OMA Committees

Many of OMA’s activities are carried out by committee groups.  Committees address the many goals and needs of the organization.  As an OMA member, you are invited to participate in one or more committees. A Convenor coordinates committee communications, with committee members sharing a variety of tasks.

Committees set their own meeting shedules based on the needs their members. Phone participation is common and provides a viable option for OMA members living or working outside the Portland metropolitan area.

Current active committees include:

Advocacy Committee –  Dena Marshall (503-740-7123), Convener. The Advocacy Committee focuses on developing public awareness of mediation and OMA through public education and marketing activities. This committee coordinates the OMA Speakers Bureau and develops brochures and marketing materials about mediation. The committee meets monthly in the Portland area.

Legislative Sub-committee – Donna Silverberg   (503-248-4703), Convener.  When the Oregon Legislature is in session, the Legislative Sub-committee monitors and keeps the membership informed about  activities related to ADR legislation. The committee meets as needed, usually in Portland or Salem.

Annual Conference Committee – Amy Cleary (503-655-8850), Convener. This committee plans the Annual Fall Conference and meets monthly. Please call the committee Convenor or OMA office for location and time.

Executive Committee – Mike Schnee  (541-602-2452), Interim President and Committee Convener.  This committee includes OMA's officers and its Executive Director. The committee oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization and focus on the strategic, long-range development of the organization. 
 

Leadership Committee – Mike Schnee (541-602-2452), Convener. The Leadership Committee manages and supports the growth of OMA's financial and human resources. The committee meets monthly. Please call the committee Convenor or the OMA office for location and time.

Member Services Committee – Erin Halton (503-248-4703) and Sue McFadden (503) 453-7517, Conveners. This committee works to build awareness and understanding of OMA members' needs and goals, and it tracks membership statistics and trends.  Member Services coordinates ongoing events and activities, including networking and educational gatherings. The Committee meets monthly. Please contact one of the committee conveners or the OMA office if you are interested in attending a commtitee meeting. 

Standards and Practices Committee –  Larry Coady (503-227-7357), ltcoady@msn.com, Convener. The OMA Standards and Practices Committee develops and implements: the ethical standards guiding the conduct of OMA member mediators (Core Standards of Mediation Practice); the process of addressing and resolving concerns or complaints about OMA member mediator behavior (Voluntary Mediation Process for Resolving Disputes with OMA Mediators); the process for educating OMA members about the Core Standards of Mediation Practice ("ask OMAr"); Fall Conference presentations; and online OMA tools.  As part of OMA's Quality Enhancement Initiative, the committee will also be developing model standrads for mediator education, experience and training, and model standards for training programs and trainers.