Mediation Association of Colorado

How does theMAC decide when to take a position on a bill?

David Holland — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:41:38 +0000

the board uses the following crieria to determine if the board should consider taking a position on a bill:

Does the language of the bill encourage or discourage the use of mediation?
Does it affect our reputation as a mediation organzaiton?
Does it affect CDRA negatively or positively>

Court-Ordered Mediation

David Holland — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:41:24 +0000

If the court has ordered you to partake in mediation then we can help. We make it easy for both parties to find a mediator that you can both agreed upon.

It doesn’t matter who makes the first phone call, our mediators are trained to not “take sides” – they will respect that each party has unique perspective on the dispute. Each party pays 50% of the mediators fee so there’s no incentive for bias.

Use our Find-A-Mediator tool to search based on zip code, judicial district or just see a list of all of our Professional Mediators.

What is Mediation?

David Holland — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:32:15 +0000

theMAC recognizes that mediation can refer to various Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) activities and we encourage the use of all such activities; however, for many people the term refers to a process in which two or more parties involved in a disagreement work with an NEUTRAL third party, the mediator, who helps them generate their own solutions to solve the dispute. The parties can shape a solution that works for both sides – unlike when a judge or an arbitrator makes the decision with a higher likelihood of one party wins and the other party loses.

Other Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) activities are preferable and often less costly in the long-run than people relying first on courts or violence for a resolution. For example, Restorative Justice (RJ) seeks to heal the harm inflicted by one party by helping all of the impacted parties shape a resolution.

Legislative Committee 2011 Summary

Mike Maday — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:32:44 +0000

theMAC Legislative Committee was involved in a number of initiatives with the Colorado Legislature, the Governor’s Office and local governments in 2011.

In early January we sponsored a round table discussion for theMAC members with legislators from both sides of the aisle to get an overview of legislation that might affect mediation in the 2011 session of the Colorado General Assembly. Rep. Bob Gardner (R-El Paso County), Senator Linda Newell (D-Jefferson/Arapahoe Counties) and Rep. Pete Lee (D- El Paso County) gave their overview of pending legislation and some tips for members about how to effectively advocate for legislation effecting mediation. Rep. Gardner and Senator Newell sponsored legislation designating October as Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado which Mary Zinn and her CR Month synergizers put together again this year and which the MAC again strongly supported. The resolution passed unanimously in the General Assembly, a first for this resolution. Several members of theMAC were present on the floor of the legislature for the vote on the resolution. Members of theMAC were later involved in promoting Conflict Resolution Month proclamations by dozens of county and local governments across the state.

In addition to the Conflict Resolution Month Resolution, members of theMAC Legislative Committee, theMAC President, Fonda Hamilton, and other members testified on and participated in stakeholder meetings related to several pieces of legislation during the 2012 session. This legislation included restorative justice, restorative mediation and civil unions legislation. Our presence in the Golden Dome helped shape legislation in ways that benefited the mediation profession, reflected theMAC members wishes and helped promote mediation.

In November theMAC cosponsored, in conjunction with the ADR Conference, a Collaboration Summit with leaders in both houses of the Colorado General Assembly and top staff in the Governor’s office, facilitated by Stewart Levin the ADR Conference keynote. Governor Hickenlooper participated in part during this event and I was able to talk with him and other legislative leaders about theMAC’s activities and also promote the FIND-A-MEDIATOR feature of our website. As part of the discussion, I also raised the issue of the cost savings benefits that mediation has realized for state and local governments and the potential for additional savings if incentives to mediate are included in future legislation.

The involvement of members of theMAC and theMAC Board in 2011 in these legislative activities help ensure that a voice for mediation is being heard by our state and local elected officials.

Listen 12/15/11 to KGNU Radio Show

Mary Zinn — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:37:34 +0000

Our member, Mary Zinn, will be co-hosting her quarterly show on KGNU. This month’s topic is on family relationships.

You can listen in locally or catch it online at www.kgnu.org

Join us Thursday, December 15, on KGNU for our Conflict Resolution Program on

Family Relationships and Happy Holidays

Thursday, December 15, 2011 – 8:35 to 9:30 AM

KGNU can be found at 1390 AM or 88.5 FM

or on line at http://www.kgnu.org/

Call in to 303-442-4242

Why does he need to take his nap in the living room? What do we do when the siblings start in again? Gifts, gifts, gifts – where does it end? Forbidden conversations: old issues, politics, religion…. What can we do to make our family gatherings meaningful and create loving memories?

Sam Fuqua and I look forward to an active and provocative call-in radio program which will be aired on KGNU — 88.5 FM and 1390 AM and streamed on line at WWW.KGNU.ORG

Tune in and call in sharing your ideas, experiences, questions and concerns.

Hope to hear from you on December 15!

Mary

Call in to 303-442-4242

Legislators Discuss Mediation

Mike Maday — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:15:15 +0000

Mary Zinn, member of theMac and leader of Conflict Resolution Month and I participated in the Collaboration Summit with leaders of the Colorado Legislature and Governor Hickenlooper last Thursday at the Capitol. The summit was organized by Senator Linda Newell and led by Stewart Levine, keynote for the ODR Conference. Everyone participating thanked theMAC for providing lunch. I was able to talk about theMAC to participants and handed out theMAC brochures. My presentation stressed the qualifications of our professional members and the distribution of members throughout the state. I highlighted the Find-A-Mediator tool on our website as a resource that members of the legislature would find helpful in locating mediators in their communities who could help address issues raised by constituents. When I gave the brochure to the Governor he mentioned that he was very aware of our organization. At one point in the session I also made the point that the cost of conflict within programs funded by the $18.5 billion state budget must form a significant portion of the budget shortfall and gave examples of how mediation results in significant cost avoidance for state programs such as the Judicial Branch.

A Workshop with Stewart Levine

Mary Zinn — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:30:03 +0000

On Saturday, Nov 5, there’s yet another opportunity to participate in a workshop with Stewart Levine – this year’s ADR conference keynote speaker and author of the book, Getting to Resolution

Learn to collaborate more effectively
Learn about the power of “revolutionary thinking”
Discover the power of conversation in resolving conflict
And more…

Lunch is included with the registration fee.

Click here to see the flyer for this special event.

Longmont Open House

Susan Spaulding — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:13:56 +0000

Join Longmont Mediation Services and Longmont Community Justice Partnership at an Open House. Light refreshments, good company. Special guest Beverly Title will be on hand to sign copies of her new book, Teaching Peace.

We would love to see you.

OPEN TO ALL.

Click here for more information

ADR Conference Brochure & Registration Now Available

David Holland — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:33:48 +0000

The brochure and registration link are now available for the 5th Annual Colorado Statewide ADR Conference.

Click HERE for brochure.
Click HERE to register at CBA-CLE website:

Per the brochure: ” … [This year's conference] will explore the unique perspectives that individuals and groups bring to the practice of dispute resolution. Presenters will encourage reflection on the impact of emotional intelligence and neuroscience on the practitioner. Workshops will offer insight on interacting with special populations including same-sex partners, deaf or hard of hearing clients, victims of crimes and persons with diminished capacities. Come to the conference to challenge your current thinking, to expand and improve your skills and practice, and collaborate with your remarkable colleagues as we continue to evolve the dynamic field of Dispute Resolution.”

Keynote Speaker: Stewart Levine – author of Getting to Resolution: Turning Conflict into Collaboration

Attend the CR Month Proclamations in your area

David Holland — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:04:11 +0000

October is Conflict Resolution Month.

Whereas numerous events are being scheduled by various organizations, one of the highlights includes the many municipalities and major organizations that are officially proclaiming October to be Conflict Resolution Month.

theMAC encourages you to attend proclamation events to show visible support to these politicians and broader organizations who are recognizing the value of Conflict Resolution.

theMAC member, Rita Hyland of Rita Hyland Consulting LLC has been tracking upcoming proclamation events as an active Conflict Resolution Month synegizer and posts upcoming events on the CRMonth website.

Visit http://conflictresolutionmonth.org/ then select Events: 2011
Send email to Rita (rita@ritahylandconsulting.com) if you plan to attend