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The APA Auxiliary is throwing open its membership doors to welcome any person interested in working on behalf of its mission to join its ranks.
Since the auxiliary's creation in December 1983 by a vote of APA's Board of Trustees, its membership has been limited to the spouses of APA members.
The vote to expand its membership base was held at the auxiliary's annual business meeting during APA's annual meeting in Toronto. The tally was 73 to 15.
"The APA Auxiliary is dedicated to the support of the American Psychiatric Association," said Catherine Kirschner, who completed her term as auxiliary president during the annual meeting. "We opened our doors to welcome new members to our organization because we want to be larger in numbers and effectiveness. The unity and commitment of our organization can continue to grow as we expand our membership. We look forward to a bright future. Please join us."
Under the new rules, prospective members of the auxiliary who are not spouses of an APA member must be sponsored by an APA or auxiliary member in good standing. These members will most likely be APA members' significant others, relatives other than spouses, and advocates for the mentally ill.
The auxiliary already has its first nonspouse member, LeAnn Jamison of San Diego. Her sponsor was Alicia Muņoz, a health care administrator and the wife of APA President Rodrigo Muņoz, M.D.
The auxiliary traces its roots to APA's Committee on Spouse Activities. In the early 1980s a number of APA members, including Mary Ann Bartusis, M.D., Cynthia Rose, M.D., and Pete Palasota, M.D., worked with spouses and the appropriate APA components to help spouses realize their 30-year-old dream.
The auxiliary held its first meeting in May 1984 in conjunction with APA's annual meeting in Los Angeles. Grace Talkington, wife of former APA president Perry C. Talkington, M.D., was its first president.
The mission of the auxiliary is to support the work of APA and the profession of psychiatry, advocate on behalf of the mentally ill, and educate the public about psychiatry and mental illness. Among its numerous projects are two charities, the Elsa Barton Scholarship Fund and the Robert E. Jones Foundation, and sponsorship of a variety of annual meeting programs. The auxiliary's Public Affairs and Legislative Affairs committees help APA conduct its advocacy work on Capitol Hill and in the media.
Membership information is available by calling Anne Balster, membership chair, at (937) 436-0668.