From Your Editors

The 119th APA convention will be a grand meeting place to catch up personally and professionally with peers, colleagues, and students. Division 49's schedule of events for the convention should prove to be very exciting and rewarding. Details of poster and workshop presentations are outlined in this issue.

From Leann's perspective "...it is fitting for the convention to be in Washington, DC this year, as it was there in 2005 when I attended for the very first time. I recall feeling overwhelmed by the sheer size and scope. I was fortunate to be introduced to many Society members by my advisor, one of the founders of the Society, Rex Stockton. Despite the warm welcome, I was quite intimidated by meeting so many "famous" people from the group therapy field. It was only with continued attendance, getting involved on committees and growing confidence as I moved through my doctorate program that I felt more comfortable. Now, I look forward to attending APA each year for a chance to reconnect, forge new relationships and welcome new members." This will be Letitia's first APA conference and she is "...looking forward to making new connections as well as learning new group approaches plus volunteering for Division 49." From Tom's perspective "...the convention, and particularly Division 49's schedule of events, sets the stage to reconnect and build new connections." President Jean Keim has informed us that our Society has reached its 20th anniversary and will host a celebration at the APA Conference. There will be a "founding member event" that will be hosted at the conference for all founding members of Division 49. Please contact Jean Keim for event updates. The special event will honor the members who generously offered their professional time to make our Society what it is today.

As we leave spring and enter the summer season (a more strenuous season for some and less so for others), we encourage you to take time to reflect on the past year and share your thoughts with us. What do you think students and early career psychologists should know more about? What do you wish you had known more about during the early part of your career? What led you to pursue the work in which you are engaging currently? Your ideas and experiences are important and we need to share them with our membership.

Articles or brief reports and news items can be e-mailed directly to Tom, Letitia, Bambi, or Leann, as can Letters to the Editor. We would also like to include book reviews, DVDs, videos and online group interactions as part of the newsletter. Online group interactions would be a newsworthy column, yet we need an editor for this... there is interest out there and we need your input!

Reviewers for The Group Psychologist

Letitia Travaglini, MA, former Research Assistant to Dr. Aaron T. Beck,MD, at the University of Pennsylvania and 1st-year doctoral student at University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Human Services Psychology program. Student affiliates are encouraged to send brief reports, comments and ideas to Tisha by email.

Bambi Juryea-Gaston, MA, a 5th-year doctoral student at LaSalle University (Clinical Psychology). She is currently doing her predoctoral internship on the Co-Occurring Disorders Unit at the Rockland Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg, NY. Student affiliates are encouraged to send brief reports, comments, ideas or general questions to Bambi by email.

Brief reports, comments and student editorials are highly encouraged. We are interested to learn and share with Society members what students are encountering in their group programs! Please send your ideas to Letitia or Bambi.