MCPP Board of Directors Meeting October 2024 Minutes

Virtual Meeting, Sunday, October 13, 2024, 9am-10:30am

Present: David Freiband, Karen Weber, Cate Desjardins, Elizabeth Waiess, Marissa Keep, Tamra Frei, Lisa Larson, Linda Young, Eve Avrin, Carol Stratman, Miriam Lorrain, Robert Cohen

Minutes recorded by Cate Desjardins in absence of Secretary, Shil Sengupta

President: D. Freiband

• Freiband sought further corrections on minutes for September 15 meeting, in addition to the corrections Freiband previously offered via email. Freiband noted corrections offered by board members to pass along to Sengupta. Lorrain shared the name corrections she provided to Sengupta via e-mail. Freiband will share corrections to Sengupta so he can update before Board can review and approve.

Treasurer: T. Frei

•   Frei reported that the balances are approximately the same as last month, with an increase of $500. Frei discussed that recent expenses include paying the Zoom subscription and paying for in-person room reservations for the 25-26 year. Each of these expenses were about $2500. The markets did really well, so the yields from the investment accounts balanced out those expenses to keep the account totals relatively steady. Frei reminded that we have accounts both at UM Credit Union to pay expenses and Schwab accounts for investments.
• Discussion followed about the Zoom bill. It is paid annually, in September, and is about $2300. Young confirmed that proof of MCPP’s non-profit status had been submitted to Zoom, but a Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption is needed to be exempt from taxes on Zoom fees. Young, Lorrain, and Frei planned to coordinate following the meeting so that Frei could get access to the MCPP zoom account to provide the necessary signature.
• Discussion followed about our tax-exempt organizational status. Frei noted that we are a 501C tax-exempt organization but there are more than 20 different types of 501(c)(3) organizations. She reported that as far as we can tell, we are a 501(c)(6), states belief that that may be why the Foundation was started, as it is a 501(c)(3) organization. Frei said that in order to prove exactly what kind of 501(c) organization we are, she needs a specific letter from the IRS that specifies what kind of tax-exempt organization we are. Freiband reports that he has some documents from P. Wood that he will share with Frei that may have that organization. Freiband asked if the accountant (Galardi) has those documents. Frei says she does not necessarily have it because it is not necessary to indicate that on the yearly filing. Avrin will ask Galardi if we have any documentation that we are a 501(c)(6) so that we can present the proof of our tax exemption status when we make purchases. Avrin will also ask how exactly we need to provide that proof of tax-exempt status at times we are making purchases. Avrin will also ask M. Rudy if he has any documentation or information that might be helpful, given his past experience as a treasurer.

Co-Vice Presidents of Programming: M. Lorrain and C. Desjardins

•  Lorrain provided the update on the longer workshop for the spring. Grossmark and Fors were basically tied as the choices for the longer format event in the vote taken this past spring. Lorrain and Desjardins decided to pursue Fors as the longer format speaker this year because she is already going to be travelling from Norway for an event at another organization in the United States. The specific format of the event still needs to be discussed. Exact date had already been determined, will be April 13.
• Avrin noted that Passover begins on 4/12, which will make it impossible for her to help with making arrangements for the Fors event. Lorrain noted that Fors coming from such a distance makes it difficult to change the dates. Discussion ensued regarding the appropriateness of arranging events to occur that weekend. Lorrain and Desjardins will discuss how to approach changing the date of the Fors presentation, if possible.
•  Lorrain and Weber will work together to publicize full list of speakers for the 24-25 year.
• Freiband shared that he has corresponded with Susan Flinders of MPS regarding the MPS symposium. He noted that the reciprocity arrangements about promoting events between the two organizations has been respected, but due to the timing of the symposium in relation to the November MCPP event, he wanted to get perspectives from the Board before promoting the MPS symposium to the MCPP membership. Discussion ensues, arriving at approval for promoting the event to MCPP membership. Freiband will work with Flinders to determine exactly what MCPP will announce.
• Desjardins is continuing to look into potential speakers for 25-26.  Prospective speakers include Rachel Sofer, Heather Ferguson, Susan Obrecht, Peter Kaufman, Avgi Saketopoulou, Amy Schwarz Kunz, Galit Atlas, Nancy McWilliams, Jody Davies, Margaret Black Mitchell. Board invited to share additional suggestions with Freiband and Desjardins.

• Co-Vice Presidents of Membership: Lisa Larson and Linda Young

• Young reported that she, Weber, and Lorrain revised the description of membership for the website.
• Stratman initiated a discussion about how to engage with local schools of psychology and social work to bring in students who may be interested in learning about psychodynamic practice. Three strands emerged from the discussion:
• The creation of a student liaison committee (proposed by Stratman), which would involve getting a currently enrolled student at each identified program to serve as a liaison between MCPP and their classmates to promote student attendance at MCPP events and other involvement to be determined.
• Looking into reducing or removing financial barriers to student participation (proposed by Desjardins), which may take various formats, such as having MCPF fund student fees to increase attendance or making the first meeting free then a $25/year student membership fee to gain access to all events. Freiband noted that MCPF funds could be pursued after a proposal is developed. Freiband introduced the possibility of making all meetings free for students, but lack of time prevented substantial discussion of that possibility.
• Facilitating networking events and groups (social and professional) for students and early career professionals to engage them in a psychodynamic community and cultivate interest in MCPP membership (proposed by Keep)
• Stratman agreed to investigate possible affiliations with MSPP. Keep and Desjardins agreed to discuss possible collaborations with ICSW. Lorrain agreed to investigate possible affiliations with EMU’s psychology program. All will report back at the November board meeting. Noted that this is relevant to the vitality of the organization going forward; it is linked to membership and also bigger than membership.

Committee Reports:

Website: K. Weber

Nothing discussed.

Social Liaison: E. Avrin

• Nothing discussed.

Psychology CEUs: M. Lorrain

• Lorrain contacted LARA about getting MCPP on the list of approved CE providers. LARA indicated that more documentation was needed, but that we don’t need to be on the list because we’re approved under the heading of ‘APA sponsored provider.”
• The list of approved CE providers is fairly obscure and unlikely to be a resource that professionals use to seek out CE providers.
• We don’t come up on the drop-down menu for CE Broker; need to ensure our membership is aware that we are an APA sponsored provider and that is how we are included on the approved CE provider list.

Social Work CEUs: T. Frei

• Nothing discussed.

Freiband motioned to adjourn, Larson seconds. Meeting adjourned.