Maryland Council for Dispute Resolution

Master Classes - 2009

 

Topic:             Writing a Business Plan for Your ADR Practice

Trainer:          Doug Brookman

Location:        JECC in Annapolis

Date:               Saturday, June 13, 2009       9AM to 1PM

Description:

Many talented mediators would like to become professionals, but fail because they don’t do effective business planning.  Starting a mediation practice is starting a business.  This highly interactive workshop will focus on the nuts and bolts of starting (or enhancing) your mediation practice.  It will feature small group and guided discussion and one–on-one coaching.  The discussion will include worksheet preparation on the basics: strategy, target markets, differentiating your services, marketing and sales. 

About the Trainer:

            Doug Brookman, is a nationally recognized facilitator, mediator and trainer, who has conducted collaborative planning and problem-solving processes full-time for 20 years. His company, Public Solutions facilitates effective decision making among divergent interests to serve human, technical and political needs in complex, public contexts.  Mr. Brookman’s specialty is orchestrating graceful solutions in large, controversial, multi-party decision making processes.

 

Topic:             Facilitating Effective Decisions

Trainers:        John Buck and Monika Megyesi

Location:        Friends Community House in Sandy Spring

Date:               Saturday, July 11, 2009        9 AM to 1 PM

Description:

This training brings a cutting edge to collaborative decision making.  It eliminates the disadvantages of consensus (i.e. long time, frequent impasse) and, at the same time, protects advantages such as inclusiveness and equity.  By applying cybernetics prenciples to decision-making, this workshop teaches a consent based process in an interactive format that is based on experiential learning.  Instructional materials include interactive videos, toys, games, roleplays, handouts, flip-chart and PowerPoint support.

About the Trainers:

John Buck has extensive leadership experience with government, corporations and organizations.  He is the first person, not native to the Netherlands, to be certified in the circle-organization method of governance (dynamic governance), and is the first person to be certified in the United States.  John assists government agencies, non-profits and businesses to design work and make group decisions effectively.

Monika Megyesi has a Master’s Degree from the University of Baltimore’s in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution.  She is an experienced mediator and facilitator and has been working with John for the past year.

 

Topic:             Strategies for Managing High Conflict in Family Mediation

Trainer:          Aza Butler

Location:        JECC in Annapolis

Date:               Saturday, September 12th  9 AM to 1 PM

Description:

Mediators need to be able to stay calm and centered in the midst of

uproar, yelling, and accusations, at times.  This workshop will focus on some strategies for dealing with high conflict, and ways to turn the situation into an opportunity for real communication.  The workshop will include presentation, discussion and role plays based on situations from actual cases.   If you wish, bring your “worst problem” from a high conflict family mediation case for discussion.

About the Trainer:

Aza Butler has been working in the field of mediation for thirty years.  She helped define the position of court mediator for family cases at the Circuit Court for Baltimore County where she worked as both an evaluator and mediator.  She has mediated many family cases, both court referred and self referred, and has given trainings and workshops on mediation related topics.  Currently, she is a mediator in private practice in Towson, Maryland.

 

Topic:             Mediating Workplace Issues

Trainer:          Ed Wilgus

Location:        JECC in Annapolis

Date:               Saturday, October 3rd   9AM to 1 PM

Description:

            This four hour course will give in-depth and real world examples of the various scenarios of mediations that occur in the work place.  The training course will provide information regarding the various types of EEO complaints that involve workplace disputes.  The participant will learn the characteristics of workplace disputes, including the demeanor of the participants in comparison to other types of disputes.  The participants will also learn practical ways to seek resolution in these cases, with a step by step process and a discussion of the human factors involved.  The use of caucuses will also be covered, considering when caucuses are appropriate and how they can be used.

About the Trainer: 

Ed Wilgus has mediated many workplace and business disputes.  He is a member of the Federal ADR Work Group, Mediators Beyond Borders and Virginia Mediation Network   He mediates workplace disputes for the U.S. Postal Service, for the Department of Defense, and for the Federal Department of Health and Human Services, as well as serving as a contracting officer in the business world.

 

Topic:             The Impact of Divorce on Children; A Workshop for Mediators

Trainer:          Roz Zinner

Location:        Beacon Institute; Handelman Conference Center, Columbia, MD

Date:               Saturday, October 17, 2009              9 AM to 1 PM

Description: 

During child access mediation, parents often struggle with and disagree about how to create a parenting plan that minimizes disruption and pain for their children.  The common wisdom of what kind of living arrangement and schedule is in the “best interests of the child” has dramatically shifted in the past three decades.  What do we actually know about what schedules or factors promote or discourage resilience?

During the last thirty years, there has been a wealth of excellent research that at least partly answers these questions about the impact of divorce on children.  Understanding those factors that matter (and those that don’t) can deepen your understanding of the relevant “custody” issues, and make you a better mediator.

Roz Zinner has been mediating divorce/custody cases for nine years.  In addition to being a family mediator, she is also a clinical social worker with a specialty of working with couples.  She has spent 35 years doing therapy relating to family issues.

 

Topic:             Mediating with Seniors; Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies

Trainers:        Bob Rhudy and Carolyn Rodis

Location:        JECC in Annapolis

Date:               Saturday, November 7th  1 to 5 PM

Description: 

Senior mediation can present unique challenges.  The sessions frequently involve multiple parties and representatives, some of whom are out-of-state and can participate only via telephone or computer.  The older person and/or others may have physical, hearing, vision or cognitive impairments that need accommodation to promote self-determination and full participation.  Intake generally requires in-person interviews.  Basing our analyses on the MPME Standards for Mediators, we will use role plays and discussion to illustrate the unique challenges and best strategies to ensure a quality process when mediating with seniors.

The Trainers: 

Carolyn J. Rodis, J.D. M.A. is certified by the Maryland Council on Dispute Resolution, mediates for the circuit and District Courts in Anne Arundel County, is a founding member of the National Elder Mediation Network and co-chair of its Training and Education Committee.  Carolyn was a consultant trainer to the AARP National Legal Training Project from 2001 to 2008, has trained for the Center for Social Gerontology, and is an adjunct professor at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC).

Robert J. Rhudy, J.D., an attorney, mediator and consultant, is President and Executive Director of Senior Mediation and Decision-Making, Inc. (www.senior-mediation.org) , a non-profit organization which is developing a statewide senior mediation program in Maryland, and provides training, research and consulting nationwide.  Bob also is a consulting attorney to the Center for Social Gerentology, Ann Arbor, Michigan.