Presidential Letter

April 8, 2004

Dear Member:

Over time psychoanalytic organizations undergo change. After 14 years of existence, the board has been reviewing its role and purpose in the psychoanalytic community. Our purpose has not changed for we remain an organization where anyone interested in psychoanalysis may join and participate. By eschewing guild issues, IFPE allows for a space where people of diverse orientations, backgrounds, and disciplines may come together and exchange views. While other organizations may have interdisciplinary programs, we are the only one that is open to all, on an equal basis, who are interested in psychoanalysis. While we remain a small organization we are an active one as our recent elections have shown. Approximately forty percent of our members, an unusually high number in an organization, actually voted.

IFPE originated as an organization for individuals and organizations. Some of the organizations were institutes and others were various associations. While board members hold diverse views on guild issues, the board has been considering the role of organizational membership. A bylaw amendment to change the status of the organizational membership to an affiliate without a vote will be sent to the members for approval.

IFPE has been approached by a number of organizations and people who seek some form of affiliation. These affiliations range from simply an exchange of website links, to publishing conference papers as a special issue of a journal, to a book based from conference papers, to affiliation with other organizations, and to cosponsorship of regional meetings. The board will be considering a number of these proposals at its meeting in May. The first cosponsored regional meeting will take place in Mexico with AGAPE.

In reviewing these proposals the board needs to consider carefully who we are and what we do. Our mission is not simply what we say but what we do. We have developed a particular image which appeals to a particular type of person namely someone who is looking for a space and place that is different from other organizations. If we expand through links and affiliations with other groups we should do so only after careful consideration of how it impacts on IFPE's prime role.

I am pleased to report that Judith E. Vida and Susan Saperstein were elected to the board.

Last yearís conference on The Transformational Conversation was highly successful both in its program, atmosphere, and attendance. I look forward to seeing you all at this yearís conference which is being held at the DoubleTree Guest Suites Chicago on November 5-7, 2004 on the topic, Ethic, Ethos, and Taboos.

Warm regards,

Harold B. Davis


If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me at:
hdavisnyc@aol.com
or
27 West 72 St., Suite 905
New York, NY 10023
212 496 0127