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Editorial - Chairman's Report 2005-6
In last year's report, I referred to the Committee's review of branch activities. This culminated in a Branch Plan for 2005 - 2008, adopted in July. An outline of the plan formed the basis for an article in the September edition of News & Views. The overall aims are to:
(i) increase participation in Branch activities
(ii) increase membership and promote advancement of members to higher grades of membership
(iii) co-operate with other professional organisations in the Branch area interested in private dispute resolution
(iv) promote new private dispute resolution schemes within the Branch area
(v) improve Branch finances
We are now in the implementation phase. The Committee is reviewing the format and location of monthly Branch meetings, to make them more attractive to members and, we hope, to increase numbers attending. We are also improving our communication with other organisations in the Branch area interested in dispute resolution. A working group for mediators in the branch area has been set up, led by Rod O'Driscoll and Derek Ross. We are planning a mentoring scheme for those wishing to advance through the grades of membership and for those who would like the support of a more experienced colleague in developing their dispute resolution activities. David Simmonds has continued to develop the branch website as a means of communication with members. The next step is to incorporate a 'Find an Arbitrator/Adjudicator/Expert Witness' facility, in order to promote private dispute resolution and to help members become better known in their chosen fields.
The Branch has held its regular programme of monthly meetings at Reigate Manor Hotel, with talks on the three major areas of dispute resolution promoted by the Institute: arbitration, adjudication and mediation. We are very grateful to all the speakers and others who generously gave their time to make these events possible. All are reported in News & Views and on the Branch website.
On the social side, we have continued to hold dinners after monthly technical meetings, an opportunity to meet the speaker and Branch colleagues and to make new contacts. For our June summer outing, we went with 29 members and guests to Petworth House, home to the largest and finest collection of Old Masters in the care of the National Trust. The Branch Annual Dinner was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, held in the splendid rooms of Commissioner's House in Chatham Dockyard in November. The speaker was His Honour Judge Peter Coulson QC, a recent appointment to the TCC bench, who in his speech combined professional relevance with entertainment for members and guests.
The Branch magazine, News & Views, continues to be widely circulated and to be a lively read. It is a credit to the editorial team and to the Branch. Peter Cousins took over from Roger Clarke to edit with the help of Peter Horne - many thanks to both for all their hard work. To end, I would like to extend thanks to Anne Kenny, Mike Roberts, Martin Moorhead and James Mumford, who are retiring from the Committee. James has made a great contribution to the Branch over many years, as speaker at meetings, Committee member, Branch Chairman and Branch Council Representative. The Committee will very much miss his contributions, and those of the other retiring members. Many thanks are due to them and to all the other members of the Committee who have generously given their time to the Branch.
There are many others who have contributed during the year to the activities of the Branch. There are too many to mention all individually, but I would like to thank them as well. Without their help, the Branch could not function.
Robin Orme, Branch Secretary