As summer ends, I would like to share with you the activities and accomplishments of Div 42, so I will devote myself to some of the highlights of the convention. I have posted a good deal of this on the division listserv, but am resending it here for those of you who are not on the listserv or who might have missed it.

Those of you who attend the APA convention regularly know that the convention is a large unwieldy event with so much going on that it is difficult to see it all, to get a sense of it all from the inside. First time attendees get confused and overwhelmed. There are ways to handle it, by separating out the things that you are interested in, the division that is home to you, i.e. Division 42, and going to its professional and social activities. And the Division had quite a lot to offer. at the convention as it always does.

The division had a wonderful and successful meeting at the convention.

We had a series of presentations on Health Care for the Whole Person, a result of the Task force appointed by me and chaired by Jana Martin. These were exciting meetings, with a focus on developing collaborative practice with physicians.

Carol Goodheart APA, presidential candidate and past president of division 42, gave an exciting invited address on the future of independent practice.

The ECP committee held a very successful reception for early career members.

Thanks to Tammy Martin-Causey, the 2008 President elect of the division for developing an exciting convention program.

We also had a business meeting where we honored our past presidents, each of whom has done so much to keep the division strong and healthy, as advocates for independent practice.

Board of Directors

The board of directors of the division met and pondered the needs of the division.

Our membership committee in an effort to understand what our members need and want did some survey research of the membership. Data from the membership task force indicated that the division 42 members want information on practice enhancements, cutting edge tools, marketing strategies and educational opportunities to enhance niche and specialty areas. The division board made a commitment to increase these kids of services to members.

Public education and marketin Seeks to carry out this mandate from members through the following activities:

• Participated in the division 42 25th anniversaries CD project and produced “25 Silver nuggets to nurture and grow you independent practice
• Is developing a program in partnership with another practice division or divisions to feature the skills that psychologists need to work collaboratively with other professionals (e.g. physicians)
• Will collaborate with the APAPO (the Practice Organization) and share information and to support the continuing education in mind/body health.

A record number of members were elected to Fellow status.

The following are the names of the members who became fellows this year. Our fellows committee, chaired by Harriette Kaley worked hard to make this happen.

Congratulations to them all.
Hilda Besner
June W. J. Ching
MaryBeth Cresci
Michael Cuttler
Steven Hendlin
Edward Wise

In addition, the following members were elected to fellowship status as “old fellows:

Glen Ally
Andrew Benjamin
Howard Cohen
Carol Goldberg
Judith Patterson

The interdivisional health care task force, after much hard work over a long time, had its motion of health care Reform passed by the APA council, of representatives, Congratulations to Ivan Miller, chair of the task force who has worked tirelessly on this.

Our finances are in good shape, with a healthy reserve fund.

The Board Voted to Support Carol Goodheart APA president elect of APA and Ron Rozensky # 2 and Margie Held ring as #3.

Most important for us is that all of us vote in the election. The ballots go out October 15!

Be sure to vote

Council of Representatives
APA and interrogations

There has been a lot of controversy and contentiousness surrounding the issue of the APA stance on interrogations. It is a complex and emotional issue. Let me try to clarify it without adding to the confusion if I can. At the APA council meeting, a series of proposals were made regarding interrogations and torture.
The Council of Representatives approved a resolution prohibiting specific techniques sometimes used in interrogations of detainees and called on the U.S. government to ban their use. The full text of this is available on line, at the link here.

A subsequent amendment was offered which banned psychologists from being at the sites where such torture takes place. There was considerable thoughtful debate on this issue and after much soul searching, council voted that amendment down. Those who voted against this amendment argued that keeping psychologists out of the very sites where such abuses were going on left the detainees unprotected. Those who were for the amendment felt and continue to feel that if psychologists are even there it implies tacit approval of the torture . Furthermore, supporters have said that the implication is that since APA did not vote for the amendment, it is corrupt and supportive of the policies do the current administration in Washington.

It is easy to demonize those that we do not agree with. It is difficult for many to believe that this is an issue on which reasonable people can disagree. Nobody in the scenario is supportive of torture. The disagreement is further down the road, on what psychology’s input may be. There is considerable passionate feeling about this issue and many posts on various listservs and discussion in various media. It is clear that people post what they agree with, not what isn’t reflective of their point of view. I only hope that the contentiousness and animosity that has been generated does not divide us all and disrupt the important work that we have to do.

APA council also passed a resolution condemning the proposed academic boycott of Israeli scholars and institutions and approved a revised curriculum for training in psychopharmacology.

As this is my last column, let me take the opportunity to thank all of those who helped me in this year, the members of the executive committee and the board of directors, Jeannie Beaff our intrepid administrator, and all of you who are steady and supportive of the division.

I look forward to hearing from you with comments and questions.

Laura