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PART 2-Section 2

COMMUNICATIONS: INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

This section will explore the capacities of societies to communicate with their members and the outside world.

 

A-COMMUNICATION BY EMAIL & FAX

Rapid and accurate communication is a fact of modern life, even the lives of psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic societies. The Executive Committee of the American has just begun to require email access as a prerequisite for committee membership. The American must be able to communicate with its societies; societies must be able to communicate with their members, etc. Once a society obtains email access, communication with members and others is free. The savings in postage phone bills, stationary and the time and effort of society administrators are enormous. In many areas, local phone calls are free. In those areas fax communication is also free. Once an email or fax mailing list is set up (a task well within the capacity of most 14-year-olds in America) the process is effort free.

TABLE A1 EMAIL AND FAX CAPACITY

SMALL SOCIETIES

Society

Email

Fax

HELP

Oregon

Y

Y

N/A

San Antonio

Y

Y

N/A

Wisconsin

N

Y

Y

Kansas City

N

N

N

Minnesota

N

Y

N

Cincinnati

N

N

N

New Orleans

Y

Y

N/A

Dallas

Y*

Y*

N/A

*-Society has the technology,

but does not use

**-In process of setting up

MEDIUM SOCIETIES

Society

Email

Fax

HELP

Atlanta

N

Y

N

St. Louis

Y

Y

N/A

Southwest

Y

Y

N/A

Cleveland

Y

Y

Y

Pittsburgh

Y

N

N

Virginia

N

N

N

Hous/Galv

Y

Y

N/A

Topeka

Y

Y

N/A

N. Carolina

Y

Y

N/A

Tampa

N

N

Y

PINE

N

Y

N

Seattle

N

N

N

WNE

N

Y

Y

Denver

Y

Y

N/A

San Diego

Y

Y

N/A

Florida

N

Y

N

LARGE SOCIETIES

Society

Email

Fax

HELP

Phil. Soc.

Y

Y

N/A

Michigan

Y

Y

N/A

Phil. Assoc

Y

Y

Y

PANY

Y*

Y/N

Y

LAPSI

Y

Y

N/A

Columbia

Y

Y

N/A

Balt/Wash

Y

Y

N/A

Washington

Y

Y

N/A

New York

N**

N

N

So. Cal.

Y

Y

Y

Chicago

N

N

Y

S. Francisco

N

N

Y

BPSI

Y

N

N

 

 

Twenty-three societies are able to contact their members via email (although two said they do not use it.) One society is setting up Email capacity. Twenty-seven societies are able to communicate with members by Fax (although one does not use it.) Eight societies have neither Email nor Fax capabilities. There is no correlation between society size and its communication capabilities. Nine societies asked for help setting up or improving their communication capacities. It seems a shame that, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, so many of our societies are so technologically impaired. It is unlikely (considering Child Labor Laws) that the American will hire a fourteen-year old to travel around the country offering assistance, but there are people in the American and at local societies who can help.

B-NEWSLETTERS

A Newsletter is one of the ways that societies communicate with their members. Some societies send their Newsletters to their entire mailing lists. Thirteen societies do not have Newsletters, though one is restarting theirs.

TABLE B1 NEWSLETTERS NUMBER ISSUES PER YEAR

SMALL SOCIETIES

Society

News-

letter

# per

year

Oregon1

Y

4

San Antonio

N

N/A

Wisconsin

Y

31

Kansas

N

N/A

Minnesota

Y

6

Cincinnati

N

N/A

New Orleans

N

N/A

Dallas2

Y

4

1 Foundation auspices

2 Institute auspices

3 Society, institute &

Foundation auspices

4 Restarting

MEDIUM SOCIETIES

Society

News-

letter

# per

year

Atlanta3

Y

2

St. Louis

N

N/A

Southwest

Y

1

Cleveland

Y

6

Pittsburgh

N

N/A

Virginia

N

N/A

Hous/Galv

N

N/A

Topeka

N

N/A

North Carolina

Y

4

Tampa

Y

4

PINE

Y

4

Seattle

Y

4

WNE

Y

2-3

Denver

Y

2

San Diego

Y

2

Florida

N

N/A

LARGE SOCIETIES

Society

News-

letter

# per

year

Phil. Soc.

Y

2

Michigan

Y

4

Phil. Assoc

Y

2

PANY

Y

4

LAPSI

Y

4

Columbia

Y

Occ.

Balt/Wash

N

N/A

Washington

Y

3

New York

Y

3

So. Cal.4

N

N/A

Chicago

Y

4

San Francisco

Y

12

BPSI

Y

2

 

Size has some bearing on whether societies have Newsletters, although three of the eight small societies do have them and two of the eleven large societies do not. Most are published two to four times a year. (San Francisco publishes its Newsletter every month.) All publish local news and ten publish APA news as well. Four societies without Newsletters asked for help setting them up.

C-WEBSITES

TABLE C1 SOCIETIES WITH WEBSITES AND THEIR URLs

SOCIETY

URL

Atlanta

www.insite.com

Balt/Wash

www.bwanalysis.org

BPSI

www.bostonpsa.org

Chicago

www.3b.com/cps

Cleveland

www.psanalysiscleve.org

Columbia

could not obtain

Denver

starting one

Dallas

www.dalpsaa.org

Hous/Galv

www.hgpsai.org

LAPSI

www.lapsi.org

Minnesota

www.cyberpsych.org\mps

N. Carolina

www.unc.edu/depts/

analysis/foundation

SOCIETY

URL

New York

www.nypsa.org

Phil. Soc.

www.philanalysis.org

Phil.Assoc

www.philapsych.org

PINE

www.analysis.com/pine.

S. Francisco

www.sfpi.org

So. Cal.

www.So. Cal.psa.org

St Louis

www.stlpsa.org

Tampa

Discussing starting one

Virginia

www.vitginianalytic.org

Washington

www.washpsa.org

WNE

www.wneps.org

Oregon

www.opf.org

Twenty-two societies have Websites; many of them linked to the American’s Home Page. In one place the Website is run by the Foundation. Two societies are in the process of setting up Websites. We do not have information at this time about what use is made of these Websites, whether they are open to the general public, or about just how useful they are.

COMMUNICATIONS: THE OUTSIDE WORLD

A-REGULAR MEDIA CONTACTS

Regular contacts with the media are important to keep the public informed about information of importance to them (the public) and to psychoanalysis (legislation, threats to confidentiality, etc), and also about doings in the local society (for obvious reasons–we are alive, if ailing). The Marketing Committee is prepared to offer regular updates on matters of importance that should be distributed to the media. This is a costly service. Table A shows which societies have such regular contacts with the media and whether they wish to receive regular updates from the American.

TABLE A1 REGULAR MEDIA CONTACTS

SMALL SOCIETIES

Society

Regular

Media

Contacts

Up-dates

Oregon

N

Y

San Antonio

N

Y

Wisconsin

N

Y

Kansas City

N

Y

Minnesota

Y

Y

Cincinnati

N

Y

New Orleans

N

Y

Dallas

N

Y

 

MEDIUM SOCIETIES

Society

Regular

Media

Contacts

Up-dates

Atlanta

N

Y

St. Louis

Y

Y

Southwest

N

Y

Cleveland

N

N

Pittsburgh

N

N

Virginia

N

N

Hous/Galv

N

Y

Topeka

N

N

N. Carolina

N

Y

Tampa

N

Y

PINE

Y

Y

Seattle

N

N

WNE

N

Y

Denver

N

Y

San Diego

N

Y

Florida

N

Y

LARGE SOCIETIES

Society

Regular

Media

Contacts

Up-dates

Phil. Soc.

Y

Y

Michigan

N

Y

Phil. Assoc

N

N

PANY

N

Y

LAPSI

Y

Y

Columbia

N

Y

Balt/Wash

N

Y

Washington

Y

Y

New York

Y

Y

So. Cal.

Y

Y

Chicago

Y

N

San Francisco

Y

Y

BPSI

Y

Y

 

 

This is one place where society size seems to help. Of the eleven societies that have regular contact with the media, eight are large societies. However, it might be easier for societies in smaller cities to cultivate relationships with their local media people. Media contact is an urgent need. Seven societies, did NOT want to receive media updates from the American and twenty societies were unwilling to help defray the costs of such updates. Clearly, societies need education about the importance of regular contact with the media and how to go about organizing them.

B-MEDIA TRAINING

The Subcommittee on Marketing Issues has offered Media Training at the American’s meetings. The whole Executive Committee, among others, has taken this training and found it exceedingly valuable (this is a testimonial). Eighteen societies were interested (of these, seven supplied the names of interested members), thirteen societies were not interested and six societies were undecided.. These names have been sent to the Chair of the Subcommittee on Marketing Issues. Table B1 lists the societies who want, who are undecided and who don’t want media training.

TABLE B1 RESPONSE TO OFFER OF MEDIA TRAINING

WANTS TRAINING: Baltimore/Washington, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbia, Dallas, Houston/Galveston,

LAPSI, Michigan, North Carolina, PANY, Philadelphia Associating, San Antonio, Southern California,

St. Louis, Tampa, Washington, Wisconsin and New York

DID NOT WANT TRAINING: Atlanta, BPSI, Cleveland, Denver, New Orleans, Oregon, Philadelphia Society,

Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle, Southwest, Topeka and Virginia

UNDECIDED: Florida, Kansas City, Minnesota, PINE, San Diego and WNE

What is surprising is the number of societies who refused what is, in essence, a free gift. Luckily, any member who is interested in this training can contact Dr. Leon Hoffman.

 

C-INDIVIDUAL APPEARANCES IN THE PRESS, RADIO & TV

Although societies may not have organized regular media contact, individual members have written letters to the editor, appeared on radio or TV, and written newspaper columns. Table C1 shows which societies have members who have done these things.

TABLE C1 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS: NEWSPAPER, RADIO & TV APPEARANCES

SMALL SOCIETIES

Society

Letter to the Editor

Radio

or TV

Newspaper Col-umns

Oregon

Y

Y

N

S. Antonio

N

Y

Y

Wisconsin

Y

Y

Y

Kansas

N

N

N

Minnesota

Y

Y

N

Cincinnati

N

Y

N

N. Orleans

N

N

N

Dallas

Y

Y

N

 

MEDIUM SOCIETIES

Society

Letter to the Editor

Radio

or TV

Newspaper Col-umns

Atlanta

Y

Y

N

St. Louis

Y

Y

Y

Southwest

N

N

N

Cleveland

Y

Y

N

Pittsburgh

Y

Y

Y

Virginia

Y

Y

N

Hous/Galv

Y

Y

Y

Topeka

N

N

N

N. Carolina

Y

N

Y

Tampa

Y

Y

N

PINE

Y

Y

N

Seattle

Y

N

N

WNE

N

Y

Y

Denver

Y

Y

N

S. Diego

N

Y

Y

Florida

N

N

N

LARGE SOCIETIES

Society

Letter to the Editor

Radio

or TV

Newspaper Col-umns

Phil. Soc.

Y

Y

Y

Michigan

N

N

Y

Phil. Assoc

Y

Y

Y

PANY

Y

Y

Y

LAPSI

Y

Y

Y

Columbia

N

N

Y

Balt/Wash

Y

Y

Y

Washington

Y

Y

Y

New York

Y

Y

Y

So. Cal.

Y

Y

Y

Chicago

Y

Y

Y

S. Francisco

Y

Y

Y

BPSI

Y

Y

Y

 

Twenty-six societies have members who have written letters to the editor. Twenty-nine societies have members who have spoken on the radio or appeared on television. Fifteen societies have members who have written newspaper columns. These members are to be commended and should encourage their colleagues to do the same.

D-MARKETING STRATEGIES

As a result of the falling number of candidate applications, the decreasing numbers of patients, and the new openness of members and societies of the American some (not many) societies have hired Public Relations and Marketing Consultants. Others, with and without outside help, have developed Marketing Strategies. Table D1 lists those societies that are engaged in one or more of these endeavors.

TABLE D1 CONSULTANTS AND STRATEGIES

SOCIETY

Public

Information

Consultant

Marketing

Consultant

Marketing

Strategy

# of

Activ-ities

Balt/Wash

N

N

Y

1

BPSI

N

N

Y

1

Chicago

Y

N

Y

2

Cleveland

N

Y

Y

2

LAPSI

N

N

Y

1

Minnesota

Y

Y

N

2

N. Carolina

N

N

Y

1

New York

N

N

Y

1

Oregon

N

N

Y

1

Washington

Y

N

N

2

SOCIETY

Public

Information

Consultant

Marketing

Consultant

Marketing

Strategy

# of

Activ-ities

Phil. Soc.

N

Y

Y

2

Phil.Assoc

Y

N

Y

2

PINE

N

N

Y

1

Pittsburgh

N

N

Y

1

S.Francisco

Y

Y

Y

3

San Diego

N

N

Y

1

So. Cal.

N

N

Y

3

Tampa

N

Y

N

1

Washington

Y

N

N

2

Nineteen societies have adopted NONE of these aids.

Hiring a consultant is the LEAST common approach to these problems although analysts have NOT been known as experts on marketing.

Public Information Consultants
1 small society
4 large societies

Marketing Consultants
1 small society<
2 medium societies
2 large societies<

Marketing Strategy
1 small society
5 medium societies
9 large societies

While society size DOES make a difference, it is not a limiting factor in hiring and utilizing professional help to improve the society’s position in the world.

 

Some of the Marketing Strategies in use include:

Baltimore/Washington- a member had workshop training and presented seminars to members.

BPSI- Advertising

*Chicago-Dottie Jeffries (who is also the Consultant to the American) on retainer.

*Cleveland-Increased outreach publicity, a new building which will have a community presence

and announcements of events

LAPSI- Advertising in Yellow pages, email postings to the university, and newspaper advertising

North Carolina- Added 200+people to mailing list, distributed a brochure to lay & professional audiences,

& mailed it to all the clergy in NC, inaugurated a referral service with phone contacts, began case consultation to EAPs &college counseling centers, sponsored an annual psychoanalysis & education panel.

New York-The Director of the Treatment Center is developing Strategies.

Oregon-Studying referral patterns in Portland

*Philadelphia Society-Free consultations to medical students & residents developed a consultation &

referral service

*Philadelphia Association-"Unification first major step" (with the Philadelphia Society).

PINE-Referral page on WEB site

Pittsburgh-Established good relations with three residency training programs.

*San Francisco- Increased outreach efforts.

San Diego-Started a referral service

Southern California- Advertising for their referral service is now included in brochures and flyers

*Societies that have hired Consultants

Most of these Marketing Strategies have to do with increased outreach and increased advertising. Most of them have been undertaken without hiring a consultant.

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