CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND EXTENSION ROLES - Training Overview

“In our complex and uncertain world, conflict is inevitable. Understanding conflict as an opportunity for learning, rather than barrier to progress, is a shift in thinking that must occur if communities are to move forward.” (Shana Ratner, 1997, p. 6-7)

In today’s homes, workplaces and communities people frequently have different ideas about  what matters and what should be done.  These differences make for creative solutions in some cases and spiral into conflict in others.  The way that parties manage conflicts can determine whether or not impacts on relationships are constructive and whether or not  agreed upon solutions are achieved.  Extension educators encounter a broad array of conflicts: youth and family disputes, disputes within and between organizations and leaders, community disputes involving various parties, and public policy disputes.  We sometimes wonder whether to get involved and if so, what role to play.  Educators also experience conflict within offices and other contexts in our own organization.  While Extension educators have increasing experience with conflict few of us have had formal training in conflict management.    We are finding that developing comfort with conflict and skill in managing it is a key competency for career satisfaction and success in Extension work. 

A CES Conflict Management Team has been intensively trained by conflict specialists at UW-Milwaukee, Nancy Burrell and Rob Ricigliano and is now providing four workshops for Extension faculty and staff on conflict management with background support of UW-Milwaukee faculty. 

Conflict Management Training in April and May 2008

We  will sponsor two workshops  in April-May 2008, each focused on Extension helping other parties deal with conflict.   The first workshop will focus on diagnosing what is at stake, relationships and other factors among interested parties and selecting among the varied roles Extension can play in conflicts.  The second workshop will focus on designing and facilitating roles for  conflict resolution meetings  and on developing or strengthening  Extension’s designing and facilitating skills.    Each workshop uses an active-learning design  - plan to participate and have fun while you learn.

Which Workshop(s) is for Me?

Workshops C and D focus on third party, educative roles of Extension whereas foundation Workshops A and B  focus on knowledge and skills (conflict styles, communications and negotiations) when one is an active, interested party within the conflict. Workshops C and D will primarily serve persons who have already completed Workshops at the foundation (A & B)  level this year or in one of the preceding 4 years.   Workshops C and D use and build on knowledge and skills gained at Workshops A & B.   You can attend Workshop C alone or Workshops C and D in sequence.  Or you can attend Workshop D alone if you are primarily interested in conflict process design and facilitation.  Attending both workshops is recommended because what is learned in Workshop C will carry over in a helpful way to Workshop D.

Persons who have not attended workshops A & B and are interested in Workshop C and, or D can also register to attend one or both of these workshops.  We will send information from Workshops A & B to you  for advance review.   You will be admitted if space is available after admitting persons who have completed workshops A & B.  

Conflict Training Team

The training team for each workshop is:

• Workshop C: Mary Novak, Kathy Metzenbauer, Alicia Acken Cosgrove, Mindy Habecker, Boyd Rossing. Planner: Nancy Burrell. Coordinator: Boyd Rossing
• Workshop D: Tom Cadwallader, Jeff Hoffman, Mary Kluz. Planner and Coach:  Rob Ricigliano. Coordinator: Boyd Rossing
  

Members of the Extension conflict training team are: Agriculture: Tom Cadwallader, Alan Linnebur, 4H-Youth Development: Paula Huff, CNRED: Mindy Habecker, Alicia Cosgrove, Jeff Hoffman, Mary Kluz, and Family Living: Kathy Metzenbauer, Mary Novak, Joan LeFebvre and Boyd Rossing. The larger Conflict Education team includes additional members including: Dawn Kuelz, 4H-YD and Kris Tiles, CNRED.

Travel, Lodging, Meals and Other Training Costs

We have set up the time schedule for these two 1.5 day workshops so most participants can drive in the first day and drive home the second day with one night of lodging.  If you have a short travel distance no lodging will be needed.  If  travel distance/time is in the 1- 3 or 4 hour range you can lodge the night between.  If you have a long travel distance/time you can lodge the night before and the night between.  Lodging costs and costs for materials and trainers will be covered by funds of the training team.  We will encourage participants to share a lodging room to keep costs down. Participants will be responsible for securing funds to cover costs of traveling to, and return from, the training site(s). Meals will be provided or reimbursed for all participants on training days in the training city. 

Register to Participate

To register for one or both workshops return to the registration link to complete the registration and background form. Persons will be admitted on a first come, first serve basis up to the 24 person capacity limit. Persons registering after the workshop is full will go on a waiting list. Please register as soon as possible and not later than the register by date.Then before the workshop you will then receive advance information enabling preparation for the workshop(s).

Conflict is a part of life and of Extension work in communities. With some key knowledge and skills we can achieve positive outcomes from conflict. I hope you will seriously consider applying to take part in one or both of these workshops.

Boyd Rossing, Chair, Conflict Management Capacity Building Initiative