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ACR Update,
September 2008
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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’s 8th Annual Conference is Less than 3 weeks away!
in a Changing World” http://acrnet.org/conferences/ac08/index.htm
DON’T MISS THE MAJOR EVENT OF THE YEAR FOR PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Lee Hamilton’s Conference Address to Focus on Challenges Facing the Next President and More
Lee H. Hamilton, president and director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC and the director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University, will deliver the keynote address at the ACR’s 8th Annual Conference in Austin, TX on September 25, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. CDT.
Hamilton will address the following issues:
Immediately after the keynote, a roundtable discussion will follow. Panelists will engage in a discussion with Hamilton and each other related to Hamilton’s speech as well as issues related to:
The panelists include:
Nabil Al-Tikriti, Fredericksburg, VA Edwin Dorn, Austin, TX Bernie Mayer, Omaha, NE Lisa Schirch, Harrisonburg, VA
2008 Program Highlights Include:
Advanced Commercial Mediation Institute
Other highlights include:
How to Get the Most Out of ACR’s 8th Annual Conference
ACR’s 8th Annual Conference in Austin, Texas is less than three weeks away. But don’t just go to the conference. Plan now to get the most out of your investment and experience there! ACR member Tammy Lenski suggests you take these steps:
Read more on her blog at http://mediatortech.com/mediator-tech-newsletter-the-acr-edition/
For more information about the conference, visit http://acrnet.org/conferences/ac08/index.htm.
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Sharon M. Pickett, former editor of ACResolution magazine from 2000 – 2007, passed away on August 30. In addition to serving as family mediator and trainer, Sharon worked as a communication specialist for many environmental NGOs and was an ardent advocate for environmental issues. Her clients included the Center for International Environmental Law, Sierra Club, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Union of Concerned Scientists, Ozone Action, Clean Air Task Force, Alliance to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, Northeast Sustainable Energy Association and others. Sharon helped write the grant to the Hewlett Foundation that funded the formation of ACR and she worked on numerous ACR projects since 2000, including creating and editing ACResolution magazine. She was a member of ACR’s Family Section. She earned a master’s degree from Dartmouth College.
The ACR Board of Directors recently created the Sharon M. Pickett Award in honor of Sharon. At her request, the award will be presented each year to an ACR member who has advanced the cause of environmental protection through the effective use of alternative dispute resolution. The award will be presented for the first time at ACR’s 8th Annual Conference in Austin, Texas, later this month.
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New ACR E&O Program to Be Launched
After more than 18 months of research and negotiation, ACR will announce later this week a new carrier and broker for ACR’s endorsed professional liability (E&O) insurance program. The new program will have broader coverage, lower premiums in many, if not most cases, and policy provisions that increase the funds available to cover claims.
“ACR used an insurance expert to compare the new policy with the old Lloyds policy and found that the new policy is vastly improved,” said ACR Executive Director Doug Kleine, CAE. “We heard your complaints about the old program, and addressed them directly. Further, we had a leading group program attorney negotiate a brokerage agreement that ensures responsiveness to your needs.”
ACR President Marilyn McKnight noted, “We are walking the talk with this new program—mediators and arbitrators will be rewarded for having a mediation/arbitration clause in their client agreements.”
Other features include automatic coverage at no extra charge for allegations of unlicensed practice of law, and members who still practice law can get coverage for both ADR and legal work if the legal work is less than 25 percent of the practice. Policies will be available for individuals as well as firms and centers.
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Teleconferences Scheduled on Social Justice and Conflict Intervention |
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Two ACR teleconferences focusing on social justice and conflict intervention will be held to further engage members in the topic that was the theme of the summer ACResolution magazine. That issue included eight features and a special online complement with an additional seven articles.
The teleconferences are scheduled for Wednesday, September 10, 2008, 7-8 p.m. EDT (US) and Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 8-9 p.m. EDT. The issue’s guest editor, Leah Wing, and members of the editorial advisory committee for the issue will participate, along with some of the article authors.
The call-in number for both teleconferences is (712) 432-7302. The pass code for participants is 73984#. Individuals will be asked to say their names to enter a teleconference. Participants place themselves on mute by entering * 6 - which is star 6. Participants remove themselves from mute by again entering * 6 - which is star 6. (Note: Please do not use any Voice Over Internet Protocol(VOIP) phones as they will not work with this teleconferencing service.)
An in-person discussion also will take place at ACR’s 8th Annual Conference in Austin, Texas, at a Diversity and Equity facilitated discussion on Friday, September 26, 2008, 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. CDT.
Below is the list of the articles that are part of the online complement to the summer ACResolution. The articles can be accessed by logging into the ACR Member Center portal at https://bridge.acrnet.org/
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ACR Member Receives Prestigious Award
ACR member Robert L. Dietz of the Orlando, Florida law firm Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe is the 2008 recipient of the Douglas P. Lawless Alternative Dispute Resolution Award. Dietz was selected for his contributions in the field of mediation which include membership on the Association of Attorney-Mediators national board of directors, the first Floridian ever elected. Dietz has mediated more than 1,300 workers’ compensation cases and is a frequent writer, speaker and trainer at national conferences on mediation.
The Douglas P. Lawless Alternative Dispute Resolution Award is given for outstanding contributions in the fields of mediation, arbitration or other forms of alternative dispute resolution. It honors the late Doug Lawless, a longtime member of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and a fulltime mediator. For more information, visit www.zkslawfirm.com
ACR Members Author New Publication
ACR members Tricia S. Jones and Ross Brinkert authored a new book titled Conflict Coaching: Conflict Management Strategies and Skills for the Individual (Sage). The book integrates conflict communication theory and research into a practical conflict coaching model. The book includes a CD-ROM with instructor-student and coach-client resources.
Jones is a professor of Adult and Organizational Development at Temple University. Brinkert is an assistant professor of Corporate Communication at Pennsylvania State University, Abington. Jones and Brinkert are also partners in Conflict Coaching Matters. For more information, go to http://www.conflictcoachingmatters.com/resources.html |
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Call for Article Proposals ACResolution Magazine Winter 2009
ACR’s winter 2009 issue of ACResolution magazine will focus on the topic of Diversity.
We seek proposals from people who would like to write articles on any aspect of diversity, such as serving a diverse clientele, barriers to practice encountered by diverse practitioners, conflict resolution among diverse cultures and populations, enhancing knowledge transfer from diverse practices, etc. We also 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 September 9, 2008.
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-September. If selected, completed articles will be due to ACR by November 3.
For more information about ACResolution, please visit http://www.ACRnet.org/publications/acresolution.htm.
ACResolution also seeks department articles for the magazine. Regular departments include Balancing Act, Member Milestones, Learning Matters, Diversity Practices, Up Close, World Views on ADR, Periscope, Perspectives on Practice, and Book Reviews. For descriptions of these departments and submission information, visit http://www.acrnet.org/publications/acresolution.htm or contact publications@ACRnet.org. |
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Conflict Resolution Day will be celebrated (as always, on the third Thursday in October) on October 16, 2008. We have two areas of focus planned for this year:
Once you have an event planned, be sure to tell us so we can add yours to the list of 2008 activities: presss@flcourts.org or ARothstein@ACRnet.org For more information, visit www.acrnet.org/crday/index.htm or contact Sharon Press, chair, at presss@flcourts.org |
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Advanced Commercial Mediation Institute The American Arbitration Association is again collaborating with the Commercial Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) to present an Advanced Commercial Mediation Institute. This year’s Institute will be held in Austin, Texas on September 24-25, 2008. Attending the Institute will fulfill the 2008 and 2009 A.C.E. requirement for those neutrals who also are on the AAA’s Panel of Arbitrators.
This year’s Institute, titled Innovation in Commercial Mediation, is an educational forum designed to further develop advanced skills of professionals experienced in mediating complex commercial disputes. The program features an interactive environment facilitated by leading practitioners and educators in the dispute resolution and related fields. The two-day program is limited to 60 participants experienced in mediating complex commercial and business disputes so as to facilitate extensive interaction among participants and faculty.
For registration information, please visit http://acrnet.org/conferences/ac08/Registration.htm
The Family Section held
its bi-annual conference in Park City, Utah at the end of July. The
conference planning committee reported that there was nothing but
praise and positive feedback about the conference content, events,
organization, and the mountain setting. Conference CDs, with
material from the presentations, is available for those who were
unable to attend the conference. To purchase a CD, please contact
russell@gerrardmediation.com.
Join Us for
International Day at ACR’s 8th Annual Conference
Spirituality Section to Host a Full-Day Pre-Conference Institute in Austin, Texas Please join us on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 for the Spirituality Section’s Empowering Institute, hosted by Michael Aloi and Nan Waller Burnett.
In the morning, we will feature “Global Insight in Negotiation: Practical Wisdom for Engaging in Conflict” with returning lecturer Erica Ariel Fox of the Harvard Law School. She will share her trademarked Beyond Yes method that moves negotiations beyond competence to mastery.
In the afternoon, we will switch gears and offer an improvisational theater workshop titled, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Mediation Forum” hosted by Daniel Horsey of 3StoryStage, and assisted by mediator/players Miles Davis, Rita Callahan, and JoAnn Harjes. In this workshop, we will discover the joy of being fully ‘in the moment’ through hilarious skits and time-honored improv theater exercises.
Please plan now to join us to share this valuable and engaging day by registering today for the Spirituality Section’s Empowering Institute!
Looking Ahead to Rocky Mountain Retreat Four! February 13 – 16, 2009 at the St. Malo Retreat Center Allenspark, Colorado
Once again, we will gather at the majestic St. Malo Retreat Center for a weekend of spiritual reflection enhanced by such notable speakers as Jason Shulman, Gary Friedman, John Paul Lederach and Herm Weaver. If you are interested in this amazing experience, stay tuned to the Spirituality Section webpage (http://www.mediate.com/acrspirituality/) for registration details as they become available!
The Rocky Mountain Retreat Keynote Address and Saturday presentation will include the following:
“Big Mind, Big Peace” A Talk and Workshop Jason Jinen Shulman Brenda Blessings
The MAGI Process, a spiritual tool for global change, was created from a deep awareness of how the world changes and resists change. This applies to personal change as well. By deep insight into the dynamics of life, movement, change and resistance, the MAGI Process makes clear the connection between personal and nonlocal or holographic, global change.
As professionals constantly involved in resolving conflicts, we run the risk of looking at “peace” or the end of conflict as a “thing” or product instead of what it really is: a relationship of opposites within an on-going dynamic process. In this view, conflict ceases to be the enemy to be vanquished and becomes what it actually is: an ally whose existence is integral to process of peace.
By using the Process with the actual cases we are involved in, we not only become instruments of change ourselves — because we learn to include all of the opposites of which peace is built — but can influence the outcome of conflict negotiations by our ability to “openly contain” all the difficulties of human life. We can become, in other words, the true centers of the change we wish to see in the world.
If you are interested in Rocky Mountain Retreat registration, contact Nan Waller Burnett, Nandrp@aol.com.
Workplace Section Teleseminars
Craig Runde and Tim A. Flanagan
will lead a teleseminar on Wednesday,
October 15, 2008, to explore how teams can deal more
effectively with conflict in order to maximize creativity and
improve decision-making. Their new book is titled Building
Conflict Competent Teams.
New ACR Workplace Advanced Practitioner Workplace Mediation AnnouncedThe ACR Workplace Section’s Advanced Practitioner Workplace Mediation Review Committee is pleased to announce that Julie Denny of Princeton, NJ has met the requirements of the Workplace Mediator Advanced Practitioner Designation.
ACR Workplace Advanced Practitioners
Have you considered becoming an
Advanced Practitioner (AP)? To learn more
There will be two specific sessions on conflict coaching at this year’s ACR Conference. On Thursday, September 25, 2008, from 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m., the topic is “Expanding the World of Conflict Coaching…Through Use of Assessment Tools.” On Friday, September 26, 2008, from 9:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m., the topic is “All for One: Working Together to Expand the Practice of Conflict Coaching.” The next Conflict Coaching Subcommittee teleconference will be in October; the date is TBA.
The WPS has great
workshops and meetings planned at ACR’s 8th Annual
Conference, “Aspirations, Possibilities, and Realities: Expanding
Principles, Practice, and Research in a Changing World” from
September 24-27, 2008, in Austin, TX.
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AACR will hold a Membership Meeting on September 13, 2008 at the Phoenix School of Law in Phoenix beginning with a spirituality exercise by Jerome Allan Landau at 9:45 a.m., followed by a business meeting and program. Lunch and networking will follow to end at 1:00 p.m. The program will be a panel presentation on Mediation in the 21st Century with Kevin Osterman, Sherman Fogel, Joy Borum, Delores Manwar and Denise Blommel. If you have questions about this program, please contact AACR at 480-209-1295.
AACR also will present a morning conference at the Arizona Biltmore on September 18, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. -11:45 a.m. This conference is a joint effort with Project Civil Discourse, an initiative of the Arizona Humanities Council. The title is Can We Talk? Tools for Creating Civil Discourse. The keynote speaker will be Richard C. Reuben from the University of Missouri law school followed by eight workshops that focus on methods for cultivating civil discourse in diverse settings. Information is available on our website: www.mediate.com/acrarizona.
The Greater Delaware Valley Chapter would like to notify members of the following opportunity:
Gallery 125 Call for Entries: All Media (except video and performance art)
November 14 through January 3, 2009 How do conflicts arise? How are they resolved? Conflict can be defined as disagreement, discord, fight, disharmony, battle, war, clash, opposition or struggle. Conflict can be personal or political, internal or external. All interpretations will be considered.
CD images must be .jpg files preferably
4” x 6” at 300 DPI, compression level 10 and must include on paper: 5. All submissions must include a $20 check payable to: TDA/Gallery 125
NOTIFICATION: SELECTED ARTISTS POSTED ON
WEBSITE OCTOBER 9, 2008. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Send to Gallery 125, 125 S. Warren St., Trenton, NJ 08608
Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you wish to
have the visuals returned.
Please join us for the New England Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution (NE-ACR) FALL PROGRAM
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 “Beyond Mediation: ADR-connected Careers in Today’s Workplace”
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 84 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA Stratton Student Center, Building W20 4th Floor Room 407
Panelists: James McGuire is a neutral with JAMS, the Resolution Experts. An experienced mediator and arbitrator, he specializes in resolving disputes involving financial, business, intellectual property and construction matters. Jim will talk about his conflict coaching work.
Toni Robinson, M.S., J.D. is an ombudsperson in the Office of the President at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She will share insights from her extensive experience as an ombudsperson.
Doug Thompson is a
senior mediator and director of the Environmental Practice Group for
the Keystone Center. Doug will talk about some of the various ways
basic mediation skills do and do not transfer into the environmental
and public policy world of facilitated meetings, public engagement
sessions and conflict assessments. Moderator: Dina Lynch Eisenberg is a workplace mediator and ombuds for Berklee College of Music and author of MediationMensch.com. Dina offers a mentorship program for mediators at ADRPracticebuilder.com.
5:30 – 6:00 Refreshments and networking 6:00 – 7:30 Program $35 members; $50 non-members; $20 students
To register online, please go to: http://neacr.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=1 If you wish to pay by check, or for additional information, please contact Ruthy Kohorn Rosenberg at ruthyk@MIT.EDU or Arline Kardasis at arline@AgreementResources.com.
By car and public transportation: http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg?section=directions MIT Interactive Map: http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg?section=home Parking options: http://web.mit.edu/facilities/transportation/parking/visitors/public_parking.html
ACR-NC is proud to present the following seminar in conjunction with its Annual Meeting to be held on September 23, 2008 at the University of NC at Greensboro Mediation Center, 5900 Summit Avenue, Brown Summit, NC 27214: (1) Leslie Ratliff, executive director of the NC Dispute Resolution Commission presents “Discussion of Rule Changes to Mediated Settlement Conference, Family Financial Settlement and Clerk Mediation Program Rules Effective October 1, 2008;” (2) Jan Woloson, director of Family Mediation, Dispute Settlement Center (Henderson County), presents “Facilitation Contracts with DSS and the Use of Child and Family Team Meetings (“CFT”s)”; (3) Barbara Davis, Collaborative Law Consulting Practice, presents an “Overview of Collaborative Law;” and (4) Cathie Witty, program director, Conflict Resolution Program at UNC Greensboro, presents “Anti-Bullying Programs in Schools.” Please join us!
Leadership News
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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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Paid Advertisements: Conflict Coaching Training; Mediate.com; Parenting Coordination Training; Salisbury University’s Department of Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution Job Ad |
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Conflict Coaching Training
October 15-17, 2008 – Philadelphia, PA
Offered by Conflict Coaching Matters
Presented by Tricia S. Jones and Ross Brinkert, authors of Conflict Coaching: Conflict Management Strategies and Skills for the Individual (Sage, 2008)
$1099.00 Early Bird (by September 15) - $1199.00 Regular (by October 13) $1299.00 Door
For more information or to register, visit www.ConflictCoachingMatters.com, email info@conflictcoachingmatters.com, or phone 267-351-6555. |
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Parenting Coordination Training Offered by the Cooperative Parenting Institute November 13-15, 2008 Presenters: Susan Boyan and Ann Marie Termini, co-authors of The Psychotherapist as Parent Coordinator in High-Conflict Divorce: Strategies and Techniques. $400.00 Early Bird/$425.00 Full Fee Visit www.cooperativeparenting.com, call 404-315-7474, or email coparent@yahoo.com. |
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Salisbury University’s Department of Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution Job Ad
Salisbury University’s Department of Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution is accepting applications for a tenure track Associate or Full Professor. A doctorate in Conflict Resolution and a strong record of university level teaching in conflict resolution is required. A doctorate in a related area may be considered if accompanied by practical experience and a scholarly research record in the area of conflict resolution.
To be considered an applicant you must submit all of the following: a letter of interest, curriculum vita, transcripts, philosophy of teaching and evidence of teaching effectiveness, and names and phone numbers of at least three professional references to Dr. Natalie W. Hopson, Chair, Search Committee, Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution Department, Salisbury University, 1101 Camden Ave., Salisbury, MD 21801-6860.
Applications received by October 17, 2008 will be given first consideration. The position will remain open until filled. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Appointment will be contingent upon verification of eligibility to work in the U.S. and is expected to begin August 2009.
SU is an EEO employer and is strongly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff and student body.
Please visit our website at http://www.salisbury.edu/HR/Jobs for a detailed job posting. |
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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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As an ACR member, you are automatically subscribed to ACR Update. To unsubscribe from ACR Update, send an email to membership@acrnet.org, or log on to the Online Member Center, click on “My Profile,” then “Contact Groups,” and de-select “ACRUpdate.” |
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Association for Conflict Resolution |
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