Jim Cooley here. Vice chairs, like vice presidents, don’t have much productive to do, so I thought I would give you a quick report on the Council’s December 1, 2021, meeting, and the upcoming events in March and May 2022.

Mark your calendar for the section’s CLE on March 18 featuring Ken Feinberg (not to be missed) (kudos to Steve Dunn, John Ong, Colleen Byers and especially Deb Dilman for the planning). Details will be coming soon from the NCBA. As of now [Omicron must be obeyed], the Council plans to meet live as well as via Zoom at the Bar Center at 3 p.m. on March 17. If you are in the area, join Council members at 5:30 for a social hour at nearby Okja K-Pub & Restaurant in Cary. You can then attend the CLE the next day. Please note the in-person policy when you receive the invitations.

Further to the CLE, the Council voted to “buy down” the March 18 CLE tuition for section members, so look for a reduced price on the cost of this CLE when the invitation comes out.

Experienced construction lawyer Neale Johnson has signed on to co-lead the Arbitration Committee along with George Doyle.

The Ethics & Practice Committee (formerly Ethics & Professionalism), led by Tom Clare and Danae Woodward, would like to hear from you regarding ideas for rule changes where the existing rules may not fit a specific practice area. They will be collaborating with Tara Kozlowski at the DRC.

If you missed it, go online to hear the Conflict Resolution Day program presented by Tara and the DRC. There was some great technology stuff. Colin Rule’s “Introducing the Fourth Party: How Technology Can Be Your Ally in Resolving Disputes” will make your head spin.

An approved FFS Observation Video is now available. Council members Ketan Soni and Deb Dilman played a big part in getting this new resource to the finish line.

Per Tara, the DRC now recognizes approximately 1350 certified mediators state-wide. The section’s current membership is 433. Deanna Lindquist, chair of Membership, needs your help. Send her names of active mediators who you think might be candidates for section membership ([email protected]) and we will follow up.

If you have nominations for Council membership for 2022-23, please contact Jackie Clare ([email protected]).

Have you considered becoming more active in the work of the section? There are a number of very active committees at work. If you are interested, or want to know more, email Sarah Kromer ([email protected]) or me ([email protected]) and we will contact you to talk further.

Next Council Meeting: March 17 in person at the Bar Center and via Zoom. If you have something that needs to come before the Council, email me at [email protected], and I will discuss with Sarah Kromer how best to get your ideas or concerns before the Council.

Annual Meeting of the section: Moved from March 18 to 4 p.m. on May 18 at the Bar Center. It will be in-person (subject to the virus of course) and via Zoom. The Peace Award will be presented then.

February 1, 2022/by DisputeResolution