2003 Annual Reports for Boards and Committees

COMMITTEE ON STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF COUNCIL 2003 ANNUAL REPORT

Members
Bruce Bonecutter, PhD, Chair; Douglas C. Haldeman, PhD; Harriette W. Kaley, PhD; Edmund J. Nightingale, PhD; Connie S. W. Paul, PhD; Susan K. Whitbourne, PhD

Meeting Dates
CSFC met on March 28 & 28 and October 14 & 16 (by conference call)

Highlights

Election of Chair for 2004

CSFC elected Harriette W. Kaley, PhD, as chair-elect. Dr. Kaley’s term as chair will begin January 1, 2004, and end December 31, 2004.

CSFC was asked by Jeffrey E. Barnett, PsyD, former chair of the Caucus for the Optimal Utilization of New Talent, to review the caucus meeting schedule. Dr. Barnett noted that several new caucuses have been added since CSFC developed the rotating schedule for caucus meetings in March 1993. CSFC noted that when CSFC developed the schedule there was no formal mechanism for communication among caucus chairs. CSFC suggested that caucus chairs use time during one or more of their monthly conference calls to review the caucus schedule and make changes, if deemed necessary. CSFC also asked that caucus chairs consider discussing the following feedback CSFC has received from off-going Council members: 1) caucus chairs should work together to reduce redundancy in caucus meetings and 2) candidates who are provided opportunity to speak at the plenary session shouldn’t be given opportunity to speak at caucus meetings.

Revisions to Association Rules Regarding New Business Items

CSFC recommended that a “check list” be developed for new business items. Those items not meeting the criteria on the check list would be returned to the mover of a new business item for further clarification or development. The Chair of CSFC will review all new business items, in consultation with directorate staff and members of CSFC, and will alert the Agenda Planning Group to any new business items that don’t meet the established criteria for submission. Drs. Bonecutter and Haldeman will draft a check list for review by CSFC at its Fall 2003 meeting.

CSFC also reviewed and made recommendations for amendments to rules regarding new business items. Staff will draft revisions to the Association Rules based on CSFC’s recommendations and will forward an item back for CSFC’s consideration at its Fall 2003 meeting. At its Fall 2003 meeting, CSFC postponed the item “Check List for New Business Items” to its March 2004 meeting.

Pro/Con Statements

CSFC met with P&P during its discussion of this item. CSFC first considered this item at its March 2003 meeting.

The main motion of new business item #25C requests “That pro/con statements should be repackaged as a single statement that integrates the issues being voted on with a label such as ‘considerations’ or ‘implications.’ All motions submitted to the membership should have such statements.”

CSFC recommends that Council reject the main motion and approve the following substitute motion:

The main motion of a proposed Bylaw amendment presented to Council shall include an explanation of the amendment (up to 250 words) to be provided by the mover(s) of the Bylaw change. Such an explanation, once approved by Council, will be included with the Bylaw amendment ballot.

P&P and CSFC will review the practice of adding explanations to Bylaw amendments and provide a report back to Council within three years.

CSFC notes that Article XX of the APA Bylaws provides that “explanations of the amendments as are deemed necessary” shall be included with proposed Bylaw amendments. Therefore, a Bylaw change is not necessary to make the change proposed by CSFC and P&P.

Council Meeting Schedule for August 2004

CSFC discussed with President-elect Halpern the Council meeting schedule for August 2004. The 2004 Convention will be held Wednesday, July 28 through Sunday, August 1, 2004. Sessions will be scheduled in the morning and early afternoon, with substantive sessions ending by 2 p.m. each day.

CSFC recommended the following schedule for August 2004:

Tuesday, July 27
7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Caucus Meetings

Wednesday, July 28
1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Plenary Session
2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Council Meeting (Session 1)

Friday, July 30
2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Council Meeting (Session 2)

Dr. Halpern proposed and CSFC concurred that a survey would be Emailed to Council asking them for preferences on this schedule versus the following schedule that more closely fits to the usual Convention meeting for Council:

Monday, July 26
5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Plenary Session and Caucus Meetings

Tuesday, July 27
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Council Meeting (Session 1)

Sunday, August 1
9 a.m. to 12 noon Council Meeting (Session 2)

At its fall meeting, CSFC received as information the following schedule for the July 2004 Council meeting:

Tuesday, July 27
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Caucus Chairs Meeting
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Plenary Session
4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Break
5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Caucus Meetings

Wednesday, July 28
2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Friday, July 30
2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Filling Vacancies on Boards and Committees

CSFC recommended that Council approve the following amendment to the Association Rules regarding filling vacancies on boards and committees (bracketed material to be deleted; underlined material to be added):

110-5.5. Filling vacancies (general). If any candidate for any APA office or board or committee position withdraws or becomes ineligible before the election results are tabulated, or prior to the first meeting once his or her term has begun, the result of the election shall be recounted as if his or her name had not been on the ballot. [If an electee withdraws or becomes ineligible before the start of his or her term of office or prior to the first meeting of the board or committee once his or her term has begun, the result of the election shall be counted as if his or her name had not been on the ballot. If any member of a board or committee resigns or becomes ineligible when there is only one meeting of the board or committee left to complete his or her term, the board or committee may make an appointment to fill the vacancy. Otherwise, a substitute shall be elected for the unexpired term by Council with all deliberate speed. A board or committee may make an interim appointment to fill a vacancy until the election is completed.]

110-5.6 Filling vacancies (boards and committees whose members are elected by Council). If any member of a board or committee resigns or becomes ineligible at any time following commencement of the first meeting during his or her term, the board or committee may make an appointment to fill the remainder of the term.

Council Representation for Ethnic Minority Psychological Associations

CSFC discussed the following main motion of new business item #28A:

Create four new Council seats for elected representatives of the following ethnic minority psychological associations: American Association of Asian Psychologists, Association of Black Psychologists, Society of Indian Psychologists and National Latino/a Psychologists Association.