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>> ACR Update, July 2, 2002 <<
Published by the Association for Conflict Resolution,
a merged organization of AFM, CREnet, and SPIDR
http://www.acresolution.org
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WELCOME TO ACR UPDATE!

ACR Update is sent on a regular basis to share important conflict resolution news and organizational updates with our members. We encourage you to scroll through the items listed below, and hope you'll find this
information useful. We look forward to your feedback!

OVERVIEW OF ARTICLES
July 2, 2002

[1] Join the ACR Annual Fund and Help Support ACR

[2] ACR Governance Committee Update
* Board of Directors Ballot Information

[3] ACR Staff Update

[4] ACR 2nd Annual Conference
* Hotel Rate Cutoff is July 31, 2002
* Silent Auction Donations Sought
* Call for Proposals: ACR's Third Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, October 15, 18, 2003.

[5] Please Complete ACR's Conflict Resolution Quarterly Reader Survey

[6] ACR Chapter Updates
* Dallas Chapter of ACR
* Hawai'i Chapter of ACR
* Greater New York Chapter of ACR
* New England Chapter of ACR
* Washington, DC Chapter of ACR

[7] ACR Section Updates
* New: ACR Research Section
* ACR Criminal Justice Section
* ACR Workplace Section

[8] Report from Colorado School Mediation Project Conference

[9] Research Request on ADR Responses to September 11th.

[10] Quotes

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[1] Join the ACR Annual Fund and Help Support ACR
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ACR ANNUAL FUND SPECIAL APPEAL

The Association for Conflict Resolution Annual Fund is a voluntary giving program established by the Board of Directors. Tax-deductible donations are used to enhance ACR’s programs and services and help keep dues low. The Annual Fund not only strengthens the operating capacity of the organization, but also allows ACR to move forward with new initiatives to enhance the practice and public understanding of conflict resolution.

The Fund offers four levels of giving:
Founders Circle $1000 -$10,000+
Sustaining Member $500+
Supporting Member $250+
Contributing Member $100+

ACR gratefully acknowledges contributions at any level of giving. All contributors are acknowledged in the ACR annual conference program brochure and thanked at the Presidential luncheon. Names will also be featured in ACResolution for one year (4 issues) following the date of contribution. Most importantly, contributors will know that they are making a real difference in the strength and effectiveness of the Association for Conflict Resolution.

PLEASE NOTE: Our annual conference program onsite brochure goes to the printer on July 18. All contributions received by that date will be acknowledged in the program.

For more information on how you can help secure ACR’s future, please contact ACR CEO David Hart at 202-667-9700.

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[2] Governance Committee Update on ACR Board of Directors Election
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LETTER FROM THE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

Dear ACR Members,

It's time for the first ACR Board of Directors Election! Ballots for this important election will be sent to you this week in a separate e-mail, pursuant to the ACR bylaws. Newly-elected board members will take office at the conclusion of the ACR 2nd Annual Conference in San Diego (August 21-24, 2002). The five positions which will be filled during this election include:

President-Elect/Vice-President. ACR Bylaws require that this be a contested election. The individual receiving the most votes will become President-Elect, and the person receiving the second most votes will become Vice-President.
Three Directors, including one "Sections" Director, one "Chapters" Director, and one "At-Large" Director.

Once you have received the ballot e-mail, you will be able to cast your vote on the ACR Web site, or by fax (202-265-1968), or by regular mail (ACR-Ballot, 1527 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20036). In order to help you make your decision, all nominees have provided biographical information, which will be included with your ballot.

Please note that all ballots must be completed online, faxed or postmarked no later than August 6, 2002.

Respectfully submitted,

Sharon Press
Chair, Governance Committee

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[3] ACR Staff Update
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STAFF UPDATE

HEATHER PRICHARD MOVES FROM STAFF TO CONSULTANT

Please join us in congratulating Heather E. Prichard, former CREnet Executive Director and ACR's current Director of Communications, on the impending arrival of her first child. Heather will be departing from ACR's full-time staff in early September 2002, so that she will be able to care for her new baby, and work toward the completion of her Ph.D. program in Education at American University. She will continue to work with ACR as a Communications Consultant and serve as the Executive Editor of ACResolution magazine.

As the Executive Director of CREnet, Heather served on the Merger Transition
Group from 1999-2000. Since the merger of AFM, CREnet and SPIDR, Heather has
served as a member of ACR's Management Team, and the Director of ACR's
Communications Department, where she successfully launched ACResolution
magazine, numerous Section newsletters, and helped design all aspects of ACR's
new visual identity.

We wish Heather all the best in this new, exciting chapter of her life, and
thank her for her years of dedicated service to CREnet and ACR. We'll miss
you, Heather!

NEW ACR CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Sangita Sigdyal joins the ACR staff as Chief Operating Officer. She will
oversee ACR's Communications and Conferences. Sangita has worked and lived in
different parts of the world, and recently completed her Master in Public
Policy and Administration from Columbia University with a specialization in
business and finance. Previous employment includes five
years with the National MultiCultural Institute where she provided
organizational training and consulting in the areas of diversity and
management, as well as prior positions with the UN's Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO) in Italy, Goldman Sachs investment bank, WestDeutsche
Landes Bank in New York, and the International Division at the US Chamber of
Commerce. Sangita can be reached via e-mail at ssigdyal@acresolution.org,or
via phone at (202) 667-9700, ext. 208.

NEW ACR MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

A. Cherise Alley is ACR's new Membership Development Coordinator, responsible
for responding to member questions, managing member renewal processes, and
helping to implement ACR's overall membership development strategy. Trained in family
mediation, and experienced in school-based peer mediation training and curricula, she comes
to ACR from her most recent position at the Key Bridge Foundation, where she assisted in the
development of mediation roster management practices. A native of Southern California,
Cherise completed her B.A. in behavioral science, negotiation and conflict management at
California State Dominguez Hills. Cherise can be reached via e-mail at calley@acresolution.org,
or via phone at (202) 667-9700, ext. 245.

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[4] ACR 2nd Annual Conference: August 21-24, 2002
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BOOK YOUR ROOM NOW: HOTEL RATE CUTOFF IS JULY 31, 2002

ACR's Second Annual Conference
August 21 - August 24, 2002
Town and Country Resort & Conference Center, San Diego, CA

ACR's Second Annual Conference is going to be an excellent professional development opportunity. It's also an important event for ACR Sections, all of which will hold their annual meetings during the conference. If you haven't yet registered to attend ACR's Second Annual Conference, please note that the conference room rate at the Town & Country is guaranteed only until July 31, 2002.

The complete brochure and registration information is available online at http://www.acresolution.org/research.nsf/2002conf. Information regarding our many conference partnership opportunities--including advertising, exhibiting and sponsorship--is also available online. If you would like additional printed copies of the conference brochure, please contact the ACR Conferences and Programs Department by phone (202/667-9700 ext. 210), or send your request and complete mailing address to conferences@acresolution.org.

Please note: the Second Chance conference registration deadline is July 19, 2002.

We look forward to seeing you in San Diego!

SILENT AUCTION DONATIONS SOUGHT

We are currently seeking donations for this year’s Silent Auction, held in the Exhibit Hall at the ACR Conference. ACR will print a booklet describing each auction item and its donor, and will make it available to all attendees. If you have items you would like to contribute, please contact ACR Conference Manager Erin Weiss (e-mail: conferences@acresolution.org; phone: 202-667-9700 ext. 210). Proceeds from the Silent Auction will go to help further initiatives important to conflict resolution. Please note ACR is a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity, so your donation is tax deductible.

Examples of Past Contributions include: Vacation Trips, Artwork, Subscriptions, Clothing, Books, Gift Certificates and Weekend Getaways.

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR ACR'S THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE

ACR's Third Annual Conference: The World of Conflict Resolution: A Mosaic of Possibilities
October 15-18, 2003
Orlando, Florida USA

The 2003 ACR Conference Planning Committee invites proposals that address questions facing the field such as: What are the best practices in conflict resolution? What do we -- as conflict resolvers -- want our field to become? What are the opportunities and challenges? What are the threats? What are the creative uses and innovative practices of conflict resolution? How do youth fit into the field? The committee is also seeking proposals that address such practical issues as how one develops a successful conflict resolution practice.

For more information, or to submit a proposal, go to: http://www.acresolution.org/acrconf.nsf/ac03sessioninput

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[5] Conflict Resolution Quarterly Reader Survey
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PLEASE COMPLETE THE ONLINE CRQ SURVEY

Attention all ACR Members: It's time to survey our Conflict Resolution Quarterly (CRQ) readership! Please click here: http://www.acresolution.org/mail/ballot.nsf/CRQ, or, copy and paste this link into your favorite web browser, to reach this important Survey and make sure your ideas are heard. We estimate that it will take you 12-15 minutes to complete the CRQ survey, and thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Tricia Jones
Editor, CRQ

Heather E. Prichard
Director of Communications, ACR

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[6] ACR Chapter Updates
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DALLAS CHAPTER OF ACR
The Dallas Chapter of ACR holds monthly meetings from September through May to discuss key topics in the ADR field. At the last annual meeting of the Dallas Chapter, a judges panel focused on "What Qualifications Do I Need to Mediate in Your Court, Your Honor." It was a wonderful and informative session. Elections also were held at this meeting, and the Chapter is pleased to welcome the following newly elected officers and chapter board members: Sheikha Hobeiche (President); John Shipp (Vice President); Jill McKibben (Secretary); Nancy Ferrell (Treasurer); Jane Stephenson (new board member); Diana Clark (new board member). This slate of new officers and board members will begin their terms of service in January 2003.

In September, the Dallas chapter will collaborate with the Dispute Mediation Service in presenting another community symposium about dispute resolution. For up-to-the-minute details about this and other events and meetings for the Dallas Chapter of ACR, please refer to the Chapter's website at http://www.dallasacr.org.

HAWAI'I CHAPTER OF ACR
The Association for Conflict Resolution - Hawai'i Chapter held its annual meeting on May 16, 2002 and unanimously elected the following officers: Cindy Alm (President); Dan Bent (Vice President/President Elect); Steve Williford (Secretary); Erin Edwards (Treasurer). The following at-large board members were also elected: Karen Cross, Pam Martin, Iris Shinohara, Roy Tjioe, Tracey Wiltgen, Judge Patrick Yim.

GREATER NY CHAPTER OF ACR
The Association for Conflict Resolution of Greater NY (ACRGNY) held their annual conference on Friday, June 14, 2002 at Fordham University. The theme was "ADR in Changing Times: Responding to World Events." Many of the workshops related to how our field impacted and was impacted by the events of September 11. Peter Woodin, Deputy Special Master of the 9/11 Victims' Compensation Fund, treated more than 80 participants to a fascinating keynote address. ACR's CEO, David Hart, and his wife, Shilpa, were present for the conference. Mr. Hart spoke on the accomplishments of the New York Chapter and the direction of ACR itself. He conferred the ACRGNY ADR Achievement Award on Dean John D. Feerick, retiring Dean of Fordham Law School. Dean Feerick helped to write the 25th Amendment of the Constitution, which talks about presidential succession.

Participants attended a variety of thought-provoking workshops, including "Mediation Qualifications and Standards for Mediators Today"; "The Impact of 9/11 on Different Practice Areas"; "Reflective Mediation Practice: Becoming Aware, Conscious and Creative Practitioners"; "What Role Is There For Community Centers in Today's World?"; and "It's Not My Problem or Is It: A Conversation About Mediators' Settlement Orientation." "Plays For Living" provided conference attendees with a dramatic lunchtime interlude, followed by a plenary session featuring Richard and Tia Denenberg and Mary Ellen Sheaon speaking on, "From Crisis Prone to Crisis Prepared: Preventing Workplace Violence."

ACRGNY is also pleased to announce that it is part of the newly formed Coalition of New York State Conflict Resolution Organizations, whose mission reads, "A Coalition of New York State Organizations working together to promote the use of constructive options for conflict resolution." Other coalition members include AFCC (The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts); FDMCGNY (Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater NY); NYSCDM (NY State Council on Divorce Mediation); NYSDRA (NY State Dispute Resolution Association); and RAFM (Rochester Area Family Mediation). The Coalition recently commented jointly on The Unified Court System's proposed guidelines for qualifications and training for neutrals. They look forward to further discussion on this timely topic.

For more information on the activities of ACRGNY, call (212) 946-1998.

NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER OF ACR
The New England Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution held its Sixth Annual Summer Training Workshop in June. Co-sponsored by the Maine Association of Dispute Resolution Professionals (MADRP), the conference theme was "An Overview of Social Justice Mediation - Challenging Our Assumptions About Neutrality." Attendees learned about using the social justice model of mediation to address multicultural and diversity challenges in the mediation process, and examined their traditional notions of neutrality through an interactive presentation and group exercises.

Leah Wing, Ed.D., presented a model which focuses on issues of power imbalance and difference while still leaving the final decision-making in the disputants' hands. She introduced participants to concepts from narrative theory and critical race theory, with the opportunity to apply them to mediation. The focus was on critiquing the role of neutrality in the field and questioning some of the most basic assumptions that a mediator carries into practice. Leah teaches in the Legal Studies Department at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and directs their Mediation Program.

WASHINGTON, DC CHAPTER OF ACR
DC ACR welcomes its new Board members and congratulates its new Officers for this year. Kim Brown, Nicole Rawlings, and Jeannette Twomey all joined the DC ACR Board and will serve their two-year term starting on July 1, 2002. Steve Dinkin was elected this year's President. Steve is beginning his third year on the DC ACR Board, and has served as Treasurer and Vice President before taking on the Presidency. Congratulations Steve! Other new officers are Zell Steever, Vice President; Susan Shearouse, Secretary; and Jim Pope, who is continuing as Treasurer for a second year.

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[7] ACR Section Updates
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NEW: ACR RESEARCH SECTION
ACR is proud to introduce its Research Section, the newest addition to the Association. The Section will promote discussion of conflict resolution research among scholars, applied researchers, program evaluators and practitioners in all fields of dispute resolution.

Currently, most ACR Sections focus on particular conflict areas, and researchers and scholars do not have a convenient way to establish sophisticated discussions outside their immediate fields or substantive conflict contexts. Because there is reason to believe that new ideas in conflict resolution will increasingly come from combinations of experience and expertise, ACR believes the Research Section will become the place of choice to discuss novel and cutting-edge ideas and research on conflict resolution. The Section also will provide members a place to integrate the knowledge gained by research, theory and practice.

If you are interested in joining this Section, please email Lynne Kinnucan, ACR Membership Development Associate, at lkinnucan@acresolution.org.

ACR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SECTION

The Criminal Justice Section recently received the results of a poll on top priorities for its Section members during the coming year. Among other topics, members were asked for their thoughts on the following questions:

1) Is networking important to you?
2) Are funding resources important for your particular organization?
3) Is it important to address ethical issues?
4) Would mentoring/partnering with a similar group be helpful to you?

Responses indicated that many restorative justice programs need assistance in funding, and that networking and mentoring is a high priority for Section members. The Section is examining the possibility of partnerships with other Victim/Offender Mediation organizations.

ACR WORKPLACE SECTION

ACR's Workplace Section extends an invitation to join others interested in Workplace Section events (you don't have to be a Section member, just interested in workplace ADR) in a special teleconference with both Workplace Section Co-Chairs. Discussion topics will be: "Employment Dispute Resolution Systems: Ten Steps to Effective Implementation," and "Building a Viable Employment ADR Practice." This call will also provide an opportunity to:
-- network with other ADR professionals
-- learn what the Section is doing
-- hear about workplace ADR "best practices"
-- ask questions about the Workplace Section or workplace ADR
-- find out how one organization incorporated ADR into its business
-- discuss what you would like from the Section

Join the Workplace Section Co-Chairs Richard D. Fincher (Workplace Conflict Resolutions, Phoenix, AZ) and Michael E. Dickstein (Dickstein Dispute Resolution/MEDiate, San Francisco, CA) on Monday, July 15, 2002 at 9:55 pm EST. You may call in from anywhere, and the cost is only your long-distance charges for a 55-minute telephone call.

To participate, e-mail Rita Callahan at rcallahan@mindspring.com by Friday, July 12, 2002 in order to receive the dial-in phone number. In your e-mail, please include your full name, organization name, location, and any questions or concerns you would like the Workplace Section Co-Chairs to address during the call. Don't miss this great opportunity!

We look forward to talking to you on the call!

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[8] Report from the Colorado School Mediation Project Conference
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VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE A SUCCESS

ACR was a proud co-sponsor* last month of the Colorado School Mediation Project’s 11th Annual Violence Prevention in School Communities Conference, held June 10-11 in Denver, Colorado. The 2002 conference theme was “Safe and Peaceful Communities: Now More Than Ever." Nearly 350 participants attended two days of thought-provoking keynote lectures, workshops, and intensive seminars focusing on programs, strategies and theories for building more peaceful school communities. Forty-three sessions were offered during the two-day conference, in the areas of conflict resolution and social/emotional skills, diversity and anti-bias approaches, security and crisis management, just for youth, after school and community collaborations, restorative justice and safe and successful learning environments, and violence prevention and resiliency. To learn more about the Colorado School Mediation Project, visit http://www.csmp.org.

*Other conference co-sponsors included the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Forum on Community and Restorative Justice.

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[9] Research Request on ADR Responses to September 11
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INFORMATION SOUGHT ABOUT ADR RESPONSES TO SEPTEMBER 11

Maria Volpe, a member of ACR's Crisis Negotiation Section and a professor
at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City, is looking
for dispute resolution response efforts and initiatives that you, as
conflict resolvers and conflict resolution organizations, have undertaken
or proposed as a result of 9/11. She has received a grant to study these, and
details are below.

The City University of New York Dispute Resolution Consortium at John Jay
College of Criminal Justice has received a grant to conduct research on the
ADR responses to the September 11th attacks. The acts of terrorism have
spun off a wide range of conflicts and disputes which have been handled by
mediators, facilitators, conciliators and other conflict resolvers.

In the aftermath of 9/11, many professions responded to a variety of
situations. This research project is guided by the following questions,
"What did conflict resolvers do?" and "What lessons has the Dispute
Resolution field learned?"

Information is sought about any dispute resolution response efforts
and initiatives that conflict resolvers and conflict resolution
professional organizations have undertaken or proposed as a result of 9/11.

Please e-mail information about any responses, experiences, sessions, and
initiatives you are aware of to mvolpe@jjay.cuny.edu or mail them to
Professor Maria R. Volpe, John Jay College of Criminal Justice - CUNY,
Sociology and Dispute Resolution, 899 Tenth Avenue, Room 520, New York, NY
10019. Nickie Phillips and Gennifer Furst, Research Assistants for this
project, can be reached at (212) 237-8686. Many thanks for your time and
assistance in helping to capture information while our recollections are
relatively fresh.

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[10] Quotes
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"There will always be some curve balls in your life. Teach your children to thrive in that adversity." -- Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe

"Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or by the handle." -- James Russell Lowell

"The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stones is how you use them." -- Unknown

"Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next." -- Gilda Radner

"Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength." -- Hasidic Saying

"Take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly, and try another. But by all means, try something." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Copyright 2002, Association for Conflict Resolution
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