In a meeting noteworthy for what did not happen as much as what did, President Judith Schachter brought her two-year term to a close.
In contrast to the prior meetings during her term of office, the Council was presented with few issues generating debate and contest among councilors, creating the impression that the meeting allowed a relatively quiet change of leadership before more volatile debates resume. A presidency begun amid March gales ended strewn with May blossoms.
Although councilors expect to continue formal debate over the role of The American in the Psychoanalytic Consortium, particularly as relating to external credentialing and accreditation, the matter was shelved for later consideration by a new committee under the next regime. There is no lack of interest, but the Executive Council did not develop open discussions of the subject at this meeting.
Most excitement was elicited by the proposal to join with the Institute for Psycho-analysis (London) to finance the joint development and distribution of a CD-ROM that will contain electronic reprints of six major psychoanalytic journals, along with a sophisticated search engine designed to scan their entire literature (see article on page 2). After spirited debate about the risk The American will assume for half the cost of this not-inexpensive endeavor, the Council voted to proceed with the project. The predominant sentiment was that this is a very important and worthwhile project, the risk is reasonable, and there is a good likelihood of major success. The venture was approved, and Nadine Levinson, Paul Mosher, and Judith Schachter were elected for one-year terms to the board of directors of this new, for-profit corporation. Allan Compton and Jonah Schein were nominated to be shareholder representatives.
Jon Meyer reported on the Select Ad Hoc Committee on Council Structure and Function. In contrast to earlier committees considering structure and function, this committee unanimously agreed that the Executive Council should continue the functions and responsibilities of the board of directors, including financial and legal responsibilities. They recommended that the functions of the Council, as expressed through its committees, be divided into three major categories: committees to enable organizational functioning (e.g., Finance, By-Laws, Societies), committees disseminating information and policy making, and committees overseeing scientific endeavors.
In the ensuing discussion, suggestions surfaced that terms of executive councilors be made uniform, perhaps tenured and providing for two councilors from each society, with overlapping terms. The Council members expressed the hope that future councilors will continue to be zealous and dedicated to their tasks. All councilors are expected to link together soon through E-mail.
The relation of the Executive Council to the Board on Professional Standards, a sticky point certain to create debate, was not touched upon. It was noted that relations between the two bodies have always created friction and this is likely to continue. Probably this is a fruitful interaction, as each body vigorously pursues its mission. The Council accepted the report of the Select Committee and authorized it to continue generating ideas and recommendations.
Treasurer Newell Fischer gave his first report since succeeding Stephen Firestein midterm. Numbers, conclusions, and recommendations for action peppered what was undoubtedly the most comprehensive financial report ever. The intensive work of the Budget and Finance Committee, composed of the treasurer, affiliate representative Ahron Friedberg, Allan Compton, Nadine Levinson, Leon Hoffman, Jonah Schein, and Samuel Rubin as Board representative, was evident.
Dues constitute 85 percent of The American's revenues. With increasing numbers of life members who are not dues-paying, other income-generating measures are needed. Suggestions included endorsing insurance programs in return for support of programs, increasing dues and memberships, entering profitable enterprises such as the CD-ROM project, developing commercial operations such as an ApsaA credit card, and other endorsements. A number of necessary and worthwhile projects were presented. The roster needs periodic updating and to be made more user-friendly. Central Office requires a regulated, consistent expenditure for upgrading equipment. It was recommended that we allocate national officers' stipends to defray lost income. This was approved by the Council. Also approved was a budget for research funding. The Fund for Psychoanalytic Research saw its incoming contributions shrink from a peak of $60,000 to only $38,000 last year.
The treasurer reported that 1995 ended with a deficit of $32,000, much less than the anticipated $155,000. The American lived essentially within its budget in the first quarter of 1996, but the income from the May meeting will be much less than anticipated. Among newer developments, cost centers will now allocate indirect as well as direct costs to each committee's budget, to better clarify the costs of various functions.
Dan Buie, chair of the Committee on Honorary Memberships, was granted changes in criteria, since the designation “outstanding contributions to the science of psychoanalysis” has proven to be too narrow, not allowing consideration
for contributions from related sciences.
A debate ensued over guidelines by the Elections Committee, also chaired by Buie. Concern was voiced over the uses of E-mail and the Internet in recent national and international elections. The discussion produced ideas and scripts of possible events that would help councilors understand reasons for regulating such electioneering, as well as the likelihood that electronic communications is relatively inexpensive, probably incapable of regulation, and that we need to experience and understand more. No action was taken.
Maimon Leavitt reported for the Membership Committee. Five members of IPA-approved U.S. societies were approved for membership in The American, all of them significant contributors. Leavitt requested, and was granted, a bylaw amendment for an automatic granting of full membership upon graduation, since certification is no longer required for membership application. Finally, the Council urged the committee to develop more aggressive outreach to affiliates, including reduced dues for one year.
Lee Brauer reported for the Committee on Psychoanalytic Practice that surveys have shown a steady 1-percent decline in numbers of psychoanalytic patients for the past seventeen years, resulting in a 17-percent decline overall. The decline has been speeding up recently, a finding that requires study. The next survey will be distributed in the fall, and all societies should be alerted and urged to comply and cooperate.
Lively discussion accompanied the report by Ralph Roughton, chair of the Committee on Homosexuality. He reported that the current position of The American has been repeatedly distorted in public statements issued by the National Association for Research and Treatment of Homosexuality (NARTH) and by Charles Socarides. The American's attorney has notified Socarides that he must stop misrepresenting the official position of The American. Issues of censorship ethics have risen since NARTH placed an announcement and ad in TAP for its meeting in Los Angeles. (Letters protesting acceptance of NARTH's ad are in this issue of TAP.) Allan Rosenblatt, Katherine MacVicar, Elizabeth Mayer, Leon Hoffman, Bill Jeffrey (editor of TAP), Dorothy Holmes, David Hurst, Elise Snyder, and Betsy Reid contributed to a discussion about the limits of censorship and freedom of the press, and the obligations of an official organ of the organization to print news and position statements. Ralph Roughton called it one of the most open and outspoken discussions he has heard at meetings. President Schachter noted that the discussion affirmed the position taken by Jeffrey and the senior editors of TAP to print the NARTH announcement and ad.
In Executive Session, Elise Snyder reported an increase of 65 percent in the number of requests for applications to the Fellowship Program, with more foreign-born and trained applicants, as well as an increase in the number of psychologists applying.
In actions, Jorge Schneider was elected counselor-at-large to complete Robert Pyles' term, since the latter has been elected President-elect of The American.
As a result of restructuring at the IPA, a select ad hoc committee recommended the nomination of four councilors for the single position of representative to the IPA. This was approved, and in addition, four councilors are to be nominated to be representatives to the North American IPA House of Delegates. This is the locus of meeting with representatives of the four independent IPA societies in the United States. All these representatives are to be elected by the membership.
The Exploratory Subcommittee of the Nominating Committee also presented four nominees for the office of secretary, from which Jon Meyer and Paul Mosher were nominated by Council for election in October. Peggy Hutson, Donald Meyers, Warren Procci, and Jorge Schneider were nominated, from a field of eight, to run for two councilor-at-large positions.
Arnold Richards, editor of JAPA, presented a list of twelve nominees for the editorial board, from which Robert Caper, Norman Doidge, Peggy Hutson, Nancy Kulish, Arnold Rothstein, and Arnold Wilson were elected.
Speaking for the Honorary Membership Committee, Dorothy Holmes nominated Judith Wallerstein, who was unanimously elected to the list of honorary members.
President Schachter concluded the meeting with a brief note of farewell. She first complimented the Executive Council, praising the councilors for being a remarkably alive and interesting body, which she said “made” her presidency. She thanked the Central Office staff for its hard work and cheerfulness in the face of adversity. Finally, saying it might surprise the Executive Committee, she thanked them for their energies, involvement, discussions, and commitment to The American. The Council responded with a prolonged, heartfelt standing ovation.
In contrast to a long tradition of private celebration, underwritten by The American, a social event commemorating the end of her presidency was open to all who wished to attend. Part of the proceeds were donated to the Fund for Psychoanalytic Research, at Schachter's request.
Arthur Farley reported for himself and Samuel Rubin, cochairs of the CGRI/CPR Coordinating Committee. This committee was formed, at the last meeting, to coordinate action on national legislation affecting psychoanalysis and psychotherapy. He thanked the Executive Committee for its assistance and interest, and also Marina Weiss, from the Washington law firm of Powers, Pyles, Sutter and Verville, who has been educational and helpful. Paul Mosher, who leads The American's efforts to maintain confidentiality in the analytic setting, alerted the Council to the strong movement afoot by insurance companies, other companies, and government to develop a central database of confidential information.
Sheila Hafter Gray reported for the Peer Review Committee, asking that two clarifying reports be approved, on charting psychoanalysis and appointment records. Both were approved and are now policy of The American. She is open to requests for information.
Robert Galatzer-Levy reported for the Committee on Scientific Activities that he is preparing a report on homosexuality. He said he is pleased that funds for research will become a line item in our budget, and considers this to be a wise decision.