| The DRC eNews of Note |
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| Written by Jainelle Robinson |
| Friday, 04 September 2009 13:18 |
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Busy, Busy, Busy!
As many of you know, the DRC is a non-profit organization with 501 (c)(3) IRS status. In Washtenaw County alone there are hundred of non-profits providing much needed services to their communities. We are proud to be one of them. This year we have seen a vast increase in requests for service. Each month, more and more cases are mediated. As the residents of the community become more stressed, the need for effective decision making and creative solutions are paramount. The DRC strives to make our conflict resolution services—mediation or facilitation—a positive and effective experience for all. In spite of the challenges before us—balancing shrinking grant dollars and increased requests for services—I applaud everyone for their contributions to the Center. I thank the staff, who work tirelessly on all cases to educate the parties, prepare the mediators and manage the relationship with our referral sources. I thank the volunteer Board of Directors who meet regularly to tackle those hard decisions and assist me in maintaining a balanced budget and quality services. I also thank the Volunteer Mediators who deliver those services and I’m grateful that the DRC still thrives. I encourage you to hang in there with and help with special projects – like fundraising, volunteer relations, and continuing education. We move into the latter half of our program year, seeing the progress and the potential of mediation. These are difficult economic times and I’m grateful that the DRC still thrives. I encourage you to hang in there with us and continue to support our efforts. Peaceful resolutions,
Mediation gives people a chance to make a decision themselves in a private room with a well trained neutral mediator. Often people will say, “It won't work. We have already tried to work it out ourselves.”However, over 60% of the time, people in our Small Claims program do reach agreement in mediation even though they were ordered to participate. Part of the reason is because the neutral mediator helps them to treat each other with respect and to identify the issues and sometimes the emotions behind the issues. When a person says it's not about the money, you can be sure it is about the money – except in small claims, when it is often not the money, "but the principle of the issue,” said another magistrate. I was sure that was true when the plaintiff told me he had driven 100 miles to sue the company for $2.59 of unjust interest they said he owed. “If they get away with it with me, they can try it with thousands of other customers and that is not right. It's the principle of the thing.” Most rewarding of all are the situations that reach an unexpectedly happy conclusion. One of our local judges told me that he can solve a problem, but mediation can resolve it. A house owner built a tree house over his neighbor's property line and his neighbor tore it down. In the seven years they had lived side by side, they had never met each other. One traveled extensively and the other was caring for sick relatives. When they met in mediation, they began to understand each others' stories and instead of arguing over the cost of the tree house and getting a decision about who should pay for it from the judge, they left planning a barbeque so that their families could get to know each other.Small Claims mediation sessions are always surprising, and I never can predict what the surprise will be this week. I'm sure there are many waiting in DC 14B. Sally Brush Small Claims Coordinator The Father Bernard J. O’Connor Award Event
Thank You! Thank you! Thank You!To our Sponsors of the O’Connor Event DRC Mediation Services in Quick View
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 23 December 2009 12:01 |
