The Membership Board (MB) is a standing board of the association. Members are elected by the Council of Representatives (CoR). The 2015 MB consisted of 9 members as follows: a minimum of four are Fellows of the association and the remaining members represent the diverse membership. The board has oversight for the recruitment and retention activities for the association, has the authority to elect qualified persons to initial member status, and has the responsibility for establishing and regulating the APA criteria that the Fellows Committee uses to review and recommend member nominees for the election of Fellow status.
The 2015 Membership Board Members
Barry Chung, PhD, Chair; Rachel Casas, PhD, Chair-Elect; Susan Cochran, PhD; Marlene Maheu, PhD; Stephanie Shields, PhD; Brian Smedley, PhD; Nancy Diehl, PhD; Juan Dominguez, PhD; and Michi Fu, PhD.
Waiver Applications
The MB reviewed three applications for membership and one waiver application. Two applications and the waiver were approved. One application did not meet the criteria for membership.
Highlights
Some of the important work of the board for 2015 are highlighted below:
1. Jeanette Johnson resigned from the MB in March, 2015. Brian Smedley was appointed to fill her term (2015-16).
2. APA launched a new online platform for new member applications which are linked to divisional membership applications.
3. Worked with CODAPAR to address possible changes to life status membership criteria. Ian King will provide the MB with a proposal in spring 2016.
4. Responded to APAGS and the Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity regarding the collection of member information about gender identity and sexual orientation.
5. Responded to various Cross Cutting agenda items, including but not limited to:
- Reviewed and recommended for approval to the BoD and CoR the following documents: (a) New Haven Trauma Competencies; (b) Proposed Revision to Recognition of Organizations that Provide Certifications in Specialties and Proficiencies in Professional Psychology: Policies and Procedures Manual; and (c) APA Resolution on Promoting Global and Diversity Perspectives in Psychology.
- Submitted three questions to the Election Office for the candidates running for APA President-Elect in 2016.
- Brainstormed possible nominations for various APA awards.
6. Reviewed and forwarded nominations for Initial Fellow Status as recommended by the Fellows Committee to the BoD and CoR for approval. 113 new APA Fellows were approved by the CoR in 2015. The MB also reviewed and forwarded the rank-ordered slate of candidates for the Fellows Committee to the BoD.
7. Provided input for the search priorities for the new Executive Director for Membership Recruitment and Engagement. Ian King was hired for this position.
8. Worked with CODAPAR, CECP, and SPTAs to present a 2-hour symposium centered on leadership development in relation to membership recruitment and retention at the 2015 APA Convention.
9. Assembled three slates (for the 2016-18 term) to be reviewed by the BoD and elected by the CoR. Established priorities for nominating MB members for the 2017-19 term: expertise and background in (a) SPTA/advocacy, (b) science, and (c) education/graduate training. Also, nominations of early career psychologists, those who are new to APA governance, and those from underrepresented groups are particularly welcomed.
10. Discussed implications of the Independent Report (i.e., Hoffman Report) on membership recruitment and retention issues. Brainstormed ideas for addressing member concerns, climate issues, and member engagement.
11. Discussed possible ways to recruit and retain science-oriented students and members.
12. The MB intends to have a one-day strategic planning session in 2016.
Acknowledgement
The MB would like to thank the dedicated APA Staff Members as we could not have been as successful without their dedicated support: Tabitha Brown, Joseph Cox, Kevin Spotts, Barbara Spruill, and Dee Valencia. We are especially indebted to Sonja Wiggins and Rhea Farberman.