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!

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Request for Proposals: 2005 Annual Conference

2. ACR Annual Fund Update

3. ACR and People to People Delegation to South Africa

4. Authorized Practice of Mediation Report

5. ACR Plans National Conflict Resolution Day

6. 2004 Annual Conference Resources Available

7. ACR Publications Update

8. Sections Update

9. Chapters Update

10. Quotes

Note: If the above links do not work, scroll down to view full body below.

2. ACR Annual Fund Update

2004 ACR ANNUAL FUND UPDATE

The 2004 Annual Fund Management Committee and Leadership Council extend their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to everyone who has made a pledge or donation to ACR’s 2004 Annual Fund. Taking the lead in Section and Chapter giving is the Dallas Chapter, which made a generous Annual Fund donation at the 2004 Annual Conference.

For those of you who have not yet participated there is still time to make your 2004 Annual Fund pledge and support ACR’s efforts to advance the practice, study and field of conflict resolution. All donors will be recognized in the Winter issue of ACResolution magazine. Gifts at all levels are welcome—your participation is what counts most!

To make a donation to the ACR Annual Fund please contact Penina Rantz, ACR Development and Fundraising Associate, at 202-464-9700 x218 or prantz@ACRnet.org.

3. ACR and People to People Delegation to South Africa

A diverse delegation of ACR members will participate in a People to People professional exchange to South Africa on Nov. 7–19, 2004. Those interested in learning more about this exchange and receiving updates while the delegation travels should visit: http://www.ACRnet.org/delegation/.

The delegation will study the nation’s emergence from decades of apartheid and South Africa’s development of a democratic society. Delegates will learn about South Africa’s truth and reconciliation programs and share ideas with their counterparts in South Africa.

Subjects to be discussed during the exchange include: historical and cultural roots of violence in South Africa; removing sources of conflicts, including historical claims and land reform; the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions; gender issues and the AIDS epidemic; conflict resolution between races; amnesty versus prosecution; reconciling militant political adversaries; violence against women and children; community policing and urban crime; racial desegregation in schools; and youth gang violence.

The People to People Ambassador Program was founded in 1956 by President Eisenhower to encourage professionals to enter into dialogues with their counterparts in other nations.

4. Authorized Practice of Mediation Report

MEMBER FEEDBACK SOLICITED ON PROPOSED POLICY STATEMENT

ACR’s Board of Directors has issued a draft Authorized Practice of Mediation (APM) report and is soliciting member review and feedback on this proposed policy statement. To download the full report, go to: http://www.acrnet.org/pdfs/upl-draftrpt-aug04.pdf.

Please submit your feedback by December 31, 2004, either by e-mail to acr@ACRnet.org or by accessing the ACR Discussion Forum. (Click the “login” button on http://www.ACRnet.org to log in to the Member Center and utilize the discussion board tools.)

Members can sign up for periodic updates about ACR’s Legislative and Public Policy work, including the Authorized Practice of Mediation Report, by logging in to the Member Center at http://www.ACRnet.org, then clicking on “My Profile,” then “Contact Groups” and selecting “Legislative and Public Policy.”

5. ACR Plans National Conflict Resolution Day

ACR is working to create a national day of recognition for conflict resolution, in order to increase public awareness about conflict resolution and its many benefits. Our goal is to gain a Congressional proclamation designating a National Conflict Resolution Day in 2005. ACR is coordinating its efforts with other national conflict resolution organizations, and is reaching out to local, state and international groups to build interest in holding local celebrations in conjunction with this celebration, planned for November 2005.

To learn more about this effort and how you can become involved, contact Sharon Press at presss@flcourts.org or ACR’s Advocacy and Outreach Manager, Jennifer Druliner, at jdruliner@ACRnet.org. Members also can sign up for periodic updates about ACR’s National Conflict Resolution Day work by logging in to the Member Center at http://www.ACRnet.org, then clicking on “My Profile,” then “Contact Groups” and selecting “National Conflict Resolution Day.”

At ACR’s Fourth Annual Conference, “Valuing Peace in the 21st Century: Expanding the Art and Practice of Conflict Resolution,” 1,268 attendees participated in more than 200 workshops, meetings, receptions, roundtables and other events. The opening plenary featured the reading of a welcoming letter from former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and a moving keynote address by John Paul Lederach, Professor of International Peacebuilding at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. The full text of John Paul’s inspirational talk, titled “The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace,” is available on the ACR Web site in the ACR Resource Library at: http://acrnet.org/acrlibrary/more.php?id=49_0_1_0_M.

If you missed the 2004 Annual Conference, you’ll be able to see some photos and read a summary of conference highlights in the fall 2004 issue of ACResolution magazine (arriving mid-November). Conference session recordings are available for purchase through National Recording Services at: https://www.nrstaping.com/acr/acro2004.htm.

7. ACR Publications Update

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: ACResolution Magazine

Do you have a unique perspective on the ADR field? Do you have a success story you want to share? Or perhaps a challenging situation that you managed to pull through? Consider writing an article to ACResolution. Upcoming issues include Commercial (Winter 2005) and Arbitration (Spring 2005). In additions to feature articles, the magazine invites shorter contributions to “Balancing Act,” “Up Close,” “Members in the News,” book reviews and more. For more details, visit http://www.acrnet.org/publications/acresolution.htm or contact ACR Publications Manager Alison Talbott at atalbott@ACRnet.org.

ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES: ACResolution and Conflict Resolution Quarterly

Want to reach your target market in the field of alternative dispute resolution? Great advertising rates available for ACResolution and Conflict Resolution Quarterly. Contact Alison at atalbott@ACRnet.org for details.

Advertising deadline for Winter 2005 issue is December 1.

PURCHASE ACR TRAINING VIDEOS, BOOKS AND REPORTS ONLINE

Browse ACR’s catalogue and purchase books, reports and training videos at: http://www.acrnet.org/library/catalogue.htm. In addition to such bestsellers as the “Designing Integrated Conflict Management Systems” report and the “Positive Conflict Management” video series, we offer the “Master Series in Mediation” training videos featuring Dr. Larry Fong.

8. Sections Update

COMMERCIAL SECTION: NEW CO-CHAIR AND ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE

The Commercial Section congratulates its new co-chair! At the Annual Conference, Jerome Allan Landau assumed his duties as Co-Chair of the Commercial Section for a two-year term. A passionate supporter of non-litigated conflict resolution, Jerome has practiced law in Arizona for more than 35 years with an emphasis in commercial, business and real estate transactions. The former Director of the Arizona Dispute Resolution Association, he is a certified U.S. District Court Arbitrator and a commercial panel member of AAA. He presents interactive training workshops for conflict resolution and has twice been invited to present workshops at the United Nations. Jerome may be contacted via e-mail at Harmony@doitnow.com.

At the Commercial Section’s annual meeting, held during the Annual Conference in Sacramento, members discussed the issue of Advanced Practitioner Status as it relates to the Section. The Section decided to form a study group that will devise forums (e.g., Teleseminars, message boards, etc.) for members to provide input and fully weigh all considerations prior to making a decision for the Section.

INTERNATIONAL SECTION NEWS

The growing International Section now has more than 420 members and held its biggest Section meeting ever this year in Sacramento at the Annual Conference. Around 70 people attended the Section’s reception and meeting. The reception featured presentations on the state of ADR in many different countries and regions of the world. At the meeting, attendees from more than 22 countries engaged in creative thinking together about how to continue growing the Section and supporting the development of the field around the world, providing new energy to the ongoing conversation about the International Section’s identity and purpose!

The robust International Section newsletter is available for download at http://www.acrnet.org/pdfs/international-2nd-3rd-2004.pdf, and don’t forget to visit the Section’s Web site at http://www.mediate.com/acrinternational/. Stay tuned for additional updates and information on new initiatives, including a possible mid-year meeting. If you have any questions, comments or ideas, please contact the Section Co-Chairs Marìa Rosa Cattaneo (at mariarcattaneo@arnet.com.ar) or Lewis Dabney (at ldabney@keybridge.org).

ONLINE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ODR) SECTION NEWS

The ODR Section supported the Online Dispute Resolution Research Paper Competition to stimulate and encourage ODR research. The winner was Jean Fraleigh, from Southern Methodist University’s Dispute Resolution Program. Way to go Jean! Jean received a $500.00 award and her paper, titled “Mediation and the Use of Online Dispute Resolution,” was submitted for review to Conflict Resolution Quarterly.

OCM SECTION MEETING/RECEPTION AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE

At the ACR Annual Conference in Sacramento, the OCM Section held its annual meeting, followed immediately by a fantastic reception hosted for the first time by a corporate sponsor, Kaiser Permanente. Kaiser introduced its new group of Health Care Ombudsmen/Mediators at the conference, and partnered with the OCM section in providing a fantastic venue to welcome these new dispute resolution professionals into the ACR community. A lively and well-attended meeting and reception generated a host of new ideas for the coming year and volunteers willing to help with the critical implementation pieces.

A mid-year 2005 conference is in the early planning stages, the Mutual Learning Network is nearly operational, and the Section’s Communications Team is dedicated to providing quality information to the growing Section membership. Those of you who thrive on systems thinking, organizational development, and cutting-edge concepts like integral and chaos theories and complex adaptive systems, you will find a home with the OCM Section!

WORKPLACE AND OCM SECTIONS COLLABORATE AT ACR’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE

At the Annual Conference in Sacramento, the Workplace and OCM Sections jointly sponsored a very rewarding session, titled “Advancing Our Profession, An Opportunity for Dialogue With the Joint Leadership of the Workplace and Organizational Conflict Management Sections.” The session provided an opportunity for ACR members from both Sections to hear their leadership define the focus and activities of their Sections, along with the unique aspects and common areas of interest. Individual members exchanged thoughts on the goals, practice principles, and challenges of their "conflict systems" work. From this sharing came a wealth of ideas for future learning and collaboration between the Sections and their members.

WORKPLACE SECTION ANNOUNCES NEW CO-CHAIR

The Workplace Section would like to congratulate and welcome Patricia "Pattie" Porter as its new Co-Chair. Pattie will join current Co-Chair Nancy Peace in leading and growing the Workplace Section to new heights and accomplishments. If you have any further questions please contact Pattie Porter at pmporter@conflictconnections.com.

WORKPLACE SECTION LAUNCHES TRAINING PROVIDER DATABASE

The Workplace Section is building a database of providers who offer workplace alternative dispute resolution training. The new Workplace ADR Training Provider database can be easily accessed via ACR’s Workplace Section Web site at: http://www.mediate.com/acrworkplace/pg40.cfm.

This database is a free service for individuals interested in taking training and for providers interested in listing their public trainings. It will supply “one-stop shopping” for potential trainees and employers seeking training providers; identify organizations and companies providing trainings in workplace ADR that are open to the public; and build successful relationships/partnerships between ACR and workplace ADR vendors.

For the present, the database will include only public trainings available to anyone seeking to build or enhance his/her skills, knowledge and awareness in workplace ADR. Vendors who offer customized training for a specific group, organization or agency which limits enrollment to the hiring entity will not be included at this time. For more information, contact Patricia “Pattie” Porter, Workplace Section Co-Chair at pmporter@conflictconnections.com.

9. Chapters Update

HOUSTON CHAPTER ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND PROGRAM

On Thursday, November 18, 2004, the Houston Chapter of ACR will hold its Annual Membership Meeting at Massa’s Seafood Grill (1331 Lamar - located across from the Four Season’s Hotel; tel: 713-655-9100). The meeting will include an update on ACR activities nationally, and the election of officers and new Board members for 2005, followed by a presentation from Bernard S. Mayer, author of Beyond Neutrality: Confronting the Crisis in Conflict Resolution. His talk will be on “Reaching Our Potential: Challenges and Opportunities for the Conflict Profession.” For more information, or to make a reservation, please go to: http://www.mediate.com/acrhouston/.

NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER OFFERS MASTER CLASS AND REGIONAL CONFERENCE: NOVEMBER 12-13, 2004.

The New England Chapter of ACR (NEACR) will hold a regional conference, “Who Are You: The Dynamics of Influence and Reflection in ADR,” on Saturday, November 13, 2004, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the conveniently located Boston University Corporate Education Center in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. (For directions, please visit http://www.butrain.com/Fac/Tyng.asp). This year’s featured keynote speaker is Professor Leonard L. Riskin, C.A. Leedy Professor of Law and Isidor Loeb Professor of Law, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. A pre-conference Master Class featuring Leonard Riskin, titled “Mindfulness in Mediation and Law: Dealing with Stress and Enhancing Satisfaction, Understanding and Performance,” will be held the afternoon prior to the conference, on Friday, November 12, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the offices of JAMS, One Beacon Street in Boston.

This NEACR Conference offers 11 workshops on a diverse and provocative range of topics. Presenters come from many areas of dispute resolution and include James E. McGuire, Jonathan A. Reitman, Karen Jalkut, Dina Beach Lynch, Richard N. Wolman, Ph.D. and ACR Board Member Diane Kenty. For information about the Conference, workshops and CEU/CLE information updates, or to register, please visit the NEACR Web site at: http://www.neacr.org/. You can also contact NEACR Conference Co-Chairs Diane Levin (levin@partneringsolutions.org; tel: 781-631-3990) or Israela Brill-Cass (brillcass@bostonlawcollaborative.com; tel: 617-439-4700).

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