I would like first to commend the members and staff who made the December meeting one of the best in years. Attendance was up, and the spirit of the gathering was ebullient, the discussions spirited and substantive, and the scientific presentations unusually good, thanks in large measure to Arnold Rothstein, chair of the Program Committee. As you may have noticed, the format of the Business Meeting has been streamlined. The long reports once read by officers and committee chairs to the Executive Council and the Meeting of Members have been eliminated or abridged to allow more time for the discussion of major issues and problems confronting our organization and our practices. Foremost among these, of course, is the national health care plan advanced by the Clinton administration. In the discussion of this pressing issue, Norman “Drew” Clemens, chair of the Committee on Government Relations and Insurance, succinctly presented the administration position and made cogent remarks on various proposals from the floor, particularly that of the Southern California Society. This proposal, raised in the meeting by Robert Cummings, recommends that psychoanalysis remain completely outside the sphere of any government health plan. The discussions were crisp, well prepared, and well received. The feeling among members, as related to me by many, was that The American is working hard for the membership, and for the preservation and advancement of psychoanalysis.
Plans are under way for the 1995 May meeting, which will mark only the second time in The American's history that an annual meeting has not included a scientific program. The Executive Committee has decided to forgo the scientific segment of the meeting in order to support, as fully as we can, the IPAs biennial meeting, to be held in San Francisco in July 1995. In a related matter, one of our task forces, chaired by Richard Fox, has suggested that The American hold but one “big meeting” annually. Instead of a second full-scale meeting in the same year, a smaller meeting, devoted solely to business and administrative tasks, would be scheduled. Committees would convene at such a meeting, and those with overlapping responsibilities would have the time to hold joint sessions. In particular, committees of Board and Council could meet jointly, tying together our organizational infrastructure and perhaps reducing internal tensions and polemics as people get to know one another. In this regard, the May 1995 meeting in Chicago, kept purely administrative to accommodate the IPA, may be regarded as something of a pilot study.
Members should make every effort to attend the IPA Congress in California, for which plans are being formulated by a committee co-chaired by Joseph Lifschutz and David Dean Brockman. According to advance word, it promises to be one of the best Congresses ever.
I was particularly gratified by the initial meeting of the Association's newly formed Steering Committee, which consists of the chairs of Council committees, joint Board and Council committees, and joint task forces. Each chair presented a committee report and entertained questions and suggestions. The atmosphere was charged with interest, and even a little awe, that so much work was being done by so few, and with such a degree of expertise and sophistication. The president of The American chairs the Steering Committee, and as time goes on it should mature into a smoothly working group in which ideas can be exchanged and mutual interests developed.
The Committee on Societies, also newly formed, with Ralph Engle and Allan Rosenblatt as co-chairs, has been actively disseminating information to the councilors and getting feedback from the societies to guide the Executive Committee and the Executive Council in their deliberations.
In another move, a subcommittee of the Joint Board and Council Committee on Ethics has been formed to overhaul our Code of Ethics and various implementation procedures. This was long overdue. As at present the Committee on Ethics is overcommitted, it seemed appropriate to establish a subcommittee to undertake the task. The new body will communicate with societies and institutes in order to develop a code and procedures with some degree of uniformity, or at least compatibility, among the various component groups. Chairing the subcommittee is Ralph Engle of Boston, who has expressed a strong interest in our ethical procedures.
I have also appointed an Advisory Committee on Publications Review, to be chaired by Harold Blum, which will advise the Executive Committee concerning the different publications of The American. It will have no executive functions. Because contracts must often be arranged with publishers or printers for the Journal, TAP, and other newsletters and occasional publications of The American, and because differences at times arise regarding the printing of various committee newsletters, it seemed wise to provide some degree of supervision and support from members knowledgeable in such matters.
Stephen Sonnenberg's term as chair of the Committee on Public Information expired in January, and Irene Chiarandini has been appointed to replace him. During his tenure, Steve was very helpful in developing programs giving psychoanalysis greater visibility in other professions and among the general public. He was also instrumental in building a close working relationship among the practice-related committees referred to as the Quad (Government Relations and Insurance, Practice Issues, Peer Review, and Public Information).
Muriel Laskin's term as chair of the Arrangements Committee also expired in January, after a creative and very productive stint of many years. Muriel built a strong, hardworking committee and devoted heart and soul to the arduous tasks involved in planning and setting up meetings of The American. She has graciously accepted appointment to the Committee on Societies. LeRoy Byerly of Philadelphia takes over as chair of Arrangements, his first major task being the upcoming May meeting in his hometown.
I hope to see you there.