The Council of Representatives (COR) had a hybrid meeting on August 3-4 in Minneapolis during APA’s Annual Convention. The majority of members attended in person, which was a welcomed sight and gave us a chance to collaborate and network with colleagues readily.
As in previous years, COR no longer has financial oversight but is provided with budget data showing any variance between 2021 projections and the 2021 approved budget. Using the integrated budget model that uses transfers from the building and liquidation of long-term investments, there was a $1.05 million net margin surplus. APA ended 2021 with an actual surplus of $3.5M. Revenues ended the year $3M ahead of budget and previous projections while expenses ended the year with close to $8M in savings from budget. We are happy to provide more details on the finance from 2021 as well as the 2022 budget.
In the area of COR governance, there are two task forces addressing issues stemming from last year’s Council Effectiveness Work Group (CEWG) recommendations. One is developing motions that will enhance COR’s ability to lead and monitor the association’s work in the policy arena, such as development of agenda items addressing major concerns facing psychology in line with APA’s strategic plan. The second (led by Susan Whitbourne) is completing an evaluation of the Council Leadership Team, a mechanism that was developed in 2014 in order to fulfill such COR missions as providing recommendations on agenda items and managing procedures to select and oversee COR’s strategic issue discussions. Both task forces will present their final reports at the August 2023 COR meeting.
On matters of policy, we had a productive meeting in which several items were discussed. Council passed a motion designating the third week of April be proclaimed Psychology Week, an annual celebration of psychology that includes Psychology Day, recognized by the United Nations community and certain other institutions. APA will share information about Psychology Week with the psychology community and broader audiences leading up to and during that week. APA will also provide information and tools/visuals that other organizations can use to join the celebration. Key public interest initiatives were passed this session, including a Resolution on Psychology’s Role in Addressing the Impact of, and Change Required with Police Use of Excessive Force Against People of Color and Other Marginalized Communities in the United States and a resolution on limiting the death penalty to offenders aged 21 or older. The Racial Equity Action Planopens in new window proposed by APA was also passed, which outlines the next steps the organization should take in promoting racial equity. Council also approved a series of motions which will pave the way for graduate students to have seats on most boards and committees within the organization, similar to the initiative taken for early career psychologists. This will go out for membership vote with a pro-con statement, as it is an amendment to the bylaws. Treatment guidelines for women with serious mental illness were also passed, which was vetted by the Committee on Aging and was very representative of the needs of older adult women.
Finally, I would like to recognize our colleague, Susan Krauss Whitbourne, for her 18 years of service for Division 20 as an APA Council representative. Thank you for your invaluable service, and for paving the way for aging to be a stronger voice on Council.
If you have any questions or concerns, or if you’d like to share about the issues raised at this meeting, feel free to contact either one of us.