By Adam Sutton

Date March 14, 2007

As the webmaster of DMA on the Web, I would like to welcome all of you to our new Articles Section of our website. Here you can view the latest writings by DMA trainers and mediation professionals on a number of varying subjects dealing with Appropriate Dispute Resolution. With new articles posted regularly, we hope our growing database becomes a comprehensive resource for those interested in conflict resolution services. The purpose of today’s submission is to introduce you to this new section and hopefully answer some of the questions you might have regarding its future content including what you should and should not expect to see here.

You should expect top quality articles written by some of the best conflict resolution, training, and coaching specialists in Georgia. You can look forward to articles written by Bob Berlin, myself, and the other trainers associated with DMA. While we all have a shared passion for mediation and conflict resolution, we are individuals with different interests and perspectives. In the future, you may begin to see articles here written by other mediators who are friends of DMA or former students.

Generally, the articles will explore or explain subjects pertaining to alternative dispute resolution, mediation, and conflict resolution in general. However, these fields are so broad that the actual subject matters of specific articles could vary greatly. Let’s take mediation for example. One writer may wish to introduce you to the mediation process, while another writer may choose a particular aspect of mediation to focus on. Opening statements, joint sessions, caucuses, or agreement writing are possible areas. Some may choose certain mediation skills such as reflective listening, reframing, refocusing, assertive communication, neutrality, or Interest Based Negotiation as subjects. Others may wish to discuss points of interest for mediators such as getting past impasse, managing emotions, dealing with difficult people, or practice building and marketing. Mediation itself has an impact on many different areas of life that may be discussed such as civil law suits, divorce, community disputes, elder care, insurance claims, criminal cases, and family issues. The possibilities are almost endless.

DMA will ensure that submissions meet the same high standards we bring with all of our services but we are not in the business of censoring thought or expression and these articles will be no different. We will continue to respect different perspectives including those with which we do not necessarily agree. While DMA holds editorial powers over this website, the thoughts and ideas expressed here belong to the individual writers.

If you are a conflict resolution specialist or former DMA student and would like to submit an article, please feel free to contact us at your convenience. You can submit finished products, or if you like, we can assist you in putting it together. We want this to be a service for you, and yet also by you. We also want to hear your opinions about the articles we post. Please feel free to give us a call or send us a letter via email or the postal service with your opinions.

All things, no matter how big or small, have beginnings. This is the beginning of this section and while I can guess at its future, I cannot foresee it exactly. It is my personal hope that over time, it flourishes into a great resource covering many subject areas within conflict resolution. I hope it becomes a place that you choose to peruse at your leisure to learn more about mediation, arbitration, training, coaching, and more. I hope there are numerous articles written by very diverse writers who each have their own individual take on this area that is so important to many of us. This however, is not set in stone. Like in mediation, we strive to build and reinforce a framework for achievement, but the long term success of this section will depend on you. We really do need your input on all levels. We want to know what you like, as well as what you think needs improvement.  We want your thoughts on the articles no matter whether you agree with the writer or disagree. Finally, in the spirit of cooperation and inclusion, we would like you to submit your own articles. Think of this section as a potential outlet for your own creative energies and interest in all things ADR. You won’t find a friendlier, more open place on the Internet.

DMA associate Adam Sutton is a mediator for the Macon and Dublin judicial circuits with experience in civil, domestic, and criminal mediation as well as being a public speaker on the subject of negotiation.