Division II has assembled a compelling collection of educational sessions for the 2010 Convention in January, including a presentation from a former mob member who will note the dangers of gambling.

The six Division II-specific menu sessions include one coordinated by the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory committee that focuses on educational efforts regarding sports wagering.

Participants will hear from Michael Franzese, whom local, state and federal law enforcement agencies previously considered as one of the biggest money earners for organized crime since Al Capone. Franzese, the son of legendary Colombo family underboss John “Sonny” Franzese, now uses a provocative presentation to educate audiences. He has appeared before several NCAA groups in the past, including Division I basketball student-athletes.

That session is among three offered at 9:45 a.m. Friday, January 15, immediately after Division II keynote speaker Sheila Baxter addresses Division II delegates. Baxter, a retired brigadier general, is the first keynote at the Convention for Division II. She is a former basketball standout at Virginia State and a proponent of the “balance” theme inherent in the Division II philosophy.

Other Division II educational sessions in that time slot include two communication-based efforts – one regarding how to engage campuses in developing gender-equity plans and another on how to communicate Division II strategic initiatives (such as the “I Chose” branding campaign and the community-engagement and game-environment efforts) to specific audiences. NCAA Director of Gender Initiatives Karen Morrison leads the session on gender plans, while Division II consultant Jill Willson heads the one on communication.

Three more sessions follow those at 11:15, including one from NCAA Director of Championships Roberta Page on Division II championships-specific initiatives such as regionalization and communicating championships policies with committees and membership constituents.

Diane Husic, who helps facilitate the Division II Faculty Athletics Representatives Fellows Institute each fall, will talk about the success of that program over the years and how it has engaged FARs not otherwise connected with the Division II governance structure to become more involved on their own campuses and in Division II overall.

NCAA Committee on Infractions and enforcement representatives also will present on trends and concerns in Division II infractions cases over the past several years.

Those sessions end at 12:30 p.m., followed by conference meetings that afternoon.

The Division II business session is Saturday, January 16. Click here for a schedule of Division II and Association-wide events for the January Convention in Atlanta.