The training required to become a volunteer mediator with the EUP Community Dispute Resolution Center was held in St. Ignace in April 2009. 16 new volunteers are now serving as mediators in the EUP! Pictured are (from top left) Jim Robinson (instructor), Barb Searight, Hank Michaels, Dee Murray, David Schmidt, Ron Ford, Ike Darling, Karen Kangas, Kayla Nixon, and Charles Ludwick and Ed Serwach (instructors), Ashley Krajewski (staff), Erica Rhome, Pam Ross, Debbie Bonacci, and Jim Ramelis, Malia Kitchen, Connie Cullip, Doris Posey, Geraldine Stelmaszek (director), and David Rubin.
Volunteer mediators complete 40 hours of mediation training approved by the State Court Administrative Office and 10 hours of observation of mediations. The EUP CDRC usually schedules two mediators for each mediation, and if there are new volunteers in need of observation hours, an observer as well. Once observation hours are completed, new mediators co-mediate with experienced mediators.
The new mediator training is free for participants committing to 10 hours of observation and 25 hours of mediation within two years following training.
Trainers are active mediators as well as approved and experienced mediation trainers.