Dispute Resolution - Marc Stanley an Anne Lauderdale
Posted by Chuck Chase
on Oct 16, 2015
Mark Murray introduced today’s speakers, Anne Lauderdale – professor-Emeritus of Social Work at SHU and a licensed trainer for the International Institute of Restorative Justice as well as for the local community-based mediator Resolution Services volunteers; Marc Stanley – a grad of both Alma College and the MSU Law School and the Director of the Southeast Dispute Resolution Services in Jackson which services Jackson, Lenawee, Hillsdale and Monroe counties.Anne started by saying that there was a need in the 1990’s to establish a dispute resolution process across the US which the court system and legislators picked up on very quickly. The Michigan Supreme Court decided to designate a location where volunteers could be trained in mediating disputes in neighborhoods, businesses, hospital triages, with landlord/tenant disputes, etc. Lenawee County, she said, is very active in the program.
Marc said that typically the courts refer people with disputes to their organization for resolution. When he started, there were 55 trained volunteers handling only 90 cases per year. Today, they are down to 20 trained mediators now handling 560 cases per year! Professional trainers become certified at a cost of $10,000 to train volunteers. There are only 12 trainers in the entire state! For a volunteer to be certified the cost is $150. Marc said that he and Anne have recently been working with Probate Judge Greg Iddings and the Anti-Bullying Task Force, Lenawee Housing Health, Community Action Agency, Goodwill and Adrian Public Schools.
Incidentally, Mark Murray is a certified volunteer himself! He encouraged everyone in the room to give thought to becoming a trained volunteer. If you would like more information, please let Mark know.