Minutes for December 11, 2012 held at Malta Community Center, Malta, NY
Present: Mary Rickard and Ardis Armer (Office for the
Aging), Dawn Lincoln (SAIL), Ann Quinn (Home Health Care Partners), Bill
Hinnicks (Alzheimer’s Association), Diana Martin (Wesley Evergreen Adult Day
Care), Briana Clear (CHOICES), Kym Hance (Home Helpers), Rebecca Zohn (Concepts
of Independent Choices), Cathy Tucker (Amenprise Financial), Maria Geizer (Home
Instead), JoAnn Zales (National Grid), Jane Hurst (RSVP Volunteer), Arielle
Bernard & Sarah Rudges-Tysz (Mediation
Matters)
Introduction: Mary Rickard welcomed participants. She announced that the next meeting would be on January 8th from 2:00 – 3:30 pm at the United Methodist Church, Saratoga Springs. Karen Britt from the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York will offer Virtual tours. Bill Hinnicks had the sign-up sheet, there were a few openings available.
Participants introduced themselves.
Announcements:
Home Instead thanked everyone who helped with purchasing gifts for their Senior Christmas gift project. They will be wrapping the gifts and distributing them to seniors for Christmas.
Home Instead has an Alzheimer’s Support group at the Saratoga Springs Senior Center the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 11:00 am.
Wesley has an Alzheimer’s Support group the last Tuesday of the month.
Home Helpers offers an Alzheimer’s Support group the 2nd Thursday of the month at 5:30 pm.
Participants asked if a complete Alzheimer’s Support group list could be emailed to the group. Bill Hinnicks stated that there was a schedule of meetings listed on the Alzheimer’s Association website.
Presentation
Topic: Mediation Matters
Speakers: Sarah Rudger-Tysz, Executive Director
Arielle Bernard, Program Coordinator
Sarah and Arielle work in the Saratoga Springs office, located in the Collamer Building at 480 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Mediation Matters serves five counties: Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Rensselaer and Albany. It is primarily funded by the New York State Unified Court System. The object of the program is to facilitate a conversation between adversaries. The office has a staff of six: three full-time employees and three part-time workers. Another staff member will be hired shortly. Within the five- county district, there is a staff of 75. Mediation is mandated in every county.
Volunteers serve as certified Mediators. Initially the volunteers attend a 30-hour basic training course. Secondly, they work as an apprentice, then as an Observer. Volunteers than advance to working with a more experienced worker, before being admitted to the roster. Volunteer Mediators attend continuing education courses and work towards a specialty. No degree is required.
There is generally no fee for the service. The program is funded under a New York State grant. However, the grant has been reduced. Currently, the office has received a second grant and is still able to provide services at no cost. They may find that there will need to charge a fee of $25 for an individual and $50 for a family. In hardship cases, these fees may be waived.
The facilitators define success by having the parties come to the table. There is a 70% change the parties will come to a written agreement.
Referrals to the program come from community courts, probation, family court, self-referral along with other sources.
Mediation vs. Counseling: Mediation looks for an end result so that the parties can move forward. Counseling works on a continuing problem.
Mediators are totally neutral and are there to move the conversation forward. They check on both parties before sitting down to mediate. Mediation attendance is voluntary. Mediators have no authority. They help people identify underlying issues and find areas of agreement. They make sure that each person has a voice and that everyone’s side of the story is heard. Mediators do not give legal advice or provide counseling services. Mediators have found that this process produces a powerful transformation and change in attitude among the persons participating in the conference.
Mediation takes place at a neutral location. Usually, meetings are held at their Saratoga Springs office. Occasionally, they rent office space. They do not hold meetings in private homes. Special needs are taken into consideration. If necessary, a handicapped access location would be provided.
Sessions are scheduled for two hours. If more discussion is needed, the parties are asked to reschedule.
Mediation Matters is starting a new program in Rensselaer County assisting formally incarcerated persons who will be reentering the community. They will assist them with housing and finding needed services to restart their lives.
Mediation Matters provides assistance in mediating Lemon Law cases, which involves problems with car purchases.
They also provide assistance with special education needs, negotiating with the parents and school systems to find the best ways to education their children. The Program works with early intervention children as well as older students.
As an alternative to small claims court, Mediation Matters provides the parties an opportunity to come to an agreement between themselves, instead of a court decision.
Handouts regarding types of situations that may benefits from Medication, along with a Reflecting and Reframing exercise were distributed.
Respectively Submitted,
Jane Hurst
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