MCDR Executive Board Meeting

May 7, 2014

Minutes

In attendance at the May 7, 2014 quarterly meeting were:  Lisa Battalia, Eileen Coen, Harold Cohen, Dan Dozier, Donna Duquette, Tara Flynn, Camelia Jacobs, Ellen Kandell, David Zoll, Shelley Korch, Cynthia Langford, and Barry Weissman.

The meeting began with the Co-President Duquette’s recognition of Past President Ellen Kandell, on being first to receive IMI certification through MCDR.  In addition Donna acknowledged Eileen Coen, Dan Dozier, Erik Johnson, and Ellen for their work on the CRCMC Community Mediation/Private Mediation Pilot.

Committee Reports and Updates:

A status update was provided on the private mediation/community mediation issue and the Montgomery County pilot, which resulted in clearer understandings about Community Mediation’s role in mediating various types of cases.  The Agreement also provides for a program for data collection, and has resulted in improvement in communication and relationships.  A number of people have expressed interest in participating in the new referral system that is being set up; Community Mediation and the State have also established a protocol for collecting data.  The various organizations changed their systems for obtaining data to ensure consistency and quality information.  There will be presentations at the upcoming conference sponsored by the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution on 6/26 and 27 that includes a panel discussion of the process, and what it has produced. Ellen will represent MCDR in these presentations at the conference.

In conjunction with reference to the CADR conference, there was confirmation that MCDR will have a table at the conference, and we need to order more brochures for that function.

Eileen Coen offered a report from the certification committee. Talbot County now requires certification to mediate for the Courts. Training for the process was offered in March. The committee conducted a certification day in Talbot County on May 3.  There were several additional days scheduled, including May 10 and 17, and 7 or 8 people scheduled for the upcoming days.  They need two additional role players for May 17.  Volunteers offered to help at the meeting.  Rob Ketcham is looking into offering training for the courts in other counties because there is some indication that they may be interested in requiring similar standards.

Barry Weissman offered the Treasurer’s report.  He will be e-mailing financial information to the Board.  He has been working to adjust a variety of bookkeeping details which including membership billing for dues, posting bills, payments, and other software issues.  

Barry also reported on the successful presentation of two master classes on Building your Professional Practice.  Participation grew from the first session to the second, and he is planning to offer two more sessions later in the summer. The Board was very complimentary about his efforts to market the program, as well as his help working on the books and records, and ensuring compliance with various regulations.

Cynthia Langford pointed out that it is necessary to have a bylaws change to extend her time as Membership Chair as that position is time restricted, and the person expected to take over the role unexpectedly advised the Board she would not be able to do so.

A bylaws amendment to accomplish this will be presented at the next board meeting and at the December membership meeting.

There is a need for additional assistance with the program for the Sharon Pickett Award; Rob Ketcham is this year’s awardee. We will solicit further assistance.

Donna summarized her recent meeting with Chief Judge Barbera.  They had a good conversation about MCDR’s role and the Judge is open to the mediation program.  She wants to hear more from us, and promised to talk with us again, after she has had a bit more time to become familiar with her role. Ellen, Erik Johnson and Bob Mueller (Bob is representing the MSBA ADR Section) will talk about best practices and plan to put together a proposal to take back to Judge Barbera to improve consistency within the court system.

Donna also raised the possibility of changing the date for the start of the Board year to the fall rather than January, to allow us to be better prepared to apply for grants, which are usually due in late winter and early spring.  A bylaws amendment will be presented at the next Board meeting and the December membership meeting  She also asked for help getting together a nominating committee for the coming year’s officers.

Tara Flynn is working on the June program.  There will be two or more panelists, including Dan Dozier and Kate Cullen; it will be at HCC.  An additional idea, including social media and its impact on mediations and mediators is one possibility, as is a program on subpoenaing mediators.

There was further discussion about staffing.  The Board was advised that the administrative assistant has obtained other full time employment and is no longer working for MCRC. Based upon changes in processes and procedures, it appears that most of the work she was doing for the 8 hours she is employed by MCDR, can be accomplished through the use of the website, and the few remaining the tasks are administrative and limited and can be absorbed by other Board Members.

A proposal was offered and approved that we eliminate the administrative position as it is configured now, effective June 23.  We will request the incumbent to assist with the transition over the next 7 weeks. 

A task force was created that will conduct a “needs assessment” and propose a job description for the current needs, and we will review again at the August Board meeting.  The need might be for an employee or a subcontractor for specific projects. Lisa Battalia will chair this task force.

Respectfully submitted:

/s/

Shelley Korch

Co- Secretary

MCDR