May News & Tips

Message From the Chair

Dear Members of the ADR Section,

Congratulations on a remarkable year! Your dedication and commitment to advancing the field of alternative dispute resolution this year

have been truly inspiring.

This year, the Section has held over 20 free virtual mediator/arbitrator forums, four free mediation mixers, over 14 CLEs (including a series of joint webinars with the Trial Lawyers Section as well as an in-person panel discussion about diversity in the ADR profession), and the virtual Arbitration Advocacy Institute. Plus, the Section has submitted three comments on proposed rule changes that would impact the ADR industry in Florida and started a free listserv for its members. All of this hard work has truly helped our Section to be seen as a leader in the ADR industry—and has allowed us to forge connections with other groups in the industry.

Plus, we have an exciting event coming up: our meeting at The Florida Bar Annual Convention. We meet on Friday, June 21 at 2 PM and I hope to see you all there. I encourage everyone to attend—and participate in—our meeting so that we can start the next Bar year off strong (and welcome our incoming officers and new executive council members)!

Thank you once again for your exceptional efforts and commitment over the past year. I am grateful to have had an opportunity to Chair the ADR Section because it allowed me to witness firsthand how many leaders in our field are committed to improving the resources available to ADR practitioners in Florida—and how many amazing ADR professionals are part of this Section!

With Gratitude,

Christy L. Foley

June 21 ADR Section Events

Please join your ADR Section friends and colleagues on Friday, June 21 at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek and Waldorf Astoria for our events during the Annual Florida Bar Convention. Meet us at noon for an informal lunch at the Clubhouse Grille, the “19th hole” at the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club. Then, attend our 2024 Annual, All-Member, and Executive Council meetings from 2–5 PM in the Brevard Room at the Hilton. After the meetings, come to our networking social at Peacock Alley in the Waldorf lobby. We hope to see you in Orlando!

Pay Your Bar Dues and Renew Your Section Membership

The Bar’s annual fee season is underway with the traditional first option of paying online by signing into the Member Portal and clicking the “Pay My Fees” button. While you're at it, please renew your ADR Section membership.

At only $45, ADR Section membership is an excellent return on investment:

Recognition as a dispute resolution professional within The Florida Bar.
Statewide networking opportunities with litigators, mediators, arbitrators, and like-minded professionals.
Free listserv (section membership required for approval) to communicate with section colleagues.
Free monthly forums for Mediators and Arbitrators.
Discounted registration on CLE—and most of the section’s courses qualify for CME, so you can earn dual credits.
CLE specifically for neutrals, such as how to effectively represent clients in mediation, technology, ethics, professionalism, online mediation, and more.
Opportunities to present seminars and publish articles.
Leadership through committee service.
Timely, relevant publications.
Mentoring Academy for Attorney-Mediators and Arbitration Advocacy Academy.
Mediation Mixers to celebrate Mediation Week in October.

June 7 Mediator's Forum

The June Mediator's Forum topic is “High Emotion in Mediation” facilitated by Lori Adelson. Live on Zoom from 8–9 AM. FREE and open to all. Details are online at bit.ly/6-7_MediatorsForum. Join your fellow Florida mediators for monthly Mediator’s Forums on Zoom to facilitate the exchange of ideas between fellow mediators.

We offer a welcoming environment where our state’s community of mediators can explore the nuances of our shared interests in ADR topics, share ideas along a broad spectrum of mediators, ask questions, and learn about our craft. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6234095288

Meeting ID: 623 409 5288

One tap mobile: +13052241968,,6234095288#

June 11 Arbitrator's Forum

Join us on June 11 for the next Arbitrator's Forum on "Challenges of Having Parallel Proceedings."

The forums are on the second Tuesday of each month from 8:00–9:00 AM. They are FREE and open to all.

The ADR Section's Arbitration Committee introduced the forums to create a community of better arbitration neutrals in our state. Join your fellow Florida neutrals on Zoom to discuss what works, what puzzles you, and what might improve your practice. Questions? Contact Patricia H. Thompson, FCIArb, at 305-794-4345 cell, 305-371-5267 office or pthompson@jamsadr.com for more information.

Keep your calendars marked for the monthly forum sessions!

What: TFB ADR Section’s Arbitrator’s Forum

When: Second Tuesday of each month

Time: 8:00–9:00 AM

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81710094208?pwd=V0NBLzhwdWtmYnNxM1Z5TW1Qb2pyUT09

Meeting ID: 817 1009 4208

Passcode: 567343

NEW ADR Section Listserv

ADR Section members now have a new FREE benefit: a listserv to communicate with other ADR professionals! You can subscribe and manage your listserv preferences at groups.io/g/FlaBarADR. Your subscription will be approved when your ADR Section membership is confirmed. Please be sure to adhere to the rules—they’re for the good of the group!

DRC Accepting Applications

Interested in serving on MEAC, Rules & Policy, or the MQDRB? The DRC is now accepting applications on a rolling basis. Learn more here. Please submit your application soon if you're interested in joining any of these committees!