Both parties win in a successful mediation, which can result in long-lasting solutions rather than short-term gains for one side or the other. The large volume of cases handled by the Community Mediation Center make it essential for the volunteer mediators to understand and carry out their role. The comediators make opening remarks that set the tone of the session and establish the ground rules. Mediators should take notes during the session and destroy them in front of the disputing parties at the end of the session. The mediation consists of public sessions with all parties present and private sessions with each disputant. The comediators should caucus after each public and private session. Mediators must build trust, gather information from the disputants, use positive rather than negative phraseology, and listen carefully. They must consider each case on its own merits rather than prejudging it from generalizations. The agreement reached by the disputants must be in writing. Copies of the code of professional conduct for mediators and applicable Connecticut law.