What a difference a season can make! And I am not talking about the blanket of white that covers our landscape, the craft shows or mounds of baking ingredients displayed in Supermarkets. Although that, too, is a reminder of the change of time, where we have come from and where we are now!

When ADRIA was born the opportunity for enhancing, intensifying and growing our member services activities was identified as a core business function. ADRIA is now one and a half years old and has experienced a series of growing pains, which ultimately became valuable guide posts for what we want to achieve. We listened, and we learned. Sometimes the lessons derived from challenging moments are the gains we make in becoming better equipped for what we aim to do.

It has been a year of change, something that in itself could lead to conflict.  Managing the change process was, therefore, much of what gave us focus and kept us working as a team.  In May, members elected several new directors to the Board  and starting in June, staff had undertaken an office move as well as upgrades to internal systems. In August, a new staffing structure took effect. In November, a strategic plan for 2014 was endorsed by the Board, as was the budget for 2014. The signs of a successful transition from AAMS to ADRIA, long awaited, had finally arrived. The additional support by Paul, director of member services, and Tammy, manager of professional development, have proven to be invaluable for our operations. Their enthusiasm and expertise in their respective fields has already been noticed internally as well as externally.

While 2013 was the year for designing a change strategy, 2014 promises to be a year of implementation and stabilization for the organization and its members. This, of course, is all made possible by the support, flexibility and openness of a progressive-thinking Board of Directors, for which we are most grateful. Lastly, but certainly not least, we are fortunate to work with a number of volunteers who appear out of nowhere like ‘angels in disguise’ in the most needed moments. We have been reaching out and they have responded with skills and knowledge of tremendous value to us. Thank you to all of you; too numerous to mention without fear of forgetting someone.

And so we step into the year 2014 with gratitude and hope. Thank you, for believing in us, in our vision and our mission:

VISION:

ADRIA is the strongest and most vibrant Appropriate Dispute Resolution membership organization in Canada - recognized for advancing excellence in the field of ADR, its practice, and its professionals.

MISSION:

To provide leadership and services in appropriate dispute resolution (ADR) to our members by: Fostering excellence in negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and restorative practices; Supporting the viable practice of ADR in Alberta; Providing excellence in ADR professional development; Promoting the ethical use of ADR processes; Maintaining accreditation standards, accountability and designations for the ADR profession; Encouraging those practicing in ADR to join our organization.

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With best wishes for a safe and healthy Holiday Season!

Erika Deines
Executive Director