LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

from DF James, Walderslade, Chatham

Pride in Membership

The Branch Committee decided that at each committee meeting there would be a "Topic for Discussion" on the Agenda. The object of this agenda item was to give the Committee an opportunity of discussing and considering matters that were of relevance and importance to the Branch at that time.

One of the Chairman's ideals has been to increase the membership of the Branch, and in that respect the Committee will be considering such topics as:

1. Recruitment by word of mouth by members.

2. Recruitment by the Branch putting on joint meetings with other Professional Bodies.

3. The running of Courses and Seminars.

4. The promotion of arbitration by members giving presentation talks to such bodies as Rotary Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, Citizen Advice Bureaus, etc etc.

5. The assistance of Headquarters by promoting consumer arbitrator schemes in our Branch Area.

6. Publicity of Arbitration and the Institute via the Press and Media.

At a recent committee meeting the Committee made a start on the list and received a presentation on the topic of "Recruitment to the Chartered Institute and the Branch by Word of Mouth of Members". In that context the general gist of the presentation was that the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators is the most Senior Professional Arbitration Body in the world, and as such it is a Body that demands the highest admission standards and continual training. For these reasons it is felt that as Members of such a Body, we should be extremely proud of our Membership and as such, should endeavour to promote, not only arbitration but also membership of the Chartered Institute to our business colleagues and friends.

Various means of promoting our membership comes to mind, not only by word of mouth and spreading our individual enthusiasm to others, but also by letting our membership be known to others by means of our expressing our qualifications on headed paper and also the wearing the Chartered Institute tie.

It is up to us to support our Branch, to attend meetings and as many social events as possible. On the latter topic of course, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators does have many facets, one of which is the excellent hospitality that is extended to the members' wives and families. Social events indeed, are unique by the most pleasant "family" atmosphere that prevails.

We should, as members of the CIArb bring guests along to meetings and also be familiar with the means of entry into membership and the rapid availability of Membership Packs from Headquarters which are available for potential members. The CIArb Membership, being mainly composed of people who are qualified in various other Disciplines than our own, provides it itself an avenue for broad interchange of viewpoints, as opposed to the somewhat narrower and somewhat stilted communications that are carried out within a particular specialised professional body. We must promote the CIArb to our other Professional Bodies.

As a summary it is suggested that we as members of the CIArb, demonstrate our pride and endeavour to engender others with our enthusiasm.

Dennis F James