Will Peace License Plate See Daylight?

Christine Poulson, a 1998 masters degree graduate of CJP, holds the proposed license plate. Poulson spearheaded the two-year effort behind launching the Virginia license plate.

If you notice and enjoy seeing peace-doves on Virginia license plates in the coming year, you can thank Christine Poulson, a 1998 masters degree graduate of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at EMU.

Poulson, an at-home mother of two preschoolers in Staunton, has devoted two years of her life to making this license plate a reality.

Designed by artist Liz Frankl of Roanoke, the plate features a graceful dove in shades of blue on the right.

Poulson seized on the idea of a peace-themed license plate to generate revenue when she was director of the Roanoke Conflict Resolution Center several years ago. Hers is one of nine centers belonging to a state-wide network called the Virginia Association for Community Conflict Resolution (VACCR).

Harrisonburg Home to First Center

The first such center in Virginia was the Harrisonburg Community Mediation Center, founded in 1982. It is now directed by Timothy J. Ruebke, who was a classmate of Poulson's when both were earning graduate degrees in conflict transformation. One of the center's founders was Eastern Mennonite professor Barry Hart, who continues to serve as president of its board of directors.

Despite the growing interest in handling conflict in a restorative manner ? whether it be conflict caused by divorce, by business disputes, or by crime ? the state's conflict resolution centers have struggled over the last 25 years to find reliable ways to fund themselves. In addition to Roanoke and Harrisonburg, the centers are located in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Warrenton, Richmond, Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, and Hampton Roads.

"If we can interest 3,000 Virginians in paying $25 per year for peace license plates, the network of conflict resolution centers will receive $15 of this revenue, providing $45,000 in funding each year to VACCR," said Poulson.

"This would allow VACCR to assist, for example, a center that is struggling to get to its feet," said Poulson. "It could also do more outreach, such as a state-wide media campaign to inform people about the usefulness of using mediation to reduce conflict and build peace in our communities."

June 30 Deadline Looms

Poulson left her salaried position in Roanoke in February 2006 to be a full-time mother. Yet she has continued as a volunteer to direct the campaign to win Virginians to purchase the peace license plate.

Poulson faces a tough June 30 deadline: Before the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will commit to producing the peace-plates, VACCR must show that it has 350 people who have filled out a form with details on their current license plates and vehicle registration, along with making a $25 payment.

As of the morning of June 20, VACCR only had 250 forms and payments in hand out of the 350 needed. "If we don't get another 100 people signed up by June 27, I will be returning the $25 paid by the first 250 supporters," says Marcia Garland, VACCR administrator.

Poulson and her husband, along with a handful of other supporters, are going to fill any gap remaining between payments received and the 350 payments needed by covering the $25 fee this year for some of the applicants, if the number comes up short.

"We will cover the $25 fee on a first-come, first-served basis," says Poulson. "As matters now stand, there may be as many as 50 plates that we will be paying for. Just fill out your form and put a sticky note saying 'freebie' on your form." Application forms and mailing instructions can be found at www.vaccr.org.

For more information about the peace plates, visit www.vaccr.org, or contact Marcia Garland at admin@conflictresolutioncenter.us, phone (540) 342-2063 ext. # 300. Poulson can be reached at poulsonca@yahoo.com.

— article by: Bonnie Lofton; posted June 21, 2007