Volunteers

Board of Directors

Current Members of CDRC’s Board of DirectorsAs a non-profit corporation, CDRC’s Board of Directors is charged with providing programmatic and fiscal oversight. They have primary responsibility for setting policies that ensure that the organization is run effectively, legally and ethically. The Board’s membership includes residents from each of the counties the agency serves.

The Board gives direction to the agency through long-range planning and development, most often working closely with the staff. Board members set fiscal policy, approve an annual budget and monitor the agency’s fiscal health. They play a major role in generating that share of the agency’s income that comes from fund-raising. They also serve as liaisons between the larger community and the agency.

The Board’s committees include Executive, Finance, Development, Recruitment and Planning. Community volunteers interested in serving on a committee should contact CDRC.

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Mediators

CDRC’s mediators are professionally trained community volunteers who meet the requirements set by the Unified Court System of the State of New York. CDRC’s volunteers are asked to make a commitment to mediate at least two years. They are interviewed before the training and encouraged to think about the challenges of the work and their availability to mediate.

Their rigorous training begins with four days spent considering conflict, its effects on interactions and the skills a third party uses to be helpful. The training includes many opportunities to practice the skills. This initial training is followed by small group role-play practices, where each trainee mediates for at least an hour and is assessed by a trainer.

Once a mediator’s skills are satisfactory, they enter the apprenticeship phase, observing at least two mediations and assessing what they see. They then begin to co-mediate with an experienced mediator. It generally takes six months for a trainee to complete this training and apprenticeship.

Mediators must participate in at least six hours of additional training each year. Advanced training is available for mediators wishing to begin mediating certain kinds of cases or for particular programs.

CDRC is committed to having its volunteer mediators reflect the diversity of the communities it serves.

Since the agency only trains volunteers when they are needed, there is often a waiting list for those interested in being trained. For additional information about becoming a volunteer mediator, contact us.

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