Ohio Mediation Association

OMA Membership Meeting

                                                                                 Distribution: Post to mediate.com/ohio

Date:               February 2, 2007

Time:              11:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location:        MCL Cafeteria on Schrock Road

Attendees:      16 members and 3 non-members

1.  Welcome and Introductions.  All attendees introduced themselves by providing their name, location of services, and a brief description of their mediation job or cliental. 

2.  President’s Comments.  Jay Patterson reminded attendees of the upcoming OMA election to fill the treasurer position.  Please consider running or encourage others to do so.  Anyone needing information on what the treasurer position entails should contact Dan DeStephens.  Also, Jay requested that attendees consider volunteering to serve on the OMA board as a non-voting member. 

3.  Vice President’s Comments.  Phil Dunfee distributed copies of the new OMA brochure.  Members were encouraged to place the brochures in strategic locations to increase public awareness of OMA.  Phil is now working on a standardized brochure for OMA’s annual conference.

4.  Immediate Past President’s Comments. Per Shirley Cochran, a founding member of the Supreme Court’s committee on dispute resolution, recently passed away- Mr. Bill Clark will be sorely missed. 

            On a separate note, the first subpoena for a mediator to testify in court, under the Uniform Mediation Act, was recently issued in Stark County.  Shirley filed a motion for protection order.  The result was that the attorney for the plaintiff withdrew the subpoena.  The main issue was whether or not the meeting between the parties was a mediation since no agreement to mediate form was signed by the participants plus the mediator used the term “facilitation” rather than “mediation”. 

5.Treasurer’s Comments.  Per a report provided by Dan DeStephens, OMA currently has $2,781 cash on-hand and $7,093 in CDs.  Recent expenditures include a $12.00 service charge to Fifth Third Bank, and $239.19 to print OMA brochures.  There was one deposit for $50.00 (membership dues).

6. Secretary’s Comments.  Christy Radigan completed minutes from the December meeting.

7. OMA Annual Conference.

            a. The conference is scheduled for May 11, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Riffe Center

            b. It is co-sponsored by the Supreme Court of Ohioand the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and is being held in conjunction with Conflict Management Week.

            c. Speaker Nina Meierding will share information on strategic questioning, culture and gender issues in mediation, and ten causes of resistance and how to break through impasse. 

            d. Information on the conference will be included on OMA’s website.  Members are encouraged to share information with other mediators. 

            e. Applications for five CLEs/ CEUs are being prepared. 

8. Better Word Award.  Nominations must be submitted by February 28, 2007.  Anyone can provide a nominee, either a person or an organization – just be sure to provide a strong write-up.  A nominee does not have to be a member of OMA but needs to be present at the OMA Conference for presentation of the award.  Shirley has already received one nominee.

9. Case Study Group. A one-year prototype of the case study group is being coordinated by Susan Shostak and Kathleen Hoenie.  Purpose of the study group is to increase members’ mediation skills.  Today, a workplace case will be presented by Ed Krauss.

10. Other Business.  Sandra Frederick, who does a wonderful job of lining up speakers for the bimonthly meetings, requested ideas from OMA members.  Anyone who knows of a speaker or has an idea for a topic needs to contact Sandra.

11. Program.  Today’s presenter is Debbie Taylor from the Montgomery County Juvenile Court Victim/Offender Mediation Service.  Cases mediated through this program include assaults, breaking and entering, criminal damaging, criminal mischief, grand theft auto, receiving stolen property, and vandalism.  The victim/offender mediation service gives victims the opportunity to become involved in the criminal justice process.  Victims’ concerns can be addressed through the mediation process.  And offenders are given the chance to take responsibility for their actions and to understand the impact of the crime on the victim.  Juvenile offenders who participated in mediation commit fewer and less serious crimes within one year following a mediation session with their victim.  Thanks to Debbie for sharing information on this very successful program.

12. Adjourn.  The next meeting will be conducted at OMA’s annual conference on May 11, 2007, at the Riffe Tower.  On June 1, 2007, a bimonthly meeting will be held at the MCL Cafeteria on Schrock Road in Westerville.

Prepared by:  Christy Radigan, OMA Secretary