IPA Bulletin
President's Message

Alistair Burns

Embracing Change and Taking Action
IPA Sets the Course for Further Enhancements in 2003

The year 2002 has been a year of change and growth for IPA. As I look back on the decisions and enhancements that have occurred, I am reminded of the extraordinary commitment that so many IPA leaders have demonstrated. 

During this past year, the Board of Directors (BOD) has taken major steps to position IPA for its future. These include:

• developing and approving new leadership guidelines
• broadening the scope of the regional initiatives
• writing and approving new congress and regional meeting guidelines 
• forming a new task force on mood disorders
• developing a government consulting task force
• redesigning the Website
• adding to the secretariat team
• establishing an organizational financial reserve
• relocating the secretariat headquarters 
• implementing an election process for officers
• appointing the new editor-in-chief of International Psychogeriatrics
• changing auditors and enhancing financial processes
• forming a development committee
• redesigning the IPA Awards for Research in Psychogeriatrics
• approving an organizational prioritization plan

Plans for 2003: The Work Begins

With these enhancements in place, IPA can move forward in 2003 on the many other activities identified by the BOD to meet its mission, visions and goals.

During this upcoming final year of my tenure as president, we plan to:

• establish IPA Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
• produce and deliver the Chicago Congress on our own
• revitalize all task forces
• build our regional initiatives
• implement new educational offerings
• add more substantive content to our Website
• actively pursue new members
• identify and develop new IPA leaders
• diversify our revenue sources

Workgroups Get Down to Work

As we approach the Chicago Congress, each IPA workgroup—all committees, task forces and initiatives—will be asked to review their work plans and identify goals for future activities. Over the next year, under the guidance of the IPA BOD Affairs Committee, each workgroup will become compliant with the new leadership guidelines. New chairs will be appointed as the current chairs complete their terms, new workgroup members will be identified and approached to work on activities, and each activity will be measured against the organization prioritization plan.

New Elections Net New Officers

With each annual Congress comes a change in IPA leadership. At the BOD meeting in Hong Kong, the IPA BOD elected a new slate of officers, who will begin their terms after the Chicago Congress in August. The new IPA officers are: 

• President: George T. Grossberg, United States
• Treasurer: Thea J. Heeren, The Netherlands
• Treasurer-Elect: Philippe H. Robert, France
• Immediate Past President: Alistair Burns, England, United Kingdom

This was the first IPA officer election, and the organization was fortunate that it was a contested election. While it is always difficult to have more qualified candidates than officer positions, it is reflective of the extraordinary commitment that the current leadership demonstrates towards IPA. It is unfortunate that all of the candidates could not be elected to IPA office but we know that IPA will continue to benefit from the expertise and contributions from all our leaders who are leaving the IPA BOD or an IPA office.

Seeking Board Nominations

It is a wonderful time to become active in the organization. In addition to the enhancement of each IPA committee, task force and initiative, the 2003 IPA BOD Elections will result in the election of 10 IPA BOD members. This is an unusually high number for many of the BOD vacancies are due to the recent changes in the IPA leadership guidelines, including the early election of IPA officers.

The call for BOD nominations can be found here. If you are interested in becoming more active in the organization, please consider joining one of the many IPA work groups or running for the IPA BOD. Healthcare professionals from all nations are encouraged to apply.

A Happy, Healthy New Year

As the year 2002 draws to a close, I wish for you a healthy new year. I look forward to continuing our work together during the year 2003 to improve the mental healthcare of our aging population around the world. Thank you all for your continued interest and commitment to IPA and to our activities.

Contact Alistair Burns via Sue Whalley, Academic Secretary to Professor Alistair Burns, Department of Psychiatry, 2nd Floor, Education and Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Rd., Manchester M23 9LT, +44-161-291-5887, or send an email message to swhalley@fs1.with.man.ac.uk

Reprinted from IPA Bulletin, Volume 19, Number 4