ASGPP Annual Meeting Agenda Item

[Adam Blatner]

Dear All, Here's a comment on the process rather than the content of the question as to the idea of changing the time and location of the conference.

    First, it's not that much of a conserve. Conferences have been held at non-typical locations----20? years ago at a resort in the Pocono mountains, for example.

     But, Ed, your last email---while I appreciate your enthusiasm in this difficult time (historically and economically of flagging morale)---what you wrote "begs the question," implying that anyone who has what seems to him or her a plausible or fair reason for doing other than what you suggest is 
     (1) operating on NO evidence.     (how do you know until you've respectfully listened and considered other viewpoints?)

     (2) or that anyone who even thinks of disagreeing either lacks courage or will or is beholden to the conserve---this is called "attribution of motivation."  This argument implies that anyone who might disagree for what seems to them to be truly valid reasons is "really" being driven by unworthy unconscious motivations that we know but the person denies. This is a shabby manipulation that was practiced a lot by the early psychoanalysts in their disputes with each other. 

  I haven't considered this option and am very  open to what you're suggesting. I have no objection to the content of the suggestion. I would like folks to think about the pros and cons. I just don't think we should "beg the question" by assuming that any new idea is a good idea by virtue of its being new. Some new ideas are really bad ideas if one thinks about it; and some are really quite good.

       Warmly, Adam
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Edward Schreiber 
  To: HV Psychodrama 
  Cc: grouptalk Listserv 
  Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 7:03 AM
  Subject: Re: ASGPP Annual Meeting Agenda Item


  There is no evidence to support the belief that a conference
  over the summer would draw less.  What would be less anyway
  than the numbers now?


  In fact, the evidence suggests the opposite.  
  The IAGP Conferences are in August and draw many.
  The Expressive Therapies Conference this year is in August at
  Lesley University.


  The question I have to the ASGPP is:  do we have the courage
  to change the conserve and is there the will and the leadership?


  The IAGP Academy has an extraordinary design for it's Academy,
  where real training can take place in "tracks" and a large group,
  the entire conference, works together.






  Ed

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