Hey, Neighbor! Community Circles | Regal Pet Mediation
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Hey, Neighbor! Community Circles
Hey, Neighbor! Community Circles is Community Boards’ community circle program that helps people come together in conversation around issues they care about. By bringing people together around issues of shared interest and concern, we strengthen our democracy and build more resilient neighborhoods. Hey, Neighbor! Community Circles will be convened on the first Thursday of every other month and follows the Circle Process.
Our hope is that people will come on a regular basis, thus getting to know each other and build stronger connections and healthier neighborhoods and communities. Our goal is to bring Hey, Neighbor! Community Circles citywide to San Francisco’s diverse neighborhoods and communities.
What is the Circle Process?
A Circle is a sharing process that brings people together to have a guided exchange about important topics for them with respect, understanding, and concern for everyone. It’s a peacemaking practice in which a question is asked and we go around the circle taking turns to respond to the prompt. Everyone is included and everyone has a voice, although if someone wishes to pass, they can.
RSVP
An RSVP is not required, but if you can, it helps us to know, and we will send you a reminder email a few days beforehand. RSVP link: https://rb.gy/6mi0i4.
Upcoming Circles: Bernal Heights Library, 500 Cortland Avenue, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm:
- May 1: What do we owe each other? What is my responsibility?
- July 17: Communicating Across Differences
- September 4: Making San Francisco Better
- November 6: Hopes & Dreams
- December 4: Money, Gifts & Values
Want to bring a Hey, Neighbor! Community Circle to your neighborhood? Contact Rachel Vyda-Venning, Program Director, rvydavenning@communityboards.org.
Regal Pet Mediation
In a city as densely populated as San Francisco, pet disputes are not only common, they’re frequently some of the most contentious and emotionally confrontational. Put simply, pet owners consider their pets to be members of the family- their children with paws. Mediation is a proven and valuable way to avoid the costs of courts, police involvement, and the stresses of an ongoing conflict involving pets and animals with someone.
For more information: Sarah Moss, Mediation & Training Coordinator, smoss@communityboards.org.
Our pet mediations can assist with:
- Barking dogs & other noise issues
- Damage to property & greenery
- Shared property line disputes
- Pet litter & feces removal
- Dog park & off-leash interactions
- Training for aggressive pets
- Feeding stray & feral animals
- Pet relinquishment
- End-of-life decisions
- Pet-to-pet injuries & veterinary bills
- Pet-to-human injuries & medical bills
- Negotiating shared custody & visitation
- Discussing separation & custody of multiple pets
- Arranging any future veterinary expenditures
- Finalizing custody terms of agreement
- And others…
How Our Mediation Process Works
- You contact us for an initial consultation. We will assess your situation and how best to help.
- If mediation is appropriate, you give us the contact information of those involved. Depending on the complexity of the case, fees will vary. They will be discussed before you open a case. No one is turned away for lack of funds.
- We then invite the other person(s) to a mediation and address their questions and concerns.
- When all parties agree, we schedule a convenient time for the mediation with three of our skilled volunteer Community Mediators.
- During the mediation, everyone is given time to speak in a safe and supportive environment.
- If new understandings and agreements are reached, the mediators will help you put them in writing.
- We ask you to make a generous donation so we can continue to help others.
About Charles “Chuck” Regal
Charles Regal, known by many as Chuck, had a long-term relationship with Community Boards that spanned decades. In his 27 years of service, he worked as mediator, facilitator, public spokesperson and advocate, case manager, director of neighborhood services, and co-executive director. After leaving Community Boards, Chuck merged his two passions: a love of animals and peacemaking through mediation. He established Regal Pet Custody & Care Mediation, operating a successful private practice for two decades. His pet custody work was featured on National Public Radio, in the San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Times, Dog Fancy Magazine, Fox News Online Magazine, and many other places. Sadly, Chuck passed away in October, 2020.