Having watched the London Olympics over the past weeks brings to mind that there is a kind of marathon that is run by ACR volunteer leaders – officers, board, section and chapter leaders, members of committees, and others – through the annual leadership cycle. They devote much time on top of professional and personal demands. They are strong and steady in their pursuits. Most have trained for years as they built experience in the field and within ACR. They give their all.

So, as we near the end of the 2011-2012 leadership cycle, I applaud our volunteer leaders. Thank you for your dedication to the success of ACR and all you do to advance the conflict resolution field.

One international leader in our field, who will join us at our 12th Annual Conference in just a few weeks, did participate in the Olympics. Nobel Peace Prize awardee Leymah Gbowee carried the Olympic Flag into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony, along with other special guests. See the article below.

Our conference is a time and place where we can celebrate together, not only our ACR successes, but also the contributions members make in reducing, managing, and resolving conflicts of all kinds, everyday, all over the world. I’m excited to celebrate with you in New Orleans.

ACR's conference will mark the beginning of our new leadership cycle. It has been an honor to serve as your ACR President over the past year. I express my personal gratitude, to one and all, for your support and for the contributions you made individually and collectively to ACR's work. I look forward to our future work together.

Cordially,

Perri Mayes
ACR President