NAPsaC meeting held Saturday, January 20, 2007

Waldorf Astoria Hotel, NY
Carnegie Suite
2:45 to 5:15

1. Harriet Basseches, chair, welcomed board members and the various representatives of EPF, FEPAL and the IPA present.
2. Changes to the order of the day were noted and accepted.
3. Minutes were reviewed and accepted.
   Moved- R. Perlman, seconded-M. Gautier, passed
4. (#9) Remarks by Claudio Eizirik, President of the IPA
   
   He talked of the current situation of the IPA where the IPA is stimulating exchange between the regional organizations to encourage CAPSA projects and exchange of experience and expertise. Further the IPA is continuing with ­­­­­DPPT and funding of regional projects and the Berlin Congress is a few months away. They are starting to plan for 2009 in Chicago. He noted this was an election year of President, treasurer and 24 Board members. The only candidate for Treasurer is from Holland, 8 (?) are running for 7 NA board positions and two are running for President. The IPA hopes for a stronger voter turn out where in past years 50% of South American members voted, 20% of North American members voted and 30% of European members voted. To help the IPA will, for the first time, offer on-line voting.
   
   The IPA currently has numerous active committees like the Education committee that many attended this morning and he made special mention of the presence of NAPsaC and how stimulating it is to see the North American presence. This helps in the need of the IPA forces to unite to face so many current challenges. He quotes Freud saying, "The voice of reason is soft but it never gives up." He and the IPA are attempting to create a sane atmosphere for psychoanalysis to grow in.
   
   Remarks were concluded with thanks and he left for another meeting across town.
5. (#6) IPA Election Guidelines: D. Schaffelburg, as Chair of the Elections Committee, discussed the guidelines and raised several issues regarding the need for them to be more specific regarding dates and when they become effective. He commented on a conflict that the Committee had helped the parties resolve and raised the issue of email response time. P Pendred noted that the Board often modifies guidelines and suggested that a 48-hour response time be implemented for email replies.
6. (#4)NAPsaC C&B: While the by-laws were approved by the Board in June of 2006, there are still some clarifications needed to the language between all groups will be able to ratify them so it is going to require further consultation before a final set will be ready.
7. NAPsaC Chair elections: While the guidelines are not fully finalized, the current set of rules will be followed. Thus the current chair's term is up in June of 2007. The Chair noted that a member of APsaA would be next in terms of rotation but board members suggested a second term for H. Basseches. The issue of conflict of interest regarding her running for IPA Board and being Chair of NAPsaC was discussed and it was felt that this would be a positive rather than negative combination and the Chair indicated she would be willing to remain for another two years.
   
   Moved L. Moritz, Seconded R. Perlman, Passed
8. (#5) EPF Study Group Model for use by NAPsaC.
   The Chair has interviewed D Tucket regarding the model and presented the idea of having 'working' parties (groups) studying psychoanalytic issues across the spectrum of NAPsaC. The group studies together over time to produce a useful product. EPF history tells us that it is often useful but not always.
   
   Proposal: Chair to work with EPF to get project up and running. (APsaA has agreed to a NAPsaC day or days for these groups to meet attached to the APsaA meeting (most likely the January one)) A Chair, Abbot Bronstein, will be appointed for this Committee to then approach other members to form a group to fully investigate this. Approved.
   
   The issue of funding was briefly discussed but it was felt that more specific guidelines were needed before such a discussion could proceed.
   
   Members of the EPF (E. Sechaud, J. Canestri) offered their experiences of this model where they have studied Education, Theoretical Issues, Clinical Issues, Interface (university and Society and Culture) and Specificity of Psychoanalytic Treatment today. Two groups (Theoretical, Interface) have ended and publication is expected. These groups are considered as "Research Working Groups" and originally the idea was to create knowledge over time as in accumulating knowledge for others to have use of. It was noted that the meetings of the Core group are paid for by EPF and each working group had a budget of 6000-10000 euros. ($7600-$12,700) The theoretical ideas of one group may be connected to the clinical problems of another group. (ie. Implicit theories in Clinical practice) The groups assure exchange of ideas throughout the EPF Societies. The key points are: continuity, support EPF, presented to Presidents of the EPF Societies and EPF funds.
   
   L Moritz noted that the APsaA is already funding an Interface issues group and "Everyone who has attended finds them stimulating and comes back excited and wanting to learn more." She also noted how important the Implicit Theories aspect was with the aspects of the role theories and assumptions the psychoanalyst is unaware of play in daily practice.
   
   H. Basseches noted the groups were not supervisory, not competitive and it is that excitement of the ideas ( and the discovery of new ones) that is key with the Ego on the back burner.
   
   J. Gooch was impressed by the EPF and working group cooperation and and felt that he was not as successful as a board member as his EPF and FEPAL colleagues had been.
   
   H Basseches noted that the NAPsaC consolidation could help and the issue of funding remained to be discussed.
9. (#8) New Business:
   1. Mexican Provisional Society hoping for a EPF-NAPsaC style meeting organized by FEPAL-NAPsaC. FEPAL has a history of this but stopped post Sept 11. These meetings are paid for by the attendees themselves so there are no funding requirements from FEPAL or NAPsaC. D. Schaffelburg noted that recent unfortunate deaths of Canadians in Mexico might inhibit CPS members form attending and there was some discussion of it being held in California. Overall the idea was seen in a positive light and further explorations will be undertaken.
   2. R. Perlman presented the issue of a "Membership Database" on the web so patients could access it to find an IPA Psychoanalyst in North America. The IPA has offered its database for NAPsaC use so cost will be minimal. The board was in general agreement. The issue of a DPPA (grant) request was discussed. Links from the various groups to the NAPsaC page will be explored so all will have access to this database.
   3. CAPSA proposal form FEPAL to have the three regional organizations present clinical material to each other at a conference. A grant is available and the board was in approval.
10. (#3)Treasurer's Report: D. Schaffelburg presented a brief summary of the current financial standing of NAPsaC and noted that all groups have paid their 2006 dues. Dues for 2007 will be $1.50 per IPA member as approved in June of 2006 and he will send out bills in the next couple of weeks. Discussion of how to increase NAPsaC funds raised the problem of how to sell the increased fee to members of the various groups especially when it becomes a large budget item. (ie $10 fee would be over $26000 as a budget item for APsaA) Having more specific plans to offer will help but both APsaA and CPS felt their members would be resistant to a significant increase without very specific and exciting items to offer.
11. Motion for adjournment carried at 17:30 h.

Reported by David Schaffelburg, Secretary-Treasurer