County Mediation Matters |
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A Publication of the Administrative Office of the Court |
Volume 11, No. 1 January 2005 |
You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.
- M. Scott Peck
Psychiatrist and writer
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Spring Mediation Clinic
It’s time once again to host the law students from the Spring Mediation Clinic. The students first day of mentorship is February 11, 2005, and as always we are depending upon our volunteers to help out. Janet has a mentorship sign-up sheet available in her office.
Reminders
- It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you never, never, never, leave a court file unattended.
- Sharon has a parking stamp for validating volunteers’ parking tickets just in case you can’t find Janet.
- Please give the judge your undivided attention while court is in session. We know that most everything is familiar by now, but it appears disrespectful to the Court when mediators are engaged in other activities such as talking or reading the newspaper while awaiting a case assignment.
Room Assignment Clarification
When you are assigned to use Jury Room 3B or Jury Room 3C, please check with Janet before using Robin’s or Bev’s small mediation room for caucus. These rooms are usually assigned later to another mediator, and they are not available as a separate caucus space for mediators using the jury rooms. On days when we have sufficient space, we may be able to leave these rooms open for you to use, but you need to check with Janet first. Unless such other arrangements have been made, please send the parties out to the main hallway via Robin’s or Bev’s office when you need to caucus. We keep these offices open in order to provide ingress and egress to the jury rooms and small mediation rooms.
Continuing Education Stipend
As we have in years past, we will be offering a stipend in 2005 of up to $200 to volunteers to offset costs of obtaining required Continuing Mediator Education credits. To be eligible, a volunteer must have been active throughout 2004 and intend to remain active in 2005. Please remember, however, that if you intend to request reimbursement for any expenses, the activity MUST be pre-authorized. This isn’t our rule... it is the rule of both the county and the state.
Speaking of CME
It’s not too early to start thinking about the DRC’s Annual Conference. This year’s conference will be a return to the old format of one multi-day conference for all mediators instead of a separate one-day county mediation summit. The conference is scheduled for August 25-27, 2005 at the Rosen Centre Hotel. The DRC has secured a lodging rate of $98 per night. An informational flyer and reservations telephone number are attached. In addition, the DRC is soliciting proposals for 90 minute conference workshops. Volunteers are encouraged to submit a proposal by the February 4 deadline.
In the more near-term, the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators is sponsoring an Advanced Mediation Training Seminar in Orlando on February 11 and 12, 2005, entitled “Mediation Techniques for the New Millenium.” A brochure for the program is enclosed. Note that attendees may register for one or both days.
Calendar
Please note the following important dates coming up in 2005. We will try not to change the schedule for the CME Luncheons, but occasionally conflicts arise and a date may have to be shifted.
January 17 |
Court Holiday - Martin Luther King’s Birthday |
January 28 |
CME Luncheon |
February 25 |
CME Luncheon |
March 18 |
CME Luncheon |
March 25 |
Court Holiday - No Court |
April 22 |
CME Luncheon |
May 20 |
CME Luncheon |
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How to reach us:
Robin Davis, ADR Director Phone: 352-491-4417 Fax: 352-381-0109 E-Mail: rkd@circuit8.org |
Janet Hearn, Mediation Services Coordinator Phone: 352-491-4645 Fax: 352-381-0109 E-Mail: jkh@circuit8.org
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If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in county mediation proceedings you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact the Court Administrator’s Office by phone at (352) 337-6237 or in person or in writing at 201 E. University Ave, Gainesville FL 32601 within 2 working days of your receipt of this newsletter; if you are hearing impaired, call (800) 955-8771; if you are voice impaired, call (800) 955-8770.