The APA Pentagon By Rodrigo Muņoz, M.D. APA President

Five major components-indeed, I think of them as centripetal forces-make up APA's organizational structure. They provide the tools that enable the Association to serve its members and our patients. When drawn on paper, these forces form a pentagon. Not unlike the Pentagon that sits only a few miles south of APA headquarters in Washington, D.C., our Pentagon serves important strategic purposes.

The sides of the APA Pentagon are the Board of Trustees, the Assembly, councils and other components, the state associations and district branches, and the APA staff.

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Association, composed of officers and trustees elected by the membership. The Board sets APA policy and makes budgetary and other fiscal-related decisions. APA's effectiveness is directly related to the energy of the Board's activities. Between June 1998 and June 1999, the Board will meet four times to address such issues as APA's finances and operating budget, internal organization, governance solutions, public and legislative affairs, health care economics, and integration with other forces in the APA Pentagon. By June 1999, the Board of Trustees will have produced a blueprint of APA for the first part of the 21st century.

The Assembly is the national body representing APA members at the grass-roots level. Assembly delegates transform the perceptions, solutions, and aspirations of APA members into action papers that often result in APA policy. The Board often refers issues to the Assembly (and the district branches) for consideration and study. Close coordination with the Board of Trustees and other APA components has greatly enhanced the Assembly's efficiency. In the last few years the chairs of the councils have attended Assembly meetings, so as to promote early integration of their activities.

The "brain trust" of APA is made up of 11 councils, several commissions, and other components that address a number of specific matters, including internal organization; research; education; national and international issues; ethics; economics; finances; elections; specific populations; legal matters; interaction with other medical, educational, research, and consumer organizations; and issues raised by members.

I would like to strengthen the fourth force in our Pentagon, the district branches and state associations. I want to focus on bringing to all district branches and state associations our economic, government, public relations, and educational initiatives. The strength of our organization rests on the ideas and activities of all our members. Through our new Office of District Branch and State Society Relations, I want to strengthen APA's partnership with members so that they are plugged into the activities of their Association, can share information with APA and other members, and get the services and information they need quickly. If we mobilize our immense reservoir of power, we will be invincible in our fight for high-quality and accessible mental health care.

The fifth force of the APA Pentagon holds the entire structure together. I am referring to our staff. We have charged one of our best planners and executives, APA Medical Director Steve Mirin, M.D., with organizing, integrating, and making best use of the loyal people whose efforts shine through our success. As he works with the staff and ensures that the other four sides of the APA Pentagon are supported, Dr. Mirin is also joining with the APA leadership in developing the plan for a new, more effective APA.