Membership Board: 2018 Annual Report

The Membership Board (MB) is a standing board of the association. Members are elected by the Council of Representatives (COR). The 2018 MB consisted of nine members as follows: six were Fellows of the association and the remaining members represent the diverse membership. Two members are early career psychologists. 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.

Amber Hewitt, PhD, Chair; Kenneth Drude, PhD; Linda Forrest, PhD; Lynn Kahle, PhD; Roberta Nutt, PhD; Ellen Williams, PhD, Valene Whittaker, PhD; Mercedes McCormick, PhD; Quetzalcoatl Hernandez-Cervantes, PhD

At the spring 2018 consolidated meeting, the Membership Board approved 9 applications for membership. The Membership Board also meet with staff from the Service Center to discuss ways to improve the application review process. Throughout the year the Membership Board reviews membership applications electronically and decides whether the applicants meet the APA criteria for Membership.

The Membership Board engaged primarily in strategic planning in preparation for APA’s new strategic plan. The last Membership Board strategic plan was updated in 2007. Some of the important work of the MB for 2018 is highlighted below:

1. Initiated 2019 strategic planning and identified priorities for the Membership Board. The Board also reviewed and analyzed the differences and similarities between the functions of the Membership Board and the functions of the APA Office of Membership, Recruitment, and Engagement. Due to these discussion, a stronger relationship was forced between the Board and the Office.

2. Reviewed and forwarded nominations for initial Fellow status as recommended by the Fellows Committee to the Board of Directors (BOD) and COR for approval. A total 90 new APA Fellows were approved by the COR in 2018. The MB also reviewed and forwarded the rank-ordered slate of candidates for the Fellows Committee to the BOD.

3. Streamlined and created new tools for the APA membership waiver process in conjunction with APA Service Center.

4. Advocated to the CEO and BOD for the Membership Board’s inclusion regarding the in-person Spring and Fall Consolidated Meetings.

5. Successfully advocated for Membership Board representation on the APA Expanded Advocacy Model Work Group.

6. Conducted several virtual meetings, with satisfactory attendance and input.

Assembled three slates (for the 2020-2022 term) to be reviewed by the BoD and elected by the CoR. The Membership Board also identified targeted nomination slates for 2020: 

• Slate 1: Business 
• Slate 2: Technology – Telemedicine, Artificial Intelligence, Online learning 
• Slate 3: Applied Psychology

7. Responded to various Cross Cutting (CC) agenda items, including but not limited to the following items:

Spring 2018

CC#1 - Amendment to Association Rule 100-1.4: Division Position and Policy Statements

• CC#2 - Revisions to the APA Model Curriculum in Psychopharmacology for Prescriptive Authority and Related APA Policies: Request for Adoption as APA Policy
• CC#3 - Proposed Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Military Service Members, Veterans, and their Families: Call for Comments
• CC#4 - Proposed Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men: Request for Adoption as APA Policy
• CC#5 - Principles for the Validation and Use of Personnel Selection Procedures, Society for Industrial/Organization Psychology, 2018: Request for Adoption as APA Policy
• CC#6 - Resolution Supporting the Expansion of Mature Minors’ Ability to Participate in Research: Request for Adoption as APA Policy
• CC#7 - Proposed Resolution on Physical Punishment of Children by Parents: Request for Adoption as APA Policy
• CC#8 - Update on the APA Citizen Psychologist ™ Initiative

Fall 2018

• CC#1 – Call for Questions to the President-Elect Candidates
• CC#2 – Voting Privileges for Graduate Students
• CC#3 – Revisions to the APA Model Curriculum in Psychopharmacology for Prescriptive Authority and Related APA Policies: Request for Adoption as APA Policy
• Standards for High School Psychology Curricula (APA, 2011)
• CC#5 APA Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treatment of Depression
• CC#6 Resolution on Support of Universal Design and Accessibility in Education, Training and Practice
• CC#7 Resolution on Physical Discipline: Request for Adoption as APA Policy • CC#8 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Resolution; Request for Adoption as APA Policy
• CC#9 Resolution on Camus Sexual Assault: Request for Adoption as APA Policy

The MB would like to thank the dedicated APA staff members, particularly Ian King, as we could not have been as successful without their support and guidance. We are especially indebted to Sonja Wiggins for her tremendous organization, knowledge, sparkling personality and competency.