Councilors approved the California Psychoanalytic Society as a new affiliate society, despite concerns voiced by some members of LAPSI (the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Society and Institute). The California Psychoanalytic Society becomes the third society in the Los Angeles area. Sharon Zalusky, representing the CPS, was seated at the table as a guest of Council. The new society will be able to seat its own voting councilors at the January meeting.
Treasurer Warren Procci reported that we showed a $21,000 surplus for 2002, considerably less than the anticipated $99,000 surplus. Higher than expected legal fees contributed to the difference, as did the shift of the winter meeting to January, which moved some 2002 funds into 2003 accounting. Procci commended committee chairs for their continuing efforts to keep expenditures down.
Michael Gundle, chair of the Committee on Council, introduced several motions on governance issues. Some councilors objected to these motions being offered without prior circulation.
The Council approved a motion to meet in January with attorney Victoria Bjorklund, who has been advising APsaA on reorganization issues.
The next Committee on Council motion was described, when presented by Gundle, as a “technicality.” It provided that Council designate the Executive Committee to act on Council's behalf for the next six months, until the next national meeting. During the discussion of this motion, Ron Benson expressed the concern that small changes undermine our system and can change the character of our organization. The motion passed, but protest increased that these issues hadn't been pre-circulated. Jon Meyer observed that “we just got voted in by Council for a six-month term, but we got voted in by members for two years.”
A motion to encourage local societies to allow affiliates to vote for Executive Councilors at the local level was tabled until the next meeting because local societies had not had a chance to discuss it.
The Councilors considered a motion to approve the two proposed governance by-laws on oversight and de-linkage. Paul Mosher said the amendments provide the membership with a chance to express its views as to the proper relationship between the board of directors (Executive Council) and the Board on Professional Standards. Benson, however, argued that the motions challenge our ability to work together constructively. Nancy Kulish called the amendments divisive and voiced opposition to such a “piecemeal look at our governance problems.”
Allan Rosenblatt, speaking in favor of the amendments, stated that an orderly hierarchy of power does not preclude collaboration. Judy Schachter explained the history of the by-laws proposals: In April of 2002, the Bylaws Committee was asked to develop a procedural code that would only be modified by joint action of the Board on Professional Standards and the Executive Council, essentially codifying a bicameral structure. At the time, Mosher argued the illegality of the premise of a bicameral structure, and a group of members petitioned for the changes currently under consideration. The Council voted against approval of the amendments (see box on page 33 for further details).
K. Lynne Moritz and Judith S. Schachter received the Council's endorsement as candidates for president-elect, for a two-year term beginning June 2004.
The Council elected four nominees from a slate of nine to run for the office of councilor-at-large: Elizabeth Brett, Prudence Gourguechon, Richard Lightbody, and Robert Pyles. Joanne Callan was nominated by petition subsequent to the meeting. Two winners will begin four-year terms in June 2004.
George Allison and Peter Loewenberg were elected to the Exploratory Subcommittee of the Nominating Committee. Arthur J. Farley and Lida Jeck were elected for three-year terms on the Committee on Council.
Eight individuals were elected to JAPA's editorial board: Sidney Blatt, Lewis Kirshner, Lucy Lafarge, Janice Lieberman, Calvern Narcisi, Sidney Phillips, Alan Skolnikoff, and Leon Wurmser.
The Executive Committee asked the Council to make the current treasurer of the Association a co-trustee of the Sigourney Trust.
Governance: Richard Fox announced that Dean Stein is the enthusiastic choice of the search committee for an Executive Director The Council approved Stein's hire. He will replace administrative director Ellen Fertig, who is retiring in 2004.
Outreach: Stephanie Smith completed six years as chair of the Joint Committee on Graduate Education. She was the founding chair of the committee, which has worked to improve the presence of psychoanalysis in psychology and social work graduate programs. Smith was honored for her contribution at the Friday Meeting of Members.
Phylis Cath completed her second term as chair of the Liaison to Schools Committee and received honors for her work heading up this new outreach effort. The committee established the Educator Associates category of affiliation.
The Council approved seventeen fellows proposed by the Fellowship Committee.
Division coordinator Marvin Margolis reminded councilors that the various outreach committees can help societies develop outreach programs to psychotherapists, students, educators, and other groups. The Committee on New Psychoanalytic Centers has established groups in Birmingham, Memphis, and Missoula, and there will soon be a group in Sacramento. The goal is twenty centers, but the committee is hampered by lack of funds.
Science: Beth Seelig presented the new Web site for the Fund for Psychoanalytic Research, which can be accessed at The Science Division is developing a number of new prizes to encourage research in psychoanalysis. The next poster session will be held at the January meeting.
Communications: Prudy Gourguechon noted the ongoing efforts of the Strategic Marketing and Public Information committees. She announced that the first online edition of TAP appeared with the spring issue and henceforth TAP will be published on the APsaA Web site at the same time as it is sent to the printer.
President Newell Fischer introduced his new initiative designed to find paths to membership for analysts who are not graduates of APsaA institutes by noting that our membership has dropped by 200 since January 2001 and that we are “graying” at an alarming rate. The average age of a member is sixty-four, or sixty-two if affiliates are included.
Fischer said there are a variety of serious, thoughtful analysts who cannot join APsaA because they do not meet our current membership criteria. He has asked Harriet Wolfe to head a task force to consider other possible criteria.
Affiliate Council president Nancy Blieden announced that the council is concerned that 30 percent of current candidates have not accepted affiliate membership. An Affiliates Participation Committee has been organized to investigate. It will be interviewing non-members to see what needs we are not meeting.
Candidates are extremely interested in the re-organization process, particularly because they feel they benefited so substantially from the education and membership agreement.
Carmela Peres is the chair of a new Affiliate Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity. This committee will look at the lack of diversity among the candidate body and work to increase racial and ethnic diversity among the affiliate body and on the Affiliate Council.