ADR Practitioners LunchtimeTeleconference Series

October 15 through November 13, 2009 until 1:50 p.m., EST

Replay Call In Information:

1-888-203-1112 Participant Passcode: 63002487

Topic: Walking the Community Mediation Talk: How we do it, is as important, as what we do

Dial in to hear a previously recorded conversation with Lorig Charkoudian of Community Mediation Maryland as she talks on the 10-point model used by community mediation centers in Maryland to help them stay grounded in grassroots and focused on social change. Other topics of discussion included diversity, prison re-entry, addiction recovery, recruitment initiatives, and quality assurance systems. Pull up a chair and listen to an enlightened conversation on community mediation.

Please consider joining DCACR in 2009-10. Your membership in DCACR compliments your ACR membership by providing opportunities to network with colleagues and attend local programs that enhance professional development. We are also planning several other member events this year, including a speaking engagement with Dr. William Ury, co-author of “Getting to Yes.”

Our annual membership fee is $25.00, with a student rate of $10.00. At the time you join you will receive 12 full months of membership. Please visit our website at http://www.mediate.com/dcacr/pg4.cfm for more information or in order to join online.

I hope to see you on November 2nd!

Elisabeth Bissell
President, DCACR

Zena D. Zumeta, a highly respected family mediator and trainer of thousands of other mediators throughout the United States, will discuss her methods of dealing with family crises in a special event hosted by the Maryland Mediation & Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) and the Negotiations and Conflict Management Program at the University of Baltimore, on Thursday, July 23 beginning at 7 p.m. This event, free and open to the public, will take place in the Performing Arts Theater in the University of Baltimore Student Center, 21 W. Mt. Royal Ave. It is part of MACRO’s “Evening with” Series. Refreshments will be available starting at 6:30 p.m. and will also be available afterward.

Known both here and abroad as a mediator, trainer, facilitator and a consultant for organizations on collaborative processes, Zumeta is president of the Mediation Training & Consultation Institute and the Collaborative Workplace in Ann Arbor, Mich. She has trained lawyers, psychologists, social workers, educators, and numerous professionals in working with families going through divorce. Called the “grandmother of divorce mediation” in Michigan, Zumeta has provided mediation services for 28 years, making her practice one of the oldest in that state.

Zumeta is a former board member and president of the Academy of Family Mediators (now merged into the Association for Conflict Resolution) and is the recipient of several prominent awards, including the Family Mediation Council-Michigan Lifetime Achievement in Mediation Award.

Attendees of the July 23 event will learn about current topics in family mediation, including mediation in a bad economy (lack of financial equity, no retirement benefits, bankruptcy, foreclosures, and panicked real estate sales); lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues and gay marriage; collaborative law and mediation; elder mediation; and the latest research into domestic violence and mediation.

Parking for this event will be available in the following locations:

Maryland Avenue Garage, 1111 Cathedral St.; rate for one hour is $8; two hours, $10; three hours, $15.
Belvedere Garage, 1017 N. Charles Street; flat rate after 5 p.m. is $11.
Discounted parking vouchers for $4 will be given to the first 55 who sign in at the door.

MPME Members: Attending a MACRO “Evening with” program counts as an activity for members of the MPME.

For more information about this event, call 410.837.4060.

The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts and the Merrick School of Business.

Maryland Commission on Human Relations (MCHR)
Mediation Program
6 St. Paul Street, Suite 900 Baltimore, MD 21202
410-767-8600

The Maryland Commission on Human Relations (MCHR) is an independent state agency that serves individual, business, community, and government concerns throughout the State. The Commission’s mandate is to protect legally defined groups, develop bias-free selection, hiring, retention, and promotion procedures by employers; increase housing opportunities to all groups in Maryland; ensure equal access to public accommodations and services; increase knowledge and understanding of anti-discrimination laws and help to improve human relations within the State. The mission of the Commission is to ensure equal opportunity to all through enforcement of Maryland’s laws against discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing; to provide educational and outreach services related to the provision of this law; and to promote and improve human relations in Maryland.

The Commission receives complaints directly from individuals who believe they are victims of unlawful discrimination and also processes complaints for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The majority of cases are employment related complaints filed by employees and potential employees in both the private and public sectors. Disputing parties are offered an opportunity to voluntarily choose to mediate their complaints before and/or during any investigative process.

The Agency’s Mediation Program is active across the State and trains and maintains a roster of over 130 volunteer mediators to mediate cases. The Mediation Unit staff are actively involved in several State alternative dispute resolution programs, committees and organizations and are often directly involved in collaborating with other programs, organizations and individuals in developing mediator standards, continuing educational opportunities, ethical guidelines, mentoring opportunities, diversity efforts and other mediator quality assistance efforts.

MCHR offers a unique opportunity for students to take their classroom learning and theory studies and practically apply that knowledge in a real conflict resolution program. Student interns have the opportunity to be involved in some or all of the following during their
internship:

• Conducting case intake and managing their own mediation case load
• Contacting parties to offer and explain mediation services
• Scheduling and setting up mediation sessions
• Observing and co-mediating cases
• Debriefing mediations and receiving feedback from Mediation Unit staff and other program mediators
• Working with legal and investigations staff on various cases
• Assisting with the development of and provision of mediator trainings/workshops/seminars as well as attending trainings provided by the Commission
• Attending ADR related committee or task group meetings including Maryland Shared Neutrals Program, Maryland Roster Managers Committee, Maryland Program for Mediator Excellence work groups, Bar Association functions or events, etc.
• Conducting program outreach to expand program services throughout Maryland, when applicable
• Conducting other outreach and public relations functions including but not limited to creating or contributing to quarterly unit newsletters, writing articles for newsletters, updating website, developing promotional and marketing materials and other assigned duties
• Providing mediator coaching and instruction during a 40-hour mediation training (summer/fall externships only), assisting with other mediator trainings and possibly providing coaching and feedback to new volunteer mediators, depending on intern’s experience level
• Working on other special projects assigned by program director such as analyzing and creating new program forms, compiling and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data from program evaluations, developing new roster maintenance projects, working on volunteer appreciation and/or recognition efforts, etc.

Intern applicants must be available to work in the Baltimore MCHR office for a minimum of 10 hours per week during regular business hours (8a – 6p) Monday – Fridays. Students who can devote more than 10 hours per week may be given preference and would allow for the student to be more involved in various aspects of the program. The hours are flexible and can be arranged with the Mediation Program Director, although it is preferred for the student to spread out their hours to be in the office at least 2 days per week.

*Completion of basic or beginning mediation training or class (including role play practice) is preferred but not required.

Intern applicants will be asked to submit a resume, copies of any mediation or ADR training certificates/course transcripts/letter of completion, and the name and phone number of a professional or academic reference person at the time of application. Phone and in-person interviews will be required.

MCHR internships are unpaid and the Commission does not provide parking.

Students who are interested can feel free to contact the Mediation Program Director, Tara Taylor, at 410-767-6459 or ttaylor@mail.mchr.state.md.us to discuss internship openings.

More information on the MCHR is available on our website at www.mchr.maryland.gov

Topic: Writing a Business Plan for Your ADR Practice
Trainer: Doug Brookman
Location: JECC in Annapolis
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2009 9AM to 1PM
Description:
Many talented mediators would like to become professionals, but fail because they don’t do effective business planning. Starting a mediation practice is starting a business. This highly interactive workshop will focus on the nuts and bolts of starting (or enhancing) your mediation practice. It will feature small group and guided discussion and one–on-one coaching. The discussion will include worksheet preparation on the basics: strategy, target markets, differentiating your services, marketing and sales.
About the Trainer:
Doug Brookman, is a nationally recognized facilitator, mediator and trainer, who has conducted collaborative planning and problem-solving processes full-time for 20 years. His company, Public Solutions facilitates effective decision making among divergent interests to serve human, technical and political needs in complex, public contexts. Mr. Brookman’s specialty is orchestrating graceful solutions in large, controversial, multi-party decision making processes.

Topic: Facilitating Effective Decisions
Trainers: John Buck and Monika Megyesi
Location: Friends Community House in Sandy Spring
Date: Saturday, July 11, 2009 9 AM to 1 PM
Description:
This training brings a cutting edge to collaborative decision making. It eliminates the disadvantages of consensus (i.e. long time, frequent impasse) and, at the same time, protects advantages such as inclusiveness and equity. By applying cybernetics prenciples to decision-making, this workshop teaches a consent based process in an interactive format that is based on experiential learning. Instructional materials include interactive videos, toys, games, roleplays, handouts, flip-chart and PowerPoint support.

About the Trainers:
John Buck has extensive leadership experience with government, corporations and organizations. He is the first person, not native to the Netherlands, to be certified in the circle-organization method of governance (dynamic governance), and is the first person to be certified in the United States. John assists government agencies, non-profits and businesses to design work and make group decisions effectively.
Monika Megyesi has a Master’s Degree from the University of Baltimore’s in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. She is an experienced mediator and facilitator and has been working with John for the past year.

Registration Form
MCDR sponsored Master Classes for ADR Practitioners June and July 2009

Name _______________________ Phone _________________________

Address_________________________________________________________

___________________________ Email __________________________

Check below the Master Class(es) you want to attend:

Writing a Business Plan for Your ADR Practice – Doug Bookman

______ Saturday, June 13, 2009 in Annapolis 9 AM to 1 PM

Facilitating Effective Decisions – John Buck and Monika Megyesi

______ Saturday, July 11, 2009 in Sandy Spring 9 AM to 1 PM

MCDR Member Fee(s) ___ class(es) at $75 per class = $ _________

Non MCDR member Fee(s) ___ class(es) at $125 per class = $ _________

Limited number of scholarships available. Questions about scholarships, contact Nancy Hirshman: 410-849-2388.

Send this registration form and check made out to MCDR to:
MCDR; 8288 Telegraph Road – Suite A; Odenton, MD 21113

Directions and confirmation will be emailed upon receipt of registration.
General questions, call Ramona Buck: 443-418-0392 or ramonabuck@comcast.net

May 20, 2009
Contact: University Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739

Len Riskin, the Chesterfield Smith Professor at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law and a nationally recognized teacher of conflict resolution for students, lawyers, mediators and decision makers, will discuss the power of “mindfulness”—the use of meditation to enhance self-awareness and bring focus—for those who are involved in conflict resolution, in a special event hosted by the Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office and the University of Baltimore’s Negotiations and Conflict Management Program on Thursday, May 28 beginning at 7 p.m. This event, free and open to the public, will take place in the Judicial Education and Conference Center, 2011 D Commerce Park Drive, in Annapolis. Refreshments will be offered at 6:30 p.m. Free parking will be available on site.

Riskin is a pioneer in teaching mindfulness to students, conflict resolvers, corporate executives and others across the country, and in Europe. He has developed a unique technique to integrate mindfulness into conflict resolvers’ work and daily lives. Riskin studied mindfulness with Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. His article, “The Contemplative Lawyer: On the Potential Relevance of Mindfulness Meditation to Law Students, Lawyers and Their Clients,” appeared in the May 2002 edition of the Harvard Negotiation Law Review as the centerpiece of a symposium entitled “Mindfulness in Law and Dispute Resolution.”

Known as a brilliant conflict resolution theorist, Riskin has been mediating, writing about mediation and training lawyers and law students in mediation and other methods of dispute resolution since 1980. Much of his work has centered on the mindset that a lawyer or other type of dispute resolver should bring to their work. His creation of a grids analysis approach to mediation has earned him an award from the CPR Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution and is highlighted in numerous books and articles.

Attending an Alternative Dispute Resolution “Evening with” Series event counts as an activity for members of the Maryland Program for Mediator Excellence.

For more information about this event, call 410.837.4060.

The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the School of Law, the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts and the Merrick School of Business.

Capstone presentations are scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evening next week. Please come out and show your support for your fellow CNCM students. For current students, this also is a terrific opportunity to learn more about what to expect during your own Capstone experience. Alumni are also very welcome.

The Capstone presentations will be at the Law School’s moot court room. Snacks and drinks 5-5:30pm, presentations 5:30-8pm.

Monday, May 11th,
Carolyn Whitaker, Beyond Mediation: Creating Non-Traditional Approaches for Managing Conflict
Authea Speaks, Sunny Skies, Cloudy Lives:An Examination of Structural Sources of Conflicts in Jamaica, West Indies and an Exploration of the Potential Impact of Tourism.
Amy Okoth, Voting Booth and Ethnic Violence: Case Study of Kenya

Tuesday, May 12th
Stephanie Latarewicz, An Overview of Collective Trauma and Implications for Conflict Resolution: A Northern Ireland Setting
Elizabeth Gardner, A Case Study of Shrimp Farming in Thailand And How It
Relates to the Other Environmental Conflicts
Lula Mae Gray, My CNCM Journey
Traci Nichols, The Jena Six Conflict: Provention and De-escalation Through Dialogue and Community Conferencing

Wednesday, May 13th
Okezuo Nwachuku, Niger-delta Crisis: The need to improve on human relations
Cinthia DiMarco, Corporate Culture and Mergers: Using the AOL Time Warner merger as a case study to understand the importance of cultural fit in mergers
Rozmyn Miller, The Social Dilemma in Organizations: Social Identity Theory and Organizational Conflict

The Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center (CPRC) at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting resumes from
interested RPCVs and transitioning PC staff with non-competitive
eligibility. The CPRC is seeking candidates with a background in
environmental issues and demonstrated interest in conflict resolution,
and strong oral and written communication skills.  In the coming months,
the CPRC may have a position open at the GS-7 or GS-9 level (with
promotion potential to GS-13) involving work with domestic environmental
disputes.  The position would be located in Washington, DC.  Typical
duties would include advising EPA employees on the use of alternative
dispute resolution (ADR) in environmental programs, contracting for
external mediators and facilitators, developing and conducting training,
preparing outreach materials, and promoting collaboration and ADR within
EPA.  The CPRC houses EPA’s internationally-recognized experts in
facilitation, mediation, public engagement, and ADR (more information
available at www.epa.gov/adr).  If you have current non-competitive
eligibility and relevant education and/or experience, and are interested
in this potential opportunity, please send your resume and a short cover
letter to Joanne Dea (dea.joanne@epa.gov) and William Hall
(hall.william@epa.gov) by midnight on April 30, 2009.  No calls  please.