Upcoming Events

Montana Mediation Association
Annual Conference
April 24 - 25, 2008
Great Falls, MT

Thursday, April 24 -- Holiday Inn Express
8:00 am - 8:30 am Registration
8:30 am - 8:45 am Family Mediation Topics - General
The Family Mediation Act sets out minimum qualifications for mediators appointed under the Act. This program assumes knowledge of the mediation process and community resources that may be available to parties for assistance. This program is intended to provide a broader background in the legal and developmental context in which parenting plans are negotiated, and to address what is often the most difficult negotiation, the move-away case. Finally, the program will provide a discussion about providing family mediation services without practicing law.
8:45 am - 10:15 am Long Distance Parenting - Vicki Knudsen
Move away cases are among the most challenging parenting mediation problems for the mediator and the parents. Learn about the legal background of move away cases and tips and strategies for mediating the move away case.
10:30 am - Noon Parenting Plans - Corbin Howard and P. Mars Scott
Do you wonder where the language in parenting plans comes from? What does it mean? What is the language supposed to do? Learn what the masters of parenting plans put in their agreements and why.

Noon - 1:15 Lunch on your own

1:15 pm - 2:15 pm Child Development Issues for Parenting Plans - Maureen McInnis, MS
What do kids need in a parenting plan? Learn the milestones for considering change in a parenting plan and what parents can do to make parenting plans work for the kids as well as the parents.
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm Overview of legal processes that impact mediation - P. Mars Scott
A brief summary of the different legal actions that can impact parenting negotiation.
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm Information v. Advice - What is the difference? John P. Connor, Jr. Chair, Montana Supreme Court Commission on Unauthorized Practice
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Practice mediation and not law.
Presentation and following Panel Discussion - John Connor, Corbin Howard, Vicki Knudsen, Kerry Newcomer

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Open House -- Bourdeau's . Directions will be sent via email.

Friday, April 25 -- Two Rivers Room
7:30 am - 8:15 am Registration
8:15am - 8:30 am Welcome - Kerry Newcomer, MtMA President
8:30 am - 11:00 am Client Centered Advocacy: Skills for Working with People Who Live in Poverty - Dana Toole, MSW, Montana Legal Services
Have you ever been frustrated by a client's decision? Or felt like your time is not valued when a client is a no show? Participants will gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by clients living in poverty and learn specific skills to reduce frustration and increase effective advocacy work for clients. This session addresses myths, stereo types and assumptions about -poor people- by examining how living in poverty impacts individual's skills to problem solve, how poverty may determine priorities for resources, and communication at a basic linguistic level.

11:00 am - 12:45 pm Annual Membership Meeting, Election of Officers and Lunch (included with registration)

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm How to mediate with individuals and groups who do not share the same value system - Kevin Dohr, Ph.D.
This presentation will focus on ways to move beyond the language of polarization and facilitate communication between individuals and groups who do not share the same value system. In mediation we often work with two or more groups of individuals who have differing and opposing political, social, and religious backgrounds. These groups are often in conflict with one another to the point that they have a hard time even being in the same room. The first part of the presentation will focus on ways to establish a framework to effectively manage the expression of value-laden issues with a high emotional charge. The second part of the presentation will use a "Spiral Dynamics" model to highlight how the mediator can use communication tools that resonate with the value system of each group and allow the parties to 'speak to the best in one another.'

IMPORTANT INFOMATION:
Thursdays session will be at the new Holiday Inn Express, 1801 Market Place Dr. 406-455-1000. www.hiexpress.com/greatfalls-es The MT Mediation room rate of $79.00 + tax will be held only until March 23rd so please make your reservations early. This is a beautiful hotel with Complimentary HOT Breakfast Bar and 24hr fitness and business centers. It is within walking distance of a ten house movie theatre, shopping and 7 dining establishments.
Friday's session will be in the Two Rivers Room next to Chili's . (Download the conference brochure for a map). This is a very short drive or walk from the Holiday Inn Express, or their free shuttle service will be available.
All the information you need to enjoy your stay in Great Falls can be found at www.visitgreatfalls.net

FEES:
Thursday, April 24th
$ 95.00 MtMA Member, $105.00 Non-Member
Friday, April 25th
$ 95.00 MtMA Member, $105.00 Non Member
Both days
$175.00 MtMA Member, $195.00 Non Member
For Registrations received after 4/1/2008 add 35.00
A handling fee of $35.00 will be charged for cancellations received after April 10, 2008.

Continuing Education Credits
State Bar of Montana
Thursday: 5.5 CLE's inc 1.5 ethics -- Friday: 2.5 CLE's MtMA
Thursday: 6.75 CEU's -- Friday: 7.75 CEU's Social Workers
CEU's pending-check their web site

Click here to download a Conference Brochure 

The Carol Mitchell Scholarship is given each year to an individual for a 40-hour Basic Mediation training in memory of Carol Mitchell of Missoula, co-founder and first President of the Montana Mediation Association. The recipient of this award will be announced during the conference. Information regarding the eligibility requirements and the application process and deadline can be obrtained by contacting the MtMA office.