I am writing my last column with our new president Bill Glover. The ataxic disease has made my finishing the last four months of my presidency no longer prudent, so with the approval of the Executive Council I have turned the presidency over to Bill. We have worked together very closely since he became president-elect, so he is ready to take the helm at this time. Kerry Sulkowicz, our new president-elect-elect has agreed to begin his term now as president-elect. Personally, it has been an honor for me these past few years to steer the APsaA ship, which we see as being in good shape.
At our last Executive Council meetings a number of our efforts advanced, including a bylaw amendment, which will come to you soon for a vote, for your approval to change the name of our governing body from Executive Council to the Board of Directors (BOD). We will refer to it as such here, given that the BOD is a more common and apt designation. In addition, having two candidates serve on the BOD, and having four directors from the BOD serve on the Executive Committee has gone well, further integrating candidates and Board members into our leadership team. These improvements have contributed to our BOD being able to make progress in the following areas.
The Strategic Planning Task Force gave its report to the BOD, outlining an ongoing plan for the future of APsaA. The report was unanimously approved. The next step of formulating a way to put these plans into action is underway, ensuring that this work will continue and advance.
The spring scientific meetings, which are a financial drain on APsaA, will be replaced with regional meetings and increased use of virtual meetings. Though the details are yet to be worked out, both the Program Committee and the Department of Psychoanalytic Education (DPE) will cooperate in shaping future meetings. This should be a benefit to more members, APsaA, and to our local groups.
As one of our revenue initiatives, the APsaA dues will be restructured to assure the financial future of the organization. This was done considering members’ feedback. A few years ago we found ourselves facing an existential financial threat that no longer looms so large.
The Fundraising Task Force led another fundraising initiative with the creation of a website for making various kinds of donations to APsaA (e.g., legacy giving, donations today, and others). Please give. The website can be found at: .
The Psychotherapy Task Force gave a report to the BOD, recommending consideration of a more enfranchised APsaA membership category than currently exists. The BOD authorized the next step, which will involve determining the criteria for psychoanalytic psychotherapy membership in APsaA, and any organizational issues related to psychotherapy membership.
Progress is being made on gun control legislation in Washington that is sponsored by APsaA along with other co-sponsors. Your dues and gifts made this important effort possible, with APsaA leading the way.
The Institute Requirements and Review Committee (IRRC) reviewed the International Institute for Psychoanalytic Training or IIPT, visited them and determined they meet APsaA standards for education. A historic moment occurred when our BOD voted to accept the first new institute recommended by the IRRC. APsaA is growing and we welcome them.
The Membership Requirement and Review Committee (MRRC) recommended 14 new members into APsaA. The BOD approved five Expanded Pathway members, three IPA graduate members, five APsaA graduate members, and one Academic Associate member. APsaA is growing and we welcome them.
The Task Force on the TA/SA survey of our memberships’ opinions reported on efforts to construct a survey that will be effective, and we will be sending this on to you shortly. Please take the time to fill it out. We need your views on this long debated aspect of psychoanalytic education.
APsaA received appreciation from as far as Finland for the LGBTQ apology last June. We received appreciation from many non-M.D. psychoanalysts for our apology to them for past restrictions on analytic training. APsaA is surely stronger for our diversities.
The IPA has formed an advisory group to consider APsaA-IPA relations. We will be proactive in working with them concerning the future of both organizations. We value our long relationship with the IPA.
The National Meeting at the Grand Hyatt in New York in February was a big success. Attendance was up from recent years and members appreciated the venue and its convenient location. The program was stimulating, with the plenaries, Special Symposium, University Forum and Presidential Symposium being some of the highlights. We have a contract to continue at the Hyatt for the next two winter meetings.
This is by no mean an exhaustive list of all the projects and efforts underway at this time, but it should give you a sense of how much has been accomplished and is in the works; how well we have all worked together. Rest assured that this will continue, that the leadership transition is going smoothly, and that the future looks bright for APsaA.