by admin on September 30, 2008
The West Central (MN) Tribune reported last week that the Spicer city attorney had explained that the city council was hiring a mediator to help address internal personnel issues. The city’s two-person personnel committee will hire the mediator, who will help the city address personnel issues and process.
The city attorney, Barry Darval, zeroed in on the key benefits of mediation in a workplace setting: mediation should improve the city government’s efficiency and productivity. Though “the bottom line” can be difficult for public sector managers and not-for-profit administrators to quantify, mediation can help them meet their goals, just as workplace mediation can help in the private sector.
by admin on September 29, 2008
An article in the New Haven Independent today describes the efforts of a New Haven family to hold on to their home with the help of a local attorney and the Connecticut Foreclosure Mediation Program. When the homeowners first met with the plaintiff’s attorney and a state mediator in the program, they were not yet able to agree to a payment plan. Still, the sixty-day mediation process gives them time to work towards a solution.
That’s one of the benefits of mediation — it is a process, not a knee jerk thumbs up or down decision. If the parties cannot reach agreement immediately, they are often able to build on the initial progress they make to resolve their dispute at some point in the near future.
by admin on September 21, 2008
When I spoke at the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Women in Business meeting last week, I described the focus of Dovetail Resolution’s mediation work: business conflicts, estate planning and settlement, and elder mediation. The group meets to discuss business issues and they were the main point in our discussion. When I introduced Dovetail, I’m sure that some of the group had never heard of “elder mediation” before. Yet the mention of the conflicts around aging between generations and within generations visibly struck a chord. Many families face these challenges. As more people become aware of the option of elder mediation, more will be able to benefit from the help it can provide.
by admin on September 13, 2008
On Thursday, September 18, I will be speaking to the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Women in Business meeting. My topic is “Conflict in Your Work and Life — Tips to Prevent It, Reduce It, and Resolve It.” The group meets on the third Thursday of the month from 8:00 to 9:15 at Chatfield, One Chatfield Drive in West Hartford. The event is free and open to all professional women doing business in the greater West Hartford area.
These professional women are dynamic and diverse, and represent businesses large and small. We have had great networking opportunities, excellent speakers, and stimulating discussions. I’m looking forward to sharing some ideas about mediation and dispute resolution, answering questions, and distributing a handout of Tips.