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Prime Times Weekly feature of the Mail Tribune , Medford, Oregon On common ground Photos by Bob Pennell Ruth Israel puts lifelong skills to use by helping people settle disputes out of court. "It's a great volunteer opportunity for seniors, because it calls on the experience, perspective and values you've gained in life," Israel says. Mediator Ruth Israel of Medford helps people settle their disagreements without going to court By JOHN DARLING MEDFORD -- Ruth Israel has spent her life working to bring down the walls that separate people. Ruth Israel comes to the Jackson County Justice Building every Monday as a Mediation Works volunteer. First it was teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to Israelis at the University of Haifa, then to Russian immigrants in Miami. In Davis, Calif., she organized activities for migrant workers, started and ran a registry for bone marrow transplant donors and taught in the ESL program at the University of California there. Since her move to the Rogue Valley Manor three years ago, Israel, 61, has put her people skills to use with Mediation Works, volunteering every Monday to help people settle disputes out of court. Typical disputes include landlord versus tenant, consumer against merchant, neighborhood issues, parental-duties-after-divorce cases and workplace complaints, including harassment. "It's a great volunteer opportunity for seniors, because it calls on the experience, perspective and values you've gained in life," Israel says. "You get to use the wisdom you've, hopefully, gained and at the same time maybe reduce the conflict level of society by just one drop." Israel smiles. "It has to begin somewhere." Israel was trained in mediation in Davis and worked in the field for three years before taking up the role in Medford, where all parties to small claims actions are required to try mediation first. Mediation Works Coordinator Kate Geary calls her "one of the most skilled and dedicated volunteer mediators we have." Israel estimates she and her fellow mediators resolve disputes 50 to 60 percent of the time, greatly reducing court clogging and saving taxpayer money. "In most cases, the dispute is just the tip of the iceberg. You see clients come to a session usually feeling very adamant and righteous. They may be suing for money, but it's usually about someone feeling they were treated unfairly or disrespected," Israel says. "Our job is to start creating a positive atmosphere, to help get them talking and let them tell their story without interruptions from the other party, to identify the issues and to encourage them to come up with solutions on their own. It's really satisfying when people who've walked in angry end up smiling and happy with each other." In successful mediations, a confidential agreement is written up, signed and filed. Its contents are not even open to the court, Israel says. Mediators are trained not to tell disputants what to do, but sometimes, Israel says, she can't help but share the wisdom of her years. "Often, a client will be getting apoplectic and I just say -- 'How's your blood pressure?' They say it's pretty high and I say, `Well, as a person who thinks my health is the most important thing, I have to ask you: Is it worth it?' It helps give them an opening to calm down and find the middle ground." Prime Times front page Mail Tribune front page Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA