by David Chapman
Staff Writer
More than a dozen mediators of the Jax Mediation Center hosted an open house Thursday evening, the third such event, to welcome visitors and members of the legal community.
“It’s a way to invite people in and tell them who we are and what services we can provide,” said Penny Schmitt, one of the Center’s mediators. “We’ve had a good turnout for the first two.”
The Center considered having one giant open house and inviting more than 1,000 members of the Jacksonville Bar Association, but opted instead to stagger the events into four separate dates to better accommodate the potential for a large crowd. The smaller events have also allowed the hosts to give tours and more of a one-on-one experience with visitors.
As Schmitt explained, the Center is a full-service, one-stop shop facility that offers a neutral and convenient site (just off University Boulevard) for mediation for practices in various fields. Amenities include meeting rooms of various sizes equipped with televisions, display hooks (for the always important PowerPoint presentations), high speed Internet and kitchen facilities.
Similar establishments have been functioning in South Florida for some time, said Schmitt, but the concept is still new to some in Jacksonville.
“We’re just trying to get the word out,” she said. “The need is definitely there.”
For more information on the Jax Mediation Center, go to www.jaxmediationcenter.com.
356-2466