It may seem early to be asking for nominations for the next UK Vice-President but we have the system whereby elections are held mid-way through the incumbent's term in order for the incoming VP to have a 2-year period as UK Vice-President elect in which to learn whatever needs to be learned to survive their 4-year term. The actual term of office runs from immediately following the international meeting held in the summer of the year they take office. I started by 4-year term following the Pittsburgh meeting in the summer of 1993 and hence this summer will see me half-way through my term, which signals the time for an election.
The constitution is absolutely clear that there must be a contested election, meaning that at least two people must be nominated, seconded and agree to run for election. Hence, I want to ask members for nominations. At this juncture, there is sufficient time to talk individually with people who might be interested so I am hoping that some people will contact me suggesting names. If there are people who might be willing to stand themselves, then if they can let me know, I am quite sure I can find people who will be happy to nominate them. The point is I want to make it as easy as possible for the names of people who are willing to run to come forward.
The requirements are simple. That nominees should be members of SPR(UK). Beyond that, I think it both reasonable and understandable that people running for this position should have a history of involvement at some level with the UK organisation (e.g. attending meetings) and have a commitment to the central role of psychotherapy research. It is important to remember that it is the Society for Psychotherapy Research. Hence, people running for office need not be die-hard researchers themselves, but they need to be able to argue for research having a central role in the field of psychotherapy practice. The rewards include helping to shape a unique organisation, seeing the Ravenscar meeting continue to flourish, working with some enchanting people, and attending the international meeting each year. Indeed, the latter is a requirement and funding this requires discussion by the Steering Group but it is clear that we cannot and should not rely on the UK Vice-President to secure their own funding to attend the meeting. This will have to carried by the dues for members. Hence, no one should exclude themselves from running for office on this basis.
The term of office, apart from the 2-year "elect" position, will run start following the international meeting at Oslo in 1997. Hence, when considering nominations, please take into account that the actual task is well over 2 years away. So, no looking in your diaries and saying "I'm busy on that day!" In terms of progressing this, I recognise that the meeting at Ravenscar is a useful time for people to approach me or other members of the Steering Group to suggest names. Hence, I would like to ask members to approach me either by 'phone, mail, or at the conference suggesting names of possible candidates. If people would just like to find out more about what the post entails, then please do contact me. This time scale will take us to the end of March. If insufficient names come forward, then it gives me enough time to start telephoning people before the summer....
Please give this some thought. Whoever takes over in 1997 really will be leading SPR(UK) into the 21st century. And can I recommend it? Well, mid-way through my term I feel a whole lot better than Bill Clinton does!
I look forward to hearing from you at: address deleted as it's out of date, see below!
In the last issue, I noted that a line had been drawn under the Social and Applied Psychology Unit in Sheffield. What, no more Sheffield, and son of Sheffield, studies? Well, no. But what is Sheffield's loss is Leeds' gain as David Shapiro took up the post of Professor of Clinical Psychology at Leeds University in January this year (a post jointly funded by the University and Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust). Most importantly, David is to establish a Psychological Therapies Research Centre (PTRC) which will incorporate both the continued MRC programme of research as well as work commissioned by the Trust. PTRC's mission is the development of knowledge-based psychological therapies for the NHS. Arrangements are in place for trust clinicians to be seconded to PTRC one day per week to take part in research programmes, and later this year Gillian Hardy, Anne Rees and myself will also be migrating to Leeds. I also understand that some new clinical psychology posts will be coming up. Check out the Bulletin [of the BPS I assume - Ed.!].
Michael Barkham michaelb@psychology.leeds.ac.uk