The value of ACR membership to the next generation of mediators and ADR specialists

My dear friends:

Please allow me to inform you of some important news that may be of interest to the Werner graduate school community. I also am a graduate of this superb program(2010), as well as a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution's national new membership committee. My ACR committee assignment is to concentrate on the Mediation/ADR graduate student segment. The goal is to create awareness of jobs and additional opportunities within the ADR field for the next generation of mediators and ADR specialists. This initiative will enhance the value of ACR membership while growing the graduate and law school student base. In addition to Creighton, I will be contacting a number of ADR schools with the same proposition.

The thrust is to focus the next generation's attention on ACR membership as a nexus between graduate and law school and the next step(s)in their career development by enhancing their skills, contacts, and networking opportunities within the ADR/ACR community. The need is to go beyond posting jobs on the ACR website and to present our value as an ongoing reference point throughout the aspiring ADR specialist's career from school to the professional establishment stage and beyond. The ACR needs to offer more value and specific services. There are ideas afloat to create opportunities for students by competition for cash awards, mentorships, internships,membership discounts and incentives for attracting new members etc. The plan is to encourage students to join ACR by focusing on their specific career and personal needs. A large part of my assignment will be to understand and address the unmet, personal, and business needs of ADR students vis-a-vis the ACR.

One of the ACR's roles should be to create virtual and on site venues to groom the next generation of ADR professionals by introducing them to people who may influence and help to develop their careers. I realize that the above is an ambitious undertaking. I greet this new challenge with enthusiasm and passion. I welcome any ideas from this audience. Please consider ACR student membership at our website: www.acrnet.org. There will be more to follow.

Cordially,

John C. Turley

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