There are currently 238 members in our Division. Each member paid $10 to join the Psychology Division. AAIDD national keeps a portion of these funds to support our Division (e.g., website, listserv, conference activities, etc.). Our Division budget for the 2008 year was $1,500.
Following the feedback from last year’s survey of Division members, we conducted the following two activities in conjunction with this year’s AAIDD Annual Meeting:
Held an Ethics workshop that provided Continuing Education credits. Our ethics workshop was held on Friday, May 30th ~ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm and provided 3 hours of C.E. credits for licensed psychologists. There were approximately 14 participants who took advantage of this excellent workshop given by Dr. Duke Schell. This post-conference workshop (including CE credits) was free for AAIDD students, Psychology Division members, and Mental Health Services SIG members.
Marc thanked Dr. Paul Kolstoe, Chairperson for the Mental Health Services SIG for co-sponsoring the Ethics workshop. He also thanked Dr. Laura Murphy of the Boling Center at the University of Tennessee for her help in getting the CE credits set-up through the Boling Center.
The Approximate workshop expenses were as follows:
$250 in Travel Support foran AAIDD Student to attend the Annual Meeting. We asked for the assistance of Dr. Louise Lord Nelson, Chairperson of the AAIDD Student and Junior Member Retention and Recruitment Committee to assist in identifying an AAIDD student member that the Psychology Division could support to attend this year’s conference. The SJMRR Committee had previously invited students to submit their CV and materials as part of their call for two Conference Stipend Awards for students to attend this year’s AAIDD Annual Meeting. The SJMRR Committee reviewed the Student candidates who had been submitted and recommended Marie-France Giard, psychology doctoral candidate at the Université du Québec à Montréal, to be the recipient of the Psychology Division travel award.
Ms. Giard was present at our Business Meeting to receive the Psychology Division’s $250 check.
Update regarding the Association
Marc provided a brief update on the state of the Association. There is not much information provided to the Chairs of the AAIDD Divisions, SIGs, and Action Groups from the Board to share with the different Divisions, SIGs, and Action Groups. The Association’s finances are good. Despite a drop in the number of AAIDD members (slightly less than 4,000), the Association has a balanced budget – with a small surplus. The sales and training revenues generated by the Supports Intensity Scale continue to help the Association balance its budget.
There was some discussion about the existing disconnect between the AAIDD Board and the Divisions, SIGs, and Action Groups. There was is no real mechanism in place for Divisions and other groups to keep informed regarding the Board of Directors and Association activities. There was a recent proposal to have a Board liaison identified for each Action Group, Division, SIG in an attempt to improve communication – this will likely take effect July 1, 2008.
AAIDD Annual Meeting
There was strong support to encourage AAIDD leadership to continue the Annual Meeting. There was an extensive discussion about the financial structuring of the Annual Meetings and several members expressed concern regarding the on-going losses associated with the Annual Meeting. Several members shared experiences with their state and regional chapters organizing smaller and larger meetings and breaking-even or even making a surplus from these conference meetings.
Members agree that it is important to continue to have the availability of CE credits at the AAIDD Annual Meeting. Members felt that the availability of CE credits increases the value of attending the AAIDD Annual Meeting for licensed psychologists.
It was suggested that next year’s CE Pre-Conference or Post-Conference workshop(s) be planned and advertised before AAIDD’s general call-for-papers. Having the information regarding the Psychology Division-sponsored CE workshops available at the time of the AAIDD call-for-papers would be helpful for Division members in deciding if they want to submit a paper/poster and attend the AAIDD Annual Meeting.
Everyone enjoyed this year’s poster session. It was very well organized and well attended. This formula should be maintained and expanded next year.
AAIDD’s 2009 Annual Meeting will be held in New Orleans, LA. The exact date and conference hotel should be determined very soon.
Division Elections
Marc informed the members of the need to hold elections for the Psychology Division officers. Members agreed that there should be a call for candidates for two officer positions:
- President
- President-elect
ACTION: Marc will be sending in the coming weeks the ELECTIONS information and CALL for candidates.
Members requested to receive a copy of this year’s Psychology Division Action Plan. The Action Plan can be consulted on the Psychology Division website at www.aaidd.org.
ACTION: Marc will email the Action Plan to all Division members in the coming weeks.
Other: How can we promote the participation of behavior analysts in AAIDD?
It was suggested that we explore how to better recruit/attract behavior analysts to AAIDD. There was some discussion about what can the Psychology Division and Mental Health Services SIG do to recruit more of these professionals. Would they feel welcomed in the Psychology Division? Should they have their own Action Group?
