New Mexico Psychoanalytic Society

A Local Chapter of the Division of Psychoanalysis

Division 39 of the American Psychological Association

18 April 2008

Dr. Schaller,

I would like to begin by saying thank you. I am indebted to many people for being able to attend this year's Division 39 Annual Spring Meeting in NYC as the recipient of the Graduate Student Stipend. Erik Craig nominated me; Marcia Landau, New Mexico Psychoanalytic Society President, made the nomination official; Bill MacGillivray answered questions and assisted with important logistics; and of course Section IV made the nominating process possible by offering a stipend to graduate students. I also offer my thanks to the many and valuable contributors whose names I do not know but who nonetheless made this possible; I would not have been able to attend without the collaborative support of Section IV and NMPS. The panels, topics, and speakers were stimulating and provocative, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate.

Attending the Section IV Senate and Open Memberships meetings was illuminating as well. Learning about the intricacies of Section IV was informative; it is a diverse and dynamic group with numerous lively topics and equally compelling conversations. I was particularly interested in the discussion about APA and the process of revising how to resolve ethical issues. To thoughtfully re-evaluate the otherwise accepted posture of "I was following orders..." is an enormously complex process, and yet ethically informed guidelines and decisions are vital both to our integrity and to the integrity of all persons with whom we come into contact. I was pleased to learn that adding an ethics column to Psychoanalytic Psychology is under consideration.

In the spirit of this year's theme, "Knowing, Not-Knowing, and Sort of Knowing," I include a favorite quote from Jacob Bronowski: "It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it." The responsibility and privilege of practicing persistent inquiry is immense, and I am appreciatively uncertain.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Tahlia H. Rainbolt