President's Message Published December 2009
Increasing Accountability: The Intricate Task of Restructuring Our Institutional Infrastructure, Improving our Executive Operations and Establishing Principled Leadership Practices.Benson George Cooke, Ed.D., ABPsi National President 2009/2011 Following our 41st Annual Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) Board of Directors (BOD) has been hard at work managing the business of the association. From the first meeting of the new BOD in Atlanta, Georgia on Sunday, August 2nd throughout the weekly September telephone conference calls, leading right up to our 1st Quarter BOD meeting in Silver Spring, Maryland from October 9th through the 11th, every member has been hard at work honoring their pledge to provide principled leadership for the membership of The ABPsi. As President, I’ve proposed several stages of change to ensure that we accomplish our Financial, Technological, Institutional, and Legal goals as well as establishing Principled Leadership Practices.
Below I’ve provided a summary of my Presidential agenda to the BOD and the outcome of each of the stages of action-items completed. However, before I report on the status of the work completed I would like to briefly consider one underlying justification for increasing accountability, i.e., attending to the anecdotal expectations concerning membership benefits.
Anecdotal Expectations
I believe that the consensus of anecdotal expectations from current members is that The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) continues to improve the value of affiliation by providing a wide-ranging combination of professional benefits. Achieving this membership expectation can only be accomplished with increased financial growth fueled by sound institutional growth. The current package of membership benefits includes the following: Current Membership Benefits The Journal of Black Psychology (JBP), a nationally and internationally recognized psychological research journal, which is published and distributed by SAGE Publications. The Psych Discourse (PD), which is The ABPsi’s News Journal and Periodical dealing especially with matters of current interest to The Association of Black Psychologists including the latest national employment listings; Access to The ABPsi Psychologist Listing Directory, which is a WEB Site directory used to locate Black Psychologists on a state by state basis within the United States. Affiliation as a member of The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi), a Premier National and International Association. Student and Professional members are invited to participate in a leadership role on the local level, regional level and/or national level. These positions of influence are important to increasing knowledge and information within the Black community around the issues shaped by Black/African psychologists. As a leader, you will receive training from our Leadership Development Institute designed to prepare you for leadership tasks within The ABPsi and other professional associations or psychological organizations. Affiliation as a member of The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi), offers opportunities to present conceptual or research papers, professional workshops, and poster-sessions during our Annual International Conventions. Membership also offers discounted convention prices for pre-registration and on-site registration. Finally, membership establishes preliminary eligibility for nomination within a wide-range of association awards honors and special recognitions. In fact over the past 41 years The ABPsi annual conventions have invited a broad range of distinguished colloquium, plenary, workshop and panelist speakers who have effectively addressed pertinent national and international issues affecting the Black community. Affiliation provides a unique opportunities for didactic membership collaboration. Whether you call it Mentoring or Jegnaship, The ABPsi conventions are unique meeting places in which Black psychology pioneers in thinking, research, scholarship, teaching, leadership and community activism makes themselves accessible to interested undergraduate and graduate students, early/mid-career professionals and/or seasoned professionals. During these often unscripted encounters, unique opportunities are established for academic or professional guidance, as well as counseling. One consequence of these encounters can be a lasting collegiate relationship or friendship that, in many cases, lasts a lifetime. Affiliation with Licensure, Certification and Professional Proficiency or (LCPP). LCPP represents the ABPsi’s advanced skill development training program that teaches certificants key information designed to enhance an expert knowledge base of African/African American psycho-cultural, psycho-historical, psycho-social and pertinent religious/spiritual paradigms vital in establishing relevant mental health methodologies within education, research and clinical best practice.
The ABPsi Board Certification in African Centered/Black Psychology (CAC/BP) Professionals who hold The ABPsi CAC/BP are individuals who have met ABPsi criteria based on demonstrated skills, knowledge and abilities. Meeting these criteria asserts that The ABPsi can reasonably expect the implementation of culturally appropriate teaching, research, clinical practice and assessment when integrating acquired culturally appropriate African-Centered skills to various areas of psychology. Applicants for CAC/BP are reviewed by a panel of highly skilled, experienced, and respected psychologists. Scope of This Program The ABPsi, being the principal body consisting of renowned Black psychologists in the USA and the world, is responsible for assuming the primary role in defining the cultural considerations necessary to properly address the psychological needs of African Americans and people of the African Diaspora. Consequently, LCPP addresses the needs of the Black community by providing trainees with advanced skill development designed to increase competency and proficiency in addressing conditions faced by all people of African descent.
The 7 benefits reported above represent the existing membership package offered by The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi). Some of these membership benefits have been in place for professional membership for more than a decade at the cost of $150 annually. However, during the 1st Quarter Board of Directors Meeting in October 2009, The BOD voted to increase these fees by $50 annually. Effective January 1, 2010, this annual increase of $200 annually will reflect a long overdue cost of living adjustment for the association. I also believe that this upcoming cost increase will provide an additional source of revenue to help create 4 new proposed membership benefits. For these reasons, and those described in my presidential address, as well as those delineated within this PD article, I intend to provide leadership that encourages and supports what The ABPsi can offer to all members.
Proposed Future Membership Benefits
The ABPsi Electronic Store. Plans are currently underway to establish a WEB based catalog where members can make discount electronic purchases of a broad range of ABPsi products and material. Some of the items currently being considered for distribution include the following:
A collection of DVD Archive footage containing exclusive interviews and theoretical conversations on cultural competence from ABPsi scholars, leaders, founders, and other published professionals and students; Books and articles from internet links associated with ABPsi professionals to acquire relevant published material, which includes books, DVD’s and assessment materials; ABPsi logo related items that includes caps, t-shirts, pens, cups, etc.; Monthly Continuing Education Units/Credits for licensed and certified professionals; Internet Technology distance learning workshops. I believe that once we’ve had a chance to build upon our internet electronic store the opportunities become limitless in our capacity to provide our knowledge and understanding to mental health institutions, schools, faculty, and students the wisdom of our elders, scholars and intellectual giants. Grant Writing Training/opportunities for membership.
Collectively, I believe that these 7 current and 4 proposed membership benefits can significantly contribute to increasing our undergraduate and graduate student affiliation while growing long-term membership among early career, mid-career and seasoned professionals. Again, it is my belief that effectively managing these membership expectations is important and can be accomplished by strategically increasing accountability across several key stages. Below I’ve provided a summary and outcome statement of what the current BOD has been working on as part of my presidential agenda since August 2009. Increasing Institutional Accountability: Stage 1 On August 30th, approximately 28 days following our 41st Annual Convention I submitted my restructuring proposal to The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) Board of Directors (BOD). This proposal was distributed via email to the BOD for review and discussion by way of our telephone conference call system on September 2nd, September 10th, September 17th and September 24th. The initial restructuring proposal provided The ABPsi BOD with a comprehensive justification for operational administrative changes designed to improve accountability within the executive management operations of our association within three key areas: financially, technologically and institutionally. A fourth issue of change concerned legal protections for the association. Included within this extensive document was a proposed restructuring of our office/headquarters operations including but not limited to: (1) Revising/reducing the Walk-On Management Functions; (2) Contracting an Executive Director (ED) as part of the proposed Presidential appointment to increase accountability; (3) Proposing a contract appointment of a Technology Coordinator as part of the Presidential appointment to increase accountability; and (4) Increasing legal protections for The ABPsi. This report included benchmarking comparisons using the Annual Society of American Executives (ASAE) Operating Ratio Report. The purpose of using this report was to provide the BOD with an extensive cost analysis of The ABPsi’s past and current financial operations in comparison to National Averages and Medians. In particular, the comparisons were made between financially like-structured Professional Association/Organizations; 501 (c)(3) Associations/Organizations; and National Association/Organizations. These Association/Organizations were divided into two financially structured groupings which were comprised of organizations generating revenue of: (a) $500,000 or less, and those generating revenue involving (b) $500,000 to $1,000,000. As an association that is growing revenue to surpass the $500,000 mark these two fiscal comparisons provide an opportunity to examine a range of Personnel Expenses as well as General and Administrative Expenses that account for successful financial growth. Given our associations current economic standing, generating successful economic growth will require strategic and institutional restructuring that reshapes our current executive management operations. Some of the primary benefits of the proposed ED restructuring include the following: Improved oversight of day-to-day operations; Improved accountability from all management levels and contractors; A necessary intermediary step toward an independent operation with an ABPsi staff and eventually a building; Strengthens our succession preparedness; Adds more directed focus on business and mission management; Grant writing experience. A critical component of future strategies to generate revenue; Adds to supporting the infrastructure of NCC Planning, LCPP, PD, Student Circle and all programmatic activity; and Improved direction and focus of long term strategic planning.
Added to these benefits the appointment of an ED enhances our capability to achieve additional revenue with the following additional benefits: Sustainable membership satisfaction notwithstanding increased membership rates; An assertive Psych Discourse (PD) sales plan; Online Sales and Revenue; Increased convention participants; Active sponsorship solicitation; and Active grant solicitation.
Additional data presented to the BOD included a historical financial analysis of the total association expenses since 2003. This report titled: The ABPsi Historical Year-End Statement of Activities and the Historical Year-End Office Expense Report, illustrated our association’s successful trajectory of maintaining expenses over the past few years while appreciably increasing our investment portfolios. This report further substantiated the current need to engage in a restructuring plan designed to increase our association’s capacity to grow while confronting the challenges facing the next generation of Black Psychologists nationally and internationally. Outcome of Stage 1 In closing, I believe that the BOD’s September 24th approval of my appointment of Anisha N. Lewis as our Executive Director will help to bring the experience necessary to secure a stronger institutional infrastructure for our association’s immediate and long-term growth. The academic background of Ms. Lewis includes the following: (1) an earned Bachelor of Arts Degree (Cum Laude) in Communications from Howard University in Washington, DC and (2) an earned Master of Science Degree in Organizational Management from Trinity University in Washington, DC. A highlight from her extensive background experience includes but is not limited to the following: Deputy Executive Director, (2008-2009)—The National Alliance of Black School Educators, a 5000+ membership non-profit organization; Director of National Accounts for Three National Organizations, (2005-2008)—Walk-On Management, Inc., increasing client membership by 10% and advertising revenue by more than 26% for print publications; Deputy Executive Director, (2000-2005)—The National Society of Black Engineers, a 20,000+ membership non-profit organization; Director of Membership Services and Programs, (1994-2000)—The National Society of Black Engineers, responsible for operational management across membership, programs and placement service departments, etc.; Public Relations Manager, (1991-1994)—Positive Communications, Inc., responsible for cultivating relationships with national and local media outlets and securing funding from corporate and private donors. Ms. Lewis also secured $300,000 in grant funding to manage a national outreach campaign as well as critical national print and broadcast media coverage.
Increasing Legal Accountability: Stage 2 In addition to providing the BOD with a comprehensive plan to address financial, technological and institutional restructuring, the BOD was also provided with an extensive legal plan derived from consultation with the ABPsi Attorney Mr. Derrick Humphries. This plan was forged after extensive consultation with our legal representation as well as The ABPsi longstanding member and Consultant Dr. Paris Finner-Williams, (Licensed Psychologist and Attorney). The issues presented to the BOD on this subject have been a part of an on-going conversation within the BOD throughout the previous administration and now an issue of relevance again within this current BOD administration. Fortunately, during this administration, the BOD was able to review and vote on a new policy to ensure supportive engagement within our BOD and membership. I believe that this particular new policy provides important safeguards designed to increase our association’s accountability concerning legal issues and concerns. They also go a long way in helping to protect our association from potential legal difficulties. Therefore, one key strategy presented to the BOD was a new policy in the form of a Professional Conduct Agreement to protect both the integrity of the Association as well as the trust and professional camaraderie within and between the memberships. Increasing accountability legally also involved presenting to the BOD communication strategies designed to increase transparent and informative communication within the membership concerning optimal and appropriate avenues and forums for addressing grievances that may impact individuals, groups and the association as a whole. To facilitate this goal, the BOD will continue to work toward establishing within its administrative capacity realistic time-tables for the settlement of grievances once they have been submitted for review to either the Ethics Committee or the BOD. The BOD will additionally work to convey a realistic understanding of the current process for documenting decisions on a Quarterly Basis (i.e., October, January, April and July). The BOD will also continue to work on informing membership of the Quarterly Ethics Committee Reports included as part of the President-Elect’s Quarterly Report. A delay in appraisals of Ethics Committee activity may occur by virtue of the reality that this report is distributed to members in attendance during the annual business meeting of the association in July. Given the fact that our Ethics Committee is composed of volunteer ABPsi members who reside across the country, it is important to keep in mind that their work on membership cases are managed on an ongoing basis utilizing the internet and telephone conference calls when required, e.g., monthly, bi-weekly or when needed to expedite a case under review. Included within the 2009 May/June Issue of the Psych Discourse the Ethics Committee has submitted the current ABPsi Ethical Standards, (see pages 44-53). I believe that the Psych Discourse publication of this document can increase transparency concerning policy and procedures pertaining to addressing grievances. However, it is important to our membership that the BOD continues to examine ways of adding essential resources dedicated to improving a realistic time-frame which satisfactorily addresses the needs of our membership. The BOD remains committed to establishing goals, objectives, and practices designed to provide responsible leadership to the membership on any/all issues with legal transparency and with administrative courage concerning sanctions to anyone involved in behavior that produces harm. The BOD owns responsibility for creating a healthy environment and process that ensures fundamental principles of MAAT, i.e., Truth, Justice, Harmony, Balance, Order, Reciprocity and Propriety. Finally, the BOD, in keeping with our ethical practice, will maintain confidentiality in any and all proceedings that may be under review by the Ethics Committee. In this regard, we will work diligently to address and support membership concerns/issues toward a fair resolution with the goal of always maintaining confidentiality. This at times may require the trust, tolerance and patience of membership to allow a grievance ‘Due Process’ to take its course as prescribed by the time-line of The Ethics Committee Members working to bring about resolution to a case. In every instance, we (i.e., The BOD), will continue to provide the oversight described within our By-Laws that ensure legal transparency, and administrative courage concerning the outcome. Outcome of Stage 2 On October 10th, the BOD voted to accept the recommendations of our attorney and consultant in passing a Professional Conduct Agreement Contract. Since the BOD is charged with the task of governance of The ABPsi as well as providing oversight of any and all fiduciary matters impacting the present status and future development of membership and related Association matters. The BOD believes that this Professional Conduct Agreement Contract helps to reduce the risk of liability with regard to both membership and non-membership communications during annual conventions. While this action item addresses one possible issue affecting the association’s solvency, it is an important step designed to maintain greater legal accountability. Increasing Leadership Accountability: Stage 3 Restructuring also involved reorganizing the educational/training time-table and business agenda for the 1st Quarter BOD meeting which traditionally takes place in the Washington, DC area. This year’s meeting required BOD member arrival on Thursday afternoon/evening in order to begin a full two and one-half days of (1) training proceedings and (2) specific BOD business assembly the following day. The first day of training procedures took place on Friday, October 9th at 8:15am and ended by 6:30pm. The second full day of training procedures and meetings took place on Saturday, October 10th at 8:15am and ended at 7:00pm. The final day of the BOD business meetings took place on Sunday, October 11th at 8:15am through at 12:00pm. While day-one and day-two involved approximately 16 hours of BOD involvement in educational/training activities, Saturday evening and Sunday morning were comprised of approximately 9 hours of BOD business communications that included some voting on BOD report recommendations. Overall, the time spent working on BOD reports reflected that our BOD meetings are continuing to establish an effective and efficient management style that allows more BOD business to be completed with less time. Below is a list of the BOD training sessions and the presenters: Subject: Administrative Matters-LDI Training. Presenter: Anthony Young, Psy.D. (The ABPsi Past President and LDI Trainer). Subject: Fiduciary, Ethical and Legal Matters of Conduct for BOD Members. Presenter: Paris Finner-Williams, Ph.D., LP, Esq. (The ABPsi Consultant) Subject: Learning and Understanding Key Legal Matters Critical to Sustaining the Future Growth of The ABPsi. Presenter: Derrick Humphries, Esq.—(The ABPsi Attorney). Subject: The Administrative Role and Function of an Executive Director. Presenter: Ms. Anisha Lewis. Subject: Financial Matters: A review of Organizational Forms, Federal Forms and Associated Deadlines -Presenters: Muriel Kennedy, Ph.D. (The ABPsi Treasurer); Bernadine Meriwether (The ABPsi Accountant); and Kofi A. Boateng (The ABPsi Certified Public Accountant and Manager of The ABPsi Annual Audit) Subject: The Transition Role of Executive Management; Including Technology Issues. Presenter: Charles Walker (Walk-On Management, Inc.)
Outcome of Stage 3 The key objectives achieved during this 1st Quarter BOD meeting were: (1) The completion of a comprehensive 16 hour educational/training agenda devoted to important instruction on the fiduciary responsibilities of our elected leadership; (2) The satisfactory completion of approximately 9 hours of BOD business covering 6 critical areas of consequence; and (3) The completion of a healthy and responsive dialog within the BOD business meeting. Overall, the decreased time-frame for managing the work of the BOD during this 1st Quarter BOD meeting was shorter than the traditional 16 hour time allotted to manage the business of the association. The BOD’s success can be directly attributed to the dedication of current members to engage in efficient and effective management skills to resolve on-going and future business matters. Increasing Next Generation Leadership Accountability: Stage 4 During the weekend of Friday, September 25th through Sunday, September 27th I attended the 3rd Annual Student Circle (SC) Retreat. This year’s retreat was held in Houston, Texas and provided the Student Circle Board of Directors with an opportunity to once again establish their upcoming year’s administrative agenda under the guidance of their SC President Le Ondra Clark and their Advisor Dr. Halford Fairchild. The workload was immense yet each SC leader productively participated each day to successfully fulfill their administrative agenda. Outcome of Stage 4 While I was able to attend the 1st Student Circle Retreat in Virginia, I was unable to attend the second SC retreat in St. Louis, MO. Following the 2nd meeting I recall a conversation with our National President Dr. Dorothy Holmes who reported to me that based upon her observation of the administrative involvement of the SC leaders that “the future of The ABPsi is in good hands”. Based upon my observation of the 3rd SC Retreat, I would have to agree with Dr. Holmes that once again, the SC leadership continues to demonstrate that they are focused and progressively involved in helping to ensure a strong future for our beloved association. Increasing Financial Accountability Through Grant Involvement: Stage 5 On Monday, September 28th I attended meetings with both Dr. Cheryl Grills and Dr. Mark Bolden to establish a professional relationship with three major federal grant organizations. During these meetings we were able to meet with representatives from (1) the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); (2) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services within the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); and (3) The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. Outcome of Stage 5 The key objective of this stage is connected with the vision/mission of our President-Elect Dr. Cheryl Grills who has been engaged in finding grant and securing funding projects committed to supporting The ABPsi’s professional commitment to provide culturally based treatment within the ABPsi Recidivism Reduction Intervention Prison Project called (ACRE) or African Centered Re-Entry. The objective of this project developed by Dr. Grills for the association is: To decrease recidivism among African Americans from South Los Angeles using African Centered community based pre and post release programming. Eventually, our goal will be to establish a national network of programs Since the 2009 Atlanta Convention, an unprecedented opportunity has occurred for our association. The ABPsi has been approached by several federal grant and state grant agencies i.e., National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (DOJ). The genesis of our accelerated grant involvement actually started during the Atlanta Convention on Saturday, August 1, 2009 when leaders from The ABPsi attended a presentation given by Beverly Watts Davis, Senior Advisor Office of the Administrator with SAMHSA. During this meeting, the rank and file of leadership supported in principle our association’s efforts to pursue with support grant revenue to establish programs related to our professional mission statement. To date, each of these programs has reported a desire to support through funding a psychologically culturally competent program comprised of services that directly impact issues of incarceration, chemical dependency, HIV/AIDS and mental health disparities. I believe that ACRE moves us beyond the realm of postulating aspirational programs and establishes for The ABPsi an authenticated program that will have the potential to make a substantial socially conscious and culturally relevant psychological difference. I also believe that The ABPsi is at a unique crossroad concerning the growth and involvement of both student and professional membership as well as community-wide involvement. Conclusion I believe that our organizational leadership is poised to move in progressive directions designed to ensure our future as a national and international leader of Black Psychology. I also believe that the institutional, financial, legal and technological growth strategies the BOD has addressed are critical for our short-term and long-term operational success. As I stated during my presidential address, i.e., “As the generation before us recognized, we too must define this moment in history as one in which, in spite of our diverse differences we will choose to embrace the emancipation of a new consciousness. We must audaciously embark upon a collective effort to vigorously engage this association in an effort to sustain the change we desire. In other words, we must embrace this moment as one that heralds the prospect that we are in fact the ones that we’ve been waiting for to empower our vision for cultural, spiritual and humane psychological empowerment. I believe that there is tremendous power in an idea as it is in faith. Our contemporary presence here in America in spite of all the difficulties should give us hope that an empowered psyche that is spiritually grounded can change the direction of a person, a family, a community a nation and the world.” |
