REPORT OF THE PRIORITIES TASK FORCE ON THE DIVISION 42 2001 GOVERNANCE RETREAT

APPENDIX A: Goals and Topics for Each Breakout Group

I. Breakout Group I: Membership Services and Benefits

Group Facilitator: Jeff Barnett

1. Goal: Division 42 will be the key point of professional contact at the national level for independent practitioners.
   a. It will provide opportunities for practitioners to gather together for social support and to exchange information. What are the means by which we are doing this at present and how can we be more effective
2. Goal: Division 42 will be a primary source of information critical to the functioning of independent practitioners.
   a. What are the types of information that they need?
   b. What are we doing at present and how can we better provide the information?
3. Goal: Division 42 will be a major source of continuing education for independent practitioners.
   a. How can we accomplish this?
4. Goal: The Division will provide products and services that will advance Independent Practitioners.
   a. What are the products most appropriately offered by the Division?
   b. How could products be efficiently developed, marketed, and the process managed?
   c. What products and services do other organizations offer their members that may be of value to our members?
   d. What is the value of membership in Division 42 for independent practitioners?
   e. What can we do to enhance the value of being a member of Division 42?
   f. What can we do to better retain members?
   g. What can we do to interest and recruit new members?
   h. How can we assure the future viability of the Division and its membership base with actions we take at present?

II. Breakout Group II: Organizational and Structural Issues

Group Facilitator: Bonnie Markham

1. Goal: The division will develop multiple sources of income to accomplish its goals with particular emphasis on the development of non-dues income.
   a. What are the directions that should be pursued to achieve this?
2. Goal: The Division will make optimum use of the talents and contributions of current leadership while developing and empowering the contributions of new members and provide pathways and opportunities for development of new leaders.
3. Goal: The Division will work to include all APA members who have interest or involvement in independent practice.
   a. What are the directions to pursue to accomplish this?
4. Goal: The Division will develop such committees and task forces as will optimally foster its work and offer budgetary and other support and provide mechanisms for accountability for each groups work product and use of funds.
5. Goal: The Division sets and periodically reviews priorities for use of its financial resources.
6. Goal: The Division develops and implements financial/investment/budgetary policies consistent with its goals and priorities.

III. Breakout Group III: Relations with Other Groups

Group Facilitator: Jean Carter

1. Goal: The Division will actively advocate within the APA for the interests of independent practitioners.
2. Goal: As a particular priority, Division 42 has effective mechanisms and procedures to insure that decision makers are aware of all policy decisions in APA that have implications for independent practitioners and develops input at a time and in a manner that allows for shaping that policy.
3. Goal: Division 42 insures that there is consensus development based on broad dissemination of information through the governance and membership and opportunity for input.
4. Goal: Division 42 maintains active liaisons with APA boards, committees, task forces, and divisions that have overlapping interests. The liaisons provide reports back to the membership and governance on issues related to the Division. They particularly attend to and report policy and information issues that require board action or attention.
5. Goal: Division 42 leads in coordinating its efforts with practice related divisions and other professional groups, including those outside of APA.

IV. Breakout Group IV: Communication

Group Facilitator: Mike Murphy

1. Goal: Division 42 keeps members of governance informed about issues and information important to the operation of the Division and the interests of its members.
2. Goal: Division 42 makes optimum use of communications technology to inform, deliberate, and make decisions to advance the work of the Division between semi-annual annual Board meetings.
3. Goal: Division 42 maintains an active two-way communication process between governance and members.
   a. What are the barriers to effective communication?
   b. What are the options available for dialogue?
   c. How can we ensure that communication is timely, interactive, involves members, and informs governance actions?
   d. How much information and what type do we want/need to share with our members?
4. Goal: Division 42 provides effective mechanisms and procedures for obtaining feedback from members
5. Goal: Division 42 effectively provides information to members about its programs, services, products and initiatives.
6. Goal: Division 42 is primary source for information critical to the functioning of independent practitioners.
   a. What are the types of information that they need?
   b. What are we doing at present and how can we better provide the information?
7. Goal: Division 42 publications are the preferred source for news, opinion, information, continuing education for private practitioners and dialogue among independent practitioners
   

Return to Committee and Task Force Table of Contents (click here.) | Go To Appendix B