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Other Events
MAM Events
The Maine Agricultural Mediation Program (MAMP) within the UMaine Cooperative Extension warmly extends an invitation to MAM Members. Please join us for our no-cost webinar, "Mentalism in Mediation".
When & Where: Thursday, November 6, 2025, via live Zoom
Noon to 1:30 PM (Eastern)
Presenters & Overview: Professor Sharon Sawyer (one of our MAMP Co-Mediators) from the Justice Studies Program at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) & Dr. Magda Nišphonska (sounds like: Nish-pon'-ska) from the College of Psychology at the Technical University of Liberec, Czech Republic. Sharon & Magda will bring their specialties together in this collaborative session -- Mediation and Mentalism in the field of Psychology. Mentalism emphasizes the role of unobservable mental states, such as attitudes, beliefs, and feelings, as the drivers of behavior. This webinar will explore connections and share tools that Mediators can use to better understand and improve their work with participants using the tenets of Mentalism.
Please register via Google Forms HERE!
Please note:
Lucy Wess, Esq.
Director, Maine Agricultural Mediation Program
Certified Farm Succession Coordinator
UMaine Cooperative Extension
Weekdays: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, otherwise by appointment
207.974.9637
15 Estabrooke Drive
Orono, ME 04469
MAM Annual Conference and Meeting
Healing to Wellness in Conflict Resolution:
Tribal Court Wisdom and Self-Care Tools for Mediators
Friday, November 7, 2025
9:00 am - 2:45 pm
via Zoom
https://mainemediators.org/event-6225883
3.5 Hours of CLE Approved
Includes 1 hour of Ethics
Join us for a day that blends tribal wisdom with professional renewal. In the morning, we’ll learn from the Penobscot Nation’s Healing to Wellness Court - a restorative, community-based approach to justice - presented by Hon. Eric Mehnert and Hon. Rhonda Decontie. In the afternoon, we’ll focus on our own well-being with Gretchen Pianka, MD., exploring simple, powerful practices to reduce burnout, mitigate stress in real time, and model radical self-care for ourselves and others as we work with parties in conflict.
Don't miss this opportunity for professional development and connecting with colleagues in the field of alternative dispute resolution.
Click Here for Agenda
Morning Session
Penobscot Nation’s Healing to Wellness Court
The Penobscot Nation utilizes Native American customs and traditions to explore alternative responses to criminal justice. Thus, the Nation has explored the delivery of justice by systemic, multi-disciplinary problem solving; rather than punishment based intervention. This discussion will focus on: the history of the Nation’s Tribal Court, the structure of a Healing to Wellness Court, incorporating tradition and culture, and the braided services approach in your team setting. The braided services discussion include breakout sessions where attendees will analyze and reach a consensus concerning a hypothetical participants challenges and recovery.
Presenters:
The Honorable Rhonda Decontie has served on the Penobscot Nation's Judicial System since 2011 and became Clerk of the Court in 2014. She was sworn in on May 3, 2023, as the first Magistrate Judge of the Penobscot Nation Tribal Court. In 2024 she was also appointed to serve as the first Magistrate Judge for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. Under her leadership, the Tribal Court has been nationally recognized as a leader in handling child protective proceedings and for its culturally-aligned Healing to Wellness Court. She is a graduate of the University of Maine at Augusta and is a member of the UMA Bangor Campus Advisory Council.
Lunch break 12:00 - 12:30 - social time breakout room (optional)
_____________________________________
12:30 - 1:00 MAM Annual Meeting
All Members Welcome
Updates and Voting on Board Nominations
_________________________________
Afternoon Session
From Burnout to Balance:
Everyday Strategies for Thriving at Work and Home
In this interactive 90-minute program, Dr. Gretchen Pianka—physician, resilience expert, and founder of Resilience University—guides mediators through simple, science-based practices to reduce burnout, regulate stress in real time, and strengthen emotional presence during conflict. Drawing on insights from neuroscience and behavioral health, participants will learn practical tools to calm the nervous system, stay grounded in challenging moments, and model radical self-care that fosters trust and compassion in mediation. Participants will leave with immediately applicable techniques to care for themselves and support resilience in the parties they serve—because a well-regulated mediator is essential to a well-regulated process.
Presenter:
Dr. Gretchen A. Pianka, MD, MPH, FAAP, is a graduate of Amherst College and the University of Vermont School of Medicine. She earned her Master’s in Public Health from the University of New England. Dr. Pianka has practiced in Maine since 2004, currently caring for immigrants and children entering the foster care system. Her book, Coaching Families for Resilience is designed to teach parents and kids skills and techniques to begin addressing trauma, toxic stress, and behavioral and mental health issues. She enjoys sharing the approach that promotes access to positive childhood experiences with children, caregivers, medical students, physicians and other professionals.
Cost:
Members $100
Non-members $150
If you register as a non-member, $50 of your cost can be applied to MAM Annual Membership by sending a request to our administrator.
Student $50
If you are a matriculated student, we do not want cost to be a barrier. Please email our administrator with confirmation of your student status.
Your membership includes peer support groups and discounted registration fees to future events.
For any of the above requests or questions please contact Mary, our administrator at administrator@mainemediators.org.
Best,
John Lemieux, President
Terri DeCoster, Chairperson Meetings and Events
Visit our website
Maine Association of Mediators (MAM)
https://www.mainemediators.org
Domestic Violence Screening
Training for Mediators
6.5 CLE Approved by Maine Overseers of the Bar
includes 1 hour of Ethics
8 Hour Certificate Training for Mediators
The Maine Association of Mediators (MAM) is offering Domestic Violence Screening for Mediators, a course designed to help meet the requirements to apply to the Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Services (CADRES) roster and assist all mediators with this essential skill. This course is designed to meet the eight (8) hour CADRES roster training requirement for domestic violence (DV).
This training was developed by longtime CADRES mediator Brenda Mitchell who dedicated her career to giving a voice to victims of abuse through training and advocacy. Erin Clough, Karen Groat, and Pamela Waite are pleased to continue the tradition of hosting this training annually in collaboration with MAM.
Through this course, mediators will learn how to:
When: December 8, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
With 1.5 Hours Training Materials and Prework
Location: Zoom
(Your zoom invite will be emailed to you before the event)
Registration Information:
Participants will receive training materials and a certificate of attendance.
$175.00 for Non-MAM Members
$150.00 for MAM Members
$50.00 Refresher Fee
(For anyone who has previously taken the 8 hour training.)
Trainers:
Pamela Waite, Esq.- A graduate of Smith College and the University of Maine School of Law, Pam represented the State of Maine as an Assistant Attorney General primarily in employment and tax matters for over 30 years. A skilled negotiator, she trained to become a mediator and now mediates privately; serves on the court rosters for family matters and foreclosure cases; and is also on the roster as a mediator for the Maine Human Rights Commission and the Maine Department of Education. Pam believes strongly in party self-determination and the importance of trying to resolve disputes by agreements as an alternative to engaging in lengthy and expensive litigation.
Karen Groat- Karen is a Libra Professor of Mediation at University of Maine Augusta Justice Studies and has over 20 years of mediation, consulting, and teaching experience. As former director of the Opportunity Alliance Family Mediation (FCM), she has worked extensively with mediators, adults and youth, communities, and organizations specializing in complex family matters, multi-party disputes and workplace conflict in more than 3,800 mediations. An experienced Transformative Mediation trainer and communication coach, Karen combines research from neuroscience and trauma-informed care in her relational practice. In 2018, she expanded work in collaboration with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension for farmer and farm worker well-being. This work includes Farm Coaching (receiving the 2021 ERME Outstanding Project Award), agricultural mediation (MAMP), and offering peer support and training to service providers in Northeast ag and rural communities. She loves collaborating and has developed a practicum with internships as a pathway for UMA students to apply mediation, dispute resolution, and communication skills with mentored professional experience in a variety of organizational settings.
Erin Clough, Esq.- Erin holds a B.A. in psychology from Emory University and a J.D. from the Boston College School of Law. Erin is an assistant Attorney General in the Child Protection Division of the Maine Office of the Attorney General where she represents the Department of Health and Human Services in child welfare cases. Erin has been an attorney for 20 years and a mediator for 7. Prior to joining the AG’s office in 2022, Erin worked in various capacities to help families navigate crises in a child-focused way. She served on the court rosters for family matters, small claims, and forcible entry and detainer (evictions); mediated for families privately; and served as a guardian ad litem representing children in child protection cases, family matters, and guardianship cases. Erin and Karen worked closely together in a community mediation setting with a goal of making mediation more accessible to more families statewide. Erin has a particular interest in domestic violence and the impact that it has on children and families.
Questions?
Contact Karen Groat at karen.groat@maine.edu
Copyright @2017 Maine Association of Mediators.
P.O. Box 8187, Portland, ME 04104, Click to Email.
