The comments of Dr. Julie Schulman in the Residents’ Forum in the May 5 issue are on target. There is a host of organizations competing for my loyalty, membership, and dues. Reasons for belonging are many, but involvement is prominent among them. APA does not use its communication systems to promote membership involvement. Communication is one way, from Washington out to the membership; it is not an interactive system that capitalizes on the knowledge of members.

As Dr. Schulman writes, "Our biggest source of value as an organization is the information that our members have," to which I would add "and energy." APA must use it or lose it.

David Ames, M.D.

Greenville, N.C.