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By Robert Hadden Mole Two important initiatives were tabled at the NAPCN business meeting at New Paltz this year. Both initiatives may have implications for the future of the NAPCN and the network’s ability to attract new members. The first initiative is the proposal of a shared subsection of both NAPCN and APA Division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) organizations. This subsection is to be called “Proponents of Constructivist Psychology” (PCP). Current members of Division 32 who have an interest in constructivism can join PCP. Their membership to PCP is planned to include a discounted membership fee to NAPCN. Current members of NAPCN can join PCP and also enjoy the discounted membership to NAPCN. Additionally, these NAPCN members can meet more often with other constructivists in North America—in even years at NAPCN conferences as they usually do, and every year at the national APA conventions. Although the exact fee for the discounted membership is still under review, it is believed that the discount can be achieved without any great loss to the Network. By attracting new members and expanding the membership base, the NAPCN will draw more income to cover operating costs. NAPCN president, Jon Raskin will present the PCP proposal to APA’s Division 32 at their mid-winter meeting in January, 2001. The second initiative is the proposal of a new name for the NAPCN. Members have brought up the idea of a name change in years past (see “The Future of NAPCN” article, Vol 4, Issue 1). The reason for the name change seems based primarily on the fact that the “Personal Construct” label may define the scope of the organization too narrowly. Although the NAPCN holds firm footing in the Personal Construct Psychology of George Kelly, the constructivism the group stands for has evolved considerably over the past quarter century. The broad label “constructivism” may be a more accurate one for what the group represents today.
Several new names
were suggested in the business meeting, among these were the “North
American Constructivist Society”, and the “Pan-American
Constructivist Association”. While the business meeting attendees
appeared to be set on using the “constructivist” label, some debate
took place over the geographic designation of the organization;
whether the organization should focus on North America, or both
North and South America. Clearly the name change is somewhat
dependent on the direction the organization feels it needs to take
over the coming years. The NAPCN steering committee plans to work
on name change possibilities over the next several months.
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