Newsletter

Panel of Family Court Judges April 22

            ACR Dallas, will meet Tuesday, April 22, 5:30 p.m., at the Center for Community Cooperation, 2900 Live Oak, Dallas, Texas. The program will be a panel of Family Court Judges from Dallas and Kaufman Counties.
This program will be especially interesting to mediators who do family mediations and those who might want to begin doing them.
Come at 5:30 for a light supper. Program begins at 6:00. There is no charge for members. Visitors pay $10.00.

ADR Section Addresses Problem of
Two or More Mediations at One Time
Some mediators are conducting two or more mediations at the same time without knowledge of the parties, which is a growing problem, according to Maxel “Bud” Silverberg and Mike Patterson, writing in the Winter, 2008, issue of Alternative Resolutions, publication of the State Bar of Texas, ADR Section.
According to the Alternative Resolutions article, in a January 5, 2008, meeting, the ADR Section’s Council recommended three changes in the Ethical Guidelines Mediators, including: “A mediator should not conduct more than one mediation at a time unless all parties agree to do so.”
The Council also recommended clarification of the Disclosure of Possible Conflicts to read, “Prior to commencing the mediation, the mediator should make full disclosure of any interest the mediator has in the subject matter of the dispute or any known relationships with the parties or their counsel that may affect or give the appearance of affecting the mediator’s neutrality.”
A third recommended change is to make clear that “A mediator should not knowingly misrepresent any material fact or circumstance in the course of mediation.”  Writers of the Alternative Resolutions article commented, “Those involved in the mediation negotiations may engage in some puffing or exaggerating in an attempt to minimize weaknesses or magnify strengths. However, the mediator should not cross the line and knowingly misrepresent any material fact or circumstance during the mediation.”
The ADR Section of the State Bar of Texas membership includes both attorney and non-attorney mediators.

Marketing Experts Speak to Mediators
            Marketing a mediation or law practice is much like marketing any other business or organization, according to Tim Hudson and Jennifer Johnson, partners in Belmont Icehouse advertising agency, who spoke at the March 25 ACR Dallas meeting.
Regardless of the type of business, there are certain things the successful brand will have. First, a Compelling Idea, something that satisfies a need, Hudson said, and gave as an example, Sewell that is known for Customer Service. “Tell your promise. Then deliver on it,” he said.
Second, a Resolute Core Purpose. “We exist for a reason,” Hudson said, and gave an example of BMW, The Ultimate Driving Machine.
Tim Hudson speaking at ACR Dallas Meeting.
Third, A Centralized Principle, a sense of who you are, that can be expressed in an “elevator speech,” a description of what you do that can be said between floors. Hudson gave as an example the Walt Disney Company, To Bring Happiness to People’s Lives Through Creativity, Dreams and Imagination. One of Belmont Icehouse’s clients is Faith Hospice whose motto is “Every Moment Matters.”
“Position your brand,” he said. “Make it a little different from whatever else is out there.”          
Jennifer Johnson spoke mostly on use of websites. “Your website acts as your legitimizer,” she said. It should give an accurate view of your business. You should evaluate your website. “Is it on brand? Are you really using it to tell your story?” Viewers should be able to contact you with only one click, she said.
You should study web statistics and learn where hits are coming from, Johnson said. Make sure pictures on your website are named. If they are, they will be one more way your site can be found. You can get your business listed free in GoogleMaps.com, and LinkedIn.com, Johnson said. Using a blog also helps get your message out.
“Don’t start something you can’t follow through on,” Johnson said, such as a website or blog. Check and make sure your website links still work. Changed pages get more attention on the web, she said.
Johnson suggested you have your webmaster put your website on a compact disc as backup.
ACR Dallas Board Member Gene Roberts introduced the program. He said Belmont Icehouse’s clients include Dell, Texas Instruments, Exxon, Six Flags, many non-profit organizations, accounting firms, and law firms. Gene Roberts Law Firm is one of their clients.
Jennifer Johnson can be contacted at jen@belmonticehouse.com.

Mediators Needed in Municipal Courts
“You are needed, and there are opportunities for you in the criminal area and civil area of Municipal Courts,” C. Victor Lander, Presiding Judge, Dallas Municipal Court Number 7, told mediators at the ACR Dallas meeting February 26.
Municipal Court is essentially a criminal court, Judge Lander said, handling traffic, Class C misdemeanors such as family violence and simple assault, and code violations. He said the city employs advocates who counsel with the victims. They often cross-file on one another so you have two sets of defendants and plaintiffs in the same case. Judge Lander suggested that the advocates learn about the mediation process from experienced mediators. Mediators can help the advocates, victims, and defendants negotiate a resolution.
The current district attorney is amenable to mediators stepping into municipal court cases, Judge Lander said. “We need you in those property courts between the people who own the home and the city trying to take it,” he said.  Mediators can be a necessary “voice of reason” between defendants and the State, he said.
A committee of ACR Dallas board members is studying the possibility of furnishing volunteer mediators for the municipal courts.
There are 10 municipal courts plus an administrative judge. The municipal courts have jurisdiction in all counties that comprise part of the City of Dallas. Courts Number 3, 4, 10, and 11 handle misdemeanor and family violence cases. 

      
 Melanie Grimes TAM President-Elect
Melanie Grimes of Dallas was elected President-Elect of Texas Association of Mediators  (TAM) for 2008, it was announced at the TAM Convention in Galveston, March 1. She will automatically take over as president at the close of the 2009 convention in Dallas.
Melanie heads MG Mediations in Dallas and is considered one of the most successful mediators in Dallas, mediating mostly Dallas court cases being selected by attorneys. She is often called upon to speak on mediation.
She succeeds Margaret Leeds of San Antonio who took over as president at the close of the March 1 convention. Margaret succeeded LaCrisa Gilbert of Dallas as TAM President for 2008.

TAM Presidents ---
Left to right, Melanie Grimes, President-Elect; Cris Gilbert, outgoing 2007 President; and Margaret Leeds, incoming 2008 President of Texas Association of Mediators.

Five from Dallas Area Presenters at TAM Convention

        The February 29-March 1Texas Association of Mediators (TAM) Convention in Galveston featured five presenters from the Dallas area.
Ken Burdin, owner of Burdin Mediations of Dallas, spoke on “The Challenges Facing Mediation Today.”  Ken’s firm, which he founded in 1993, has 12 mediators. Michael T. Colatrella, Jr., Mediator, Attorney, and teacher at Southern Methodist University, of Dallas, spoke on “Negotiation Strategies every Mediator Should Know.” Suzanne Mann Duval Attorney-Mediator of Dallas was on a panel of speakers on “Life Lessons in Mediation.” Suzanne has been a leader in peer credentialing of mediators and was one of the founders of Texas Mediators Credentialing Association (TMCA). Nancy K. Ferrell, Mediator and mediator trainer, spoke on “Forgiveness and Healing: Mediator Tools for Transforming Conflict.” John P. Palmer, Attorney, Arbitrator and Mediator of Waco, participated with Suzanne Duval in the “Life Lessons in Mediation” presentation. He is a past president of TAM.
Doug Skierski Attorney and Mediator of Dallas and Melanie Grimes will co-chair the TAM 2009 Convention in Dallas.

North Texas CR Conference June 7

            Titled “Brain Science of War and Peace,” the North Texas Conflict Resolution Conference, co-sponsored by nine organizations including ACR Dallas, will be held Saturday, June 7, 2008, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Southern Methodist University, Plano campus, 5236 Tennyson Parkway. Collin County District Judge John Roach, Jr., will be keynote speaker.
Registration is $99 until May 1, then $120. Early bird student registration is $50 until May 1 or until 50 students are registered.
Established in 2007 by members of several North Texas ADR organizations, the mission of the North Texas Conflict Resolution Conference is to promote the advancement of alternative forms of conflict resolution and to make known to the general public the benefits in settling disputes outside of the courts and without litigation.
The annual conference is a one day information-packed seminar focused on helping ADR professionals and students grow as conflict resolvers. Guest speakers address current issues in the field of conflict resolution and share their experiences and expertise in various ADR disciplines. In addition, several organizations are present annually to provide literature and information to those desiring to learn more or to learn how to become more involved as conflict resolution specialists in contributing to the advancement of the field.
Sponsoring organizations are: Conflict Resolution Network, Dallas Chapter Association for Conflict Resolution, Denton County Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, Dispute Mediation Service, El Centro College Conflict Resolution Studies Program, and Tarrant County Association of Mediators. Additional sponsorship is provided by: Association of Attorney-Mediators, Dallas Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, and Southern Methodist University Department of Dispute Resolution.
            Registration is now underway. For more information or to register, call 214-546-3338, 214-450-3742 or go to www.NTCRC.org.

ACR Convention in Austin Sept. 24-27

            The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) annual convention will be in Austin, Texas, September 24-27, 2008. Details will follow in the Newsletter and on the ACR Dallas website.