So you are an APsaA member, maybe new or maybe not so new. And you would like to get more involved and serve the psychoanalytic community. But where do you begin?
From public information to access to care and government relations to insurance, APsaA has over 100 committees. There are standing committees of the Executive Council (EC), standing committees of the Board on Professional Standards (BOPS), joint committees, ad hoc committees, subcommittees…. This can look overwhelming especially to someone new to the Association. APsaA is working to create a user-friendly network of committee point people who will help to best utilize your talents on the right committee.
The first step is to peruse the Association's list of committees that is located in the Member's Only section of the Web site: apsa.org and click on Association Committee Listing and Committee Mandates to review their responsibilities. Once you have an idea of what is available, contact APsaA's secretary, Prudy Gourguechon (prudygourguechon@sbcglobal.net) for more information or introduce yourself to the chair and find out how you can be appointed. Committee appointments are made by the president for Council committees and the chair of BOPS for Board committees. The president-elect assists the president in making appointments. A few committees require that the members be current councilors or BOPS fellows and some elect members to serve on the committee (e.g., the Membership Requirements and Review Committee).
Most committees welcome Affiliate Members. Affiliates can also contact the president of the Affiliates Council, Julio Calderon (jgcpsychmd@aol.com), or their local institute's delegate to learn more about volunteer opportunities for candidates.
The best way to learn about the Association is to experience it. Attend a meeting of the Executive Council or the Board on Professional Standards to appreciate the complexities of the Association and learn about pressing issues first hand. The Executive Council meets
For membership assistance, please contact Debra Steinke, manager, Education & Membership Services, 212-752-0450 x 26 or e-mail: .
on Thursday during the semi-annual meetings and BOPS meets on Wednesday. The meetings are only closed during executive session. The Affiliate Council meets on Thursday and candidates are invited to attend. Friday morning's Meeting of Members also gives members an overview of the discussions and decisions made over the week. Awards and honors are presented at the Meeting of Members. The acceptance speeches can be some of the most inspiring and richest rhetoric of the meetings.
Paper submission guidelines, which include proposals for panels and symposia, are periodically posted in TAP and JAPA. For a copy of the paper submission guidelines, please view the following page on APsaA's Web site: .
If you are unsure about your topic or would like to get some creative advice, then try attending the Mid-Career Analyst Discussion Group at the semi-annual meetings. This discussion group provides a supportive environment where ideas for papers and works in progress can be discussed.
I also want to stress the importance of getting involved with your local institute, center, society, or foundation. From fundraising to newsletters to activities promotion, local involvement is needed to keep psychoanalysis growing within our communities. Plus, sharing the knowledge you've gained working on the local level helps psychoanalysis nationally.
I am aware that time allotment for volunteering is limited, but working with fellow analysts who share your passion for psychoanalysis can be very rewarding. I hope you find your niche within APsaA and extend yourself for the profession. If you need any assistance getting on the right track, please contact me. I will be happy to assist you.