If you are a member of ACR Workplace Section, you can participate in this teleseminar, which will be held Thursday, January 8, 2015 at 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Eastern (7:00 – 8:00am Hawaii Time). Coaches Janie Neff and Ann Begler will discuss the initial engagement of conflict management coaching clients. Cinnie Noble – one of the hosts of the Conflict Coaching Practice Area – will interview Janie and Ann, who will answer questions such as: What does a first meeting consist of before the client has decided to retain you? What does the first meeting look like once the client has decided to retain you? What information do you send to the client, if any, prior to proceeding? How do you determine a client’s readiness for coaching? And what if you have some reservations about the client’s suitability? If you use a written agreement what terms are included? If you don’t use a written agreement what terms do you discuss with the client that may be considered contractual in nature, i.e. confidentiality? For more information click here
Mediate.com has published How Agatha Christie Helped Me Be A More Effective Mediator – an interesting article written by ACR Hawaii member Elizabeth Kent. Elizabeth is a facilitator and mediator, teaches a graduate class at the University of Hawaii in systems design, and provides training in dispute resolution. She is also former Director of the Hawaii State Judiciary’s Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center is offering free mediations to community members facing disputes related to Iselle, the tropical storm that buffeted the Big Island and Maui in August, bringing strong winds, heavy rains, downed trees and power outages. Ku‘ikahi is also providing free facilitations for larger group discussions – such as homeowner’s associations – to resolve community issues related to Iselle. These free services are made possible by Hawai‘i Island United Way funds that were specifically earmarked to help Puna residents in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Iselle. For more information contact Julie Mitchell, Ku‘ikahi Executive Director. Her phone number is (808) 935-7844 ext. 5 and email address julie@hawaiimediation.org
In celebration of their 20th year, Mediate.com has launched an interesting project, called “The Mediation Futures Project”. In short, they are gathering future-focused thinking from mediation leaders, practitioners and programs in these mediation sectors. Mediation Generally Civil Commercial Community Divorce & Family Elder Health Care International Online Dispute Resolution Public Policy Workplace Youth Contributions to the Mediation Futures Project are accepted in the form of articles or videos. Here are some contributions posted on the Mediate.com website: ARTICLES Predicting the Future of Mediation by Peter Adler Our Mediation Future by Sam Imperati The Future of Mediation: Mediators As Problem Finders, Makers, and Designers by Tammy Lenski A Future of Social Technology In Support of Peace & Justice by Colin Rule The Future of Alternative Dispute Resolution by Jerry Barrett VIDEOS Doug Noll Discusses the Future of Litigated and Non-Litigated Mediation by Douglas Noll To learn more about this Mediate.com project and how you can submit your own article or video click here
The call for proposals for the 2015 Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) Annual Conference closes January 8th, 2015. Please make sure to complete and submit your proposal as soon as possible to ensure consideration for that conference, set in Reno, NV October 7-10, 2015. For more information click here
On November 25, 2014 the ACR (National) Board of Directors announced that is now opening up its exclusive liability insurance through its carrier, Pinkham Agency Inc. (“Pinkham”), to all Chapter members regardless of whether or not a Chapter member is an ACR member. To learn more, click here Needless to say, this announcement represents a new and important benefit for ACR Hawaii members. Therefore: If you are not an ACR Hawaii member, you now have another good reason to join us If your membership expires on December 31, 2014, now it’s the right time to renew it If you don’t know or are not sure when your membership expires, send us an email and we’ll let you know
Mediate.com recently published Lorraine Segal’s review of “The Conflict Pivot”, a new book written by Dr. Tammy Lenski. Segal describes it as “one of the best and most accessible books I’ve read in my years as a conflict resolution professional”. To learn more click here Lorraine Segal, M.A., has her own Sonoma County conflict & forgiveness coaching, mediation, and training business, Conflict Remedy, based in Santa Rosa, California. She also teaches in Sonoma State University’s Conflict Resolution certificate program and leads communication skills workshops and webinars on forgiveness, co-parenting skills, and communication. She specializes in transforming communication for divorced parents.
In December you can participate in these 2 Free webinars. December 4, 2014 – The Role of Flexible Thinking in the Mediation Process – ADRHub.com Webinar Description In high conflict situations, mediation clients often become entrenched, taking rigid positions that hinder the mediation process. These rigid positions can be a result of inflexible thinking and the inability to see the other person’s perspective. Rigid positions are often fueled by past disappointment and fears of future conflict. Current neuro-science research helps to explain how the brain responds under duress. Some of our clients respond by working towards resolution, while others become entrenched in defended positions. This workshop will illustrate the difference between flexible and inflexible thinking as well as the obstacles to perspective taking and respectful communication. Presenter: Dr. Mary Atwater is the founder of Collaborative Mediation Services and is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Bethesda, Maryland. When: December 4, 2014 – 6:00pm – 7:00pm Eastern (1:00pm – 2:00pm Hawaii Time). To sign up click here December 10, 2014 – The Workplace and Conflict Resolution: Past, Present, and Future – Cornell University ILROnline Presenter: Alexander Colvin, Martin F. Scheinman Professor of Conflict Resolution at the ILR School and associate member of the Cornell Law Faculty When: Wednesday, December 10, 2014 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm EST (7:00am – 8:00am Hawaii Time) To sign up and watch a pre-webcast video from the presenter click here
Mediate.com has recently published Predicting the Future of Mediation, an interesting article that Peter Adler wrote because he could not possibly “resist an invitation from Mediate.com to opine on the future of something near and dear to my heart and happily rekindle some old quarrels with colleagues”. Peter Adler directs ACCORD3.0, a group of independent consultants specializing in foresight, fact-finding and consensus building. He is the former President and CEO of The Keystone Center and has held executive positions with: The Hawaii Supreme Court The Hawaii Justice Foundation The Neighborhood Justice Center of Honolulu (later known as the Mediation Center of the Pacific) Peter is also the author of Eye of the Storm Leadership and is a member of ACR Hawaii.
The next issue of ACResolution Magazine will feature stories from ACR (National) members about their work. If you are an ACR National member and have stories to share about cases or situations you found challenging, instructive, frustrating, satisfying, amusing, or otherwise interesting – click here for more information The deadline is December 8, 2014. One of the 2 co-editors of ACResolution Magazine is ACR Hawaii member Cindy Alm.