ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SECTION

Minnesota State Bar Association
Annual Report for 2007 – 2008
Submitted by David Allgeyer, Section Chair

In the past year, the Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) Section has continued in its efforts to be a forum for ADR practitioners in Minnesota.  This has included:

• Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the ADR Institute and honoring those contributing to the development and growth of ADR

• Completing a reorganization of Section governance to enhance responsiveness to the   needs of the various different types of ADR practitioners
  

• Providing grant guidelines for using our funds to assist in promoting and enhancing        ADR in Minnesota

• Providing better Section information and access to its members through the Section’s   Website

• Taking steps to participate in the work of the ADR Ethics Board

• Providing a forum for discussion and education in current issues and trends in ADR.

Tenth Anniversary of the ADR Institute 
The Section celebrated the tenth anniversary of its ADR Institute, which has become the key educational event for ADR practitioners in Minnesota.  The Section took this opportunity to honor the distinguished service of valued contributors to the development and growth of ADR in Minnesota over the last decade. The following people were recognized:

Bylaws

This year the Section completed its revisions to its bylaws.  The bylaws, in addition to technical changes to recognize the growing role of technology in Section activities, provided a focus on three major types of ADR, Commercial, Family and Community.  A Vice Chair has been appointed for each area to assure that the interests of practitioners in all areas are taken into account in our programs and activities.  The membership has approved the revisions, which will be considered by the MSBA during its June meeting.

Grant Guidelines

The Section has traditionally held a significant balance in our treasury.  The Section has now enacted Grant Guidelines that provide the standards the Section will follow in considering requests for grants to promote ADR activities and in awarding such grants.

Website and Communications

The Section has continued to enhance its website and communications.  We continue to post all minutes and MP3s of continuing legal education programs on the site for later reference.   In addition, the Section has made significant progress toward bringing its Website into the 21st century with more modern graphics and search functions.  It is our goal to make the SelectADR™ feature of the site the premier source of information on ADR practitioners in Minnesota, providing profiles and searchable information for Section members who choose to participate.  This feature will also be linked through the FindLaw service of the MSBA when completed.  We expect to roll out this enhanced site early this fall.

In addition, the Section’s Listserve has become more active this year with recent legal and other developments in ADR being posted as well as educational opportunities.

ADR Ethics Board

The ADR Ethics Board is appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court to promote and enforce the ethics of ADR Practitioners.  This year, the Section cooperated with the ADR Review Board to identify candidates from the Section who could serve on the Board and act as a representative of the Section to the Board.  The Supreme Court is expected to make the selection of the Section representative in the near future.

Programs

The Section continued in its mission of providing high quality education programs to its members, allowing them to earn CLE credit.  Be sure to visit http://www2.mnbar.org/sections/
Adr (or Google: msba adr Minnesota) and click “Past MP3s” for access to recordings of these great programs:

• May 13, 2008
  "The Great Arbitration Debate"
• April 8, 2008
  "Arbitration Update 2008"
• March 11, 2008          
  “What ADR Practitioners Need to Know About Domestic Violence”
• February 12, 2008
  "Incorporating Restorative Justice Practices into Mediation Services Involving Students and Juvenile Offenders"
• January 8, 2008
  "What Advocates Want (and Don't Want) in Arbitrators - What Arbitrators Want (and Don't Want) in Advocates"
• December 11, 2007
  "Mediation Models Matter: A Comparison Among Theoretical Models of Mediation Practice"
• November 13, 2007
  "The Work of the ADR Review Board"
• September 11, 2007
  "Calling All Members: Where the ADR Section Is and Your Input on Where it Should Be Going"

Treasury
The Section’s Treasury is sufficient with nearly $17,000.  Expenditures will be necessary in the near future with respect to updating our Website and likely with respect to our Grant Program.

Respectfully submitted,
                 
         David Allgeyer, Section Chair

- Last Updated 08/03/07 -