CCMO 2007 Annual Meeting Overview
by Pearl Bell

New CCMO President Matt Haynes
Presents the CCMO Vision for 2007

Starting the new year off with a strong vision and goals for 2007, the Colorado Council of Mediators and Mediation Organizations held it’s annual meeting on January 13th. The meeting was held at the Burnsley Hotel, which provided a warm and intimate location for the board and members to begin a collaborative effort for the coming year.

The Vision for 2007, presented at the Annual Meeting by new CCMO President Matt Haynes, includes an emphasis on providing Value, Legitimacy, and Inclusion for our mediators. Several strategies and concrete examples of how the 2007 Board will be working towards these goals include the CCMO, Colorado Bar Association, and Office of Dispute Resolution collaborative effort to host a 2007 Statewide Conference on Mediation Excellence. Other collaborative efforts include working with the Community Mediation and Restorative Justice Organizations to provide support to reach their goals. This is representative of the CCMO larger vision to expand membership to include all dispute resolution and conflict professionals.

2007 promises to be a banner year for membership events and education. With CCMO’s newly formed Exploratory Events Committee, the organization intends to provide special substantive area education opportunities for practitioners. These events may consist of guest lecturers from within the field and outside the field of conflict practitioners. Additionally, CCMO will continue to provide our tried and true events such as the Attorney Mediator Dialogue.

With all of these combined efforts, CCMO hopes to not only provide and enhance our member benefits, but CCMO continues to reinforce our mission and efforts towards education of the public and creating visibility for the Colorado Council of Mediators.

Overall, this year’s Annual Meeting proved that CCMO has the people and prospective vision to make 2007 a truly successful year that works on value, legitimacy and inclusion.

Spotlight on CCMO Member Silke Hansen
by Judy Larkins

Silke Hansen was awarded the 2007 Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award on January 11, 2007 at Boettcher Concert Hall. Silke was a founder of the Colorado Council of Mediators and Mediation Organizations (CCMO). She was cited as the Mediator of the Year in 1994 by CCMO. In Denver, Ms. Hansen was one of the mediators who assisted in an $85 million nation agreement between Latino organizations and the Adolph Coors Brewing Company in 1985.

From Soundings, The Magazine of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Vol 4, No. 3:
A native of Hamburg, Germany, Ms. Silke Hansen moved to Jersey City, New Jersey, at the age of ten. She graduated from Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts in 1995. She was selected as the college’s Alumna of the Year in 1982. After graduation, she worked with the VISTA program in a settlement house in New York’s lower west side. She received a fellowship to Fordham University where she received her master’s degree in Urban Education. Ms. Hansen worked in Los Angeles after riots eruped in 1992. She was assigned to the US Department of Justice’s Boston Community Relations Service (CRS) Regional Office when US Districe Judge W. Arthur Garrity, JR. presided over that historic desegregation court case. The judge cited Ms. Hansen’s assistance in helping to achieve harmonious implementation of the desegregation plans. He noted that CRS had demonstrated extraorinary skill in easing racial tensions and dedication to their mission often in hostile and pressure-packed situation. In a letter to the United States Attorney General Judge Garrity said, "none has surpassed Ms. Hansen in ability or generosity of effort or performance in adversity."

Ms. Hansen was assigned to the Denver CRS Regional Office after serving as a Senior Education Specialist in the CRS Headquarters’ Washington, DC office, coordinating the agency’s desegregation activities and providing technical assistance to regional conciliators and school officials. In Denver, she was a founder of the Colorado Council of Mediators and Mediation Organizations (CCMO). She was cited as the Mediator of the Year in 1994 by CCMO. In Denver, Ms. Hansen was one of the mediators who assisted in an $85 million nation agreement between Latino organizations and the Adolph Coors Brewing Company in 1985. Following mediation, the Latino organizations formed an organization that today continues to work with corporate America on the development of programs for Latinos and other minorities. Ms. Hansen was honored by community leaders and organizations with which she has worked at a Prayer Service at Park Hill Methodist Church on October 27, 2006. Her exhaustive legacy also includes refugee assistance in Guantanomo Bay, Cuba. After thirty years of service as a "veteran mediator of some of this country’s most historic civil rights disputes" Ms. Hansen retired in October 2006.

2006 CCMO Fall Conference: A Very Special Weekend
by Matt Haynes

If you were not able to attend the 2006 CCMO Fall Conference at the Colorado History Museum, you missed out on a very special weekend. The theme of this year’s conference was “Exploring the Depths of Your Abilities” and was characterized by an original artist designed “one-man-band” logo. The topics over the two days were aimed at encouraging participants to explore new possibilities, consider different approaches to their work, increase their knowledge, and challenge their perceptions. Friday’s session was a focus on mediation that included a wide range of presenters and topics. The sessions gave attendees opportunities to take an in depth look at ways to work with impaired parties, examine how to build transgenerational relationships, enhance their cultural skills and understanding, and explore the impact and applicability of spirituality in their practice. The day also included a presentation from the ombudsman of the United States Olympic Committee. The Friday session was topped off with a member’s-only dinner held at the Denver Botanic Gardens that featured soprano soloist Megan Buness and a presentation from the conference keynote speaker Kenneth Cloke.

The Saturday session was expanded to include a diverse variety of ADR practices in addition to mediation. There was a panel discussion of the process of Med-Arb, opportunities to experience the process of Circles in Restorative Justice, analysis of high-conflict groups, an examination of the innovative application of Social Norming to decrease rates of bullying in schools, and an overview of the structure and uses of ADR in the Federal government and the United States Air Force. Saturday also included a plenary presentation of the Department of Peace concept that generated some lively discussion.

The conference culminated with moving keynote address from Kenneth Cloke entitled “A Journey into the Heart of Conflict”. The conference served as a prime example of the vision that CCMO has moving forward, and we all left the conference with a rejuvenated sense of energy and excitement that accelerated us into 2007 with a jubilant optimism for CCMO.

The information from the conference evaluations has been collected and the final report is under construction. Upon completion the report will be made available on the CCMO website www.coloradomediation.org

Memoirs from The Rocky Mountain Retreat
by Janet Koin Dampeer

It’s a pleasure to reflect upon the recent 2007 Rocky Mountain Retreat I attended at St. Malo Retreat Center. It was an enlightening experience in a beautiful setting. Nan Waller Burnett organized the conference entitled “Transforming the Conflict Practitioner to Transform the Field”.

There were two exceptional two-keynote speakers. Kenneth Cloke, JD, LLM, PhD facilitated discussion about many aspects of mediation, focusing on “The Crossroads: A Journey to the Heart of Conflict”. He also introduced the new international organization Mediator Without Borders: A Proposal to Resolve Political Conflicts. Ken wrote an article of the same title available to mediators for reading on www.mediate.com as well as www.mediatorswithoutborders.org. With his peaceful and gentle presence, Ken expanded our universe and touched our hearts in the process.

John Paul Lederach, PhD excited us with music and storytelling and guided us in finding resources and creativity within ourselves. John Paul’s “Songs of Peace” with Herm Weaver was a delight. They taught us, transformed us, entertained and directed us to broaden our horizons. Personally I gained a sense of global consciousness that I had neglected. These men equally personified the basic principles of inner-peace, commitment and a lifetime of experience in a world torn with violence.

Some participants went for healing, some went for rest, some to teach and some to learn.
Through meditations, lectures, exercises and modeling each of us was transformed personally according to our needs.

There was fellowship and bonding. People attended from around North America with many diverse professions. Our “teachers” presented on multiple topics relating to spiritual growth. Topics spanned from Centering Prayer – to Storytelling and Song- Intuition-Myth – Creativity and Yoga. My only complaint was that I was not able to simultaneously attend all the workshops.

It was rewarding to be given techniques for sustaining myself and consequently being able to continue my hope that all our mutual work will eventually bring us a more peaceful world.

Presenters:
Kenneth Cloke, JD, LLM is Director of the Center for Dispute Resolution and a mediator, arbitrator, consultant and trainer, specializing in resolving complex multi-party conflicts. He is a nationally recognized speaker and leader in the field of conflict resolution, and a published author of many journal articles and several books.
John Paul Lederach, PHD is a renowned scholar who has worked for more than 20 years of in Central America, in Asia, Africa, Central Asian and North America. He has written several books and is an expert in peace building and reconciliation.

Other featured facilitators were Nan Waller Burnett, MA, The Honorable Leland P. Anderson,
Robin Amadei, JD, Joseph P. Mc Mahon, Jr., Esq. Sally Ortner JD, Michael J. Aloi, Esq.,
Joseph Epstein, Esq., Kristin Thompson, MACM , Terri Harrington, Esq., Bert Dempsey, Esq.,
Lily Zohar, JD, LLM, RYT, Alexis Namaste’, Mediator and Herman Weaver, PhD.

Janet Koin Dampeer, LCSW CAC III has a private practice in Mediation and Psychotherapy.

Ms. Dampeer is a board member of CCMO and NASW (National Association of Social Workers) and is an active member of many community mediation programs.

She consults in many areas using her expertise as a Certified Drug Addiction Counselor, providing consultation to therapist, attorneys and other professionals.

koindampeermediator@comcast.net
www.janetkoindampeer.com

International Conflict Resolution Day – It’s Not Too Early to Begin Planning….
by Maureen Wade

It’s hard to believe that we are coming up on our third year celebrating International Conflict Resolution Day. Each year this special day is observed on the third Thursday of October. Our goals have been promotion of education and raising awareness about conflict resolution. In 2006, we were successful in obtaining proclamations and endorsements of alternative dispute resolution from a variety of community leaders, including Governor Bill Owens and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Our future plans are to broaden our outreach in the community, increasing the impact of conflict resolution. We are looking for people and organizations that are interested in promotion, collaboration, alternative dispute resolution, mediation and nonviolent problem solving in Colorado. This year, our committee is meeting for our first planning session on 3/1/07 at 4:30 p.m. at The Conflict Center (need to put address in). We welcome your energy and ideas as part of the Conflict Resolution Day Committee. Please contact me at my email address: cmswade@aol.com or my office address: 15101 E. Iliff Ave. Ste. 115 Aurora, CO 80014.

Maureen Wade, Colorado Council of Mediators

Co-Chair - International Conflict Resolution Day

Restorative Justice Legislation: House Bill 07-1129
Summary:

This bill would encourage each local juvenile services planning committee to
consider restorative justice programs when developing its resources plan.
Creates the restorative justice coordinating council to provide assistance
and education related to restorative justice programs. Directs the Tony
Grampsas youth services board to consider applications from restorative
justice programs and consider in the grant award process whether a grant
program applicant includes restorative justice components.

Please read more about this bill at:

http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/billcontainers/08E4E31921F6DBA587257251007C4573/$FILE/1129_01.pdf

Current Opportunities for Membership Involvement

We always welcome contributions to the CCMO newsletter. If you are interested in authoring an article, or have any ideas for future issues, please contact Maggie Helseth at mhelseth@du.edu. All article authors have the option of including a three sentence bio/business advertisement at the end of their articles at no charge.
We have open spots on our CCMO Website Committee. If you would like to be part of the CCMO website redesign process, please contact Pearl Bell at pearlbell@comcast.com.

A “Thank You” to the 2006 CCMO Board of Directors from
Immediate Past President Brian Beck

On behalf of the membership of CCMO I would like to extend a special thank you to the members of the 2006 Board of Directors. Your hard work and dedication truly made 2006 a successful year and gave us the energy and momentum that will push us forward into 2008!

The 2006 Board of Directors were:
Matt Haynes – Vice President
Maureen Coghlan – Treasurer
Pearl Bell – Secretary
Maggie Helseth – Intern/Board Member
Mary Nedeau – Board Member
Janet Dampeer – Board Member
Louise Wildee – Immediate Past President

Thank you for all of your time and energy!

Sincerely,
Brian S. Beck
Immediate Past President

Welcome New CCMO Board Members!

Terry Young is an experienced Project Manager and has volunteered with Boulder Community Mediation Services and served as a board member on a Home Owner Associations.

Shauna Ries has a Masters Degree in Social Work from The University of Denver. Shauna is the CEO of the Institute for Advanced Dispute Resolution in Boulder.

Congratulations to the following individuals who gained CCMO Professional Mediator status from January 2006-February 2007:

Catherine J. Cheroutes
Angela Burdick
Lisa Wright
Steven R. McBride
Mary Zinn
Terence J. Kiernan
Patricia Zimmerman
Sue Taigman
Wendi T. Nadel
Rita L. Hyland

The Professional Mediator Application Review Committee has an opening for one committee member. Must have reliable email access and available to review applications at your location between the 2nd and 12th days of each month; low time investment. CCMO member with Professional Mediator designation preferred. If interested, please contact Trish Elledge, 303-791-3574, elledgegroup@aol.com (be sure to include CCMO in subject line to avoid spam deletion).

CCMO Board Information:

Contact Us:

www.coloradomediation.org  

(303) 322-9275 or 1-800-864-4317

6064 South Taft. Way
Littleton, CO  80127