Division Governance
Division Documents
PSYCHOLOGISTS IN INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES
Saturday August 12, 2006 8:00 – 3:30
Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans, LA
Present
Lillian Comas Diaz, Ph.D., President
Jeffrey Barnett, Psy.D., Past President
Laura Barbanel, Ed.D.,President Elect
Michael Murphy, Ph.D., Secretary
Stanley Graham, Ph.D., Treasurer
Representatives to APA Council
Rita Dudley Grant Ph.D., Membership Retention TF Co-Chair
Robert Resnick, Ph.D.
Bev Greene, Ph.D., Fellows Chair
Tommy Stigall, Ph.D.
Jean Carter, Ph.D.
Alan Entin, Ph.D.
Melba Vasquez, Ph.D.
Members-at-Large
Ivan Miller, Ph.D.
Bob Wernick, Ph.D.
Jo Johnson, Ph.D.
Bonnie Markham, Ph.D.
Lisa Grossman, Ph.D., J.D., APA Board of Directors
Committee & Task Force Chairs
John Rudisill, Ph.D., P&C
Sandy Shullman, Ph.D., Finance, APA Board of Directors
Anabel Berajano, Ph.D., Program
Miguel Gallardo, Psy.D., Membership
Tammy Martin Causey, Ph.D., Marketing and Public Education, Business of Practice TF
Monica Neel, Psy.D., SECP Representative and Committee Chair
Nancy Molitor, Ph.D., Secretary Elect, Membership Retention TF Co-Chair
Ilene Serlin, Ph.D., CE Co-Chair
Appointees
Gordon Herz, Ph.D., 42 Online Editor
Frank Froman, Ph.D., IP Associate Editor
Visitors
Jana Martin, Ph.D., President Elect designate
Karen Zager, Ph.D. Council Rep elect
Roz Dorlen, Ph.D.,Member at Large elect
Barry Anton, Ph.D., Finance Member
Katherine Nordal, Ph.D., Finance Member
Jerry Koocher, Ph.D., APA President
Thomas DeMaio, Ph.D., APA Board of Directors
Russ Newman, Ph.D., Practice Organization
Elizabeth Winkelman, Ph.D., Practice Organization
Absent
Marty Williams, Ph.D., Member at Large
Welcome and Call to Order:
President Comas-Diaz welcomed everyone and thanked them for their attendance. She asked everyone to introduce themselves and state their role within the Division.
Consent Agenda:
Ratify email/fax votes:
Ratified the email Board vote of the proposed Fellows.
Approval of Committee and Liaison Appointments
Jeffrey Barnett will be the 2007/2008 Fellows Chair
The consent agenda was approved by unanimous consent.
Approval of Minutes of August Board Meeting:
Motion: To approve the minutes as presented with minor typos to be corrected; By: Barnett; Action: Motion carried unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report:
Treasurer Graham reported the Division is in good order fiscally with no concerns at this time.
Finance Committee Report:
Chair Shullman and Past Chair Nordal reviewed the proposed 2007 budget with the Board. There were specific line items that the Finance Committee referred to the Executive Committee and Board for final approval. These items were discussed in the meeting before the time certain vote on the proposed budget. An issue of note was our dues income. President Comas-Diaz informed the Board that the Division dues collection was approximately $11,000 lower than this time last year. The budget was developed with the lower dues level in mind. In response to the decrease, President Comas-Diaz appointed a Task Force on Membership Retention which was charged with examining and recommending solutions to address member attrition.
APA President Gerald Koocher:
President Comas-Diaz welcomed Dr. Koocher and invited him to speak to the Board. Dr. Koocher pointed out that the APA membership is flat or growing very little. Membership and dues issues are problematic throughout APA’s divisions as well. The APA is considering the creation of a Membership Directorate to help address these issues.
Advocacy Issues:
Advocacy Task Force Chair Jeffrey Barnett reported and referred the Board to his report in the agenda book. The Board discussed the motion contained in the agenda book and the following action was taken. Note: The members of the AAP Board of Directors recused themselves from the vote.
Motion: The Board approves the proposed Mission Statement for the Advocacy Task Force that includes the following elements:
The Division 42 Advocacy Task Force will develop an advocacy agenda for Division 42,
It will seek ways of pursuing and supporting this advocacy agenda through all available means and utilizing all appropriate resources,
It will seek active input from Division 42's members in developing this advocacy agenda,
It will communicate actively with the members of Division 42, and
It will work closely and actively with other advocacy groups to ensure that they aggressively support and pursue our shared advocacy goal.
There will be a review of the liaison position within the Advocacy Task Force.
By Murphy; Action: The motion carried unanimously.
The Board discussed the Advocacy Task Force’s recommendation that Division 42 co-sponsor a social hour at the APA State Leadership Conference in March, 2007.
Motion: Division 42 will co-sponsor a social hour at the 2007 APA State Leadership Conference with the Association of Practicing Psychologists and will provide financial support of $7,500 for this event. Division 42 will also utilize this event as a membership recruitment activity and will have one half-page ad in each issue of the AAP newsletter The Advance in 2007. By: Murphy; Action: The motion carried unanimously.
Motion: Division 42 will co-sponsor Division 55’s 2007 Advocacy Summit and will provide $1,500 in financial support. By: Murphy; Action: The motion carried unanimously.
President Comas-Diaz indicated that the Executive Committee would develop a list of our advocacy agenda items.
Reorganization of the Advocacy Task Force: There was a request to re-visit the possibility of the creation of an advocacy trust which will address how best to utilize our advocacy funds. The Board discussed the issue and agreed that the information generated by the C6 Task Force would be reviewed again as this item was discussed at that time and agreed that we would not utilize that model.
Motion: To table discussion of an advocacy trust until the next meeting. By: Wernick; Action. Motion carried unanimously.
The Board discussed the feasibility and structure of making the Advocacy Task Force into a Continuing Committee of the Division. It was recommended that the President Comas-Diaz and President-elect Barbanel continue the Advocacy Task Force for another year. President elect Barbanel and President Comas-Diaz will reappoint the Advocacy Task Force for 2007 and will determine its membership composition which will include the Division 42 treasurer. The Task Force and the EC were charged with developing a recommendation for changing the task force into a committee with specific recommendations made to the Board to consider.
Resolution Addressing Division 42 Benefits and Funds: Member at Large Ivan Miller requested Board support for a proposal outlining ways to increase member benefits. He expressed a desire to have the Division review its philosophy of how we are spending our funds. The size of the reserve fund was questioned. Dr. Miller requested that the following be adopted as a non-binding resolution.
NON BINDING RESOLUTION
”Be it resolved that the Board of Division 42 will strive to provide worthwhile member benefits with all appropriate funds.”
The following was submitted in writing by Member-at-Large Miller for inclusion in the minutes:
Rationale:
I am concerned that our efforts to maintain a sound organization are out of balance with our obligation to serve our members in promoting their independent practice of psychology. While Division 42 offers many fine services and keeps members informed, I disagree with the idea of having over a year's operating budget in reserve and having this reserve grow.
I believe that if the operating reserve is excessive or growing, then we should be looking for additional ways to use the reserve to benefit members. I realize that we do a lot, but if there is a growing reserve, we could do more. I also believe that in addition to appealing to the member's sense of loyalty to psychology, member benefits are important to recruitment and retention.
Here are some of my ideas:
1. Making the Niche Guides available for free to members.
2. Providing members with free waiting room brochures that educate the public about mental health issues. I believe that these used to be available for sale, but I am not sure if they still are. We could mail all members samples of the old brochures, one that the APA had produced on resiliency, and possibly some new ones. I believe the old topics included things like depression and ADHD. Members could be given a file for their computer so that they could print brochures, personalized with their own name and address, on their own computers.
3. We could use funds to recruit new members to Division 42 and/or APA in order to increase our strength.
4. Members would probably like a free waiting room brochure that explains what is a psychologist and how the psychologist can help.
5. The Interdivisional (39/42) Task Force on Managed Care and Health Care Policy has requested $2,000 - $3,000 to have a low-budget in-person meeting because the in-person meetings are more productive and would probably increase our ability to find ways additional ways to help members deal with managed care and health care reform.
6. Other committees may also be able to increase member services if more funds were made available.
7. I understand that Stanley Graham has proposed a $10,000 job development initiative.
8. The budget for the membership recruitment committee could be expanded to support the development of recruitment strategies.
9. There could be an increase in free CE courses for members.
10. Money could be allocated for member survey and member focus groups to find out what members want.
Motion: To accept the non-binding resolution as stated. By: Miller; Action: Motion carried unanimously.
Moving the Convention and Mid Winter:
The Board discussed a proposal to move the Summer Board Meeting away from the APA convention to a time later in the fall or moving it to the Sunday of convention. There was concern that moving it to the Sunday of convention would make attendance to the APA convention too long, extending it another full day away from practice. The Board also agreed that, at this time, it was not feasible to add an additional large item to the budget. A fall meeting would be a considerable addition to the budget (similar to the Mid winter meeting). After the discussion the following motion was made:
Motion: The Board will continue to meet during the APA convention but the Program Committee will insure that the Board members are entered into the convention program so that voting members cannot be booked at other presentations. Action: Motion carried, 7 approved 3 opposed
Job Bank:
This item was deferred and Dr. Graham will research the newly developed APA PsyCareers.
Publications and Communications:
Chair John Rudisill addressed the Board. He referred the Board members to the report in the agenda book. This committee met during the convention and is focusing on a number of areas including: increasing advertising revenue, developing a hand book for the P&C committee to mentor people, and the book series. He addressed the following action tiems:
CE available in the IP. The P&C and the editors of the Bulletin requested Board support for the idea of offering members CE credit for reading a CE article in the IP. The mechanism will be discussed with the P&C and central office. Motion: To approve the offering of a CE article in the IP. Action: Motion carried 7 approved 3 opposed
Editors Stipend: Motion: To offer the editors of the IP and 42 Online a stipend of 1,000 per year. By: Murphy; Action: Motion carried with one abstention.
42 Online Report: 42 Online Editor Gordon Herz made a brief report. He referred the Board to his written report in the agenda book. No action items were presented.
Book Series Report: Series Editor Murphy reported on the sales of the recent publication on Couples Treatment and the progress on a manuscript on primary care.
Division Election Report:
Nominations and Elections Chair Jeff Barnett announced the results of this year’s election.
President elect: Jana Martin, Ph.D.
Secretary: Nancy Molitor, Ph.D.
Member-at-Large: Glen Ally, Ph.D. 2007-2009
Diversity Member-at-Large: Miguel Gallardo, Psy.D. 2007-2009
APA Council Representatives: Bonnie Markham, PhD, Psy.D.; Ron Fox, Ph.D. and Karen Zager Ph.D. Terms will be 2007-2009
Chair Barnett further announced that Dr. Markham will vacate her Member-at-Large Seat (2006-2008). Following policy and procedure, Roz Dorlen, PsyD will fulfill the remaining time of the term.
On behalf of the Board President Comas-Diaz welcomed and congratulated the newly elected members of the Board and thanked those that had run for office.
APA President Elect Endorsement:
Chair Barnett announced that the Nominations Committee had forwarded a series of questions to each nominee. The Executive Committee reviewed the responses and voted to endorse three candidates equally. Drs. Ragusea, Bingham, and Bray. After discussion the following motion was made:
Motion: The Board endorse the Candidates Ragusea, Bingham, and Bray with no ranking consistent with the EC recommendation and directs President Comas-Dias to inform the candidates. By: Miller; Action: The motion carried unanimously.
The Board further discussed the mechanism used by the EC to makes its recommendation. It was agreed that in the future the Board would like to review the material in advance of a vote.
Motion: The template for recommendations and the candidate’s responses to questions from the Executive Committee to the APA Presidential Candidates will be distributed to the full Board before the Board is asked to make a decision. By: Resnick; Action: Motion carried unanimously.
Convention Program Report:
Chair Bejarano made a brief oral report and referred the Board to her written report distributed at the meeting. She highlighted that many of our diversity programs at convention were standing room only. The feasibility of the hospitality suite was briefly discussed. A decision will be made after the data has been compiled as to whether the Division will continue to have a hospitality suite. The Board was reminded that this was a pilot project and it is not clear that the Hospitality Suite is a benefit to Division 42 members at convention. The Board thanked Chair Bejarano with a round of applause for the fine work she and Tammy Martin Causey had done with this year’s programming.
Task Force on Business of Practice and Marketing and Public Education Reports:
Chair Martin-Causey briefly reported on each of her committees. The reception held at this convention for the volunteers of Katrina disaster was well attended. The signed posters by Alan Entin were wonderful and there were many special comments from the volunteers. The remaining posters will be distributed at our social hour. The Board thanked Dr. Martin Causey for her fine work. Additionally, they thanked Alan Entin for the wonderful poster design.
APA Practice Directorate Update:
Russ Newman updated the Board on the current activities of the APA Practice Organization.
Membership Issues:
The following issues on membership were discussed:
Retention Task Force Report: Co chairs Dudley Grant and Molitor reported. The Task Force was appointed by President Comas-Diaz to address the declining membership. Nancy Molitor stated the current statistics of membership and the numbers of people leaving membership. She stated that there are a few APA divisions that are gaining members but overall the trend with APA and the Divisions is declining membership. The task force had developed a pilot membership survey to be distributed to members that attend the convention. She distributed the membership survey and asked Board members to complete it. The survey will be shortened before it is presented to the membership in full.
Dr. Dudley Grant also reported the need to develop loyalty in younger people. The Task Force is also going to contact members who have left the division by conducting exit interviews. They will report further at the next meeting. Additionally, Jana Martin distributed goodies designed to get people interested in membership Division 42. She asked that people be thinking about other ideas and forward them to her.
Non APA members joining Division 42: Membership Chair Gallardo reported and referred Board members to the report starting on page 33 of the agenda book. He highlighted points in the report and informed the Board that the Membership Committee agreed not to make a specific recommendation to the Board, but rather have the Board make a decision on this issue. This issue has surfaced repeatedly over the years and should be resolved. The Board held a spirited discussion on the pros and cons of this issue. The following motion was made:
Motion: A bylaws change to create an affiliate membership status opened to licensed doctoral psychologists who are not APA members will be placed before the membership for vote. Such affiliate members shall have all the benefits of full membership but may not vote or hold office in the Division. By: Resnick ; Action: Motion carried with the following count. Favor 8, Opposed 4, Abstained 2
Motion: That a pro con statement be included with the bylaws amendment. By: Wernick Action: Motion was defeated with the following count. Favor 3; Oppose 8
SECP Issues and Report:
SECP Representative and Committee Chair Neel reported. She referred the Board to her written report. Dr. Neel has participated on many of the conference calls of the various working committees. She is working to have a SECP representative on each committee of the Division. She has a very energetic committee with many projects underway.
She asked for the Board’s endorsement for two projects requiring funding: SECP Independent Practice Grants and Advertising membership in GradPsych.
The Board briefly discussed the feasibility of advertising membership in GradPsych. It was agreed that Ivan Miller will work with this committee on the marketing ideas. The Membership Retention and Membership Committee will work on putting together a strategic plan to be presented in January. The Membership, SECP and Membership Retention Task Force will work jointly on marketing strategies.
The Business of Practice Task Force will work with the SECP committee on the possibility of practice grants for student/early career members of the Division.
BPA Position Re: Rx Information:
Treasurer Graham will keep the Board posted on this item. He will attend the APA task force meeting keep us appraised of developments.
APA Council Representative Report/Update:
The Representatives briefly reported on the activities during the council meetings.
President Elect Report:
President Elect Barbanel reported that her primary initiatives for 2007 will be the Division’s 25th anniversary and a focus on Health Care for the Whole Person. Honoring our 25th anniversary will be a year-long project with items in the Bulletin, special programming, food, festivities and tokens of appreciation. The Task Force for the anniversary is chaired by Alan Entin and has begun its work already.
Health Care for the Whole Person chair Jana Martin reported briefly and referred people to the written report in the agenda book. The Task Force’s projects are gathering momentum and there are no action items at this time.
Interdivisional Task Force on Managed Care and Healthcare Policy:
Chair Miller requested that the $2900.00 taken from his budget for a face to face meeting be replaced. It was suggested that this group apply for an interdivisional CODAPAR grant.
Dr. Miller withdrew his request and he will ask a person on his task force from Division 42 and 39 to complete the application.
Motion: Division 42 will endorse as the application to CODAPAR for an interdivisional grant by Divisisons 39 and 42. By: Resnick; Action: Motion carried unanimously.
NAPPP Discussion:
The Board briefly discussed the formation of this new organization. We will monitor it’s progress and projects.
Approval of the Preliminary 2007 Budget:
The requests for additional funding were considered and approved as follows:
Increase funding for the Advocacy summit by $500.00 making the total sponsorship $1500.00.
Increase the funding for the Advocacy Task Force by $2200.00 making the total line item $7500.00
Increase the Bulletin line item by $1,000 for the Editor stipend.
Increase the 42 Online line item by $1,000 for the Editor stipend.
Total increases approved = $4700.00
Motion: To approve the listed increases and to allow the $4700 to be taken from the 2006 surplus and approve the proposed budget. By: Graham; Action: Motion carried unanimously.
NEXT BOARD MEETING:
Multi Cultural Conference, Seattle, WA on January 27, 2007
President elect Barbanel led the Board in thanking President Comas-Diaz for her leadership and her wonderful job as president, her graciousness and strength.
Adjournment:
President Comas-Diaz adjourned the meeting at 3:30 pm.
