Workshops
FBI Special Agent Kevin Damuth from the ICAC Task Force speaks on Cyber Issues.
Cyber-Safe/Digital-Smart Conference was held August 24, 2009 at the Utterback School in Conrad, Montana. This conference was sponsored by Youth Enhancement Services, Inc to inform the people that work with young adults the dangers of digital technology. Approximately 150 teachers, law enforcement and counselors attended. Speakers were from Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Montana Safe Schools, Institute for Responsible Online and Cell Phone Communication, and Three Rivers Communication. Key note speaker was the Honorable Judge Laurie McKinnon with introduction by Pondera County Attorney Mary Ann Ries.
On September 2, 2009 Detective Bryan Fischer and Assistant US Attorney Cyndee Peterson from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force spoke to the the Conrad Schools and held a community presentation that evening.
FBI Special Agent Kevin Damuth from the ICAC Task Force speaks on Cyber Issues.
Workshop Descriptions
Institute for Responsible Online & Cell-Phone Communication (IROC2)
Speaker: Richard Guerry”.
Sexting is Stupid
This presentation is the Institute’s innovative pilot program focused on communicating our concept of digital responsibility (Digital Responsibility 2.1C) and accountability when utilizing interactive digital tools and technologies. The program is not just designed to educate, but to create a new way of social thinking while utilizing the current (and future) interactive digital tools and technologies that have such a major influence in many of our everyday lives. In an effort to influence positive behavior and good judgment in our digital world, the “Sexting Is Stupid” Program is a unique and interactive seminar offering information sharing from industry experts, questions and answer sessions, and illustrative multimedia content exposing real world examples of the dangers of poor online judgment and the unintended, potentially life altering consequences that can ensue.
3 Rivers Communication
Speakers: Ernie Peterson, Network Manager and Tom Hodges, Data/IP Manager
How Internet and Wireless Communication Services Work
This workshop will show how internet and wireless communication services work behind the scenes. It is designed for non-technical people, and discussed in terms that are easy to understand. This workshop will discuss ways adults that work with children can use basic knowledge of how the services work to be wise consumers, how to be aware of how young people are using these services and how to interpret that usage.
Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC)
Speakers: Bryan Fischer, Detective Helena Police Department; Kevin Damuth, FBI Special Agent; Cindee Peterson, Assistant US Attorney
Internet Safety
This session will focus on Internet Safety, in particular providing school age youth and their parents helpful information pertaining to many areas of the internet youth of today spend their time. Participants will be given a presentation by NetSmartz, a subsidiary of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, into social networking sites, file sharing, cell phones, chat rooms, posting information on the internet, texting, sexting and other safety information. This presentation will specifically target children from 5thgrade through senior in high school.
What is ICAC?
The information will provide participants an overview of law enforcement agencies involved in the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the services offered by the MT ICAC Task Force, law enforcement assistance, community assistance as well as a case study of a nearly yearlong case in which numerous offenders have been arrested nationwide by the Montana ICAC Task force and how it ties to Montana.
Montana Safe Schools
Speakers: Sindie Spencer Kennedy, iSafe Internet Safety Trainer and Don Earl, IT Manager
Cyberbullying: The New Adolescent Aggression
This presentation will focus on the basics of cyberbullying to include definitions, what does it look like, what role does social networking sites play, responding to cyberbullying, how it can be prevented, and additional resources/lessons. This presentation will also include a discussion on sexting and prevention measures.
Power to Voices: Inspiring Youth Leaders to Prevent Cyberbullying
This presentation will focus on developing a youth leadership model that supports students in speaking up and taking a stand against cyberbullying, to model safe, responsible and smart online behavior and to mentor their peers and younger students.
Cyberbullying: The Law and School Policy
This presentation will include some brief descriptions of legal cases pertaining to cyberbullying and include some suggestions for how to address cyberbullying through school policy (Note: we are not lawyers or legal experts. The information shared is not legal advice. We highly recommend that schools consult their attorneys before implementing policy change).
Workshop Presenters
Judge Laurie McKinnon is a native of the Baltimore –Washington area, attended Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, receiving a B.A. in 1982 with honors in Economics. She graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1986. Judge McKinnon was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore City where she prosecuted in the Juvenile Habitual Offender, Misdemeanor and Felony Sex Offense Units. She has worked in association with the Maryland Public Defender’s Office in criminal defense, accepting conflict cases and death penalty litigation. Judge McKinnon has operated private practices in Maryland and, since 1995, Montana, accepting cases in domestic violence, family law, criminal defense, and general civil practice. Prior to becoming a judge, she served as a Teton County Deputy Attorney handling criminal prosecutions and civil litigation for Teton County. Judge McKinnon was elected to the Ninth Judicial District in January of 2007and presides over Teton, Pondera, Toole and Glacier counties. Since taking the bench in 2007, Judge McKinnon has established a Family Treatment Court in Pondera and Teton Counties, and most recently a Chemical Dependency Treatment Court in Glacier County. She is enrolled in the judicial studies graduate program at the University of Nevada. Judge McKinnon lives in Teton County with her husband, Gary, and their four children.
Richard Guerry is the visionary behind the rapidly expanding social norm called Responsibility 2.1C, a clever acronym for 21st Century Responsibility. Richard’s innovative concept of 2.1C is our generation’s version of “playing with fire can burn” whereby digital technologies and devices play the role of fire. Richard’s message is proactively saving lives across our planet. Further, he is currently the only individual communicating a uniform, proactive approach and mindset that applies to everyone on our planet that uses digital technology. In fact, a 90 minute HD documentary is already being created by an award winning director about Richard and his live saving social norm 2.1C. Richard is currently the Executive Director of The Institute for Responsible Online and Cell-Phone Communication which makes this nonprofit the only global nonprofit communicating “2.1C”. It is Richard and the organization’s mission to ensure that every single individual that uses any form of digital technology knows and understands “2.1C” ASAP to ensure they understand 21st century digital safety, awareness, responsibility, and how to proactively avoid both current and future digital issues (like sexcasting) or what the Institute calls, Digital Diseases. To learn more about how Richard Guerry is a man with a mission to save our current and future generations you can visit the I.R.O.C.2 website at www.iroc2.org.
Ernie Peterson graduated from High School in Fairfield, MT, Ernie attended MSU in Bozeman. He went on to acquire a two year degree in Electronics from Minnesota College of Technology along with a First Class FCC License in Broadcasting. Ernie then spent the next 25 years in the wireless industry in Minneapolis, Austin and Kansas City. In 1997, after being the Director of Network Services for Cellular One in Kansas City, He returned to his native Montana to serve as General Manager of a new startup, 3 Rivers Wireless. After 7 years at the helm of that organization, Ernie took on the responsibility of Network Manager for 3 Rivers Telephone in Fairfield Mt.
Tim Hodges was born and raised in Great Falls, graduated from MSU-Bozeman with a BS Electrical Engineering in 1986. He spent 10 years working for the intelligence community on the east coast. Tom returned to Montana in 1997 to work in the telephone co-op industry bringing technology and the Internet to rural customers. He joined 3 Rivers in 2007 as the Data Network Supervisor. His current responsibilities include operating the core Internet network for our company, managing IT operations, and 3 Rivers’ latest effort, cable TV operations in four communities. Tim has four children home schooled by his wife Kathey. Tim is active in various church and community service organizations. His latest project has been producing and hosting a twice monthly show of bluegrass and traditional music on KGPR in Great Falls.
Detective Bryan Fischer is a veteran law enforcement officer currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Helena Police Department for the past seven years. Detective Fischer specializes with crimes involving child sexual/physical abuse, sex based offenses, crimes against the developmentally disabled, and ensures persons convicted of qualifying sexual and violent offenses are currently registered. Due to a noticeable increase pertaining to Internet related offenses, Detective Fischer was recently assigned to a federal Internet Crimes against Children Task Force working with state, local and federal law enforcement officers and prosecutors targeting sexual predators involved in child sexual enticement and exploitation via the Internet.
Special Agent Kevin Damuth is an FBI Special Agent out off the Helena Montana Office since 2004. Kevin was formally stationed in San Antonio, Texas. He’s been a member of the Montana Internet Crimes against Children Task Force since the task force’s inception in 2007. He has been an integral part of some major internet crimes investigations leading to the arrests of numerous suspects from Montana and around the nation.
Cyndee Peterson is an Assistant US Attorney assigned to Missoula. She is one of two Montana Project Safe Childhood prosecutors. Her prosecutions focus primarily on child pornography and on-line predator cases in Western Montana. .Prior to joining the AUSA office in September 2008, Cyndee served as Hill County Attorney for approximately 5 years. During that time, she was a key contributor to the Montana County Attorneys Association. She was also a part of US Attorney’s Office LECC Executive Committee. Before her election as County Attorney, she served as a Deputy Hill County Attorney. Before joining the Hill County Attorney’s Office, she served as a law clerk to then-District Court Judge John Warner before his appointment to the Montana Supreme Court. Cyndee received her J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law in May 1997. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Montana. She was born and raised in Circle, Montana.
Sindie Spencer Kennedy of the Montana Safe Schools Center is an iSafe Internet Safety Trainer and the content expert for the Montana Attorney General’s Internet safety website www.safeinyourspace.org. She works with the FBI’s Internet Crimes against Children Task Force to develop training materials for Montana. She has delivered multiple presentations on the topics of Internet safety and cyber bullying prevention to students, educators and parents throughout the state of Montana.
Don Earl is the IT Manager for the Montana Safe Schools Center. Mr. Earl has twelve years experience in computer support. He has expertise in creating and delivering presentations related to Internet safety and cyber bullying. He works with the FBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force on developing training materials for Montana.