for Summer 2012
In this issue:
1) Thank you Suzanne Koebler
2) While Board identifies our next Executive Director, Debbie Liardet is our Interim ED
3) Also, our deep gratitude to longtime volunteer Sally Hess
4) Looking for volunteers!
5) Outreach efforts yield results
6) Facebook page!
7) Skills building clinic: conflict coaching redux
1) Thank you Suzanne Koebler
In March, Suzanne Koebler stepped down from the Executive Director position to take care of her health. We hear that is going well. Some of you asked about a celebration to thank her for her hard work for CRC, and rightly so. Under her leadership we moved to a more flexible office space with multiple mediation rooms; started the Family-Law Affordable Mediation Project for divorcing couples; expanded access to our trainings in partnership with Mandell Gisnet Center for Conflict Management in Monterey County; and received grants for things like exploring restorative justice for young adults, teaching our model of divorce mediation to other conflict resolution centers, and working with a consultant to see how CRC could be run more efficiently (more on this last one later in this newsletter.) As it turns out, Suzanne preferred to be thanked privately, so CRC offered her a day at the spa and a thank you gift. CRC is grateful for Suzanne’s leadership, and we look forward to having her return as a volunteer.
2) While Board identifies next Executive Director, Debbie Liardet fills in
Debbie trained with CRC as a Community Mediator in 2002 and has been an active volunteer in several CRC programs since. She most recently was the Director of Community Giving and Marketing at the United Way of Santa Cruz County. Prior to that she had her own facilitator consultancy, held a variety of positions at Hewlett-Packard, for whom she worked for 22 years, and worked at the United Nations in Geneva Switzerland. As Interim Executive Director Debbie divides her time between program management and administration. Debbie tells us "The volunteer work at CRC has been so rewarding so to be able to contribute at this level is a great thrill and experience. Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful."
3) Also, our deep gratitude to longtime volunteer Sally Hess
Sally has been very actively involved as a volunteer extraordinaire with many of our programs at CRC. Those of us that have worked with her feel incredibly fortunate to have Sally's support, expertise, enthusiasm and commitment. Over the years, Sally has worked on cases for Parent Teen Mediation, Victim Offender Dialogue, Family Reentry Conferencing, and Community Mediation. She has done intake, scheduling and facilitating/mediating for the restorative justice and community mediation programs; assisted outreach efforts; coordinated the mediation team and acted as liaison to the courts during Small Claims mediation sessions; gathered monthly data for the Small Claims programs; helped run the office; found new places to hold meetings; worked on bringing in and training new volunteers; researched and compiled an excellent resource list for teens doing community service; and made many suggestions that have enhanced the development of various programs.
Sally has started a full time job, which, for the time being, will make it not possible for her to continue volunteering with CRC. She will be greatly missed in all aspects, for her unwavering enthusiasm, reliability, sincerity, professionalism, and her talent and love for this work.
We wish Sally all the best in her new position and thank her for being a truly supreme volunteer with our organization and community.
4) Looking for volunteers!
*The Victim Offender Dialogue Program (VODP) needs volunteers to do intake calls, scheduling, facilitating and follow-up (interested parties should see skills clinic below). Contact Vicki Assegued if you are interested at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 475-9733.
*The Small Claims Program needs two fill-in mediators, a coordinator during Thursday sessions at court, and a monthly data entry person. The Community Mediation Program seeks two case developers (interested parties should see skills clinic below). All programs seek Spanish/English bilingual volunteers. If interested, contact Bonnie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 475-6117.
*The FAM program has identified a few new volunteers and will soon be training them.
5) Outreach efforts yield results
A recent emphasis on giving presentations and mini-workshops has lead to requests for presentations to the city of Capitola, a Women in Business luncheon, the real estate agents of Bailey Properties, a class at Cabrillo College, and the California Conservation Corp. These presentations are not only a source of revenue for CRC -- they also teach our communication skills to people who may not otherwise have sought them out, and can lead to requests for mediation, more education, or other presentations. If you have an idea of a group we could present to, contact Bonnie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 475-6117.
We also recently started a monthly paid column in the Santa Cruz Sentinel called “Resolve.” The column introduces readers to basic concepts in conflict resolution, and can also be a place to comment on how the struggles of the day might be addressed with our process. “Resolve” appears in the Sentinel the 3rd Friday of every month. You can catch up on the first three editions with this pdf , this one and this one.
6) Facebook page!
We have one now, where we can post info on upcoming workshops, related topics in the popular media, and your suggestions. “Like” us, and tell your friends about this friendly resource: https://www.facebook.com/ConflictResolutionCenterofSantaCruzCounty
7) Skills building clinic: conflict coaching redux
Since the Victim Offender Dialogue Program and Community Mediation Program needs help with developing cases, we’ll devote this edition of the clinic to the anatomy of making a case ready for mediation, or otherwise being a good ‘conflict coach’ to the people in your life. NEW TIME Wednesday July 18th 6:30-8pm in room #222 at our offices. Refreshments provided. Please RSVP by 7/13 to Bonnie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 475-6117.
