IOWA COURT REPORTERS ASSOCIATION
MIDYEAR CONFERENCE AGENDA
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Chair: Kara Holland
DMACC – Newton, Iowa
8:00 – 8:30 Registration
8:30 – 10:00 Red Cross – Services Offered for Veterans
Dena Howard, Service to the Armed Forces
10:00 – 10:15 Break
10:15 – 11:15 Resentencing of Juveniles with Life Sentences
Judge James Ellefson, District Court Judge
11:15 – 12:15 Reporters Helping the Deaf and HOH
Martha Meyer, Hearing Loss Association
12:15 – 1:15 Lunch and Learn
Bill Wimmer/Angela Davis – Legislative Update
Patti Ziegler – DMACC Update
1:15 – 1:30 Break
1:30 – 2:30 Emily Fazzino Murder Case – Part 1
Judge Michael Moon, District Court Judge
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 4:15 Emily Fazzino Murder Case – Part 2
Judge Michael Moon, District Court Judge
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Speaker 1: Dena Howard, Director, Service To the Armed Forces & International Services, American Red Cross
Dena is the Director of Service to Armed Forces & International Services for the Iowa Region. She is responsible for providing services to military families (active duty, guard and reserves). These services include casework, emergency communications, and access to financial assistance. As the Director of International Services, she ensures Red Cross Messages and Tracing Services are delivered in person to clients from families separated due to war/conflict or humanitarian crisis as well as tracing missing family members helping to restore family links. Dena has been with the American Red Cross for 20 years, as a volunteer and paid staff member. She has been a national sector staff member as the Station Manager at Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD, followed by the Executive Director of the Big Country Regional Chapter, in Abilene, TX (an especially disaster prone area), various positions in Nebraska/SW Iowa Region, and now the Iowa Region. She is a national American Red Cross Instructor and Instructor Trainer. Dena facilitates training in Service to Armed Forces, International Humanitarian Law – Born on the Battlefield, Restoring Family Links, Disaster Services Training and Continuing Disaster Education. Dena served as the interim Emergency Services Director of the Heartland Chapter of the American Red Cross, Omaha, NE during the 2005 hurricane season, responsible for responding to over 500 families who evacuated to the Omaha area. She also managed a shelter for 166 Hurricane Katrina airlifted evacuees, as well as running the local part of the National Disaster Response Call Center Network, recruiting and training over 200 volunteers who would take over 18,000 calls in 3 months. She also served as the Chief Programs Officer responsible for all Emergency Services in Disaster Services, Services to Armed Forces Services, International Services, the Heartland Red Cross Pantry and Energy Assistance Program and the National Response Call Center (Omaha). She has responded on national disaster relief operations as well as local events, usually in External Relations – Government Operations/Community Partners. Dena Howard came to Nebraska as the daughter of a military member (now retired), and is the spouse of an active duty military member, Doug Howard.
Topic: American Red Cross – More than Just Collecting Blood Donations. Focus will be on services to veterans and mental health needs.
Speaker 2: James C. Ellefson, District Court Judge
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Judge Ellefson, Marshalltown, was appointed to the bench in February of 2012. He earned his Bachelor's degree From Wartburg in 1974 and graduated with Honors from Drake Law School in 1977. Judge Ellefson Clerked for Robert G. Allbee, Chief Judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals (1977 - 1978) and Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (1978 - 1979). Judge Ellefson practiced law in Eldora from 1979 - 1985, and in Marshalltown from 1985 - 2012. He is a member of the Blackstone Inn of Court, American Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association, and the Marshall County Bar Association.
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Topic: Resentencing of juveniles who once had life sentences but will soon have their sentences reduced because of a Supreme Court decision.
SPEAKER 3: Martha Meyer
Martha Meyer is a long-time member of the Central Iowa Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association. Meyer is publisher of the organization’s quarterly newsletter. She always includes a page with all the links for Deaf Services and the commission.
Topic: What is the Hearing Loss Association and what services do they provide. She will discuss what reporters in Iowa can do to help provide more services to the deaf and hard of hearing population.
SPEAKER 4: Bill Wimmer, Attorney/Lobbyist (12:15 – 1:15)
Bill has been ICRA’s lobbyist for over 30 years. Bill will discuss the current status of any pending legislation in the Iowa House and Senate related to court reporters in Iowa and the Judicial Branch, as well as our pending issues for officials and freelancers (backup audio recording, insurance, union, anti-contracting, gift-giving and the possibility of firm registration)
Topic: Lobby efforts and the status of Iowa court reporters
SPEAKER 5: Michael J. Moon, District Court Judge
Michael J. Moon is a district court judge in 2B District Court in Iowa. He was appointed to this position in September 2000.
Topic: Judge Moon will be speaking about the murder trial of Alexander Fazzino . On January 12, 2012, the Boone Police responded to a call that appeared to be a possible suicide. However, Emily Fazzino had initiated divorce proceedings. She was addicted to painkillers, and Alexander allegedly threatened to throw away her medication on numerous occasions. To all who knew Emily Fazzino, her death appeared suspicious. This case was highly publicized and was moved to a difference county. Emily Fazzino was also the daughter of wealthy businessman, Richard Beckwith, of Fareway. This murder trial was the subject of Dateline on May 10, 2016, titled "Eyes for Lies."
