Succession in APsaA- Do We Become an Incubator or a Museum?

We are in danger of becoming a museum rather than an incubator of creative ideas!

Dear Colleagues,

What does this current generation of analysts owe to our next generation?

The Athenian oath was a promise by older leaders to hand over their great city in better condition than they received it. And I believe that those of us who have drawn so much value from our national organization have a similar and irrevocable obligation to our younger colleagues.

In that regard, I propose two avenues towards a richer future for our organization and for all of us within it.

1) As treasurer for the past five years I’ve been substantially involved in strengthening the fiscal bricks and mortars of our organization. It is on this foundation that we need to build an association that is truly representative of our diverse and changing membership. We need to foster the involvement at all levels of committee and community life, including leadership, of our newer and younger members, with all their disciplinary, cultural, and theoretical diversity. As president I will lead and support such efforts, because only in this way can we assure that our organization can remain an incubator for new ideas rather than just a container for old ones.

2) My second point has to do with our Association’s direction: theoretically, clinically and administratively. We need to construct an Association open to the new perspectives arising in the face of current practice realities and to the myriad of newer developments in psychoanalytic theory. We run the risk of being left standing at the station as the best of our rival organizations readily embrace the value and seriousness of new ideas. It may sound obvious, but many in our organization have difficulty grasping the fact that our newer candidates and members, all drawn from varied backgrounds and experience, are essential contributors to developing a modern face and soul for APsaA.

Of course there is more to say about these significant themes, but brevity in this context is undoubtedly appreciated. However, I welcome discussion with any and all of you who are interested, concerned, or enticed by these themes. Feel free to contact me by email (wrprocci@sbcglobal.net) or by telephone (626-793-7957). Please feel free to visit my webpage as well (www.wrprocci.org or http://warrenprocci.blogspot.com)

Very truly yours,
Warren R. Procci, Candidate for President-Elect, APsaA