NJPA Association Life-Cycle

Keira Boertzel-Smith, NJPA Executive Director

In May 2019, the NJPA Central Office staff boxed up NJPA documentation from the 1930s through 2019, awards we received, NJPA past presidents and Psychologist of the Year plaques, desks and chairs used by past executive directors, directors of professional affairs, and staff, and boardroom furniture used by the current and past executive boards, committees, and staff for meetings and continuing education programs. A huge thank you to the Central office team, Christine, Ana, Jennifer, and Marion, for helping me with the grimy and back breaking work of cleaning out cabinets, closets, and the kitchen, hauling items to the dumpster, as well as researching and utilizing the needed vendors to make the move happen. Thank you to the NJPA Capital Improvement Workgroup Chair, Ken Freundlich, PhD, and commercial real estate advisor and broker, Mark Twentyman, Kingsbridge Realty Advisors, for their hours of time put in on the road with me during the NJPA commercial real estate hunt.

This extensive 2019 NJPA moving process caused me to pause and reflect on the NJPA life-cycles: birth through the mature operational stages. As in all association life-cycles, there is the eventual decline in interest in the association “as is” that will either result in the association’s death or rebirth. I can report that NJPA is in a rebirth stage, with all hands on deck to ensure a new and improved NJPA identity that matches the needs and expectations of the evolving membership populations. This rebirth is clearly felt with the physical 2019 NJPA Central Office move, and we will be taking full advantage of the new space to host bigger and better meetings, continuing education events, and social gatherings.

Less visible rebirth manifestations are the updating of our internal association management policies and internal efforts to account for our members’ changing advocacy and outreach expectations, as well as the evolving NJPA communications, continuing education, financial, membership, and technology needs. NJPA continues to grow the statewide “Road Show” where the NJPA/NJPAF leadership team travel around the state to various NJPA affiliate organizations, universities, institutions, Board of Psychological Examiners meetings, and legislative appointments to discuss our mission and goals, topics of interest for graduate students and early, mid- and late-career psychologists in all work settings, state and federal legislative and social advocacy priorities and efforts, and the NJPA relationship with the American Psychological Association. Central Office is working on behalf of NJPA/NJPAF leadership, committees, and our members to promote the use of virtual meeting participation so members can incorporate NJPA and NJPAF into their busy lives.

In my current role as the chair of the APA Council of Executives of State, Provincial and Territorial Psychological Associations (CESPPA), I am working hard to advance the good reputation of New Jersey and NJPA, as well as promoting our rebirth efforts at the national level. On behalf of NJPA, I accepted APA CEO, Dr. Arthur Evans’ invitation to travel to state associations to talk about professional development of psychologists and the future of psychology (September 20, 2019 NJPA visit and CE program). In October, I organized a State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Association’s (SPTA) membership training with APA Chief of Strategic Implementation and Membership, Ian King, MBA, to discuss retention, recruitment, understanding member populations, and the relationship between SPTA and APA membership in these changing times for association membership. We are working to get Bradley K. Steinbrecher, JD, a representative from the APA Legal and Regulatory Department to host a continuing education program on HIPAA. CESPPA is working to strengthen the relationship with the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) leadership and the APA Continuing Education Committee to make sure that our associations stay up to date with their ongoing efforts. Also on behalf of NJPA, I have been sure to make use of APA’s Legal and Regulatory Affairs staff as valuable resources on NJPA advocacy and regulatory issues such as telepsychology, Medicaid reimbursement, and the New Jersey Licensure Act.

I look forward to carrying these growth opportunities and rebirth efforts into 2020 to ensure NJPA stays relevant to the profession, psychologists, and the public. I acknowledge and respect the around-the-clock work of the NJPA executive board, chairs, past NJPA leaders, NJPA staff, and members who all carry the load of the evolving association work, and I appreciate suggestions to improve my work as executive director.

This association provides, for all of us, invaluable lessons about life-cycles including rebirth, professional and personal grit, humility, and the need for healthy teamwork. NJPA should be very optimistic about its future! ❖