MICHIGAN COUNCIL FOR |
Board Meeting Minutes MCPP Board of Directors Meeting Minutes January 22, 2023
Minutes January 22, 2023
Virtual Meeting via Zoom Conferencing
9am – 10:30am
Present: David Freiband, Jerry Brandell, Elizabeth Waiess, Eve Avrin, Karen Weber, Linda Young, Lisa Larson, Tamra Frei, Michele Rivette, Shil Sengupta
President: D. Freiband
President
Minor revisions were suggested for September and November 2022 Meeting
Minutes. Freiband made the motion to accept revised September minutes. Young
seconded the motion. Board approved unanimously. Freiband made motion to accept November minutes. Brandell seconded this
motion.
Freiband made motion to approve Weber to be one of the representatives on
the Schwab account (along with Freiband). Weiss seconds the motion. All
approve.
Treasurer
Total net worth: $87,012.00. Increase of $9000 due primarily to membership
renewal.
Avrin inquired why PayPal account was still needed to remain open (currently
holding $500). Weber explained that this account is tied to the Lovinger
foundation that grants funding for the Access program.
Vice President of Programs
Secured venues for in person meetings throughout upcoming academic year:
primarily at the Michigan Union and the Michigan League. Checked on AV: will allow us to have hybrid session: so virtual speaker and/or
audience will be allowed to be projected on the screen so that audience in
the room can see them. Elaborated that virtual audience will be able to see the speaker. However,
Virtual audience will not be able to see individuals in the audience raising
their hands. Freiband reported that the selection of speakers is in process (representing a
broad range of topics)—he has a list of 54 people prospective speakers he is winnowing down based on mutual interest between the organization and
these individuals.
Membership
Young emphasized that many people attending conference on this day were non-members: she elaborated that this is a great possibility to recruit additional members to join MCPP.
Young and Larson discussed plan of sending out the letter imminently (end of
current week) to members and non-members, inviting them to join the
organization or renew their membership.
Young plans on sending out another reminder letter in approximately one
month for membership renewal to those individuals who specifically have yet
to renew their membership.
Website
No updates
Social Work CEs
No updates
Social Media
Freiband detailed discussion with Frei, Rivette, and Faulkner regarding the use of social media, particularly to draw people to MCPP.
Rivette inquired what the goal would be in having a larger social media presence (given the logistics that would be required in moderating one or
more of these platforms).
Young suggested that (1) a concrete goal would be to draw more people to MCPP’s events and (2) the broader goal of conveying the educational
awareness that psychodynamic talk therapy is useful to people.
Rivette added that she has created a Facebook page but that it was unable to draw traffic; therefore, she recommends the group consider a
more deliberate approach to targeting and attracting new users.
Frei inquired whether the organization has tried to establish connections with regional psychology and social programs in universities (that are
currently not getting access to psychoanalytic training).Rivette responded that she and Karen Baker have attempted several
outreach approaches in the past, but neither manifested in people
specifically reaching out to inquire about psychoanalytic training at MCPP.
Rivette agreed to continue discussions with Frei and Faulkner to provide
update at next meeting.
Freiband inquired whether it’s worthwhile to charge people to attend
meetings (like other organizations). As an example, he questions whether it makes sense to have over half the people attending a meeting not pay
any fee. He inquires whether there is a particular price point that would be attractive for non-members whether this is to attend meetings, or to
attend meetings and obtain CEs. Freiband added that, given the national and international stature of people
presenting, it may be worthwhile for attendees to defray the cost of having
these individuals present.
Discussion continued from prior meeting regarding potential policy for promotion of external events.
Freiband eluded to policy considerations and draft of potential policy he had shared with members and received input from. Freiband summarized that, while there cannot be a policy that handles every circumstance, that there must be a framework that the board has in
place to make decisions.
Idea of reciprocity was revisited and identified as essential: external
organizations coming to us as organizations and asking MCPP to promote their events should do so in kind for MCPP, in good faith.
Freiband moved that we plan to meet again in March. Group votes unanimously to meet on March 19, 2023.
Freiband moved that the Board adjourn, Frei seconded this, All members
approved.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30am.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Shil Sengupta, recorder.