Greetings OMA members. The Oregon spring has certainly “sprung”. April was a busy month for our volunteers. The OMA committees are hard at work and are having fun too. The Member Services Committee planned training events and the Conference Committee is busy planning the 39th Annual OMA conference which will be in Portland at MorningStar Assisted Living conference rooms on November 06-07.
If you have ideas for presentation topics or recommend a presenter, email us at oma@ormediation.org. Presenters are welcome to submit an RFP. Our conference theme is Homecoming – A Place to Belong because this is our first in-person/virtual conference since the pandemic. We encourage folks to attend in-person. If you cannot attend either virtual or in-person, please register because for an extended time you will have access to view the conference recording at your convenience.
Thank you all for being part of OMA with a special thank you to our volunteers and members.
ASK OMAr – Let’s Bring Omar Back!
Talking with Sam Imperati, J.D. he shared that OMA published a section in the newsletter called Ask OMAr where mediation questions were answered. If you have a question to ask for our next newsletter, email oma@ormediation.org. Sam Imperati shared a bit about Omar.
“About ten years ago, our fictional colleague, Omar, wrote a column for OMA. It was called “Ask OMAr.” (So clever!) We found him in a retirement community for aging mediators and asked him what was on his mind. After wrestling the remote from his roommate, he said, “So, are folks ethical? Do they have a solid understanding of confidentiality?” We visited our friends at SurveyMonkey and asked them about the success rates on the OMA Standards and Confidentiality quizzes. They said 72.89% of the answers were correct across hundreds of mediators. We didn’t have the heart to tell.
Omar. Instead, Sam Imperati, Omar’s roommate, suggested we offer an incentive to increase our collective accuracy. He is offering a free copy of Mediation Ethics: A Practitioner's Guide by Omer Shapira ($79 Value) to a randomly selected member who takes both quizzes by May 31st.
Operators are standing by… but wait, there’s more! Because the quiz results are anonymous, please email SamImperati@ICMresolutions.com telling him you’ve taken both quizzes. He won’t SPAM you… trust him 😊, he’s a lawyer!
OMA Sponsored Training – The events begin at 4:30 PM and are virtual. Meeting information will be posted on OMA’s calendar.
May 13(Presented in conjunction with the Mediation Center of the Pacific)
10 Things You Do Not Get in Basic Mediation Training – (Steven Leskin, Tracey Wiltgen, Sam Imperati and Tim Hicks)
A roundtable discussion of some of the things we wish we wish me might have learned in basic mediation training.
Followed by a social hour at McMenamins Broadway Pub, located at 1504 NE Broadway, Portland, 97232.
July 15
AI and Mediation – (Claire Fowler and Jim Melamed)
More information is coming soon.
October 14
Ten Ways to Break an Impasse – An Introduction: Tips, Tricks, Traps and Tools! (Sam Imperati)
Mediation is a process – not an event. Impasse-breaking starts with the first contact and continues after the formal session ends. This is a practical “How-To” course with time-tested techniques to overcome impasse and reach a “resolution,” not just a “settlement.” Parties spin in the intersection of logic and emotion. Gain practical tools for each mediation stage and learn how to get the “deal” done. In the real world, each party wants the mediator to be “facilitative” with them and “evaluative” of the other side’s position. Most mediators do some of each, so what to do, when, and how is more important than the endless debate about mediation models. We will focus on the mechanics of straight talk, uncoveringhidden agendas, and resolving conflict. No touchy-feely psychobabble or incomprehensible legalese!
Speaker: Sam Imperati, JD, is the Executive Director of ICMresolutions, a Seattle-based national dispute resolution provider of mediation, facilitation, decision-making, team building, and training services. Sam is experienced at the intersection of policy, politics, science, business, and law. His multi-disciplinary approach combines classic facilitation with the result-oriented tools of mediation to help polarized participants reach an agreement. He has been a full-time ADR professional since 1992 and has managed everything from “Admiralty to Zoning.” He served as a Judge Pro Tem, taught in law/grad schools, and has written extensively on ADR topics. 2006 – 2025 Best Lawyers in America (ADR). Active in OMA since the 90s. WMA Board Member. Standup comedy winner!
“Clothed and Caffeinated” – A Virtual Gathering of OMA Members
OMA is pleased to announce Clothed and Caffeinated, an informal, monthly, virtual, drop in gathering of OMA members. Members are invited to discuss issues and concerns which come up during mediation. Each monthly meeting will be hosted by an OMA board member. Bring your questions and get feedback from experienced mediators. The first Clothed and Caffeinated is Friday, April 25 between 9:00 and 10:00am and will be hosted by OMA board member Steven Leskin. We look forward to seeing you there via Zoom Link.
OMA Committees:
Certification/Credentialing: Jenni Hardnett, Connie McKelvey, Jeff Edelson and advisor Sam Imperati
Standards and Practices: Kate Hall, Jack Hollis, Lynn Steyart, Stephanie Leffler and Paul Allen.
Training: Steven Leskin, Tim Hicks and Sam Imperati
A great way to get involved is to start as part of a committee or in a director position. This way you can acclimate to the duties. We have room for backup positions which provide training cushions and reduce operational disruption when a board term ends. Would you consider joining us? Is there anyone you know that can share their skills? Learn more about the opportunity and tell us about you with a quick Application form. After orientation, the expected commitment is about two (2) hours each month to attend a board meeting, and another 2-4 hours complete the duties. We will train and support you!
Why volunteer with OMA?
You have a desire to make a difference, apply your skills, commit to regular meeting attendance and actively participate. The term is three years.
1.Develop a mediator certification or credentialing process.
2.Promote and support training initiatives.
3.Communicate legislation that impacts mediation.
4.Provide a mechanism to review and respond to complaints and grievances.
To achieve the goals;
1.Develop a rapport and explore resource pooling with other organizations including WA and ID Mediation Associations.
2.Glean and share legislative information that impacts mediation related areas from sources such as Resolution Oregon.
3.Implement a task force or focus group to recommend a procedure for responding to complaints and grievances.
OMA Bylaws – Article Highlight
ARTICLE (6) VI. ADVISOR BOARD
The Board may, in its sole discretion, establish and maintain an Advisory Board to the Board of Directors of up to fifteen (15) persons who support the purposes of the Association. The Advisory Board shall have no legal or formal responsibility for the operation of the Association. Persons appointed to the Advisory Board are not required to live or to work in the state of Oregon or to be members of the Association.Members of the Advisory Board may be appointed by the Board for two-year terms and may serve as Advisory Board members without limitation. The Advisory Board shall perform such functions as the Board of Directors shall design. Source: OMA Bylaws 2006 Rev.
Board Member Spotlight – Jeffrey M. Edelson
What interested you in mediation? I was introduced to alternative dispute resolution in my first year of law school (1983). Mediation education for law students had only started a couple of years earlier, largely in response to escalating litigation costs and crowded court dockets. It became clear from role playing exercises that the presence of a neutral third-party improved chances of settling disputes. Over the ensuing years, litigation costs have skyrocketed to the point that ordinary people cannot afford to take a case to trial. In my 40 years as a litigator, I often turned to mediators to help settle difficult cases. I tend to prefer evaluative mediators with credibility over the subject matter of the particular case. The best mediators also had strong facilitative people skills and empowered the lawyers to help their clients settle disputes. I learned quite a bit from mediators who were effective, and those who were not. I started serving as a mediator when lawyers began asking me to help settle their cases. I came to realize that I could help resolve more cases as a mediator than as a litigator.
What was it like getting started? When I decided to redirect my career from litigation to mediation, I did three things. (1) I reintroduced myself to the class materials from a 40-hour mediation program I attended a decade earlier through the United States District Court’s mediation program; (2) I enrolled in an in-person mediation bootcamp training program at Pepperdine University, Caruso School of Law; (3) I volunteered to conduct pro bono mediations for pro se litigants in small claims court (where only facilitative mediation is permitted); and (4) I let my professional colleagues know I was available to mediate, through direct contact, social media, CLE presentations, subject-matter publications, and print advertising. The challenge was, and still is, getting my former litigation adversaries to accept me as a neutral. That requires time, determination, and some successful mediation.
Are there any cases that stand out? Mediation does not usually end with victory parties or any hoopla. They can be emotionally exhausting for litigants, and settlements require significant compromises. I don’t like to discuss any details of my mediations because I want to maintain the highest degree of confidentiality for everyone involved. But all settlements are special for me as a mediator, because I know the relief settlements bring to the participants. I have received countless contacts from lawyers and their clients thanking me for my attention to detail, skill, persistence, and creative efforts. That is the fuel for my fire.
What have you learned from mediating? Good mediating requires grit. Anyone can shuttle back and forth between parties to deliver offers and counter offers. But learning the nuances of a complex dispute takes a serious commitment to time, thought, and sometimes research. Much of what I have learned about effective mediation is captured in my Modern Mediation blog posts. My articles can be found at LitigatorsMediator.com, along with FAQs for people considering mediating their case with me.
Why did you volunteer with OMA? Mediation practice is not regulated in Oregon. OMA can fill that void with ethics and other professional standards that are so important to the integrity of the industry. The OMA can also be the touchstone for education, community engagement, and professional opportunities.
May Board Meeting:
If you are considering joining the board/committee, please attend the next board meeting on May 26, from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. Send an email to oma@ormediation.org and we will provide you with information. All board meetings are virtual with the exception of the 2025 annual board meeting which is in-person and virtual.
Legislation Bill Tracker provided by Resolution Oregon (R/O).
Within the bill tracker spreadsheet, there are several pieces of legislation that are of Critical Importance.
Help our vulnerable community members by investing in cost-effective mediation services that are complementary to other avenues for justice. Please fully fund Dispute Resolution in the Statewide Programs section of SB 5525. Written testimony will be accepted until May 01, 2025.
More information about SB 5525 (Provided by Patrick Sponsler, Resolution Oregon): Oregon has many important funding priorities, including investing in programs that are proven to show that they help to empower people, build resilient communities, and save the state millions of dollars in other costs. Funding passes through Resolution Oregon at the University of Oregon and helps to provide valuable education and mediation services across the State. Resolution Oregon’s statewide network provides conflict resolution education for youth and adult community members, mediation services, and connects people to local support service providers (e.g., financial resources, legal aid, rehousing & credit counseling). For more than 40 years, these services have shown to help communities improve graduation rates, reduce crime recidivism rates, and resolve disputes faster and cheaper than courts. These preventative services help reduce community costs for incarceration, health care, associated court costs, and keep people housed who are at risk of foreclosure and eviction.
Upcoming Training Opportunities:
Leskin Law One Day Divorce Webinars
Date/Time: May 1st @ 6pm
Deep Dive: Divorce and the Children
Date/Time: May 15th @ 6pm
Deep Dive: Who Gets What?
The Deep Dive series is a deeper look into issues in Oregon divorce law. Divorce will impact your life for years to come. The more information you have the better your decision making before, during and after. Whether you are contemplating filing your divorce yourself or hiring a lawyer, the Deep Dive series will give you practical, no nonsense information to help you get through the process and into a better situation. Leskin Law’s One Day Divorce Free Seminar Schedule. Register here. Leskin Law Webinar Schedule
PCC Basic Mediation Training
CLASS: CEU 911K Basic Mediation, CRN 23203 DATE: May 9, 10, 16, & 17 TIME: 8:30am-12:20pm LOCATION: Remote via ZOOM COST: $559 (PCC employees and their spouses/domesticpartners can use their tuition waiver)
Provides a highly interactive training to become a mediator and to develop better communication skills in conflict situations. Learn to use mediation skills to help resolve conflicts in workplace, court, business or community-related disputes.
Reflective Practice & the SRI® Certificate Program
Program schedule. We will meet once a month, every third Monday, 8:30-10:30 am PT | 11:30 am-1:30 pm ET | 4:30-6:30 pm London, from February 17 to August 18, 2025
Our First 2025 Group of the Reflective Practice & the SRI® Certificate Program With Michael Lang and Tzofnat Peleg Baker
Sponsored by the Reflective Practice Institute
Per a Request by a Few of my Fellow CR Colleagues in Oregon, We Offer a 20% Discount to Oregon Mediators by February 9, 2025
Ombuds, mediators, and conflict and dialogue professionals,
2025 can be your opportunity to practice a distinct, shared Reflective Practice (RP) approach to move toward the professional you wish to become. Our approach and the Structured Reflective Instrument (SRI ®) draw from our 30+ years of reflective practice & empirical multidisciplinary research. Our International SRI® Certificate program offers an opportunity to share experiences with professionals who continuously aspire to learn, transform, and improve their intervention. RP is the most effective way to develop expertise and reach the highest level of professional mastery. It can make a difference in the quality of human interactions.
If you are curious about rethinking habitual practices & improving your intervention skills, join our growing CoRP—Community of Reflective Practitioners.
This RP & SRI ® certificate program will commence on February 17, 2025, and run every third Monday until August 18, 2025.
Equity Informed Mediation Mediating conflict effectively requires a robust and specific skillset. To stay relevant and ensure your mediation approach is equitable, join this course to strengthen your skillset and approach to equity-informed mediation.
CLASS: CEU 3924 Equity Informed Mediation, CRN 26536 DATE & TIME: Fri and Sat | May 23-24, 2025 | 8:30am-12:20pm LOCATION: Remote via ZOOM COST: $229 (PCC employees and their spouses/domesticpartners can use their tuition waiver)
As part of our purpose, we desire to once again offer training sessions. Some may recall the well-attended OMA “roundtable” training events. The member services committee is responsible for sourcing speakers and training topics. We need folks to join that committee.
If you have a topic you would like to present, please let us know and fill out the presenter information form. If scheduled, we will promote it on the OMA website and social media.
· Information about mediation training throughout the state: HERE
· Community Dispute Resolution Centers around Oregon: HERE
· Need business insurance for your practice? Get a quote HERE
OMA’s Mission:
The Oregon Mediation Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of members committed to the development, support and advocacy of mediation in the state of Oregon.
OMA’s Purpose:
1. Promote and popularize mediation in Oregon.
2. Provide training, support and continuing education to professional and voluntary mediators, and supporters of mediation, in the State of Oregon.
3. Developing credentialing, certification and/or licensure programs to help ensure that Oregon mediators are well qualified.
4. Establishing ethical standards for Oregon mediators and mechanisms to review and respond to ethical complaints and grievances.
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