1. Planning for Change
California Psychological Association
(Presented to the California Dental Association on
September 27, 2013)

2. Current Structure
• 21 Regional Chapters
• 8 Divisions
• CPAGS Chair (Student Organization)
• Federal Advocacy Coordinators (2)
• Foundation Chair
• APA Council Representatives (2)
• Chairs of standing committees (if not already a Board
member in another capacity—currently 3 people meet
this criterion)
• 2013 Board—48 voting members!

3. Why We Explored
Change
• Large Board made serious work difficult to manage
• Due to size, meets 2 times/yr face to face, with 1
electronic meeting
• Executive Committee (elected Officers) are doing
most of the work of the Board (meets monthly)
• Bulky, not agile, and often not really engaged
• Thought we could do better, and create a real
working board

4. The Journey
• Task Force appointed in 2011
• Met twice monthly by phone, with 3 face to face meetings
• In-depth discussions at three CPA Board meetings
• Four phone calls open to all Board members to ask questions
of the Task Force members
• Presented report in October 2012, when board approved major
points and asked for detailed implementation plan
• Implementation plan unanimously approved by Board in
January 2013
• Bylaws change unanimously approved by Board in June 2013
• Currently awaiting approval by membership
• New structure implemented for 2015

5. Six Major Points
• All Board elected by the general membership of
CPA
• Substantially smaller (10 members)
• More frequent meetings (monthly
recommended)
• Board will continue to have primary
responsibility for creating policy
• Board will have primary responsibility for
legislative and advocacy activities
• Board will be knowledge/competency based and
accountable to the general membership

6. And…
• No Executive Committee
• All Board members assigned committees/tasks
• Board will have direct responsibility for link to
Chapters and Divisions (to maintain that connection)
• Meetings to be rotated geographically, if feasible,
and open to members

7. What We Hope to See
• Fully engaged and working Board
• Different way of connecting with our all of our
members
• Different way of connecting with our Chapters and
Divisions
• Leadership and development for the future as an
important responsibility of the Board

8. Why We Got to “Yes”
• Significant opportunity for discussion
• We learned to listen…carefully
• Task Force gave up ownership of a solution
• Emphasized that nothing is written in stone, and the
“new Board” can change things if they don’t work
• Board trusted the members of the Task Force and
were willing to take a leap of faith

9. We Did It!

10. Your Questions…