ASGPP Annual Meeting Agenda Item

[Adam Blatner]

Ed, your suggestion is fine. It may be a very positive thing! 
    I'm just saying for all that we need to be a bit cautious about our ways of presenting an argument, because it can be intimidating. If one doesn't know the devices of rhetoric, one might be tempted to stifle any doubts. That is a manipulation, though I am NOT suggesting that you intended it to be so. Lots of people speak this way, but it has unintended consequences. So it's a comment on the way people operate in groups---an aspect of group dynamics that has to do with semantics, intensity, and other variables.

   As for the idea itself, I would only add that, depending on the college and location, well, the general category is certainly worth exploring, but the devil is in the details. If, for example, the college found is out in the boondocks, if the dormitory rooms are pretty shabby, ... well, that it is a "college" doesn't really do it. I agree with your suggestion that it be considered, though! 

    Warmly, Adam
            
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Edward Schreiber 
  To: Adam Blatner 
  Cc: grouptalk Listserv 
  Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 9:50 AM
  Subject: Re: ASGPP Annual Meeting Agenda Item


  I am asking for a working group to be formed.  This is not "shabby manipulation".  And yes, it's true, I listen to the voices who say the Conference is too expensive and frankly outdated in my opinion.  I say this because I've experienced an advanced structure, noted by the IAGP's Academy.  And I am calling the question to the floor at the ASGPP to form a group to redesign the Conference and bring it to a college campus where housing, meals, etc. can be offered.  


  Ed




  On Feb 26, 2009, at 10:28 AM, Adam Blatner wrote:


    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








------------------------------------------------------------------------------



  No virus found in this incoming message.
  Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
  Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.3/1973 - Release Date: 02/26/09 07:03:00
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://grouptalkweb.org/pipermail/list_grouptalkweb.org/attachments/20090226/d7930c9c/attachment.html>