April 2010 Communiqué

OEMA COMMUNIQUÉ allocated the surplus in various ways which included restoring the consolidated meetings for the Fall of 2010. Hence, CEMA will convene a second meeting this year, in September, 2010.

Proceedings of CEMA's March, 2010 Meeting The Committee's meeting agenda was full. Among the Committee's issues of highest priority were: (a) contributing to the development of APA's Strategic Plan by proposing four strategic plan initiatives; (b) reviewing and commenting on the proposed APA Interim Diversity Implementation Plan; (c) responding to the APA Council of Representatives' (C/Rs) request to review and comment on the report of the APA Presidential Working Group examining the unsuccessful bylaws amendment vote to provide voting seats on the C/Rs to the four ethnic minority psychological associations; (d) advocating for the immediate/timely restoration of CEMRRAT funding; (e) collaborating with the APA Committee on Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) regarding the development of an initiative addressing immigration, as well as the consideration of other issues of mutual concern; and (f) hosting its traditional Open Meeting for People of Color in APA Governance, which was attended by approximately 50 members and staff. CEMA also discussed its 2010 convention programming, reconfirmed its current and future priorities, and reviewed a request from the APA Committee on Structure and Function of Council (CFSC) regarding the reaffirmation of policy to provide funding support to ethnic minority representatives of the C/Rs. In addition, CEMA elected its 2010 chairperson-elect, approved its 2009 annual report, and reviewed and considered action related to items and draft reports included in the Cross Cutting agenda book. It also received status reports on current initiatives such as the development of a "Tool Kit" to support its implementation plan of the APA Resolution on the Immediate Retirement of American Indian Mascots, Symbols, Images, and Personalities; collaboration efforts with the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology (CIRP), the APA Committee on Legal Issues in Psychology (COLI), and the APA Committee for the Advancement of Professional Practice (CAPP); and the introduction of two new staff members in the Public Interest Directorate Government Relations Office (PID/GRO) — Mr. Leo Rennie and Mr. Ben Vonachen — both of whose legislative portfolios will include ethnic minority legislative affairs.

Although CEMA was able to meet with members of the B/Ds and others on a number of the priorities previously mention, discussions during the Open Meeting provided an opportunity to expand conversations beyond CEMA regarding strategies for further examining the bylaws amendment issue for voting seats on the C/Rs for the four ethnic minority psychological associations and the restoration of CEMRRAT funding. An overwhelming majority of those attending the Open Meeting called for the development of an aggressive, 14