Plan to Attend ADRNC's Annual Conference!

Join us on Saturday, March 7, 2009, for The Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California's Annual Conference. It's just two weeks from today!

We have a wealth of great speakers and fascinating topics.

Rene-Marc Mangin, Ph.D., M.B.A., is our keynote speaker. He will be speaking on "In Plain Sight: The Subliminal Influence of Non-Verbal Communication. I heard Rene-Marc speak at the ABA's Section on Dispute Resolution's Annual Conference in Seattle last year. He is engaging and thought-provoking. A must-see.

Our afternoon line-up of all-star speakers include Patty McManus of Interaction Associates, Melyssa Jo Kelly, Michelle Cesario, Eileen Barker, John Ford, Cameron Hunter and Leija Mavris of Global Majority.

You can sign up for the Annual Conference here.

Best Wishes to George Mitchell

I find George Mitchell, the former Senator from Maine, inspiring.

President Obama has asked Sen. Mitchell to be his administration's special envoy to Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Sen. Mitchell mediated the 1998 Northern Ireland Peace Agreement which effectively ended decades of sectarian violences. He said this about that experience:

"In the negotiations which led to that agreement, we had 700 days of failure and one day of success. For most of the time, progress was nonexistent or very slow. So I understand the feelings of those who may be discouraged about the Middle East... From my experience there, I formed a conviction that there is no such thing as a conflict that can't be ended."

And here's the money line:

"Conflicts are created, conducted and sustained by human beings. They can be ended by human beings."

Best wishes to Sen. Mitchell in his new role at the State Department.

Photo credit to Thomas College.