ADR CORNER
Mediation , One of the Answers to Conflict and Disruption !
LAWRENCE GORDON
It has been more than a decade since I decided to become a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator . I was smitten by the Mediation process in the 1980s while attending mediations and negotiating on behalf of several insurance carriers . Mediation was relatively new and rarely used in settling injury claims at that time . I knew right away that I wanted to be a Certified Mediator and own a mediation practice . I was blessed to start Phoenix Mediation in 2018 .
I have been a member of the Palm Beach County Bar Association for several years . I am honored to serve on the Alternative Dispute Resolution ( ADR ) Committee . Even though I have published several articles in the Palm Beach County Bar Association Bulletin , this one is different and special . The ADR Committee invited me to write this article in honor of " Mediation Week ," October 18-22 , 2021 . I want to thank them all for the confidence that they have shown in me . I would like to especially thank Ted Deckert for encouraging me to step forward in his stead as he has historically written the " Bulletin " article for Mediation Week .
Mediation Week is recognized by both the American Bar Association and the Florida Bar Association . In the past , the American Bar Association has emphasized such Mediation Week themes as Mediation , Civil Discourse , and The Importance of Selecting Diverse Neutrals . This year ' s theme is Mapping the Future So Conflict Doesn ' t Disrupt . Additionally , the Association for Conflict Resolution ( ACR ) has declared October 21 , 2021 , as " Conflict Resolution Day ."
This year ' s theme seems very appropriate as we appear to have become a tribal society . Red versus Blue , liberals versus conservatives , White versus Black and on and on . How do we address these issues and conflicts to avoid them disrupting the future of this great nation ? Mediative-type activities may very well be our best path to cooperation , communication , and positive future societal growth . Our best route to a society where diversity , equality , and inclusion become our reality and not just a nice-sounding phrase that ' s often spouted while little to nothing changes . A world in which we hear and listen to each other , a society where we accept each other ' s points of view even if we can ' t agree . Mediativetype activities can create a world where we depersonalize and depressurize situations by focusing on issues , rather than people . One where we do our homework before making asinine ignorant statements , where we keep open minds , care about others , and empathize with our neighbors . We should take time to educate ourselves about our neighbors and remove ourselves from negative situations which have shaped much of our past . Mediation-type activities can certainly help us structure things in a way that lessens conflicts and disruption . We can make a difference .
Once again , our ADR Committee will be doing its part to make Mediation Week a success . We will again ask the Palm Beach County Commission , the Palm Beach County School Board , and various cities throughout Palm Beach County to issue proclamations officially declaring October 18-22 , 2021 , Mediation Week in their respective municipalities . As a six-term elected official and Vice Mayor in the Town of Haverhill , I previously spearheaded our proclamation process and will continue to do so this year . The Palm Beach County Bar Association President , the ADR Committee chair , and ADR committee members will appear before various commissions to accept proclamations and speak on the importance of Mediation Week and civil discourse .
As usual , the ADR Committee will present its annual lunchtime seminar during Mediation Week . Visit the Palm Beach County Bar Association ' s website for details : https :// www . palmbeachbar . org /. Please also watch for details about our signature event , the 19th ANNUAL ADR SEMINAR coming February 2022 .
The ADR Committee will continue to offer speakers to civic groups and other professional organizations to discuss mediation and alternate dispute resolution in general . Any group wishing to invite an ADR speaker should contact the ADR Committee Chair : Kenyetta Alexander :
PBCBA BAR BULLETIN 5 kenyetta @ osherowpllc . com . We also invite you to visit the ADR Committee webpage at http :// www . palmbeachbar . org / adr for previously published articles and other information on mediation and alternate dispute resolution .
Lawrence Gordon is President of Phoenix Mediation , LLC . He is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator . He ' s a member of the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators and serves on the Florida Bar Board of Governors Advisory Committee . Mr . Gordon ’ s email address is : lgordon @ phoenixmediation . net .
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