CHAIR
Geetha Ravindra
International Monetary Fund
1900 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 623-4877 geetha.ravindra@yahoo.com
CHAIR-ELECT
Howard Herman, San Francisco, CA
VICE-CHAIR
Nancy Welsh, Carlisle, PA
BUDGET OFFICER
Dwight Golann, Boston, MA
ASSISTANT BUDGET OFFICER
Philip S. Cottone, Malvern, PA
LONG RANGE PLANNING OFFICER
Lawrence R. Mills, Seattle, WA
CLE OFFICER
Joan Stearns Johnsen, West Newton, MA
SECTION DELEGATES TO
THE ABA HOUSE OF DELEGATES
James J. Alfini, Houston, TX
Bruce Meyerson, Phoenix, AZ
STRATEGIC OUTREACH OFFICER
Margaret M. Huff, Nashville, TN
COUNCIL
Jillisa Brittan, Chicago, IL
Alyson Carrel, Chicago, IL
Charles W. Crumpton, Honolulu, HI
Roger M. Deitz, New York, NY
Joanna M. Jacobs, Washington, DC
Vikram Kapoor, New York, NY
Harrie Samaras, West Chester, PA
Myra C. Selby, Indianapolis, IN
Kimberly Taylor, New York, NY
Beth Trent, New York, NY
Inga A. Watkins, Alexandria, VA
Stuart Michael Widman, Chicago, IL
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Ruth V. Glick, Burlingame, CA
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Nancy W. Greenwald, Alexandria, VA
LIAISONS FROM THE SECTION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
F. Peter Phillips, Montclair, NJ
Susan Grody Ruben, Cleveland, OH
LIAISON FROM THE
LAW STUDENT DIVISION
Matthew Schorr, Cherry Hill, NJ
LIAISON FROM THE COMMITTEE
ON ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Sukhsimranjit Singh, Salem, OR
Kimberly Cork, Winnipeg, Canada
LIAISON FROM THE YOUNG
LAWYERS DIVISION
Brandon Michael Schwartz, Oakdale, MN
LIAISON FROM THE ABA
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Alice Bruno, New Britain, CT
DIRECTOR
David J. Moora, JD, MA
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION Section of Dispute Resolution
1050 Connecticut Ave, N.W. Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 662-1680
Fax: (202) 662-1683 www.americanbar.org/dispute
Dear ______________:
The leadership of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution is requesting that you, as a recognized leader in the field of dispute resolution, consider assuming an active role in the promotion of ABA Mediation Week this year by developing a locally or regionally organized and managed ABA Mediation Week event or activity. In 2011, the ABA declared the third week of October, “ABA Mediation Week,” in part building on the efforts of many other national, state, and local organizations, including the Association for Conflict
Resolution (ACR) which have traditionally celebrated conflict resolution during the month of
October. During ABA Mediation Week, programs and activities designed to educate lawyers, parties, the judiciary, public officials and the general public about mediation, and to promote the use of mediation are held throughout the world. Last year over 150 events were held by state and local bar associations, graduate and law schools, ADR providers and international organizations, including educational programs, symposiums, panel discussions, receptions, luncheons, brown bags, ADR literature distribution, media campaigns, proclamations and outreach to public officials and schools.
ABA Mediation Week will be held during the week of October 11-17 this year. The theme for this year’s ABA Mediation Week is “Mediation—Successes, Challenges, Trends and the
Next Generation: Looking to the past, present and future .” As lawyers and mediators, we understand both the challenges and rewards of helping parties in conflict reach an agreement by getting past differences in positions, by understanding each other’s perspectives better, and by finding ways to get their important interests met while staying true to their values and belief systems. Programs held during ABA Mediation Week will provide neutrals, advocates and policy makers with inspiration and tools necessary to bridge the gap that often prevents amicable resolution of disputes. This year’s theme seeks to recognize and share the challenges mediators face; how the have overcome obstacles, and the how they and the community can use these lessons to further ADR.
As it did last year, the Section will have an electronic toolkit accessible through its website with program/activity planning guides, talking points, hand-outs, articles, reflections on the theme, videos, mediation brochures that inform parties how to prepare for mediation in general civil, family, and commercial cases, sample proclamations and links for additional resources and other materials. Local organizers can use the toolkit as they choose to assist them in planning and implementing programs and activities. New resources will be added to the toolkit this year. This toolkit can be found at: http://www.americanbar.org/groups/dispute_resolution/resources/mediation_week_toolkit.ht
ml .
ABA staff and leaders in the field will provide support to organizers and make special appearances at events, when available, if coordinated with ABA in advance. We encourage you to coordinate and collaborate with other conflict resolution organizations in your area that may be planning other activities to celebrate conflict resolution during the month of October.
We are also urging you to seek a proclamation from your Governor, Mayor, State
Legislature, Chief Justice, and/or your local Judiciary declaring the third week of October as
Mediation Week in your state or locale. Visit the toolkit for a sample letter and proclamation that can be used as a guide for your letter to your political leaders and Courts as needed.

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION Section of Dispute Resolution
1050 Connecticut Ave, N.W. Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 662-1680
Fax: (202) 662-1683 www.americanbar.org/dispute
If you are interested in sponsoring an ABA Mediation Week event or activity this year, please complete the registration form at: https://americanbar.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_81yy6i7v5XDPszP which sets forth information about your organization and your contemplated activity. In an effort to support the initiation of programs by law schools, graduate programs, non-profit ADR organizations, courts and state and local bar associations, the Section of Dispute Resolution has limited funds available this year to provide financial assistance to select organizations sponsoring ABA Mediation
Week activities on a first-come, first-served, as-needed grant basis. The registration form also includes the application for assistance. We ask you to complete the registration form by no later than September 8, 2014. Applications received after that date may receive funding that may be remaining on a reduced rate.
We are excited about collaborating with you this year on this important initiative. If you have any questions or for more information, please contact: Matthew Conger, Staff Attorney, at the American Bar Association Section of Dispute
Resolution: matthew.conger@americanbar.org
. For more information and ideas about how you can be part of the celebration, go to http://ambar.org/mediationweek .
Sincerely,
Peter Arcese
Co-Chair ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, Mediation Committee
Richard Lord
Co-Chair ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, Mediation Committee
David Levaton
Colleges, Graduate and Law Schools Coordinator
Kochina Marshall
International Organizations Coordinator