MEDIATE OHIO
Ohio Mediation Association
www.mediateohio.org
A Bi-Monthly Publication
November/December 2008
President: Maara Fink (419) 530-4236 Maara.Fink@utoledo.edu
Immediate Past President: Jay M. Patterson (614) 403-3825 E-mail: jmpmediation@ameritech.net
Vice President: Phil Dunfee (740) 366-3297 E-mail: pdunfee@alltel.net
Treasurer: Sheri Center (614) 783-7281 E-mail: findingcommonground@yahoo.com
Secretary: Denise Nixon Sparks (614) 944-5764 dnsparks@resolvemediationservices.com
Mark your Calendars for our exciting 2008 meetings!! (First Friday of the even numbered months except our conference or April meeting since it is at a facility for conferences.)
December 5, 2008 CHIEF JUSTICE MOYER TO SPEAK TO OMA 12/5/08 AT 2:00PM Please join the Ohio Mediation Association and the Supreme Court of Ohio for our December OMA meeting and Central Ohio Court Mediator’s Roundtable. Both meetings will be held at the Supreme Court of Ohio, 65 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio. Please note the change of venue!
Roundtable: 9:30am-1:30pm (Lunch will be provided)OMA Meeting: 1:30pm-2:00pm – General Member Meeting; 2:00pm-2:30pm – Chief Justice Moyer.
Registration is required for both events. For security purposes, you must register with the Supreme Court (see details below) even you plan to attend the OMA meeting ONLY. Following, please find additional information regarding the Roundtable: Primary Purpose: Roundtables provide opportunities to share best practices regarding the practice of mediation, program development strategies and networking opportunities for judges, magistrates, court personnel, mediators, attorneys and other stakeholders in similar geographic settings. Regional roundtables provide mediators an opportunity to meet with others in close proximity irregardless of their case jurisdiction to encourage networking and expedite mentoring relationships.
Participants: Roundtables are designed for mediators, attorneys, judges, magistrates, and other Ohio court personnel who work directly or indirectly with the process of mediation in the Courts of Ohio. Date/Time: December 5, 2008 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (OMA meeting to follow) Location: Ohio Judicial Center, Supreme Court of Ohio, Columbus, OH http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov Registration: Online at http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/dispute_resolution/calendar08.pdf Questions: Contact Ken Davis, Program Manager at the Dispute Resolution Section at davisk1@sconet.state.oh.us or 614.387.9420
February 6, 2009 TBA
May 8, 2009 Annual Meeting and Conference at the Riffe Center—details to follow.
All meetings, except the Annual Conference, to be held at 11:30 AM at the MCL Cafeteria at Westerville and Schrock Roads in Westerville until further notice. (Directions on last page.)
President’s Column
byMaara Fink
What is Mediation?
The fact that I, the President of the Ohio Mediation Association, have posed this question may cause you some concern. It would probably also concern my employers who pay me to teach law students all about the world of mediation. The truth is, I thought I knew everything there was to know about mediation, but now I’m not so sure.
My understanding of the process was challenged once again during a talk given by a magistrate who was recently appointed to mediate cases here in Toledo. Cases are referred to and scheduled for “mediation.” The only problem is that, according to the magistrate, it’s not really mediation. We were told that there isn’t time for a “real” mediation; and “real” mediation, the “touchy-feely” kind, wouldn’t be appropriate in the cases she will be mediating. So, that left me wondering, do I still know what mediation is? Has the process become so mutated that I might not even recognize it?
And here’s where I get worried. If I’m not sure I know what mediation is anymore, how is the average consumer supposed to know what it is? The reality is that they can’t. They don’t. I don’t. If a woman goes through mediation for her divorce, it will be a very different process from what she will experience during the mediation of the foreclosure on her home.
So, how do we educate the public? How should lawyers prepare their clients? How should we prepare ourselves? Must we agree on what we are preparing for? Must there be a common understanding of what mediation is? Or what the process entails?
Unfortunately, you won’t find the answers to these questions here in this column. As you may have guessed by now, I don’t yet have them. But, I’m working hard to figure it all out and I invite you to do the same. I believe it is critical for the future of our profession.
I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to send me your feedback, comments, questions, concerns, etc. through a letter to the editor or at www.mediateohio.org.
Mediation Marketing Efforts Unprecedented in Ohio
by Jay M. Patterson, Immediate Past President
The Ohio Mediation Association (OMA) is deeply committed to increasing the general public’s familiarity, trust and use of mediation as a means to improve quality of life for Ohioans. In keeping with that commitment, OMA has completed one phase of a first of its kind statewide marketing effort to promote mediation. As far as I am aware, no other entity has attempted to promote mediation as a whole to the general public across such a wide audience in Ohio.
The crux of the initial phase of OMA’s publicity/marketing effort on behalf of all of Ohio’s mediators and mediation programs was a print advertising campaign in several newspapers across the state. These ads reached a combined circulation of millions.
The theme of the campaign, created especially for OMA by advertising firm, Londy Lawrence, depicted conflict in the historical context. As such, the campaign featured edgy and provocative images of fictional characters in conflict throughout history. For example, one ad depicted two, circa 1800’s, western gunslingers squaring off along with the tag line, “Before things get out of hand”. The ad also listed OMA’s web site address so that prospective clients might locate a mediator through OMA’s searchable Directory of Mediators. The OMA Board saw this campaign as a way to raise mediation awareness by the public while also to adding value to OMA memberships by providing members with potential access to clients that might search for a mediator on our web site Mediator Directory.
OMA hopes to soon launch a second phase of the publicity campaign via radio. The plan is to send a mediation promotional announcement explaining the value of mediation to approximately 50 radio stations across the state. The radio spots were professionally created and produced specifically for OMA. If you attended the OMA Annual Conference in May, you heard the announcement played at the luncheon. Unlike the newspaper campaign, which required a significant financial investment, we hope the radio spots will be played as PSA announcements in order to minimize costs. Please listen for the radio ads and if you hear it, please drops us a note to let us know from where you heard it. OMA is also investigating still other ways to promote the field of professional mediation.
These efforts and so much more need to be done and can be done to advance the field of mediation. It is only through the collective resources stemming from OMA membership that this or any future OMA efforts are possible. In my opinion, collective action by the profession as a whole is the only viable path to realizing mediation’s true potential. Collective action not only increases our own professional power and recognition, it also serves our individual interest to enable more mediation at a living wage. If you are reading this and you are a member, thank you for your support. I hope all members will play their personal role in advancing the mediation profession by continuing their membership, by actively encouraging other mediators who may not yet be members to likewise join the collective whole, and by becoming more involved in OMA beyond membership. If you are not currently a member, I hope you will strongly consider serving your individual interest by joining, OMA, the only professional mediation association in Ohio serving all mediators, irrespective of style, region or setting, i.e. Ohio’s mediation collective whole.
Monthly Presenters for OMA
by Sandra Fredrick
I wanted to let the members of the Ohio Mediation Association aware that I will be coordinating the monthly presenters for our organization. I am very interested in any appealing presenters and if you feel you have a new program or approach that you would want to share with your peers it would be appreciated. Please contact me with ideas as well. The following are ways to contact me: Sandra Fredrick, (937) 225-4099 or I can be reached by e-mail at fredricks@mcohio.org I look forward to hearing from you.
Mediate Ohio Material: Please send material for Mediate Ohio by the 20th of the even numbered months to permit publication in the newsletter. The next deadline is December 20, 2008. My address is 2897 Liberty Bell Lane, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Phone/fax: (614) 863-4775 E-mail: scochran@insight.rr.com Thanks, Shirley Cochran, Editor
THE MEDIATION COUNCIL OF GREATER CINCINNATI
The Mediation Council of Greater Cincinnati, which has been in existence since the mid-1980’s, is a networking organization of mediators who live or practice in the greater Cincinnati area. The group meets at noon on the second Wednesday of each month from September – May to learn about matters of interest and share information. Members as well as non-members are welcome to attend the meetings; annual membership fees are $15.00. Meeting Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Location: The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati* Rookwood Tower (5th Floor) 3805 Edwards Road, Suite 500 *Health Foundation will not allow food to be brought in to its facility. Please Note: with the exception of the September meeting, the schedule of presenters and topics may be subject to change. Join the Mediation Council for monthly meeting reminders with updated information. If you have questions or need information, contact Marie Bader at 859-380-2137 If you have questions or need information, contact Donna Dansker: 513/821-0767
Upcoming ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Sponsored Events:
April 15-18, 2009 Eleventh Annual Section of Dispute Resolution Conference Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers New York
July 30-August 1, 2009 ABA Annual Meeting Chicago, Illinois
Greetings. This is my regular fall email asking you to help “spread the word” about the LL.M. Program in Dispute Resolution at the University of Missouri (MU) School of Law. Our school is recognized internationally as a leader in dispute resolution with one of the largest groups of dispute resolution experts of any law school. Below is information about our innovative program designed for practitioners and scholars. I would appreciate your passing this along to anyone you think might be interested. Now starting its tenth year, the LL.M. program attracts students from diverse backgrounds. Over the years, students have come from 25 countries outside the U.S. For biographies of our current students, see http://law.missouri.edu/csdr/llm/current-students.html. We are strongly committed to diversity and encourage applications from minorities, women, and others contributing to the diversity of our program. LL.M. graduates work across the U.S. and abroad in a variety of positions. For example, Art Hinshaw is a clinical professor of law and the director of the Lodestar Dispute Resolution Program at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Martha Halvordson and Stephanie Sloggett-O’Dell are former classmates turned colleagues in Civil Alternatives, a full-service dispute resolution firm with offices in Kansas City and Los Angeles. Mohan Srimat Tirumala Peddinti (Ped) is a derivatives negotiator in the Securities Legal Division of Goldman Sachs in Bangalore, India. Nivedita Gutta is the volunteer coordinator at the Safe Horizon Mediation Center in New York City, which offers assistance to crime and abuse victims, their families and the community. Students may enroll full-time or part-time. We normally schedule required courses one day a week so that part-time students can work the other four days. This has enabled students to attend from such states as Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. About a year ago, we opened our admissions criteria to people who have substantial ADR experience but who do not have law degrees. Although the program will still be geared primarily to lawyers, we have gotten inquiries from very attractive applicants who did not have law degrees. For example, we got an inquiry from a federal court ADR administrator in another state who does not have a law degree and we would have been happy to have him join the class (though it didn’t work out in his case). Let me also introduce our three newest faculty members, Rafael Gely, Stacie Strong, and Jennifer Reynolds, who bring new strength and diversity to the Center. For more information, see http://www.law.missouri.edu/csdr/pdf/newfaculty.pdf. LL.M. students can get dual degrees (M.A. and Ph.D.) from Missouri’s School of Journalism. Many LL.M. students take courses at the Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs, where they can earn a Certificate in Public Affairs in conjunction with the LL.M. degree. Full information about the LL.M. Program, including details on financial aid, is on the web at http://law.missouri.edu/llm. If you or others have questions, feel free to contact me at (573) 882-3914, landej@missouri.edu, or Karen Neylon, the program coordinator, at (573) 882-2020, mulawcdr@missouri.edu. John Lande Isidor Loeb Professor and Director, LL.M. Program in Dispute Resolution University of Missouri School of Law Columbia, MO 65211 Tel: 573-882-3914 Fax: 573-882-3343 Email: landej@missouri.edu LL.M. Web: http:/law.missouri.edu/llm/ Personal Web: http:/law.missouri.edu/lande
Renewing, New Members and Additions/Corrections to the Directory (not the entire list of members—see the directory at our web site for that list): New and renewing members may send applications to Immediate Past President, Shirley Cochran at 2897 Liberty Bell Lane, Reynoldsburg OH 43068. Contact Shirley for membership applications. A membership application can be sent electronically for your convenience or you can download it from the OMA website www.mediateohio.org If there is a correction or an addition, please let Shirley know but only you can correct the directory on the website. If you have misplaced your membership number and password, please contact Denise Nixon Sparks for assistance.
New or renewed memberships since the last newsletter:
Leslie Bowen
2302 Brisum Way
Hilliard OH 43026 (614) 771-6613
Leslie.bowen@sbcglobal.net
Mary Kay Crowder
334 E. Center Street
Marion OH 43302 (740) 802-2249
Fax: (740) 389-4335
mkcrowder@roadrunner.com
Randy L. Fisher
2271 Teardrop Avenue
Columbus OH 43235-7172 (614) 459-2896
Fax: (614) 246-7185
Randyfisher@wideopenwest.com
Marissa L. Godby
1236 Constitution Drive
Independence KY 41051 (513) 621-1652
brandichase@yahoo.com
Janet Mitchell, Coordinator
Bluffton University Mediation
1 University Drive #185
Bluffton IN 45817 (419) 358-3068
Fax: (419) 358-3074
mitchellj@bluffton.edu
John C. Spille
3200 N. Whitetree Circle
Cincinnati OH 45236 (513) 794-1137
johnspille@fuse.net
TRAINING & WORKSHOPS:
Restorative Justice and Peacemaking Circle Training for Schools, Community, and Justice Organizations Cleveland, Ohio, February 25th – 28th, 2009 Hosted by: Global Issues Resource Center, Cuyahoga Community College, The Supreme Court of Ohio, the Ohio Resource Network, the OhioCommission on Dispute Resolution, Lake County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division, and Mahoning County Juvenile Court Used in schools, corrections, and the community, restorative justice is a theory of justice that emphasizes repairing the harm caused or revealed by criminal behavior. Restorative programs create opportunities for victims, offenders and community members to meet to discuss the crime and its aftermath, expect offenders to take steps to repair the harm they have caused, seek to restore victims and offenders, and provide opportunities for parties with a stake in a specific crime to participate in its resolution. Peacemaking circles are one form of restorative process. Saturday, February 28th, 2009, 9AM – 5PM Workshop: An Overview of Restorative Justice and Peacemaking Circles – A Training for Schools, Community, and Justice Organizations (CRN: 18774) Cost: $50. Wednesday – Friday, February 25th – 28th, 2009, 9AM – 5PM Training: Implementing Restorative Justice Circle Processes in Schools and Community (CRN: 18775) Cost: $150. Who Should Attend? School personnel, school counselors, law enforcement, school based probation, juvenile courts, juvenile detention facilities, school resource officers, youth serving organizations, gang prevention and intervention workers, faith-based organizations. Credits Available: Social Work, Counselor, RCH, CEUs, and Graduate Credit. Questions? Call Global Issues Resource Center at 216-987-2231 or Jennifer.Batton@tri-c.edu To Register: Please call 216-987-3075 and be sure to include the Course Registration Number (CRN) listed above, associated with the training or workshop you are interested in attending. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted.
An Overview of Restorative Justice and Peacemaking Circles A Training for Schools, Community, and Justice Organizations Saturday, February 28th, 2009 9 – 5pm This workshop will provide information on the implementation and evaluation of restorative justice practices in schools, the justice system, social services, the workplace and in neighborhoods. Attendees will learn about practical applications of these approaches and share new resources. Participants will learn the principles of restorative approaches and explore ways to use and adapt the practices in a wide variety of contexts including classrooms, youth programming, workplaces and the justice system. Restorative measures in schools are part of the whole school environment; restorative classroom management approaches fit well with on-going efforts, such as preventing bullying and harassment, teaching pro-social skills and discipline policies. Cost: (CRN: 18774) $50 includes all materials. Lunch on your own. Credit: 6.5 Social Work, 6.5 RCH, 6.5 Counselor, and 6.5 CEUs available.
Implementing Restorative Justice Circle Processes in Schools and Community Wednesday – Friday, February 25th – 28th, 2009 9 – 5pm
Circle processes provide a way to bring people together to have difficult conversations, to work through conflict or differences and to build relationships. The peacemaking circle process is being used for decision making, problem solving, conflict resolution and community building in schools, neighborhoods, workplace, family and the criminal justice system. This introductory training will explore: foundational values and philosophy of circle practice, ceremony and ritual of circles, conflict as opportunity to build relationships, structure of circle process, practical applications of circle process, initiating the circle process, challenges in circles. Circles provide a way to enhance school safety by building community and connecting youth to adults and each to other in meaningful and practical ways. The Restorative Circle provides the school community with a way to help students who have been harmed while holding students who do harm accountable for violations without sending them away from education. Circles are used in schools to enhance teaching and encourage accountability and care. Cost: (CRN: 18775) $150 includes all materials. Lunch on your own. Credit: 19.5 Social Work, 19.5 Counselor, 19.5 RCH, 19.5 CEUs available. One credit hour of Ashland University graduate credit available for attendance at the completion of the three day training in its entirety, for an additional $200. Questions? Call Global Issues Resource Center at 216-987-2231 or Jennifer.Batton@tri-c.edu
Community Mediation Services of Central Ohio and the Columbus Bar Association Basic Mediation Training February 18 & 19, or April 15 & 16, 2009 and 40 Hour Domestic Mediation Training May 6, 7, 12, 13, & 14, 2009. Presenter Shelley Whalen, Executive Director of CMS and a past president of OMA Training site 91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus OH, the Thurber Center CLE and CEU’s Contact CMS (614) 228-7191 or www.communitymediation.com Fax: (614) 228-7213 Mailing address: 67 Jefferson Avenue, 2nd Floor, Columbus OH 43215.
Capital University Law School Center for Dispute Resolution Center for Dispute Resolution, Capital Law School, 303 E Broad Street, Columbus OH 43215-3200, Phone (614) 236-6430/ Fax (614) 236-6956 CDR Directors include Roberta S Mitchell and Scot E Dewhirst, Co-Directors of the Center, and Terrence T Wheeler, Executive Director of the Center. Please visit our website at www.law.capital.edu/disputeresolution to gain more detailed information on our trainings or to register on-line.
Cleveland Mediation Center United Office Building, Suite 906 2012 West 25th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 2005 Presenters include Dan Joyce and Wendy Hawbaker For further information on all training contact: Bob Curtis, Training Co-coordinator Phone: (216) 621-1919, extension 500 Fax: (216) 621-3202 E-Mail training@clevelandmediation.org .
Web Sites of Interest:
Ohio Mediation Association: www.mediateohio.org
Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Management: www.disputeresolution.ohio.gov/
Ohio State Bar Association: www.ohiobar.org
Mediation Association of Northeast Ohio (MANO) www.manomediate.org