I have served on the Board and am a current member of MtMA. This is the only statewide organization serving all Montana mediators. It holds an annual conference and is a touchstone for those of us who are widely separated by distance and, often, severe weather conditions. In the past, it has also maintained a mentor registry for new mediators, a great resource.

I have known Bonnie Sawyer, the director for several years and have been impressed with how effectively she advocates for rural communities, in particular the Native American community. After being referred by Bonnie, I spent two days working with the Chippewa-Cree Nations on Rocky Boy Reservation. Many people there appreciate Hopa's work, particularly their work in leadership development and higher education for Native American students, a crucial need.