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WORLD  First Mediation Course And Iskcon ADR BY BRAJA BIHARI DAS USA, Jun 4 (VNN) — ISKCON's ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Announcements and Update *First Mediation Training Course-New York, June 10th to 15th. A professional mediation Training Course, will be offered from June 20-23rd in the NY area. There are 25 openings. Participants will receive a certificate of participation and will be eligible for inclusion on our roster of mediators. Tuition: Donations accepted. Room and board: participant covers (should be about $25/day). Course materials will cost about $30. For more info respond to: mediate@pamho.net *Educational Programs-General introduction to Mediation Vrajalila-devi dasi will provide educational programs on mediation for those temples so requesting. For more info respond to: mediate@pamho.net or Vrajalila717@aol.com * European ADR Presentation There will be making a presentation on bringing the ADR structure to Western Europe during the first week of July at the ISKCON European Convention in Radhadesh. á India ADR There will be a similar presentation in India in the near future. * ADR in Other Regions We are considering offering program development opportunities for other regional meetings in the coming months. If you believe your region (or Temple) is interested in having Zack come to describe the program, and to investigate the prospects of developing a local mediation undertaking, let us know. Priority will be given to those regions and temples which are able to underwrite the cost of Zack's visit. --------------------------- ADR Update: North American Leadership Meetings bring progress and reaffirmed support for ADR New Vrindavan, May 11th Arnold gave a 1¸ hour presentation on the benefits of establishing a system of mediation and ombuds in ISKCON. Approximate 100 devotees attended; it was well received. Points discussed included: -How many of ISKCON's precent problems could have been possibly avoided if this system had been in place earlier -More transparency throughout our Society -Solving difficulties at local levels before positions become entrenched -Function of an ombuds-engaged by leadership to be a confidential advocate and assistant to all devotees. -Use of mediation in ISKCON: When the ombuds system isn't sufficient.It's voluntary. Devotees need to be trained to be mediators, and from that pool of mediators, disputants can choose the one they are most comfortable with After the presentation, 36 devotees came forward to express interest in serving as mediators, or undergoing mediation training. Also present were several GBCs who reiterated their support for the ADR project, and a desire to see it implemented soon. Vrajalila-devi dasi, who has a long record of mediation training, then offered to conduct introductory courses to introduce as many devotees as possible to the principles and benefits of ombuds and mediation systems. We also discussed the development of an introductory video. Krishnalila-devi dasi, a professional mediator and instructor, offered to hold a 40 hour (5 to 6 days) training course June 10-15 for up to 25 devotees. Participants will receive a certificate of participation and be eligible for selection to our mediation roster . It will be in New York, (and begin on June 10th) It was hoped that temples might provide support for their devotees attending the training. A scholarship fund was discussed to help those devotees who have been selected for the training with transportation costs and room and board. Though there is no cost for the course, we are actively seeking contributions from participants and supporters to help with the expenses of establishing such an ambitious program throughout our Society. Though selection of participants at this first course will be liberal, we request a brief bio listing experience in resolving disputes and why you think you would be a good mediator along with your request to take the training. We are specifically looking for devotees able and willing to participate in ISKCON's ADR program., although the training will be helpful for those seeking outside careers in mediation. Yogeshvara Prabhu offered classroom facilities in his offices in New York City for the course. A tentative budget for the rest of 2002 was discussed. Hopefully contributions to the Krishna Foundation will enable it to subsidize the forthcoming undertakings. * Comment by Braja Bihari das: Is ADR just a material solution, and thus unnecessary? While we are finding great support from devotees all over the world for setting up a system for peaceful and early resolution of conflicts and misunderstandings within ISKCON, we did receive one concern questioning whether this system is important in Lord Caitanya's sankirtan movement. Those of us working on this project certainly don't see ADR as a panacea for all of ISKCON woes, or that such arrangements are as important as the need to purify ourselves by hearing, chanting, preaching, serving one another, etc. Those are, and will always be, the primary means to improve our individual lives and our ISKCON Society. Still if ADR can help devotees get along with other devotees better... If it can help ISKCON members feel a bit more secure in their participation in ISKCON...and if it can ease situations so we can better concentrate on the nine-fold process of devotional service...then it may be considered favorable to bhakti, and in that case, it would be incomplete renunciation to not use it in Krishna's service. Our intentions are solely to serve the devotees, and we welcome comments, suggestions, encouraging words, discouraging words, and offers to help. Write us at: mediate@pamho.net Contact VNN about this story  Send this story to a friend
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