Washington, D.C.
The American Psychoanalytic Association is the premier psychoanalytic organization in the world today. Let's be sure it stays that way. The stronger the American, the more help we can expect in improving our practices, increasing relations with other scientific organizations, and sustaining psychoanalytic research.
We are extremely fortunate that the recent lawsuit has been settled, so that the leadership can turn its attention to other matters of equal and even more importance. The leadership, including the new President-elect must take the lead in bringing resolution to various pressing issues including requirements for voting privileges, local Institute autonomy for selecting non-medical candidates, and the impact of IPA approved Institutes within the United States. I believe that my experience and personal characteristics will enable me to deal effectively with these issues and to use them for bringing about constructive change.
during my six years as Co-Director of the Baltimore- Washington Institute for Psychoanalysis and my two years as Presidentelect/President of the Baltimore-Washington Society, I was active in implementing a new Constitutional form of government and in initiating democratic change. I was successful in involving increased numbers of our members in roles
of leadership and Committee responsibilities and in starting new scientific programs.
In almost twenty years of active participation in the American, I have come to understand its organization and to recognize how it can serve the membership better. I have seen the value of consensus-building and the need for each member to pull together toward a common goal. I have found that the widest possible geographic and Society/Institute representation on these Committees makes for a stronger American. The larger the vote in this election, the better the chance the new President-elect will have in being able to rely on a strong and involved membership, which will be needed especially in the next few years. I hope you will be sure to vote.