The annual fundraiser for the Disupute Resolution Center called "A toast to chocolate" was held yesterday at St. Martin's University. This is fundraising at its best: bring in a lot of people on a lazy Sunday afternoon, get them high on sugar, endorphins, and alcohol, and then ask them for money. Boy, what a set up! Who could resist?

The program was also very well done. Each speaker told heartfelt stories about the power and importance of alternative disupute resolution. As a mediator, it was not a tough sell for me. I've seen the process work significant change in the lives of people who are locked in conflict and miserable. It is peace work at the personal level, disseminating tools for improving communication one family at a time.