We often forget the American has been extraordinarily successful and well managed. That one group helps develop and perpetuates a high standard of training and practice, provides lively scientific and educational forums, and promotes the professional goals of its members testifies to psychoanalysts' dedication to working together.
Our interests and our enthusiasm for psychoanalysis will always be what fuels the Association. The major concern of the treasury is to insure that financial constraints interfere as little as possible with the development of our projects. Planning, for instance, can foresee some needs: the expiration of our lease in 1984 and the foresighted accumulation of funds that made possible the purchase of an office condominium was one example; and the implementation of funding of a retirement plan for headquarters personnel was another. Other needs, such as those caused by the rapid inflation of a decade ago, could only be roughly planned year by year, while still others, like the recent law suit, could not be adequately anticipated.
Prudence then requires that we strive first to eliminate our annual deficit, than to restore the Association's reserve funds for unforeseeable demands and opportunities. Vigilant monitoring of our expenses must continue as we renew careful planning for the 1990's.