Spring 2008

In 2004, the DRC launched a pilot project involving the pairing of European mediators with our own Austin mediators for observation and co-mediation practice.  Two years later, two more practicum sessions occurred in the spring and fall of 2006.  In April 2008, six more participants arrived making a total of Thirty One European mediators who have now completed their practicum at the Dispute Resolution Center.   In past years, the participants were graduate students  enrolled in the Executive Master’s Program in Conflict Resolution at the Universidat fur Humanwissenschaften . The most recent group were private mediators who had taken their Basic Training in Mediation in Switzerland, before signing up for the Texas based Practicum.  Along with their Program Director, James T. Peter, the trained mediators hail from Liechtenstein, Germany, and Switzerland joining the staff and volunteers at the Center for a week of education and practice yielding an enriching cultural exchange experience for everyone. The participants this year represented the fields of Law, Business, Human Resources, and Psychiatry.  In the past they represented fields as diverse as Social Work, Corporate Management, Sales/Retail, Engineering, Technology and Publishing. The students met with instructors each day for presentations on topics chosen by the program’s faculty members before assignment to specific mediations at the Center or a private practitioners’ office. The training for this group was provided by our own Central Texas professionals. These presenters and their topics included:

Kris Donley, Executive Director of the DRC    

     ‘Community Mediation in Central Texas’

Walter Wright, JD., Texas State University   

      ‘Mediation Styles Comparison’

Susan Schultz, JD,          

      ‘CPPDR Mediation and Public Policy’

Patrick Keel, JD,                    

      ‘Mediator ADR & the Judiciary’

Jeff Jury, JD, Burns, Anderson, Jury & Brenner    

      ‘Mediation and Commerce’

Michael Schless, JD;  Judge Frank Evans &

David Garza                                                              ‘International Applications for                   Mediation’

Adreayn Wilson, Ph.D.,& Officer Chris Evoy,  

  'AISD Mediation in the Schools and the Austin Police Department Gang Mediation Project'

At the conclusion of each training session, mediators were assigned to experienced mediators in order to co-mediate or observe those mediations as permitted by the parties.  The types of cases included divorce/family issues, parent/child pre-release at the Gardner-Betts Juvenile Detention Facility, commercial, personal injury and general civil disputes. The mediators who volunteered to help with this mentoring for either or both 2008 sessions were:

      Michael Schless, Judy Corder, David Garza, Mina Brees, Paul Blanke, Molly Bean,  Mary Thompson, Steve Gluck, Tricia Williamson, Pam Autry, Sherri Moore, Travis Smith,  Vicky Bergin, Rick Bradstreet, Randy Leavitt, Margie Cowden, Bob Kamm, and Chuck Landrum,

     But it wasn’t all work and no play.  The group experienced good Texas food and culture with fare such as  Bar-B-Q at the County Line;  Z-Tejas, Vivo’s Mexican Restaurant, Artz’s RibHouse , country western dancing at the Broken Spoke and weekend day trips to the lakes and countryside.  But the pinnacle may have been a tie between visiting Whole Foods on 6th and Lamar and getting to see Scorsese’s The Rolling Stones movie at the IMAX before heading to Gumbo’s for our final meal together.  All in all, a good way to blend a bit of Europe with a bit of Texan Cajun on our last night.

….and what were the impressions left on the participants at the conclusion?  Well, based on the comments received from the written evaluations, the experience was very good!....some specific comments are below:

• The best was observing real cases
• Great Experience!  Particularly impressive in Juvenile Court
• Trainers, Staff, Management:  Top!!
• Your Hospitality really great!...Sincere Thanks
• Was An Extraordinary and Good Experience!
• I’ve Got a lot of new ideas about mediation
• Thank you for the very friendly atmosphere!

-----and a final note from the Executive Director---

To the Board Members, the staff, the presenters, the mediator mentors and my good friend and colleague, James T Peter:

Thank you!  For making this such a valuable educational and cultural exchange endeavor!!.....

Peace! (uf Widerluege)

Kris Donley