My term of office as your Affiliate Council president comes to an end after the meeting in January. First and foremost, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Candidates and candidate issues will always have a place in my decision making no matter where in the Association I go.
That said, I hope that you might consider some major issues coming before the Association that will affect you. Regardless of whether you agree with me, you must educate yourself about these matters and you must vote your point of view. In the end, this is really your Association. The power that candidates have to influence the future of their organization is limited, and I urge you to take what power you have—your vote—to make your views known.
Several matters that are before you now include:
➤ The Institute Choice (formerly known as Local Option) and the Educational Flexibility bylaw amendments. These two amendments are about the requirement that is presently in the bylaws for TA/SAs to be certified. The Institute Choice amendment says that the Board on Professional Standards shall not require certification as part of TA/SA appointment. The Educational Flexibility amendment leaves the decision about certification in the hands of the national collective body of institute representatives. The Institute Choice amendment puts the decision about certification into the hands of the local institutes, where TA/SA appointments are most subject to local pressures and politics. In this way, the two amendments are radically different in who has the power to decide about certification for TA/SA appointment. I urge you to vote “No” on the Institute Choice amendment and “Yes” on the Educational Flexibility amendment.
➤ The upcoming membership bylaw amendment. This amendment is likely to come out of the Executive Council meeting in January 2009. When you see the wording on this amendment, please read it carefully. The Board on Professional Standards used to make the decision on who could be members of our Association, this decision rightly resides with the membership as a whole—in short, you and me. This amendment will take the decision about who would become members and put it into the hands of a committee of the Executive Council. While this body is the board of directors of our Association, and highly experienced analysts, any decision that involves a change in the membership of our Association must reside with the members.
➤ Candidate representation. Remember that candidates in training number almost one-fourth of our Association. You deserve to be represented on our board of directors in some manner with voting privileges. You have special concerns and issues. In fact, changes in the education and training of candidates should have the approval of the candidates in training before being considered by the Association. You need to educate yourselves to participate in your own future as analysts.
Begin educating yourself by reading the articles in TAP. Read all the bylaw amendments you see and ask questions. Refuse to be intimidated by anyone. Get involved in the Affiliate Council. Carmela Perez from NYU takes over as your president in January. Give her your support and ask your questions. Or contact me: My e-mail is . I'll make sure your questions get to Perez. Thank you again for the opportunity to be involved with our Association on your behalf. I will follow your progress with pride.
Editor's Note: TAP has invited the Affiliate Council president to reprint the President's Letter on an ongoing basis.