Candidate Representation: The Councillors were reminded that a decision had been reached in May, 1971 to create a category of candidate membership and that an Ad Hoc Committee chaired by Dr. Paul Gray is at work on implementing this decision. In the meanwhile Council discussed ways of increasing the degree of contact between the Association and the candidates. The
Councillors were in full approval of the idea of having the Central Office mail out provisional programs and other material directly to the candidates who will soon have a roster to facilitate such mailings. There was then discussion of some interim form of candidate liaison pending the adoption of a category of candidate membership. The NCC had requested that two candidates be invited as guests or representatives to attend meetings of both Board and Council. (See above for item on Board action.) Among the issues discussed in this connection was the question of whether the NCC is qualified to speak for all of the candidates. Dr. Wallerstein reminded the Council that there are now candidate members on eleven of the standing committees of the Association. These appointments have been made partially on the basis of recommendations of the NCC, but also by consultation with local Institutes. All of these appointments are for one year. Council unanimously authorized the President to invite two candidates to be selected by him to attend the meetings of the Executive Council as guests with a right to speak, but without the right to vote.
Candidate Membership: The Ad Hoc Committee on Candidate Membership, chaired by Dr. Paul Gray, presented a report of its proposals. It suggested there be a category of “Candidate Affiliate Membership” for which a candidate would be eligible after he had been approved for supervision and for as long as he retained that status. In order to assure continuity of affiliation until membership in the Association is obtainable, a candidate affiliate would automatically become a graduate affiliate on graduation with the right to continue that status for a maximum of three years. This time limit could be extended if fulfillment of regular membership requirements seemed imminent. Appropriate annual dues for each of these categories would be levied. These proposals will be discussed and perhaps reach final action by Council in May 1972.
Bill to License Psychoanalysts: Council was advised of a report from Dr. Irving Sternschein, a member of the New York Society, concerning a bill introduced in the Legislature of the State of New York requiring the licensing of psychoanalysts by a State Certifying Board in psychoanalysis. The designation of “psychoanalyst” would be granted to individuals who satisfied a variety of formal requirements as to hours of personal analysis, classroom hours and hours of supervision. It is clear to those who have studied the legislation that the proposal bears hardly any meaningful relationship to the psychoanalytic point of view or the maintenance of psychoanalytic educational standards as understood by the APsaA. The bill was not considered to have a good chance of passage in the New York Legislature but it was felt desirable to inform members of Council about this development in New York and to urge that members in other states maintain a watchful eye on the actions of their own legislatures regarding this issue.
International Congress: In a letter to the President of the Association, Dr. Frances H. Gitelson, Secretary of the International Psycho-Analytical Association, advised of the results of a ballot held to determine the preferences of the members of the International as to the place of its 1975-76 Congress. This mail ballot was occasioned by the fact that the APsaA had invited the International to meet in San Francisco. Dr. Gitelson reported that the ballot showed a clear preference for Mexico City over San Francisco. She noted that one of the factors in this vote was the requirement of a visa to enter the United States, which arouses considerable objection among many colleagues abroad. As a result of this report Council unanimously recommended that the Association communicate with the State Department and members of Congress advising them of the loss of an important international scientific gathering in the United States as a result of the visa requirement.
Malpractice Insurance: Dr. Edward Joseph reported on an effort to arrange malpractice coverage for members of the Association. A policy has been offered which would make possible coverage at a rate below the premium for similar insurance held by the APA. Council voted unanimously to authorize such a policy.
National Health Insurance: A Committee on Insurance Programs, chaired by Dr. Robert Gibson, reported on its survey of actual and proposed national health insurance schemes and noted that coverage for psychoanalytic treatment is meager or absent in all of the proposed health insurance plans. The Executive Council unanimously approved a motion that Dr. Gibson's Committee be authorized to undertake an advocacy role in support of the inclusion of psychoanalytic treatment in health insurance plans.
Disaffiliation and Dis-approval: The report of the Joint Committee dealing with the Disaffiliation of Societies and Dis-Approval of Institutes, chaired by Dr. Robert Gilliland, was unanimously accepted by the Board. After being approved by the legal counsel as to form, these
proposals will be presented to the membership in the form of a By-Law Amendment for mail ballot vote.
Katz Report Available
Candidates have expressed a great interest in having available copies of the Report of the Committee on Policies and Problems of Membership, popularly known as the “Katz Committee.” This is a lengthy report, but an abstract of its content is available at the Central Office. Candidates who wish a copy of the abstract may obtain one by writing the Central Office.
Code of Ethics: The Committee on a Code of Ethics, which has been chaired by Dr. Edward Daniels, submitted its final report. The Council accepted this latest version of the Code and this proposal also will be put into the form of a By-Law for membership vote.
Scientific Activities: Council returned to a discussion of the report of Dr. Heinz Kohut's Committee on Scientific Activities originally submitted in May, 1969. After a thorough discussion, Council approved a motion to create a new standing committee entitled “The Committee on Scientific Activities.”
Convention Fees: The Committee on Arrangements, chaired by Dr. Samuel Feder, has proposed that there be an adjustment of the schedule of registration fees for the Association's national meetings. The Committee proposed that the fee for graduate analysts who are not members of the Association, and for allied professionals, be raised to $25.00. The fee for candidates and their spouses would become $15.00. Attendance would be free for residents, internes, and medical and graduate students. This suggested schedule was accepted by Council.
About the Freud “Abstracts”
It has come to the attention of the Central Office that some members of the Association did not receive copies of the “Abstracts of the Standard Edition of Sigmund Freud” which were mailed free of charge to all members from the offices of the N.I.M.H. in Washington. Any member who did not receive his complimentary copy should so advise the Central Office and a copy will be forwarded.