Dear Members,

 

I hope this message finds you well and up to your eyeballs in conflict. Okay – that was a holdover comment from Halloween, but, seriously, I hope you all are finding lots of opportunities to put your conflict management skills to use.  If you aren't, try looking a bit closer at how you are telling others about your work in this field. Whether you are mediating in your current professional position or are finding time to provide volunteer mediation services to our community, there are always opportunities to hone our conflict resolution skills if we let people and organizations know how we can help. 

 

Personally, the mediation calls coming into my office these days seem to be related primarily to workplace conflicts, employment lawsuits and nonprofit disputes.  As organizations and families have gotten "leaner," the added stress of new responsibilities, financial worries and a reduced volunteer/donor base or workforce has become a growing source of conflict.  It’s times like these where mediators can make a difference.  I encourage each of you to boil down your “elevator speech” to what you can do for people, families and organizations in conflict.  Many very educated people have no experience or understanding of the word "mediator" and, thus, may not believe you could be of service to them.  Tell a story (minding your confidentiality P's & Q's, of course), but tell a story about a family or organization or business dispute that you have helped resolve.  Your passion, skill and confidence will always come through in your message and, before you know it, you will have created an "educated sales force" out there in the world, telling people about what you do. Keep up the great work, TAPM members, and have a glorious fall!

 

Sincerely,

 

Leigh Ann Roberts, Madame President

 

 

Calendar of Events

December 10, 2009
11:30 a.m.
Howard Vogel
presents:
"Mediation Ethics"
1 hr CLE/CME Ethics Credit Pending
Harper's Restaurant
Jefferson Ave.
Nashville, TN
 

 CIVIL PEER GROUP
WILL RESUME MEETING
JANUARY 2010
TIME & PLACE TBA

FAMILY PEER GROUP
WILL MEET
3RD THURSDAY OF JANUARY, 2010
OASIS CENTER
1704 CHARLOTTE AV.
NOON
BROWN BAG  LUNCH