What started out as APsaA's need to better conform to New York State not-forprofit corporation law has blossomed into an all-out effort to reorganize the Association so that it functions more efficiently and more in line with other national membership associations. In the spring of 2004, members of a Task Force on Reorganization were endorsed by an overwhelming majority of the membership. The Task Force's mandate is to address parameters set forth by the Executive Committee that define such issues as the board of directors, officers, committees, and membership.
The Reorganization Task Force met for the first time at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychoanalytic Association. Robert M. Galatzer-Levy, who was elected chairman, said that the “diverse” group, despite “some strong positions on APsaA and how it should go,” had “real unity.” Erasing initial concerns about their harmony as a group, Galatzer-Levy said that although representative of constituencies “to a limited extent,” they primarily functioned as representatives of APsaA's total membership. Stephanie Dee Smith was elected vice-chair.
Reports, the task force decided, including any interim conclusions, will be issued at least quarterly. The task force mandate requires that a reorganization plan be completed by the Winter 2006 Meeting. Galatzer-Levy pointed out that there was some “ambiguity” about the exact parameters of the mandate, and that the task force would be free to add additional items for consideration as needed. They are not “wedded to each word,” he said, “yet it is absolutely essential the membership…have a good knowledge of what we are doing.” When a document is produced, he said, it will be transmitted to the membership at large as soon as humanly possible.
The task force will hold a retreat in New York in October. Dean K. Stein, executive director of APsaA, because of his considerable expertise directing non-profit groups and advising others on organizational issues, was asked to be a consultant, present at all meetings. Gretchen Anderson, a management consultant with Katzenbach Partners in New York, was also invited to participate.
Galatzer-Levy, referring to the advice of Niko Canner of Katzenbach Partners, said, “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” He added that the goal is a “good enough organization.”
—Michael Slevin