This February, the IPA membership, of which APsaA members constitute 20%, will elect 21 delegates from around the world to form a new governmental body, which will be known as the Board of Representatives. The new Board will serve as the Board of Directors of the IPA, analogous to our Executive Council. It will have authority over changes in the IPA's procedure code, recommend changes to the constitution and bylaws, approve Presidential actions, set the budget and have increased oversight duties regarding IPA committees. Additionally, the Board will elect three of its members, one from each region, to serve on the Executive Committee.
Previously, the analogous governing body at the IPA was the House of Delegates. For various reasons, it was limited in its power, which has tended historically, within the IPA, to remain in the hands of the elected officers. The IPA has invested considerable authority in the new Board of Representatives, at least on paper. However, the board must overcome significant challenges to become really effective: it meets only twice a year, people don't know each other well, because they are from different countries, and members don't speak the same language.
The new Board structure is more representative of the regions than any previous IPA governmental structure. Regional elections have, for the most part, replaced global elections. This allows regions to elect representatives truly knowledgeable about their regions. Previously, elections tended to favor candidates whose scholarly work had created global name recognition.
The representative selection system can be confusing. It was designed in a special way to ensure a greater level of regional representation, and equitable representation for small and larger institutes. The IPA has three regions: North America, Latin American and Europe. Seven representatives are elected from each region. Of these seven, five are from the region and elected by IPA members within the region. The other two are candidates from the region, but they are elected by a global vote. A potential candidate can put his/her name forward either as a regionally elected candidate or a globally elected candidate. Candidates are also sorted by whether they come from a smaller or larger society. Of the five regional representatives, two will represent smaller societies (in the North American region, the smaller societies are the Canadian and the IPS) and three will represent larger societies (in North America, this is APsaA).
Here's what an APsaA member will actually be voting for:
Five regional representatives who are elected solely by members from the North American region.
For the two positions representing the smaller societies, elected by regional vote, candidates are Norman Doidge, James Gooch, Brian Robertson and Barbara Stimmel. Doidge and Robertson are from the Canadian Society. Stimmel and Gooch are from IPS societies.
Three representatives from the larger societies, i.e. APsaA, will also be elected regionally. Candidates are Sander Abend, Richard Fox, Marshall Greene, Robert Pyles and Miriam Tasini.
Two North American representatives will be elected by a global vote. Candidates are Ronald Brown and Charles Hanly from Toronto, and Helen Meyers and Robert Tyson from APsaA.
Prudy Gourguechon is Editor of TAP.
Two globally elected representatives from Latin America. Seven candidates are running for these two positions: Simon Brainsky (Bogota), Maria Edelmira Estrada de Rampulla (Cordoba), Raquel Zak de Goldstein (Buenos Aires), Romulo Lander (Caracas), Alvaro Rey de Castro (Lima), Paulo Cesar Sandler (Sao Paulo) and Marcelo Vinar (Uruguay).
Two globally elected representatives from Europe. Two candidates are running for these two positions: Henk Jan Dalewijk (Netherlands) and Sverre Varvin (Norway).
In addition to the Board of Representatives seats, there are several elections at stake for officer positions. President Daniel Widlocher of France is running unopposed for a second term. The next president is due to be an IPA member from the Latin American Region. Position statements from the three candidates for President Elect can be seen on p. 5 of this TAR The successful candidate will take office as president in July 2005.
The position of Treasurer rotates this time to the North American Region. Two APsaA members, Allan Compton and Nadine Levinson, are vying for that post.
As confusing as the anticipated ballot may appear to us APsaA voters, the importance of our participation in this election cannot be overstated. Make sure to fill your ballot out carefully to prevent its being discarded as invalid. The potential for the IPA becoming more responsive to regional needs, and correcting a historical problem involving excessive centralization of power will significantly benefit APsaA and the interests of all APsaA members.
Asked by TAP for his views on the importance for our members of this particular IPA election, APsaA president Newell Fisher said, “Psychoanalysis as a science and profession is of worldwide importance. The APsaA best contributes to this international movement by maintaining our strong leadership role in the IPA. We in the Association are in turn greatly enriched by the diversity of such multi-regional collaboration.”
Everyone with whom we spoke, APsaA officers, IPA officers and directors, stressed the importance of this election and strongly urged APsaA members to vote.