Purpose and MissionACR Environmental and Public Policy SectionACREPPS_179b20ca-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de9ACREPPS MembersMembers are active in environmental and public policy dispute resolution in the U.S. and Canada. Their cases range from small group to large multiparty cases, from site-specific to regulatory negotiations. Members include sole practitioners; staff of Provincial, Federal and State agencies; large and small NGOs, as well as student members. ACR EPP Section LeadershipThe ACR EPP Section Leadership Council governs and carries out the mission of the Section. It is comprised of elected members who serve staggered two-year terms and appointed committee chairs. The Leadership Council meets by phone on the second Friday of every month at 12:30 pm Eastern time. Section members are welcome to participate. If you would like to join a Leadership Council call, please contact one of the co-chairs for call-in information.Suzanne SchwartzCo-Chair 2011-2013. Environmental Program Manager, University of Texas Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, Austin, TXTurner OdellCo-Chair 2012-2014. Natural Resources Program Manager, Oregon Consensus, Portland, OR.Brad SpanglerImmediate Past Co-Chair; Co-Chair, New Directions Committee. Mediator and Program Manager, Meridian Institute, Arvada, CO. Kevin BryanChair, Diversity & Equity Committee. Senior Mediator and Program Manager, Meridian Institute, Washington, DC.Jason GershowitzChair, Web Communication Committee. Collaborative Technology Associate, Kearns & West, Washington, DC. Peter HarkemaElected Member, 2011-2013; Co-Chair New Directions Committee. Project Manager, Oregon Consensus, Portland, OR. Britt IdeElected Member, 2012-2014. President, Ide Law & Strategy, PLLC, Boise, ID.Maria PlachtElected Member, 2011-2013. Water Policy and Conflict Resolution Advisor, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources, Alexandria, VA.Kenneth RosenbaumEthics Point Person. Principal, Sylvan Environmental Consultants, Falls Church, VA.Joan SabottElected Member, 2011-2013 and Chair, Professional Development & Member Services Committee. Program Manager, CDR Associates, Boulder, CO.Steve SmutkoElected Member, 2012-2014. Spicer Chair in Collaborative Practice, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY.Conference Planning CommitteeCo-Chairs, Gail Bingham and Jenny Biddle. Plans the annual section conference, and provides continuity from previous conferences. Gail BinghamConference Planning Committee Co-ChairJenny Biddle Conference Planning Committee Co-ChairProfessional Development & Member Services CommitteeProfessional Development & Member Services. Co-Chairs, Joan Sabott and Amanda Murphy. Coordinates activities to assist the educational, training and professional development of our members. Currently working on producing webinars and developing a mid-level practitioner peer learning network.Joan SabottConference Planning Committee Co-ChairAmanda MurphyConference Planning Committee Co-ChairNew Directions CommitteeCo-Chairs, Peter Harkema and Brad Spangler. Focuses on growing and evolving the environmental and public policy ADR field, including adding value to the practice, identifying leadership opportunities, and articulating the unique needs and interests of the EPP Section. Peter HarkemaNew Directions Committee Co-ChairBrad SpanglerNew Directions Committee Co-ChairWeb Communications CommitteeChair, Jason Gershowitz. Coordinates website content development and maintenance, facilitates communication with and among EPP members, and serves a clearinghouse role to facilitate effective use of technology to support our field.Jason GershowitzWeb Communications Committee Chair_179b230e-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de9To support and enhance the field as a whole and to create opportunities to improve the skills of its members who are intervenors and trainers._179b2426-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de9Professional NeedsIdentify and serve the professional needs of everyone practicing in the environmental and public dispute resolution field_179b24ee-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de91Environmental Dispute Resolution PractitionersPublic Dispute Resolution Practitioners_179b25b6-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de9Discipline & Practice Organize and help guide the development of the discipline and the practice of environmental and public dispute resolution_179b267e-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de92_179b2746-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de9ScopeWork to define the scope of our section's concerns and practice_179b2818-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de93_179b28f4-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de9CommunicationEstablish and maintain communication among ourselves (practitioners), providers, users and researchers in environmental and public dispute resolution_179b29c6-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de94Environmental Dispute Resolution PractitionersPublic Dispute Resolution PractitionersEnvironmental Dispute Resolution ProvidersPublic Dispute Resolution ProvidersEnvironmental Dispute Resolution UsersPublic Dispute Resolution UsersEnvironmental Dispute Resolution ResearchersPublic Dispute Resolution ResearchersThe Section's enormously successful mid-year conferences provide many opportunities for mutual support to enhance the professional capacities of participants. _179b2ab6-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de9Tasks & FinancingCreate and identify joint tasks that mobilize and effectively involve volunteers and that generate financial resources._179b2b9c-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de95Volunteers_179b2c8c-be3d-11e2-b751-5f5175128de92013-05-16http://acrepp.org/content/purpose-and-missionOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net