History of the Orange County M ediation C onference

1. History of the Orange County Mediation Conference

2. Dispute Resolution Programs Act • In 1986, the California Legislature passed the Dispute Resolution Programs Act (DRPA) outlining the guidelines for the provision of alternative dispute resolution services in California. • In 1991, Orange County adopted the DRPA act and awarded the 1st dispute resolution contracts. • Contracted agencies included: • Community Service Programs, Inc. • Fair Housing Council of Orange County • Institute for Conflict Management • Orange County Human Relations Commission • The Mediation Center

3. Mediation Week • DRPA contracts required the contracted agencies to educate the community about mediation in different ways including through events like an annual conference. • As a result, the agencies formed a working group and chose Mediation week in March as the appropriate time to hold the conference.

4. Early Conferences • The first conferences were on the Chapman University campus. • In the early days, mediation work was done in the community and with the various law enforcement departments. The early speakers reflected those communities. • Early conference speakers included: • Mike Schumacher, Chief Probation Officer for Orange County • Rusty Kennedy, Orange County Human Relations Commission • Michael Niemeyer, Institute for Conflict Management

5. Conference Expansion • Over the years, other organizations joined in with the conference committee to expand the reach of the conference. • The conference moved into larger facilities and hotels. • Like many volunteer operations, the committee expanded and contracted, often having to hire outside conference planners.

6. Change for Mediation in the OC • In 1998, the conference provided a platform for change for mediation in Orange County. • Father Greg Boyle, gave a moving talk which raised the profile of mediation in the county by emphasizing the power of peacemaking processes in our communities.

7. Mediation in the Courts • Leaders in the community and then Presiding Judge Kathleen O’Leary worked together to introduce mediation into the Court. • The courts provided another opportunity for the role of the mediation conference to expand.

8. Mediation in the Courts • This expansion has included the participation of several bench officers at Mediation Week Conference events by: • Former Presiding Judge Kathleen O’Leary • Former Presiding Judge Nancy Wieben Stock • Former Presiding Judge Kim G. Dunning • Judge Jamoa Moberly, Former Chair - DRPA Mediation Panel • Judge John Flynn, III, Chair - DRPA Mediation Panel • Judge Kirk Nakamura, Chair – Civil Mediation Panel • The OC Superior Court continues to provide strong support to the role mediation plays in our courts throughout county.

9. Mediation Conferences • The conferences have had various formats: • Full-day, half-day and single seminar programs • Creating opportunities for people to learn about mediation, network with others and get involved in the work of mediation. • Participants have included: • Professionals in mediation practice (private, governmental and non-profit), lawyers, business professionals, DRPA volunteers, mental health professionals, educators, law enforcement and public entity professionals, human resource personnel and students.

10. Conferences Content • For 20 years, experts in the various fields of mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) have presented outstanding workshops and seminars at our conferences. • Workshops presented have covered a broad range of practices in mediation and ADR including: • Legal advocacy, business, employment, community, family law, small claims, limited and unlimited civil, government, health, real estate, school and youth • Specific mediation skills building theories and techniques

11. 1999 An Overview of Previous Mediation Conferences • A Collaborative Training Program for Legal, Business, Community and Education Professionals • Keynote Speaker: Leigh Steinberg • This conference offered a concurrent Student (Youth) Mediation Conference

12. 2001 2000 • MediatingDangerously • Keynote Speaker: Kenneth Cloke • Multi Cultural Mediation • Seminar Presenter: Jan Sunoo

13. 2003 • Creating Peace in Our Communities Through Mediation (Cancelled) • Keynote Speaker: Arun Ghandi • The Committee became concerned that people would not feel comfortable coming together during war time and that Arun Gandhi might be a target and have difficulty traveling to attend the conference.

14. 2005 2006 • Global to Local Perspectives on Conflict Resolution Across Cultures • Keynote Speaker: Stephen Thom • Narrative Mediation • Seminar Presenter: John Winslade

15. 2007 2008 • BuildingPeace in Our Community • Keynote Speaker: Woody Mosten • The Face of the OC Mediator • Keynote Speaker: Presiding Judge Nancy Wieben Stock, OC Superior Court

16. 2009 2010 • OC Mediation Odyssey 2010 • Keynote Speaker: Presiding Judge Kim G. Dunning, OC Superior Court • Luncheon Speaker: Lee Jay Berman • ADR in Orange County • Keynote Speaker: Kenneth Cloke • Luncheon Speaker: Ivan Stevenson

17. 2011 2012 (Confirmed) • Achieving Excellence: A Generation of Mediation • Keynote Speaker: Doug Noll • Celebrating Mediation Week In the OC • Keynote Speaker: Carrie J. Menkel-Meadow

18. Historical Support • The County of Orange has provided leadership and sponsorship support of the DRPA program administration from the formerly known Special Programs Division, now OCWIB. • Wonderful Conference host sponsors like: Chapman University, UCI and Coastline Community College • Multiple year partner organizations and previous sponsors like FMCS, OCDE, AAA, OC Bar-ADR, SCMA, etc. • Dedicated volunteer private and community mediators THANK YOU FOR 20 YEARS!

19. What’s Next? • The March 16, 2012 • Orange County Mediation Conference • Committee Presents: • Achieving Excellence: A Generation of Mediation

20. The March 16, 2012 Orange County Mediation ConferenceAchieving Excellence: A Generation of Mediation 8:30- 9:00 Sign in, MCLE forms, Network, Breakfast 9:00 – 9:30        Welcome, Overview of Day Resolutions Board of Supervisors Thank you to: Advisory Board Members 9:30 – 10:30       Keynote: Doug Knoll 10:30 – 10:40      Break, snacks 10:40 – 11:55      First Round Breakout Workshops 11:55 – 1:00        Lunch Luncheon Speaker, Activity 1:00 – 1:10         Break 1:10 – 2:25          Second Round of Workshops 2:25 – 2:35         Break, Snacks 2:35 – 3:30  Third Round of Workshops 3:30- 4:00       Closing wrap up Morning Key Note Douglas Noll, Esq. Judge John Flynn, III