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Opinion - Editorial
I can't be bothered to be apathetic
I warned you I would be controversial in the future so here goes. What a lot of apathetic dispute resolvers we have in the South East. We have 800 members in this area and, if we have a really good turn out, maybe 5% will attend a free evening meeting on an important topic relevant to our profession. This editorial is aimed at the other 95% of you.
I can understand why you don't turn up. After all the telly is much more interesting, what with the football and Eastenders. You know everything there is to know about the topic. It's a long drive spending maybe 40 minutes in a car, and petrol is so expensive. And so the list goes on. It's much easier to find a reason not to do something than to do it, isn't it?
That's not the reason I may hear you yell, that is if you can be bothered to raise your voice. So what is? What is your Branch committee doing wrong? What is making most of you appear so apathetic to the most important aspect of being a member of the Chartered Institute, i.e. learning? Now is your chance to tell us what you want in order that you will participate.
We are at present reviewing all aspects of the services we provide to you. Elsewhere in this issue you will find details of a couple of initiatives we are proposing to help you in your profession. But what are we doing wrong with our meetings? Is the venue wrong? Should we move about the area? Is the time or day wrong? Is the format wrong? Should we charge a small fee? Should we arrange some sandwiches before hand? Please email your suggestions on this, or any other part of the service we offer, to futuremeetings@arbitrate.org.uk. Or you can write to me by post if you like.
You have the opportunity to show me that I am wrong and that you are not apathetic. Can you be bothered to take it? Or is there something more interesting on the telly?
CPD
Continuing the theme Continuous Professional Development is not just important, it is essential if we are to keep up with the latest developments in both our primary profession and dispute resolution. CPD is not necessarily about attending expensive courses and seminars. Indeed it should be possible for members to attain the CPD required by both their primary profession and the Chartered Institute with little or no additional expenditure. That, after all, must be one of the most important functions of any learned society.
This issue therefore has a bit of a CPD theme about it with an article on its development and information on how to find free events throughout the South East that may interest you.
Congratulations
On a more positive note. Congratulations to John Hanlon who, at a recent meeting, received the prestigious President's Prize for gaining the highest marks in Award Writing in the Certificate of Law and Arbitration at the Robert Gordon University. Robert works in the civil engineering industry and is based in the South East. We hope that he will become an active member of our branch.
And finally
I would like to personally thank Peter Horne for all of his efforts in helping me edit this newsletter. Because of pressure of work I was unable to do much for the last issue and Peter took over at the last minute and produced an excellent edition. And again you will see that in this issue Peter has produced some thought provoking information. Again thank you Peter.
Peter Cousins