Photos by Geralyn Lederman and Janis Chester
Last night at the going-out-of-office dinner given by the officers, I was given two gifts reminiscent of two battles that have always been inspirational to me, the Battle of Thermopylae, in ancient Greece, and the Battle of Midway in World War II.
In both of these conflicts, the quiet heroism and self-sacrifice of a few, wound up being of great importance to many.
Such it is with our next award recipients.
Presidential awards are given to those individuals who by their courage, integrity, and devotion to principle, have made major contributions to our field, which might not be recognized otherwise.
A few years ago, due to circumstances I can't go into right now, the IPA came under threat of major, and perhaps irreversible political damage. Broomhills, the central headquarters, was in danger of being dismantled. At that time these individuals stepped forward and, in essence, saved the IPA.
At that time these individuals by great personal sacrifice, prevented this damage from happening, protected the IPA, and in so doing, did a great service to psychoanalysis around the world, and to APsaA in particular.
It gives me great personal pleasure to present APsaA's Presidential Commendation to these five heroic individuals.
The award reads:
In gratitude for your courageous and spirited protection of member interests and the integrity of the International Psychoanalytical Association during your service on the Board of Directors, 2009-2011. Thanks to your efforts, the Association and the offices at Broomhills have flourished. Your skill and your grace under pressure are noted with admiration.
The American Psychoanalytic Association hereby extends its special Presidential Commendation.
Bestowed with gratitude at the Association's 103rd Annual Meeting Chicago
June 6, 2014
Robert L. Pyles, M.D.
President
Mark R. Smaller, Ph.D.
President-Elect