Poughkeepsie Journal
3 February 2003

Mother leads the way for fathers' rights
By Elizabeth Lynch, Poughkeepsie Journal

[Picture: Freyhagen]

Maria Freyhagen may seem an unusual choice for a father's rights
association.

But the 43-year-old divorced mother of two thinks she's just right for
the job. She was appointed president of the Hudson Valley-Poughkeepsie
chapter of the Father's Rights Association of New York State last summer. 

Freyhagen became aware of the organization in September 2001 when her
fiance needed guidance in a custody dispute. They decided to give FRANYS
a try, guessing it might simply be an opportunity to vent frustrations. 

But, she said, they were pleasantly surprised. 

"It ended up being an information group," Freyhagen said. 

Freyhagen is not the first woman to lead a father's rights chapter. She
is one of five female presidents in the statewide organization and the
second in Dutchess County, said Efrain Rodriguez, president of the Hudson
Valley chapters. 

"Maria brings a fresh coat of paint onto an old story. She brings
exuberance, fresh ideas. She can look at the situation from both sides,"
Rodriguez said. She said Freyhagen is a custodial parent and engaged to a
man who is a noncustodial parent. 

Freyhagen, 5 feet 2 inches tall, is a "little powder keg," Rodriguez
said. 

It only seems strange she's president of a men's group if the
organization is looked at as only furthering the rights of men, Rodriguez
said. 

"We are an organization that fights for the rights of children to have
both parents," Rodriguez said. She said in more than 90 percent of cases
women are granted custody. 

There are about 15 dues-paying members of the local chapter. 

Legalese translations 

Many of those who attend meetings don't understand the legalese of the
court papers they receive, Freyhagen said. 

A systems analyst with the Pepsi Bottling Group, Freyhagen is training as
a paralegal - training that will help in her volunteer work. 

Her talent, Freyhagen said, is her ability to think clearly while others
are emotional about their situations. 

"I give them next steps," she said. "I'm able to digest it and bring it
down to their level."

And, she said, as a woman, she's able to give a different perspective. 

"Guys think in one way, girls think in another," she said. 

Lawyers are at each monthly meeting to provide advice. Freyhagen hopes to
expand meetings so more individual situations can be addressed. 

"It's not so much the mother or father," Freyhagen said. "It's getting
the children with whom they're supposed to be with."

Another goal is to expand the membership and to build a rapport with
agencies such as the Child Support and Collection Enforcement Agency,
Child Protective Services, the YWCA, Little Angels and Family of
Woodstock. 

"I don't want to see this failing," Freyhagen said. She said she has been
a "client" of the group, seeking advice in her custody disputes. 

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NEIGHBOR
MARIA FREYHAGEN
Age: 43. 

Family: Daughters Marissa, 11, and Stephanie, 8. 

Resides: Wappinger. 

Hobbies: Renovating houses, hiking and cooking. 

Where to call: For information about the Father's Rights Association,
call (888) 991-8867 or visit http://www.fathersrightsnys.com/ 

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Neighbor appears every Monday. to suggest a topic, please call (845)
437-4833.