaders’ luncheon and meetingand the Council of Committee Chairs will be Tuesday afternoon.
The Board of Governors will meet on Thursday,and Friday if necessary. Other than the Fellow of the Year, the “thank you” awards will be given out at the Open Meeting preceding the Board of Governors’ meeting Thursday afternoon. The swearing in of new officers (other than the President) will take place at the Board meeting
CHICAGO RENAISSANCE
We are pleased to celebrate our 50th Anniversary at our home for the past twenty years, the Chicago Renaissance. We have negotiated discounted room rates, so please get your reservation in early so you can take advantage of the rates.
CHICAGO
Chicago is a world-class city. Top museums include: The Art Institute, the Field Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry. Fun attractions abound, including the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, Navy Pier, the Sears Tower Sky Deck, and a Frank Lloyd Wright tour. Those of us who have been to Chicago know that there is no better place for great shopping and wonderful restaurants. Chicago is a fabulous place to be in November.
Please join Fellows from around the country in making our Annual Meeting a huge success. I look forward to seeing each of you and saying “thank you,” for allowing me the honor of being your President.
With personal regards,
KenAltshuler
KPA/
Enclosures