Fairfield Center – Mediator Meeting Schedule – June 21, 2010

TIME

NAME

CREDENTIALS

PRESENTATION

G

F

8:30 – 9:55 a.m.

Kerry Abbott

Cert. #1654 – BA in Intl Affairs/ Economics from American U in Paris, PhD candidate at the LSE in Ethnic Conflict Mgt.  Dir of the Agency for Relief, Development & Conflict Resolution

Analyzing Mediation Myths - To help mediators assess the effectiveness of their mediations and the assumptions they hold about what is effective. Part one would be a discussion of participants' proposed myths and prejudices. Part two would focus on how a fresh analysis can expose the limits of ideology or simple formulas and require mediators to distinguish between the specific needs of each case.

Both

9:55 – 10:05 a.m.

BREAK

10:05 – 11:30 a.m.

Kai Degner

(MBA) Director of Business Services and Civic Engagement at the Fairfield Center

Large Group Facilitation Techniques - This session will focus on an overview of practical, dynamic methods for engaging groups of 50-500 in dialogue and/or deliberative conversation. Case examples will focus on applying various methods in different circumstances.  

G

Reagan Eshleman

Coordinator, Childcare Connection
Rockingham Memorial Hospital Healthcare

Co-parenting - This session will provide an overview of the parenting education opportunities in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.  We will also look at the Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes parent education class and update mediators on content for successful communication, impact on children, parenting styles, discipline and “trigger” areas.

F

11:30 – 12:15 p.m.

LUNCH – Brief information sharing and handouts from Fairfield Center staff regarding case-work / mediator policies & procedures

12:15 – 1:40 p.m.

Terry & Sylvia  Beitzel

Terry Beitzel is Assistant Professor of Justice Studies at JMU. Sylvia Whitney Beitzel is a Staff Translator for the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services at JMU and a Spanish interpreter for the Fairfield Center.

Individual and cultural-linguistic differences to Justice (presentation and participatory exercises)

·   Conceptualizations of Justice:

o Their implications in the mediation process

o The differences among Latin American countries and the US

o Their implications in the language-interpreted mediation process

·   Discuss and experience what they mean by Justice

·   Discuss and experience working with Spanish speaking parties and a language interpreter

Both

1:45 –  3:10 p.m.

Gary Boettcher

Cert. #2561 – MA in Dispute Resolution/Conflict Management and currently teaches for Sullivan University. Owner: Conflict Management Strategies, Inc.

Principled Negotiation – a combination of PPT and lecture along with interactive activities that engage the group in a fresh look at Fisher and Ury (and Patton). Attention to these tools and potential supplemental methods will help new and seasoned mediators alike assist the parties in navigating toward their destination.

Both

3:10 – 3:20 p.m.

BREAK

3:20 – 4:45 p.m.

Rhoda Kraus

Cert. #1716 – MSW  and Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution for the Center for Justice & Peacebuilding

GDC, J&DR and Circuit Civil Certified

Difficult Conversations – Recent studies normalize emotions as an element of being human that is always operating even in decision making. As mediators, we are taught to recognize and name feelings.  When feelings are understood, sometimes a flood of data breaks loose from one or both parties. Fisher and Shapiro (beyond reason, Using Emotions as You Negotiate, 2005) identify core conditions that help us deal with emotions in settings that are NOT therapy – such as mediations and negotiations. 

Both

4:50 – 6:25 p.m.

MaryLyn Leet

Cert. #0726 – J&DR & CCFamily 

Formerly ADR Coordinator for District Court of Maryland

Currently in international NGO private consultancy

Mediator Communication Styles & Strategies: Interactive session in which participants will discuss and explore the effects of mediator language and behaviors on the mediation process and on their clients.  Monitoring, adapting and accommodating communication style and strategy to effectively meet client needs while maintaining ethical standards and models of practice.

Both