October Member Letter

Dear NAFCM Family:

Happy Anniversary!  This is our month to celebrate 25 years of being YOUR hub for community mediation!

Thank you to all who celebrated with us on September 17th in Tucson at the ACR Conference.  We shared sweet memories of the growth and expansion of Community mediation.

A special  thank you to you, our members, who keep us focused and inspire us to move forward on this shared path with you.  Our founding members never envisioned NAFCM being around for 25 years - they didn't even think of establishing board term limits -  and yet here we are, growing and strengthening our impact every year!

Come join us on Thursday, October 10 at 2 pm Eastern Time for our webinar, "Sweet Remembrances".  Three NAFCM Elders, Charlie Pillsbury, Judith Saul, Renata Valree and Community Mediation Center Director, Gail Packer will be sharing their experiences in Community mediation and will be available for you to ask questions about what Community mediation was like then (1994) and where Community mediation may be going in the next 25 years.  This is certainly going to be an engaging and informative conversation and we hope you will be part of it.  Let's take this time to reflect on the incredible challenges, hard work, and successes of our labor of love, Community mediation.

And let us know what you may be doing to celebrate NAFCM’s 25 years:

• Are you creating a vision board, showing a montage of photos, creating a time capsule, honoring a volunteer or staff member, dedicating a wall, or producing a retrospective video?

• Are you going to facilitate a conversation circle with volunteers to learn about  lessons learned, best practices, goals for the future, and constructive feedback for the organization? 

• Are you going to hold a retreat for your center as an opportunity for self-reflection on the mission statement, vision statement, and future goals of your organization?

Or are you celebrating in any other way?

We are celebrating our 25 years all year so if your center hasn’t yet planned to acknowledge this milestone anniversary there is still time. Celebrate your center’s “NAFCM” anniversary party! Toast to your organization, honor staff members and volunteers with certificates recognizing their accomplishments and have a great time together. Celebrate your center’s NAFCM anniversary party and invite NAFCM virtual attendees to your party through Zoom. Title your event NAFCM Celebration Across the Nation and connect with centers across the nation!

Please link your activities to NAFCM using #NAFCM25  and #NAFCMmorethan and keep us posted about your efforts by sending photos and updates at ldieckman@nafcm.org.  We will enthusiastically post them on our  Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and the NAFCM website.

As always, we thank you for your service and commitment to your communities, 

Membership Enhancement Committee

Sara Campos, California

Jed Peace Friedland, California

Renata Valree, California

Sharon B. Eckstein, Chair Pennsylvania

Stephanie Grunze-Swanson, Texas

Steffanie Medina, California

Tina Estle, North Carolina 

Maura Chavez, North Carolina

D.G. Mawn, President, Kentucky

Brennan Frazier, Membership Coordinator, New York