April 2010
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NewsChair's Letter From Tania E. (Dee Dee) Fuller
By now, I'm sure you have received several notices encouraging you to attend the Business Law Section's annual Business Law Institute (BLI). The BLI is the biggest educational event the Business Law Section sponsors each year. And it is the only program that includes presentations on two separate days, resulting in an overnight stay for most registrants. The speakers and topics are intentionally varied, to promote attendance from business lawyers with wide-ranging practices and interests. This year promises the same, with topics ranging from purchasing assets from bankrupt estates to non-bank corporate finance provisions to a merger and acquisition case study on day two.
The 2010 BLI will be held at the Amway Grand Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids again this year on Friday, May 21 and Saturday May 22. After the educational programs end on Friday, all participants are invited to attend a hosted reception to relax with council members, exhibitors, participants, and guests. Then, after the reception a fantastic dinner is planned with gourmet food stations and wine pairings.
On Saturday morning the educational portion of the program continues and by noon, registrants are headed back home. It is a great opportunity to make a relatively small time commitment and get so much back. All around, the BLI is a great educational and networking event. Hopefully, you can fit it into your schedule and we will see you there!
Become a Fan of the Section on Facebook
The impact of social media can be seen everywhere—among households, non-profits, and businesses. And soon you will be able to follow the Business Law Section on Facebook.
The Section is in the final stages of creating a Facebook Fan page that will allow Section members and other lawyers and legal professionals the opportunity to follow Section news, events, and information. The Facebook page should be ready by mid to late April. Once you receive notice that the Facebook page is active, we encourage all members to become fans of the page and suggest you encourage other colleagues to become fans of the page. The Section will also be looking for Section news, photos, and other content to help populate the page. Members can access the page by signing up for a personal account at Facebook. Stay tuned for further updates in the May e-Newsletter.
Export Services for Smaller Business
On Tuesday, May 11, the Small Business Forum of the Section will sponsor a program entitled "Developing Foreign Markets: New Opportunities for Small Businesses in Exporting." The government and private organization experts presenting will provide information of great interest to business owners, accountants, financial advisors, as well as attorneys. A modest fee of $25 will be charged at the door.
SBM Continues Progress Towards Green
On May 6, the 2nd Annual SBM-ELS Sustainability & Climate Change Committee Conference will be held by simultaneous video from two locations—NextEnergy in Detroit and Michigan Alternative & Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon. The full day program entitled "Electric Wheels and Winds of Change: Sustainability, Alternative Energy, and Economic Incentives" will present many experts from government, business, and legal sectors, and will include breakout sessions for participants. Section members representing businesses in Michigan will find the topics highly relevant and informative. We encourage you to attend.
May 11—Small Business Forum meeting, Developing Foreign Markets: New Opportunities for Small Businesses in Exporting (Columbia Center, Troy)
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May 18—Debtor/Creditor Rights Committee Meeting (Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss, Southfield)
May 21—Section Council Meeting (Amway Grand Plaza, Grand Rapids)
May 21 and 22—Annual Business Law Institute (Grand Rapids)
April 17—Michigan Youth Leadership Summit hosted by Metro Detroit Bar Association Barristers (Oakland Community College, Farmington Hills)
May 6—Environmental Law Section Sustainability and Climate Change Committee Conference, simultaneous video conference Muskegon (GVSU) and Detroit (NextEnergy)
