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TAPM Newsletter
September 2023
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Note from the Board
Fall is rapidly approaching, and temperatures are almost ready to drop! This past month has brought new members, major progress on the new website, and our first Skill-Building Workshop. As we look ahead to October, which is the Month of Nonviolence, we are looking for new ways to spread peace in our communities. TAPM would love to hear from you about your peace-building efforts and your reflections leading up to the Month of Nonviolence.
We will finish the year strong with a new website, two outstanding Speaker Series presentations, and another Skill-Building Workshop. Our Board is working hard to expand our mentorship program, gather resources to share with members, and engage in outreach to grow this remarkable community of mediators.
Best wishes for a wonderful Autumn,
The TAPM Board
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Thank You To Everyone Who Attended the TAPM Skill-Building Workshop on Breaking Impasse
TAPM's first Skill-Building Workshop took place on September 11th. This interactive event focused on strategies for Breaking Impasse. Jen Comiskey (TAPM Admin Team) and Robin Wheeler (Vice-Chair of the TAPM Board) facilitated a combination of large group discussions and breakout rooms where participants worked through the TAPM Breaking Impasse Workbook (which will be available to all TAPM members through our new website). This event was approved for 1.5 hour General CLE credit and 1.5 hour General Mediation Issues CME credit. Over 30 mediators came together over Zoom to learn from each other and share insights and techniques that they use to break through barriers in the mediation room. Participants had opportunities to get to know each other, network, and learn.
Feedback from attendees was extremely positive and we look forward to more of these types of events. Going forward, we intend to alternate our Speaker Series events with these Skill-Building Workshops so we can offer regular opportunities for practice, roleplay, coaching, demonstrations, mentorship, and fellowship. We welcome your input on potential topics and activities. You can share your thoughts and ideas at this link:
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TAPM Website Launch
Progress on our new website continues! We are days away from launching the new website and closing down the old one. Our new domain will be TNMediators.org, and it will contain a growing collection of resources and recordings for the TAPM community. Our Admin Team is ready to facilitate this transition for members and address any questions that might arise. Most of the member information has already been carried over to the new site. When the new website is live, and we will reach out to let you know it is time to sign in to your new profile. We encourage everyone to add a picture at that time! This new search function should make it much easier for the public to find your profile, so make sure all your information is up-to-date and correct.
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TAPM's Karen Phillips to receive "Mediator for Justice" Awards from the ADRC | |
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Congratulations to Karen Phillips, LBSW, MACR! Karen, who is TAPM's Treasurer, will be recognized as one of the 2023 Mediators for Justice at the ADRC Annual Seminar in October. The Mediator for Justice Award is given to Tennessee mediators who met or exceeded 50 hours of pro bono service last year.
Karen provides dedicated service on the TAPM Board as our treasurer, and her insights and capabilities have helped this organization grow and thrive. She is a dual-listed civil and family mediator based in Memphis and is specially trained in domestic violence issues. Her practice is called Phillips Mediation & Conflict Management Services, PLLC. She focuses primarily on mediating family disputes, helping couples to divorce with dignity and respect, and assisting co-parents to develop parenting plans.
In addition to Karen, Dawn Forshay and Denise Jackson, PhD, also received this award. Dawn Forshay is a member of the TAPM Admin Team and the Program Director for General Sessions Mediation at Community Mediation Center. She is a Rule 31 Listed Civil and Family Mediator. She is particularly experienced in landlord-tenant mediation, and her tireless work has facilitated housing stability in Knox County for vulnerable families throughout the housing crisis. Denise Jackson has helped manage Community Mediation Center's Juvenile Court Mediation Program for several years, and she has done powerful work in community safety, including co-conducting a Community Peacemaking Training for Turn-Up Knox, a group of violence interrupters who are working to reduce gun violence in Knoxville. Denise is Rule 31 Listed for both Civil and Family and is specially trained in domestic violence issues.
All three of these mediators exemplify service and dedication to their communities. Their efforts have empowered many people to access justice through mediation. We are delighted that their dedication is being recognized.
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TAPM's Kimberly Best Appointed to the ABA Dispute Resolution Section Executive Committee | |
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Our TAPM Board President/Chair, Kimberly Best, is taking on a national leadership role with the American Bar Association's Dispute Resolution Section. She will serve on the their Executive Committee as a Membership Officer in addition to her leadership role at TAPM, where she has been responsible for, among many other things, leading our website redesign and recruiting fantastic speakers for TAPM's Speaker Series events.
Congratulations to Kim for rising to this challenge and bringing her creativity, strength, and wisdom to this national organization. Kim has a passion for collaboration, problem-solving, peacemaking, and service, and she brings those values into all the work that she does.
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The Power of Mentoring in Mediation: Learning, Growing, and Thriving Together
by Gordon Russell, TAPM Board
Mentoring is a cornerstone of growth and success in various fields, and the realm of mediation is no exception. Whether you're a law student first embarking on your mediation journey or an experienced mediator seeking continuous improvement, the guidance and support of a mentor can be invaluable.
Nurturing the Next Generation of Mediators
Law students entering the world of mediation often possess a wealth of theoretical knowledge but lack the practical insights necessary for effective conflict resolution. Through structured mediation training programs, these students are introduced to the complexities of mediation techniques, communication skills, and the art of facilitating productive dialogue. However, it's the involvement of experienced mediators as mentors that bridges the gap between theory and practice. LMU law students have benefitted from Community Mediation Center's Rule 31 trainings. We have been able to foster a relationship with this organization and its volunteer community, and CMC has trained several classes of LMU students who participate in our Mediation Externship experience in the Sevier County Sessions Court on Mondays.
CMC mediators provide law students with real-world context, sharing anecdotes, strategies, and wisdom gained from years of experience. This hands-on guidance helps students not only grasp the nuances of mediation but also develop the empathy and emotional intelligence crucial for effective mediation. By witnessing their mentors in action, students gain a deeper understanding of the mediator's role and the power of constructive engagement. They then have the opportunity to co-mediate as volunteer mediators in the Sevier County Sessions court.
Successful mediation training programs recognize the importance of including experienced mediators as integral members of the training process. In addition to their roles as mentors, experienced mediators serve as role-players and coaches, simulating various scenarios to challenge and enhance the skills of newer mediators. Their direct involvement ensures that newer mediators receive a holistic and realistic learning experience that prepares them for the diverse challenges they will face as mediators.
However, a commitment to mentorship doesn't end with training programs. It extends to creating a community of support where new and seasoned mediators can connect, share insights, and learn from one another. This collaborative environment helps build a strong foundation for future mentorship initiatives and encourages a culture of continuous learning.
TAPM's Skill-Building Workshops
The launch of the TAPM Skills-Building Workshops marks a significant step forward in cultivating a culture of learning and mentorship within the mediation community. TAPM has provided a monthly speaker series that provides CME/CLE credit, and we are now offering a series of Skill-Building Workshops as well. These Skills-Building Workshops will alternate with the Speakers Series and CME/CLE credit will be available for all events. The program not only emphasizes the importance of experienced mediators guiding newcomers but also underscores the value of all mediators supporting each other's growth. These interactive workshops will encourage mediators to actively participate, offering the opportunity to practice, role-play, coach, demonstrate techniques, share experiences, and lend a helping hand to colleagues facing challenges. By creating a platform for mentorship and peer-to-peer support, TAPM hopes to empower mediators to learn from each other's successes and setbacks.
Embracing a Future of Collective Learning
As the mediation field continues to evolve, the role of mentorship becomes increasingly vital. By engaging in mentoring relationships, both new and experienced mediators can tap into a wellspring of knowledge, experience personal growth, and contribute to the advancement of the field. Whether it's guiding law students through mediation training or participating in programs like TAPM's mentorship initiative, the act of showing up for one another fosters a community of support that benefits everyone involved.
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Mediation Benefits Receive New Attention
By Robin Wheeler, TAPM Vice-Chair
If you’re like me, you’re always on the lookout for interesting tidbits, whether in general or specific to your profession. That’s why I had to share a recent article from the New York Law Journal that caught my eye entitled “Five Indicators Mediation is at a Tipping Point.” In the article, the writers make compelling arguments for the acceptance of mediation and recognition of its benefits, not just in the US, but around the world. In a nutshell, they indicate that mediation helps courts decrease backlogs in a timely manner while empowering the parties to direct the outcome. It’s a quick and inspiring read! Enjoy the article, found at this link:
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TAPM Speaker Series Presents: Dan Mortimer - Mediation Marketing for 2023 and Beyond
October 2, 2023 (11am-1pm CT, 12pm-2pm ET, online via Zoom)
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 |  | First, at 11amCT/12pmET: Our presenter is Dan Mortimer, a specialist in relationship-focused business development, and he will discuss the factors that drive case generation. He will be presenting on strategies and tools for building your client base as part of TAPM's annual Marketing and Practice-Building Event. He will share principles from Performance Laws' bespoke "Cultivation System" on forming new relationships with clients and referral parties, nurturing these connections, maintaining visibility with your existing contacts, and ensuring the implementation of your business development strategies. These are all current, proven, effective and relevant techniques mediators use to establish new practices and expand current ones. Additionally, Dan will present practical examples, such as the success story of a client who boosted their mediation/arbitration practice's annual revenue from $300,000 to over $700,000. This event has been approved for 1 hour general CLE and 1 hour general CME.
Then, from 12pmCT/1pmET: TAPM members are welcome to stay online for our monthly member meeting. We will continue our process of introduction and networking. Your input, vision, and talents are greatly valued.
This event is free to all TAPM members. Register at the following link:
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Additional Information About The Speaker: Dan Mortimer is the founder of Performance Laws, a boutique firm specializing in helping professionals and companies with relationship-focused business development. Performance Laws work with over 200 clients globally within a wide range of areas – dispute resolution, consulting, expert witness services, alternative legal services, litigation support, etc. Dan spent over twenty years developing the Cultivation System, which has helped hundreds of dispute resolution professionals across the world since 2017. For more information about Dan, check out the following links: | |
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TAPM Skill-Building Workshop: Understanding and Navigating Emotional Responses to Conflict
November 13, 2023 (10am-12pmCT/11am-1pmET, online via Zoom)
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An important insight emerged early in TAPM's Breaking Impasse workshop. A poll among participants revealed that emotional barriers are BY FAR the most common reason for the impasses we experience. Accordingly, we decided to dedicate our next Skill-Building Workshop to this topic. This event will include a presentation, skills demonstration, group discussions, and breakout room exercises. We will tackle topics like conflict responses, emotional barriers, empathetic listening, how to build empathy among parties, engaging with anger, and strategies for de-escalation.
Registration for this event will be open as soon as the new website launches!
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TAPM Speaker Series Presents:
Lisa Yamagata-Lynch - On Dignity
December 4, 2023 (11am-1pmCT/12pm-2pmET, online via Zoom)
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Lisa is an Ombudsperson and a Rule 31 mediator, and she will be speaking on the role of dignity in conflict resolution. By expanding how we understand dignity, we can more effectively recognize and promote dignity as mediators. Lisa's presentation will last 90 minutes and will be followed by a 30 minute member meeting for anyone who wants an opportunity to network with other members!
Save the date! Registration for this event will be open as soon as the new website launches. For more information about our speaker, click the following link:
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TAPM Skill-Building Workshop: Developing Excellent Mediated Agreements
January 8, 2024 (10am-12pmCT/11am-1pmET, online via Zoom)
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Save the date for this interactive online 2-hour event! We will begin with a brief presentation and then divide into Family Mediation and Civil Mediation breakout rooms to discuss and share best practices for creating quality mediated agreements. We will include small group discussions and opportunities for members to network and share their insights and experiences. Registration for this event will be open as soon as the new website launches.
Stay tuned for additional TAPM events.
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Other Upcoming Events in Tennessee | |
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ABA's Ombuds Day:
A Conversation with Thomas Zgambo
October 12, 2023 1:00pm-2:30pmET/12pm-1:30pmCT
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October 12th, 2023 is the ABA's Ombuds Day: Diverse in Role, United in Service. This year’s signature event, hosted by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution's Ombuds Day Subcommittee, features A Conversation with Thomas Zgambo. Dr. Zgambo, the Ombudsman for the International Monetary Fund, has served in the field for nearly 30 years with organizations including Polaroid, Coca-Cola, and the World Bank. The program is complimentary to all and registration can be found here: | | |
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ADRC/AOC: 21st Annual Advanced Mediation Techniques Workshop for 2023
October 13, 2023: all day
| Registration is open for this year's ADRC/AOC Annual Workshop, which will take place at Lipscomb University in Nashville. The cost for this event is $150.00. This year's program will feature 6 hours of live content. Listed mediators will have the opportunity to complete all 6 CME credit hours and attorneys will be offered 5.5 hours of general CLE credit hours and 1.0 dual hour of CLE credit. Participants can attend in-person or virtually. Register at the following link: |
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ABA's 2023 Advanced Mediation & Advocacy Skills Institute:
Mediating on the Cutting Edge: Advanced Tools and Strategies for Today and Tomorrow
October 18-19, 2023 Two-Day Virtual Program
| Featuring plenary speakers Hon. Bridget McCormack (Ret.) and Hon. Bruce E. Meyerson (Ret.), this Institute features the opportunity to learn from leading mediation authorities in the field. Plenary sessions are followed by small group break-out discussions allowing participants to interact in-depth with the faculty and each other. TAPM members can use the discount code CO2023 and register at the following link: |
If you haven't already found us online, check out our social media pages. We would love to hear from you about your mediation practice or mediation opportunities including training, connections and presentations. Check back regularly for updates on upcoming events! | |
News to share? Upcoming Events that would be of interest to TAPM mediators? Job openings you’d like to promote? Email submissions for upcoming TAPM newsletters to jen.comiskey@2mediate.org
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