MCDR promotes and expands the use of the high quality Appropriate Dispute Resolution statewide by:

• Promoting ADR and consumer education/marketing
• Setting standards of practice and certification of members.
• Strengthening education/skills of practitioners
• Eliciting commitment of practitioners to the field
• Being a resource to practitioners and community (support and nurture

MCDR will change the way disputes are resolved in Maryland.  Our  vision is a Maryland where all individuals use cooperative, non-adversarial approaches to resolve their disputes, a  Maryland where cooperative, non-adversarial approaches to resolve conflict  will be the first resort, not the last.

MCDR helps practitioners grapple successfully with three seemingly disparate aspects of individual development: business, spiritual, professional

_ Develop funding sources, dues statewide that will allow us to hire an Exec. Director
(Staff)

_ Develop workshop and other educational methods designed to help practitioners become aware of their own strength and weaknesses, & develop skills

_ Expand membership by 100% and involve new and inactive people by linking them with tasks they are able and willing to do

_ Develop web-site with directory, users guide, etc.

_ Obtain participation and involvement by non-mediators

_ Create tv commercial to be shown (‘PSA’)

_ Create a high visibility practitioner conference - to increase membership and practitioners education - First Annual¼

_ Do educational piece at State Bar annual meeting

_ Have regular and dependable quarterly meeting on topics of interest

_ Have small group discussions about subjects that are provocative and ‘taboo’

_ Establish speakers bureau

_ Do specific outreach with people who in a position to refer

_ Create information and referral service

_ Provide liability insurance for members