THE CHARTERED INSTITUTE
OF ARBITRATORS
EAST MIDLANDS BRANCH
(Chairman: Bill Fisher)
BRANCH
NEWSLETTER
October
2001
CHAIRMAN'S
NOTE
The Committee has met twice this term and the
Events and PR Working Party, whose aim is to seek out and arrange training and
PR events to further the knowledge of Arbitration and ADR, has already arranged
a number of presentations on ADR to local Law Societies. Attendance at these
meetings has been good and there are a lot of people working to further the
Branch duties.
Unfortunately, ADR does not seem as important
within our Branch area as in other parts of the country and attendance at these
was disappointing. Nonetheless, we shall continue to further the aims of the
Institute in promoting ADR wherever we see an opportunity or a need.
David Morphew, the Institute’s Public
Relations and Branch Liaison Manager, attended our last meeting and was able to
help with some matters of concern. Unfortunately He has now left the Institute
and we await a new appointment to this important post.
Research shows that although construction
arbitrations have seen a reduction in numbers following the introduction of Adjudication,
arbitration in other fields continues to grow and be a popular method of
dispute resolution. It is nonetheless surprising how many industrial and
commercial business leaders know little or nothing about arbitration. Many seem
to think it is concerned solely with ACAS and employment law. This is one area
which your committee is trying to address.
In continuing this process the Committee have
joined with the West Midlands Branch in organising an Annual Conference to be
held at the
Jeffrey Rosenthal (Branch pro) and Gary
Martin (RICS Dispute Resolution Faculty Board member) are hoping to arrange a
Demonstration Arbitration in the new year. This again promises to be an important
event in the Branch Calendar. Please look for further details in due course.
All details of Branch Events are of course
posted on the Branch web-site.
The new Branch Directory is now with the
printers and if you have not returned your entry details you are urged to do so
if you want to be included in your specialised area of practice.
The Branch Annual Dinner and President’s
visit is being arranged for 21 March 2002. I would be grateful if you will now
enter this date in your diary to continue the support for your committee that
you have shown in the past. Further details will be announced in due course.
The next Newsletter is scheduled for circulation around the end of January so I would take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to you all for the coming season and new year, in the hope that you will continue to support your committee and Officers.
Email: chair@CIArb-EM.org
HON
SECRETARY'S REPORT
It is encouraging to see that our Branch
membership continues to grow steadily, not in leaps and bounds, but at a
healthy two or three members every month.
This month, we are pleased to welcome Mr A M
Kneen of Gainsborough and Mr R Snowdin of
Tel: 01629 732818
Fax: 01629 732513
Email: sec@CIArb-EM.org
BRANCH
TREASURER’S REPORT
1. Bank Account
As of the 24th September 2001, the current account stood at £4,908. 53.
Payments outstanding at the above date amount to £129. 90, with cash in hand being £111. 00.
The Branch therefore has £4,889. 63 at the present time.
2. Annual Dinner
The annual dinner resulted in an overall loss, with expenditure over income being £637. The Branch had budgeted for £400 to be contributed to the dinner finances on the basis that the event was a big P.R. matter and of substantial importance to the Branch.
There was therefore a £237. 67 loss beyond that originally anticipated.
The committee kept the ticket price to an affordable level by today's standard, of £30. It is therefore urged that Branch members give better support, which would be of considerable help in financing such events.
3. Future Events
East Midlands Branch is combining with West Midlands Branch to give a joint Annual Conference on the 7th December 2001.
Costs of the event are to be shared equally with West Midlands Branch, so are losses, hence your support is vital.
4. VAT Return
The VAT return for the quarter ending 30th September has been submitted to headquarters.
Email: treas@CIArb-EM.org
BRANCH PRO REPORT
Two more Press Releases have been issued,
based on national releases by the Institute. These covered the partnership
between the Institute and the Panel of Independent Mediators, announced in
August, and the First Anniversary of the Commercial Arbitration Scheme in
September. You can see them on the Branch website.
If anyone sees these articles (or anything
else relevant to our activities) in their local press, please let me have a copy,
as the regional newspapers don’t let us know whether or not they use what we
send them!
The series of talks to Rotary Clubs is
continuing into the autumn following the change of Rotary officers on 1 July
and the search for new speakers. These are usually well received, and are one
means of reminding the business community of the availability of arbitration.
If you have suggestions and contacts with
other groups please let me know. We have tried to set up similar talks to
The new four-part presentation on ADR has not
been well received by local Law Societies. We only attracted 9 to
I have been liasing with West Midlands Branch
regarding the Joint Branch Conference to be held at the
Another major event is in the planning
stages, having been approved by the Branch Committee. This will be a half-day
live (not scripted) demonstration arbitration in the
Email: PR@CIArb-EM.org
Web address: www.JeffreyRosenthal.com
COUNCIL
REPRESENTATIVE’S REPORT
Council has met on
three occasions this term, now under the chairmanship of the new President,
Karen Gough. The main business has been the appointment of chairmen and members
of the main committees. This year will see the creation of a new ADR Committee
with special responsibility for the promotion of the Institute as an ADR
training and appointing body.
The new Branch
Rules have been formally adopted and these place slightly more responsibility
upon the Branch Committees and Officers – not least to encourage increased membership
of the Institute.
The Practising
Certificate Scheme has been sent back to the Executive Board for further
consideration but we can expect a scheme to be adopted within the coming year.
The Scheme requires Chartered Arbitrators to have their conduct and practice
reviewed at 3-5 year intervals and compliance with the new CPD scheme will be
one of the matters taken into consideration.
There are
proposals for an amended Entry Scheme into the Institute and new rules for the
election of Council members is under consideration.
We are fortunate
in our Branch in that we have not only the Joint Branch representative
attending Council meetings but we also have Robert Dorrington, a Branch member
and former Branch Chairman, who is a Council member and able to assist the
Branch at Council.
Together, Robert and I are building increased
relations with Headquarters staff and Officers in pursuing the Branch aims and
objectives.
Joint East and West Midlands Council Representative.
WEB SITE
EDITOR’S REPORT
You will note that on our web site, www.ciarb-em.org, there is a members' listing. If you wish to update your details, please e-mail web@ciarb-em.org.
At some stage the newsletter will only be
sent in paper form to those who do not have e-mail addresses since this is a
way that the branch could significantly reduce its administrative expenses.
To help reduce branch expenses, if you have not submitted your e-mail address, please send it with your name to web@ciarb-em.org.
Additionally, if you want your web address to be listed with a link, this can be arranged for the sum of £10 per annum which will become part of the branch funds. If you would like this, please send your request to web@ciarb-em.org.
Any additional events
or updates to current events will be posted on the website.
Web Site Editor
Email: web@ciarb-em.org
Contributions to the Newsletter are always welcome.
The paper form
of this Newsletter is distributed by:
Jonathan Hawkswell of Pinsent Curtis
Biddle
Tel: 0113-244-5000.