March 2022

 DMARSPA MINUTES
MARCH 24, 2022
1. President Marla Carr welcomed DMARSPA members to the March 24, 2022, meeting. We
will be sponsoring donations to the Food Bank of Iowa next month, and someone will be
demonstrating how to make bags out of T shirts. If anyone has any ideas for a good
program for next year, please fill out the sheets on the table.
A. Signup sheet on table for cashiers next year.
B. Bill Snyder explained about the table decorations - donations for scholarship fund.
C. Dee explained that we have only received six scholarships applications this year.
1. She is proposing giving two scholarships instead of three because of the
lack of quality applications.
2. Thanked Joelle Snyder for making the table decoration coasters.
D. Gary Thelen gave the Joke of The Day.
2. Diann Mackey introduced the presenters - Angela Shutts from the Whitfield Law Firm and
Nicole Beaman from the Iowa Center For Children’s Justice For Kids. Angela is a native of
Deborah , law degree from Drake. She is in family law practice and a certified mediator
appointed by the Supreme Court. Recognized by the BEST Lawyers of America. Named
Drake University Law College as outstanding lawyer and is president of the Iowa Bar
Association. Nicole Beaman has a Masters of Social Work and a bachelor’s of Sociology,
vp of community impact, United Way of east central iowa; adjunct instructor at community
college in Cedar Rapids.
Angela has represented clients in family courts for several years. Two district court
judges asked to open a center to focus on family cases. The first law center opened in 2017
in Des Moines. February, 2020, the Des Moines office was going to be closed. Choice to
open a non profit or shut it down. Decided to open a non profit in July of 2020. Nicole has
been their director since that time. Mission is to value a child’s voice. Often we see is the
parents are in a situation that they are so angry with each other that the child is left out there.
They have two attorneys to represent the children. Fortunately, the grant they received has
allowed them to have three full-time employees. Last year 1054 cases were filed for children.
Serviced about 100 of those kids. Bigger need and a bigger gap; more attorneys needed.
Every child, six to sixteen, in Polk County, whose parents are going through a divorce are
required to go through their two-hour workshop. They talk to groups to tell what they do.
Three components to the group. First, is representing children. Their lawyers meet
with the children, talk with them on a regular basis while the case is pending, attend mediation
on behalf of the child; if it can’t get settled, the lawyers will be at trial. The second aspect is
the divorce workshops. The children hear neutral info about divorce and learn that they are not
alone. They learn how to advocate for themselves in a respectful manner. The third
component is the alternative dispute resolution. The lawyers are there to represent what the
child wants and to work with the parents to dissolve the disputes. Final aspect is early neutral
evaluation. Someone starts at the early onset of the divorce and ask what can we do now.
The other thing good is that no child is going to be turned down because of money - a sliding
scale. Parents don’t always agree with the findings, but they are appreciative that someone is
helping their child. Angela told of a 14 year old girl, during Covid, who had the opportunity to
do a Zoom call with the judge. She wanted to attend a school where the dad lived; the mom
wanted her to attend a school where she lived. She was able to tell her feelings to the judge
and asked the lawyer to attend when the ruling was given. The judge ruled for her, which might
not have been done, if she had not been allowed to speak with him. Another boy, who was
nine, told one of the attorneys told that he wanted to be a judge when he grew so he could
listen to kids’ needs.
Hope that in the future they will have more funds to serve more kids, especially in a
younger age group than six.
If anyone would like to donate, they can go to iowachildrensjustice.org
to donate. Volunteers can work as facilitators in the workshops. They are looking at developing
additional volunteer opportunities.
How do clients end up with you? One, is by judge’s referral . Another is by parents
who do research and ask for help. We are appointed by the judge in every case,
though.
Funding majority is through donations, also a part of United Way.
3. Celebration of March birthdays with singing of Happy Birthday.
4. Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.
5. Dee called members who have not been to meetings for awhile.
A. Warren Pitchers said he would reimburse their membership fee if they are
dissatisfied after the first year.
6. Courtesy - Dee sent cards to Joe Nemec who had a heart attack; Flo Tenny who lost her
dog.
A. Someone said the committee should limit the number of cards sent. Dee explained
that she is the committee and spends her own money for cards and stamps.
7. Business Meeting:
A. Secretary - Sherry Wilkinson. No additions or corrections, so report was filed as
read.
B. Treasurer’s Report - Sandra Petre. Balance on hand March 24, 2022 - $4320.64.
Deposits- $1504; expenses - Barratta’s , $1040, Warren Pitcher, Hall of Fame gift
$28.84. Balance on hand April 28, 2022 - $4756.80. SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT:
balance on hand March 24,2022 - $2137.16. Deposits - $521.00, Interest - $.09.
Balance on hand April 28, 2022 - $2658.25. TOTAL on hand April 28, 2022 - $7415.05.
C. Old business:
1. Remember to keep track of volunteer hours.
8. Lunch
9. Door Prize - Bill Snyder
10. Answers to puzzle. Thank you to Sandy Wellman for the puzzle.
11. If anyone has extra cards that Dee could use for courtesy, please bring them the next
meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 12:25 pm. Next meeting: Revitalization of the East Village - Pat Meiners.
Respectfully submitted,
Sherry Wilkinson,
Secretary