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ACR Update,
February 2009
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WELCOME TO ACR UPDATE—the monthly e-newsletter sharing important conflict resolution news and organizational updates with ACR members. Your feedback is welcome! |
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To view past issues online, go to: http://www.acrnet.org/publications/acrupdate.htm |
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ACR Receives Boskey Grant ACR has received a grant from the James B. Boskey Memorial Fund to support youth activities. In particular, the grant will supplement funds from the JAMS Foundation to develop experienced-based guidelines for ACR Chapters interested in sponsoring school-based peer mediation training and similar programs. The guidelines will cover fundraising and seeking sponsorships at the Chapter level. After the guidelines are developed and published in early 2010, the Boskey funds will allow ACR to offer small seed money grants to Chapters that are planning youth-oriented programs.
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Board Adopts Balanced Budget
The ACR Board has adopted a 1.5 million dollar budget for 2009. Revenues from membership dues account for 63 percent of the budget. The board has adopted a policy of reducing reliance on dues to 60 percent or less in future years. Conference registration accounts for another 20 percent of revenue. On the expense side, 20 percent of expenses are for producing publications for members; 22 percent of expenses are for running the annual conference; and 27 percent of expenses support other member services, Chapters and Sections. For a snapshot of the budget, log into the ACR Member Center portal at https://bridge.acrnet.org
ACR Technology Improvements Underway
ACR is weeks away from going live with a new database management system that will be more user-friendly and permit more transparency and online coordination of ACR committees and other bodies. The 2007 Organizational Assessment report called for the replacement, and the need accelerated when the current provider announced in early 2008 that it would no longer support the current system.
ACR also has included funds in the 2009 capital budget for a much-asked-for website re-design. That project is in the early stages, with unveiling likely to take place later this year.
Board Adopts Open Governance Policies
At a meeting December 17, the ACR Board adopted new policies covering retention and destruction of documents, protection of whistleblowers, and how executive compensation is determined. ACR previously adopted policies on confidentiality and conflict of interest. The minutes of the December 17 meeting can be accessed by logging into the ACR Member Center portal at https://bridge.acrnet.org.
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Bill Would Provide for ADR Processes During Initial Labor Contract Negotiations
Rep. Gene Green (D-TX) introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 7 that would amend the National Labor Relations Act to allow for stepped Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes during initial labor contract negotiations.
The Labor Relations First Contract Negotiations Act of 2009 (H.R.243) would allow employers and labor representatives unable to reach a collective bargain agreement within 60 days of certification to jointly select a mediator to help resolve the impasse. If the parties are unable to agree on the mediator, either party may request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) to select a mediator.
If the parties are still unable to resolve the outstanding issues within 30 days of selecting a mediator, then either party may refer those issues to FMCS for binding arbitration. The bill has been referred to the Committee on Education and Labor.
Mediator Makes U.S. News & World Report’s List of “Best Careers of 2009”
For the third year in a row, the career of mediator has made U.S. News & World Report’s list of 30 “Best Careers of 2009.” In selecting the most promising careers of 2009, U.S. News considered job satisfaction, training difficulty, prestige, job market outlook and pay.
U.S News says that “most mediators love their work, helping people beat their swords into plowshares.” It adds, however, that there are more mediators than there are mediation jobs, in part, because the barriers to entry are so low. U.S. News says the oversupply means that most mediators do not earn a middle-class income for one to five years. It also touches on the importance of embracing marketing by establishing a niche.
U.S. News adds that “success may be more likely in a slow economy as people and businesses seek lower-cost alternatives to attorneys to solve their disputes.”
The full report can be found at http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-careers/2008/12/11/best-careers-2009-mediator.html
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Marvin E. Johnson Presented Award by International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution
ACR member Marvin E. Johnson was presented the first-ever “Award for Outstanding Contribution to Diversity in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)” by the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR Institute). CPR Institute is a membership-based, non-profit alliance of global corporations, law firms, scholars, and public institutions dedicated to the principles of commercial conflict prevention and alternative dispute resolution.
CPR Institute’s National Task Force on Diversity created the award to recognize a person who has contributed significantly to diversity in the alternative dispute resolution field by providing access to or creating opportunities for people who have historically been excluded from active and meaningful participation in ADR including, but not limited to, women, minorities and/or people of color.
According to Kathleen Bryan, president and CEO of the CPR Institute, “Marvin Johnson has shown leadership and demonstrated extraordinary commitment to supporting, mentoring, training, and leading others to promote the use of diverse mediators and arbitrators.”
Paramount among his many achievements is Johnson’s founding of the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution in Greenbelt, Maryland. Focusing primarily on practical application of ADR principles, the Center aims to promote and provide education and comprehensive approaches to dispute resolution that constructively serve the needs of a culturally diverse society. A diverse platform of dispute resolution providers inspires women and people of color to pursue a profession in ADR.
Currently, Johnson is a JAMS panelist and on CPR Institute’s Panels of Distinguished Neutrals. He also was recently appointed to the ABA Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession.
Johnson is a former member of the ACR Board of Directors. Last year, ACR established the Marvin E. Johnson Diversity and Equity Award as a tribute to Johnson. The first award went to Rev. Mpho A. Tutu, founder and executive director of the Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage.
Previously, Johnson served as Chairman of the Diversity Committee of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution. Johnson also played an instrumental role in organizing and directing ACCESS ADR, an initiative to increase the representation of ADR professionals from ethnic and racial minority groups. In addition, Johnson actively helped in the organization of The Mediators of Color Alliance (MOCA), a formal network of mediators of color formed to help support and advance their interest in the ADR field.
The CPR Institute award was presented on January 15 at the CPR Annual Meeting in New York.
Gieszl Elected to the Board of the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation
ACR Board member Lou
Gieszl has been elected to the Board of Directors of the
Gieszl is the deputy executive director of the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO).
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ACR’s 9th Annual Conference - Call for Proposals Deadline Extended! |
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ACR’s 9th Annual Conference
Convening "Whole of Community": Integrating Approaches and Practices to Address Conflicts in a Chaotic World
Hilton Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia October 7 - 10, 2009
Call for Proposals Deadline Extended The deadline for session proposals for ACR’s 9th Annual Conference has been extended to Monday, February 16 at 6:00 p.m. EST. Follow this link to access the Call for Proposals form.
The year 2009 marks another major point in the evolution of ACR in which we continue to build and strengthen our field, the connections within and across our practice areas and our Chapters, as well as reach outside our communities and comfort zones.
"Whole of Community" can be defined as a concept in which groups, organizations, or individuals within society come together around a common purpose. Those who come together may be from diverse backgrounds (i.e., experiential, ethnic, cultural, demographic) with different goals or values, but recognize that they can have a far greater impact by working together rather than individually. This idea requires new kinds of dialogue within the multiple areas of society in which each one of us moves.
For ACR, the "Whole of Community" concept signals a new approach for the field to address issues along the local to international spectrum. What happens in one practice area, Chapter, or community may or may not happen in another, yet we can learn from the experiences of colleagues to achieve a far greater outcome in our own areas. The conference will ask:
For more information, visit www.ACRnet.org. |
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Call for Article Proposals ACResolution Magazine Summer 2009
ACR’s summer 2009 issue of ACResolution magazine will focus on the topic of the Elderly and Conflict Resolution.
We seek proposals from people who would like to write articles on any aspect of resolving conflicts that touch senior adults, such as those involving financial planning, caregiving, estate and trust matters, driving issues, assisted living and nursing homes, etc. We seek diversity in authors and subject matter; authors do not have to be ACR members.
If interested, please:
Send your proposals via e-mail to ACResolution at publications@ACRnet.org as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, March 9.
An editorial advisory committee will review the proposals and choose 2 or 3 major features and 2 or 3 minor features. All authors will be notified by mid-March. If selected, completed articles will be due to ACR by May 1.
For more information about ACResolution, please visit http://www.ACRnet.org/publications/acresolution.htm.
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The Association for Conflict Resolution and Conflict Resolution Quarterly are sponsoring a Law and Graduate Student Paper Competition to showcase research on topics related to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and conflict resolution. Submissions will be critiqued by a panel of experts comprised of practitioners and academics. The best paper will be published in Conflict Resolution Quarterly and its author will receive free conference registration to ACR’s 9th Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia October 7-10. Manuscripts receiving “honorable mention” will be published on the ACR website with an abstract appearing in ACResolution.
Conflict Resolution Quarterly publishes scholarship on relationships between theory, research, and practice in the conflict management and dispute resolution field to promote more effective professional applications. Articles may focus on any aspect of the conflict resolution process or context, but a primary focus is the behavior, role and impact of third parties in effectively handling conflict. All submissions must conform to CRQ’s submission guidelines, found here: http://www.acrnet.org/publications/crq.htm
Eligibility: To qualify, authors must be full or part-time graduate students in a conflict resolution, conflict management, or law school program at the time of the submission. Please contact Susan S. Raines with any questions concerning eligibility at the e-mail address listed below.
Deadline for submissions: April 6, 2009
Please direct questions to: Susan S. Raines, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief, CRQ Associate Professor of Conflict Management, Kennesaw State University
Submissions must be submitted electronically via this website: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/crq Please include a cover page that indicates this paper is part of the Graduate Student Manuscript Competition.
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The Environment and Public Policy Section will hold its mid-year conference in Denver June 11-13, 2009. For more information, please contact Conference Co-Chairs Michael Elliott (michael.elliott@cao.gatech.edu) or Tamra Pearson d’Estrée (tdestree@du.edu).
The Family Section continues to review applications for new Advanced Practitioners (AP) and encourages all practitioners interested in becoming APs to submit an application through our website: http://www.acrfamilysection.org/MemberResources/AdvancedPractitioners/tabid/55/Default.aspx.
The Family Section Training Committee has completed an application for Approved Continuing Education Training in an effort to develop a list of approved training programs that Advanced Practitioners can attend to fulfill the requirements for ongoing education. As soon as the application – and the associated fee – is available, it will be posted on the Section website.
In January, Linda Scher presented the Section’s teleseminar, “Using Venn Diagrams to Create Parenting Plans.” The teleseminar was well-attended and will be available for download from the Section website. On February 4, Arline Kardasis and Blair Trippe presented a teleseminar titled “Elder Mediation: Reconsidering Principles and Practice to Accommodate Family Conflict around Aging Issues.”
The Family Section Advisory Council wishes you all peace and prosperity in 2009.
Call for Nominations - IDC 2009 Outstanding Leadership Award Please respond by Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The International Development Committee of ACR's International Section is soliciting nominations for this year’s Outstanding Leadership Award. The award honors exceptional work promoting conflict resolution in development projects around the world. The award aims to celebrate leadership in the field and draw attention to the importance of conflict resolution in creating stronger democracies and economies.
Shamil Fattakhov from Kazan, Russia, received the 2008 award in recognition of his leadership promoting creative processes that help people across the globe find peaceful solutions to conflicts. Former Indiana Congressman Lee Hamilton presented the award to Fattakhov at ACR’s 8th Annual Conference. Partners for Democratic Change received the 2007 award for the organization's work building sustainable local capacity to advance civil society and a culture of change and conflict management worldwide. Judge Gladys Alvarez of Argentina received the 2006 award for her successful efforts to spread mediation throughout Latin America.
The International Development Committee welcomes your nomination of an individual or a group of individuals who merit celebration. Please e-mail your nominations to IDC Leadership Co-Chairs Teri Sklar and Merrick Hoben at terisklar@sbcglobal.net by Wednesday, February 25. Please include the name of your nominee and at least a couple of sentences – up to 500 words – in support of the nominee. A bio or CV of the nominee (if an individual) or a description of the nominee (if a group of individuals or an organization) would be very helpful, but is not required.
WPS Teleseminar On Wednesday, February 25, 2009, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. EST “Trust in Organizations,” will be presented by Dr. Gloria Bader, http://www.badergroup.com/biographies.htm. An author of more than a dozen publications, Bader has recently focused her writing and product development in the area of trust. She has served as the president of the San Diego Organization Development Network, a national conference presenter, mentor for more than 50 student interns, and board member for several non-profits. Details and call-in information are forthcoming.
Conflict Coaching Committee Teleseminar A teleseminar will be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST titled “Intake Procedures for Conflict Coaching.” For this teleconference, two conflict coaches, Terry McCarthy and Janie Neff, will share their perspectives on intake processes they find helpful in their practices. Terry and Janie invite callers to share their ideas on this topic. Terry McCarthy is a lawyer, mediator and conflict coach who will discuss his views on engaging the referring client at the intake stage and what that process may entail. Janie Neff is an ICF Certified Coach (PCC), who will share her experiences in preparing individuals in advance to effectively participate in conflict coaching. Call-in information is forthcoming.
Call for Articles The ACR WORKPLACE Section Newsletter is a quarterly publication dedicated to enhancing the practice and public understanding of conflict resolution in workplace settings. We invite your submission of relevant articles to support the mission of the Section. Articles are due February 15 for a publication date of March 15.
Article Guidelines:
To submit your article, please forward to Linda Goodman, Newsletter Co-Editor at lgoodman@ihrc.idaho.gov.
Call for Training Announcements The Workplace Section offers a monthly list of upcoming trainings of interest to workplace dispute resolution professionals. If you wish to make an announcement, please submit your posting by the 21st of the month to Linda Goodman at lgoodman@ihrc.idaho.gov.
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California’s Central Valley Chapter had a wonderful turn out for their Education Section Event in which more than 50 school mediation, conflict resolution education, and restorative justice programs were showcased. The County Superintendent of Schools was the featured speaker. The dinner event brought together educators and mediators who had a chance to learn about each other’s programs and celebrate their good work.
An upcoming event in California’s Central Valley is the Seventh Annual Mediator Appreciation Day. On May 19, approximately 1,000 student mediators will converge on California State University, Fresno for a day of fun, learning and celebration of service to their school and larger communities. The university partners with the schools in training the mediators, supplying college mentors for the teams and celebrating the service of all.
Ronald M. Shane, AP, is the 2009 newly-elected president for the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of ACR. The Chapter is based in Philadelphia, Pa. and is the home Chapter of ACR's 2008-2009 President, James A. Rosenstein.
ACR Michigan Southeast Chapter proudly presents “Avoiding Pitfalls in ADR” conference. Join us on February 20 from 8:00 a.m. to noon EST at the Auburn Hills Marriott-Pontiac at Centerpoint located at 3600 Centerpoint Parkway, Pontiac, MI 48341. The cost is only $20 for ACR Michigan SE Chapter members and $40 for non-members. Hear from experts about how to maintain professionalism in the practice of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Mediators, arbitrators, providers of ADR services and practitioners alike face an ever-increasing number of issues that need to be addressed before additional problems are created. Learn how to further the practice and procedures of ADR in an ethical and practical manner.
Panel Presenters: Tracy Lee Allen, Bodman, LLP Dale Ann Iverson, Just Mediation PLC Mary Bedikian, MSU College of Law Valdemar L. Washington, Michigan Department of Treasury Deborah Lech-Shubnell, National Center for Dispute Settlement Jan Holdinski, American Arbitration Association, Detroit Region
Any questions regarding the content of the conference should be directed to Michael Nowakowski, ACR Michigan SE Chapter President at mnowakowski@fmcs.gov. Questions regarding registration should be directed to Bonnie Hanes, ACR Michigan SE Chapter Treasurer at bhane@medation-omc.org.
Conference Agenda: 8:00 a.m. - Full Breakfast, Networking, Registration 9:00 a.m. - Welcome, Conference Overview, Introduction of Mediation Panelists (Michael Nowakowski, President, ACR Michigan SE Chapter) 9:15 a.m. - Session One: Panel Discussion – “Confidentiality, Public Disputes & Other Ethical Issues in Mediation” with Tracy Lee Allen, Dale Ann Iverson, and Valdemar L. Washington 10:00 a.m. - Questions for Mediation Panelists 10:20 a.m. - Break 10:40 a.m. - Introduction of Arbitration Panelists (Michael Nowakowski, President, ACR Michigan SE Chapter) 10:45 a.m. - Session Two: Panel Discussion – “Disclosure, Communication & Other Ethical Issues in Arbitration” with Mary A. Bedikian, Deborah Lech-Shubnell and Jan Holdinski 11:30 a.m. - Questions for Arbitration Panelists 11:50 a.m. - Conference Closing, Evaluation 12:00 p.m. - Adjourn
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ACR welcomes Cassandra Johnson as its new Membership Coordinator. Cassandra obtained her B.A. from The Ohio State University with a specialization in both International Relations and Spanish. She brings several years of non-profit experience to the team along with an extensive focus on customer service. She has especially developed her skills in membership over the past few years by keeping in mind the importance of serving members with both quality and efficiency. In the Member Concierge Center, Cassandra handles mass communications to members and will serve as a key staff contact for Annual Fund donations and the Advanced Practitioner and Approved Training programs.
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Donate Now! You can make donations to ACR's Annual Fund Campaign online. Click here to learn how you can make an important investment in ACR's future.
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Advertise in ACR Update! Reach 5,500+ conflict resolution enthusiasts with your advertising message. A 10-line, 100-word, text ad costs just $150! For more information, contact ACR at tlankford@acrnet.org. |
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Encourage your colleagues and friends to join the Association for Conflict Resolution! Enjoy immediate benefits for you and your friends. Go to www.ACRnet.org and click “Join Now.” |
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