Overview

Join us for the 7^th regional Consumer Issues Conference in Laramie, Wyoming. Our focus this year will be on credit and finance issues. Rarely will you find the sort of expertise this conference gathers collected together and interacting on these important issues. Whether you are new to the conference and looking to network, are interested in professional credits or are looking to become familiar with consumer issues, then this conference is for you. The 2007 conference is planned for September 26 and 27 and will be located in the Union on the campus of the University of Wyoming.

As always, we will be offering a session with regional legislators, presentations by topic experts from across the country and region, continuing education credits for various professions, and the opportunity to interact with other people interested in improving the affairs of consumers. And this year we’ll be offering a special screening of the movie Maxed Out on September 26 with Director James Scurlock.

At the conference you will receive hand-out materials and information, develop a network of peers, learn about important issues and their policy implications and have a good time. Each year we present this conference to raise awareness and help improve the lives of consumers. The most important things you will take away from the Consumer Issues Conference are the relationships you make and the ability to become informed and involved.

We expect about 150 attendees representing schools, universities, law firms, public action agencies, legislatures, students and the interested public to attend from around the region.

Topics Include

• The Debt Man Cometh: Collecting Debts and Dealing with Debt Collectors
• Navigating the Maze: The Consumer’s Right to Access and Correct Credit Reports
• Payday Loans, Car-title Loans and Check Cashing Services: What are the Costs, Risks and Repercussions?
• Identity Theft Prevention
• Security Freeze Legislation & what it means to you
• Credit Cards on Campus: Managing Student Debt
• The Mysterious Monthly Statement: Discover the Secrets Hidden in Your Credit Card Bill (and what the Fed is trying to do about them!)
• What You Need to Know about Long Term Care Insurance

Registration

Registration fees for the Consumer Issues Conference are kept low so that cost is not barrier to attendance. The early registration deadline is September 13. Registration includes snacks and lunch.

General

Early registration: $45
Late registration: $55

Seniors:

Early registration: $35
Late registration: $45

Students: Free

Registration is closed.

To register by phone, call 1-877-733-3618, ext. 2, or 307-766-5249.

Scholarships to assist with travel are available this year – see Transportation.

Featured Speaker

Jeanne Hogarth, Federal Reserve
Jeanne Hogarth is the manager for the Consumer Education and Research Section of the Division of Consumer and Community Affairs at the Federal Reserve Board. She joined the Federal Reserve in 1995. Her previous experience includes 7 years of high school teaching, a year on the Extension faculty at the University of Illinois, and 13 years on the consumer economics faculty at Cornell University. During her tenure at Cornell, she was responsible for community education programs related to family financial management and consumer economics through Cornell Cooperative Extension. At the Federal Reserve Board, she is responsible for research and outreach initiatives related to consumer financial services. Her recent projects include initiatives on consumers’ use of banking services, focusing on lower income and immigrant households, the “unbanked” and underbanked, and adoption of electronic banking and payment services, consumer protection strategies, focusing on consumer/financial literacy and education; credit, mortgage, and leasing products; and consumer privacy issues consumer testing for comprehension and usability of disclosure notices.

Jeanne is responsible for the Board’s consumer information materials on financial services, both in print and on the web. She is the author of numerous scholarly research articles as well as consumer education resources on financial management. Both her research and her consumer education programs have received awards for their excellence. She is the recipient of the AFCPE Mary Ellen Edmondson Educator Award and was named a Mentor and a Distinguished Fellow by the American Council on Consumer Interests.

Nancy Smith, AARP Financial
Nancy Smith is currently Vice President, Investment Services, at AARP Financial. AARP Financial is a new company providing financial services to AARP members. Prior to joining AARP Financial, Ms. Smith was a consultant on financial, regulatory, compliance, and legislative issues. From 2002 to 2003, she co-founded and directed RestoreTheTrust.com, a non-partisan campaign funded by the Rockefeller Family Fund to educate investors on the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. From 1999 to 2002, she served as Vice President of FOLIOfn, an online brokerage, managing the start up and launch of its Web site, developing products and services, and supervising its Research Department. From 1994 to 1999, she served as Director of the SEC’s office of investor education and assistance, leading the SEC’s plain English initiative and representing consumer views on rulemaking and other initiatives. From 1991 to 1994, Ms. Smith served as the Director of Securities for the State of New Mexico. From 1987 to 1991, she served on the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance of the U.S. House of Representatives, with responsibility for securities legislation and oversight activities, leaving as Senior Finance Counsel. Ms. Smith received her BA and JD from Georgetown University.

 

James Scurlock, Film Maker
James Scurlock is the Director/Producer of the critically-acclaimed documentary film Maxed Out. James attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania from 1989 to1993 as an undergraduate and has no formal film training. An entrepreneur since his sophomore year in college, James opened several successful restaurants which he later sold. He has also contributed as a freelance writer to several magazines and newspapers. Maxed Out is his second feature documentary.

Speaker Biographies

Our expert presenters come from across the country and the region to discuss consumer issues. To find out who will be presenting this year, visit our speaker bios page.

Agenda

Special Events

This year we’re pleased to be able to bring you the popular documentary Maxed Out in association with ASUW. Not only will we be watching the movie, but Writer, Director and Producer James Scurlock will be available for a Q and A session with conference presenter Norma Garcia, Consumers Union Senior Attorney, immediately following the show. www.maxedoutmovie.com

The movie will begin at 7:30pm in the Arts and Sciences Auditorium on the campus of the University of Wyoming on September 26. This event is free and open to the public.

Additionally, three topical books will be available at the UW Bookstore and during the movie.

• Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders by James Scurlock

• All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan by Elizabeth Warren
• The Two-Income Trap: Why Middle-Class Parents are Going Broke by Elizabeth Warren

Resources and Exhibits

Information useful to those interested in credit and debt can be found at the Resources and Exhibits page.

Exhibitors are welcome to reserve a table at the conference to display information of use to participants. To request exhibit space, complete the "Call for Conference Exhibitors" Form.

Professional Credits

Various continuing education credits are expected to be available:

• American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences - 10 PDUs
• CLE (Continuing Legal Education) - 7 hrs.
• Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB) - 1/2 Credit Unit

Location and Lodging

Laramie is an outdoor town with an outlaw past. Information about Laramie, the University of Wyoming and the Union (the conference site) is available here.

Conference Lodging: A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at the Comfort Inn in Laramie for the conference at the rate of $85.49 per night. Reserve your room for the conference by August 24. The Comfort Inn is located at 3420 E Grand Ave, Laramie, WY 82070. Phone (307)721-8856 (this is about 1.5 miles from the UW Union). You will need to make your own reservation.

Transportation

Driving: Laramie is easily accessed along Interstate 80 in southeast Wyoming.

RideBoard: Interested in sharing a ride with someone attending the conference? Check out our RideBoard! Post a note on the board to tell other travelers where you are or what you’re interested in.

Flying: Air service to the Laramie Regional Airport (airport code LAR) is available thrice daily from Denver with Great Lakes Airlines.

Scholarships: Need financial assistance to travel to the conference? Fill out an application. Applications are due September 6. You should be notified by September 10 (in time to register early for the conference).

Brochure

Click here to see brochure - prints on 11 x 17 paper

Sponsors and Planning Committee

The 2007 Consumer Issues Conference addresses consumer problems or issues. We define these as threats of fraud or misinformation, unfair advantage relative to consumers, or problems that cause some harm or risk to consumers. As a planning group our objectives are to

· Develop an understanding of consumer issues and awareness of resources available to prevent and address them,

· Empower consumers to address specific consumer concerns through education, collaboration, and participation in the public policy process,

· Create opportunities for networking that can lead to collaboration among interested parties with different perspectives on consumer issues,

· Improve consumer wellbeing through changes in personal actions and state and local government policy, (e.g. legislation introduced and/or passed, regulation, and funding), and

· Empower students to create well researched position papers and presentations on a specific consumer issue to relevant experts and policymakers, including legislators.

The Planning Committee

Dee Pridgen, College of Law
University of Wyoming, Associate Dean & Professor, CoChair

  

Virginia Vincenti, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
University of Wyoming, Professor, CoChair

N. Denise Burke, College of Law
University of Wyoming, Assistant Dean

Adrianna Carlton, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences  (AAFCS) Student President
University of Wyoming

Cole Ehmke, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
University of Wyoming, Extension Specialist

Cathy Gonzales, AARP-Wyoming
Legislative Advocacy Team Member

 

Elizabeth Goudey, Esq., Students' Attorney Office
University of Wyoming, ASUW Students' Attorney

 

Carol Makela, Consumer and Family Studies
Colorado State University, Professor

 

Mark Moran, State of Wyoming Attorney General’s office and Laramie County Municipal Judge

 

Tim Summers, AARP-Wyoming
Associate State Director-Advocacy

   

Elaine Welle, College of Law
University of Wyoming, Professor

Sponsors

Our program supporters provide financial as well as in-kind contributions to bring about this annual event.

AARP
Albany County Tourism Board
Associated Students of the University of Wyoming (ASUW)
UW Campus Activities Center
UW College of Ag Dean's Office
UW College of Law Dean's Office
UW Cooperative Extension Service
UW Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
UW Office of the President

If you or your organization would like to support this project as it raises awareness, and empowers and connects consumers to address public policy issues, then contact Dee Pridgen or Virginia Vincenti. The Consumer Issues Conference is a highly-rated event that has a history of creating impact. For instance, in 2006, state legislation was passed (SF89) as a direct result of discussions on community-based long-term care service. Each year a conference on a consumer issue brings together experts, legal professionals, educators, students, legislators and interested citizens to learn about issues and outline public policy action. Participants come from across Wyoming as well as Colorado and Nebraska.

Past Conference Websites

Home on the Range (2006)
Consumer Activism: Health Issues (2005)
Cars and Consumers (2003)
Credit Cards Marketed to Youth and Privacy Rights (2002)
Addressing Consumer Fraud (2001)
Rental Housing Inspection, 1999 white paper based on 1st conference
 

Return to current conference site.

Copyright © 2007 University of Wyoming College of Agriculture.
This page was last updated on May 13, 2008 .
Website designer, Randy L. Anderson