Ohio Mediation Association

OMA Annual Meeting

                                                                                 Distribution: Post to mediate.com/ohio

Date:               May 12, 2006

Time:              12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location:        Riffe Tower, 31^st Floor

Attendees:      41

1.  Welcome and Introductions.  Shirley Cochran introduced the past OMA officers from   2004 – 2005 and from 2005 – 2006.  She also presented the newly elected officers for 2006 – 2007.  In addition to the officers, Shirley introduced the three non-voting board members:  John Cruze, Susan Shostak, Sheri Center and Letitia Patino.

2.  President’s Comments.  Membership in OMA has remained stable for the past two years: 129 for 2004 and 128 for 2005. This year’s membership is currently 82 since many people are in the process of renewing their annual membership.  Shirley spoke about the introduction of a new invoicing system for collecting dues; it should increase membership renewals.  OMA’s directory is under update to remove the names of prior members who have not renewed their memberships.  Anyone interested in the membership list for OMA should go to http://www.mediate.com/ohioand print out the directory.  This on-line tool replaces the previous hardcopy version mailed to all members.  Also on the website is OMA’s bi-monthly newsletter, entitled Mediate Ohio.  Members should submit articles for inclusion in the newsletter by the 20^th of the month.

OMA has increased email and web-based technologies as the preferred methodologies to contact members.  These tools provide fast and economical mediums to share information.  All OMA members are encouraged to obtain an email account if they haven’t already done so.

3.  Vice President’s Comments.   Jay Patterson shared information on the Summit Initiative that includes representatives from major mediation organizations throughout Ohio including, but not limited to, OMA, MANO, the Ohio Supreme Court, and Ohio Community Mediation Centers.  The Summit is focusing on two main initiatives: 1) the development of a slogan/tag line to be used by all organizations, 2) data collection to track the status and success of mediations.   This is the first time that Ohio’s professional mediation associations have met and worked together on strategic initiatives.

4.  Immediate Past President’s Comments.  Martha Antolik provided an update on OMA’s website.  In the next couple weeks each OMA member will receive a message from  omapresident@mediateohio,orgwhich provides the member’s individual user ID and password.  Members should keep this message as the user code and password allows them access to the directory page where they can update their directory listing.  The directory page is reached by clicking on the URL provided in the message with the subject line “Ohio Mediation Association member--keep your Directory info current”.

5.Treasurer’s Comments.  Dan DeStephens was unable to attend today’s meeting so Martha provided the treasurer’s report.  It was all good news!  During the timeframe of April 1, 2005, to April 1, 2006, OMA’s total income was $7,358.00.  Expenses for the same timeframe were $7,607.96.  Balance on hand as of April 1, 2006, is $5,031.96 of which $2,000 is in CDs and the remainder is in a checking account.

6. Secretary’s Comments.  Sheri Center provided information on past minutes of the meeting – the minutes are being posted to OMA’s website for easy access by all members.   Sheri thanked everyone for their support and shared how much she enjoyed her three years as OMA secretary.

7. Board Member Report.  Susan Shostak is heading a committee to present case studies at three group locations in Ohio.  Anyone interested in participating should contact Susan. 

8. Better Word Award Presentation.  Shirley presented the Better Word Award to Eileen Pruett.  Eileen has been in mediation for over 25 years starting with the Columbus City Attorney’s Night Prosecutor’s mediation program while still in law school.  After law school she continued working with that program, became part of the group founding Community Mediation Service of Central Ohio and a member of the Supreme Court’s Committee on Dispute Resolution where she supervised the program known as the Circuit Rider, creating mediation programs for the smaller and more rural Municipal Courts.  Eileen became the first to head the Office of Dispute Resolution Services for the Supreme Court of Ohio when the office was created in 1992.  Currently in charge of the Small Claims Mediation Program at the Franklin County Municipal Court, Eileen has been the trainer and mentor for many mediators and continues to offer her assistance to the field whenever it is needed.

9. Final Comments.  Jay thanked the many individuals responsible for this year’s annual conference.  These individuals include the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution (Maria Mone and Ed Krauss), the OMA board, Cheryl Lowry for obtaining CLEs and CEUs, Rob from Antioch for the printing, and Romona Inskeep.  Jay also thanked Sandra Frederick for her continuing support in locating speakers for OMA’s bi-monthly meetings. 

Jay’s vision for OMA’s future is to do nothing revolutionary.  However, he does see the need to move OMA beyond its current status quo.  This professional organization needs to speak with a proactive voice.  To do so requires both human and professional resources.  He knows he can rely on OMA members for continuing support. 

Prepared by:  Christy Radigan, OMA Secretary