Also in this issue are additional details about the fast approaching CIPS Clinical Conference in Los Angeles this May. Registration is quick and easy thanks to our new and greatly improved website (www.cipsusa.org). This year's theme addressing the topic of Sexuality in the Second Century of Psychoanalysis promises to be especially meaningful in light of a number of States passing gay marriage legislation and other changes that have ripple effect in our work as psychoanalysts.

CIPS is announcing a new listserv for members to enhance our communication and conversation with colleagues throughout the United States. By now each of you should have received an invitation to join the group. If not, details about how to join are included in the story below.

I am especially pleased to be able to be able to publish the Neal Voris' interview of CIPS Book Series author, Steve Ellman. This continues the trend started last year with my interview of inaugural book series editor, Meg Beaudoin. It is my hope that others, like Neil, will step forward over time to interview each of our book series authors. Please feel free to contact your local Society directors or me if you are interested in this project.

Finally, we have a public policy update provided by Rick Perlman and a report from the January meeting of the NAPsaC Board of Directors. And, as always, we have newsworthy announcements and events from individual CIPS Societies.  

Remembering Norbert Freedman, PhD, FIPA

"Talent is nurtured in solitude. Character is formed in the stormy billows of the world."  - Goethe

On November 30, 2011 the international psychoanalytic community suffered the loss of one of its best-known and beloved practitioners, Norbert Freedman. To his many friends, patients, students and colleagues, in America, Europe and elsewhere, his passing is an irreplaceable loss; he was a much-admired friend, mentor, role model, educator, clinician, and collaborator. His intellectual and psychoanalytic vigor energized our field. Ever a force for understanding, a man of generous spirit, a teacher, researcher, mentor and friend, Bert never turned from responsibility and never tired of our work. He was a pillar of IPTAR and the international psychoanalytic community.  He touched the lives of countless analysands, supervisees, candidates, students and colleagues and the loss of his intellect, wisdom, work ethic, humor and friendship will never be replaced. He lived his life with great zest, relishing the many activities and people with whom he was involved. It is hard to imagine IPTAR without him. 

In an interview conducted by Jared Russell for the IPTAR Oral History Project, Bert detailed his background and how he came to psychology and particularly psychoanalysis. Born just before World War II, Bert recognized that although his family were themselves Germans and assimilated Jews, that when the Nazis came to power their lives were completely uprooted. He recalled being taken from his ethnically diverse school and having to begin at a Jewish school. He told Dr. Russell, "The boys and the friends that you were with could no longer socialize with you; [all] these subtle forms of discrimination! And I think that maybe, as I talk... 

Friday, May 4, the CIPS Board of Directors will host an informal gathering to welcome conference participants. The conference begins Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with registration and a light breakfast and ends at 4 p.m. In the early evening there will be a cocktail party open to all those participating in the conference as well as to all CIPS members in the area. We will be honoring distinguished CIPS members and a lay honoree for their contributions to psychoanalysis. The remainder of the evening is open to private plans. The conference concludes at noon on Sunday, May 6, 2012.

The Fairmont Miramar Hotel not only offers a beautiful view of the ocean and coastline but is located in walking distance from fine restaurants, movie theatres, shopping and of course a walk along the beach or bluff above. The hotel houses a fine restaurant, indoor and outdoor lounge, fully appointed spa and gym facilities, and a heated pool. See www.fairmont.com/santamonica  for additional details.

Early bird registration until March 15, 2012 is $250.*

After March 15th registration is $275.

There will be a $50 fee for additional guests not registered for the conference to attend the Saturday evening cocktail party.

* Registration is now available online at www.CIPSusa.org.

Register soon to take advantage of a special CIPS room rate of $250 per night, which lasts until April 3, 2012. To make reservations call 1.866.540.4470 or 1.800.441.1414 and ask for the CIPS Clinical Conference Rate. The Fairmont Miramar is located at 101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, California 90401.

By now you should have received an invitation to join the CIPS Chat Google group. Follow the instructions in the email to accept or reject the invitation. If you reject the invitation initially and later decide to join, email President Leigh Tobias at president@cipsusa.org.  If you accept the invitation, and later decide to leave the list serve, you may opt out.

CIPS Chat is designed to generate dialogue among CIPS members about psychoanalytic issues. It can also be used to discuss and share information that will promote psychoanalysis to the public, or respond to unfounded critiques against psychoanalysis from the media.

CIPS Chat is to be used to promote professional, civil discussion. Different points of view are welcome and encouraged. However, disrespectful critiques against groups or individuals will result in being asked to opt out of the list serve.

Please note that this is not a promotional or informational list serve. It is not to be used to promote individual member's lectures, events, seminars, workshops, or publications. The CIPS News Brief website can be used for such announcements (e.g. Inter-Society Dialogue, Publication News). Contact your local Society director to the CIPS Board with announcements for the News Brief, or write to enewseditor@cipsusa.org. 

Neal Vorus: You were the first president of CIPS and a member of the committee that initiated the CIPS Book Series, and were also the author of the first book in the series. Do you see your book as representative of the series as a whole?

Steven Ellman: I think so, mildly. It has one of the themes: the idea of trying to understand other perspectives. I had hoped that that theme would be part of the CIPS Book Series when we originally founded it and that we could intermingle despite theoretical differences and try to understand the other's perspective.

NV: So, the title of your book reflects this agenda: theories touching rather than diverging.

SE: Well, it reflects my view of what I think the Book Series should...

The North American Psychoanalytic Confederation (NAPsaC) Board of Directors held its annual face-to-face meeting at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on Saturday, January 14, 2012. NAPsaC is the regional organization representing the interests of North American psychoanalytic groups including the American Psychoanalytic Association, the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society, and all of the Societies that affiliate directly with the IPA (IPTAR, LAISPS, NPS, PCC, NYFS, and PINC).

This meeting had historical significance in that the new board, currently co-chaired by Warren Procci (APsaA) and Robert Pyles (APsaA), voted to approve bylaws for the first time in over a decade of assembling. Rick Perlman (IPTAR) is the current Secretary. Other directors include Liz Fritsch (NYFS), Martin Gauthier (CPS), Caron Harrang (NPS), Maureen Murphy (PINC), Peggy Porter (LAISPS), Phyllis Sloate (IPTAR), and Leigh Tobias (PCC). Alternate directors include Andrew Brook (CPS), Louis Brunet (CPS), David Falk (APsaA), Margaret Ann Hanley (CPS), Beth Kalish (LAISPS), and Randi Wirth (IPTAR). Not all directors attended. Louis Brunet, Margaret Ann Hanley, and Peggy Porter were absent from this meeting. For a complete account of this landmark session please contact your local society director to obtain a copy of the minutes.

Since the NAPsaC Board meeting PINC has named Charles Spezzano to serve as their alternate director.

The Working Parties Steering Committee along with the New York Freudian Society is co-sponsoring work groups on a variety of topics including comparative clinical methods, end of training evaluation, clinical issues, initiating psychoanalysis, and specificity psychoanalytic treatment today. These groups will meet in New York City over the weekend of March 3-4, 2012. For detailed information and contact information for each Working Party please go to: http://www.sf-cp.org/clinical-working-parties.html 

Paula Ellman, PhD, FIPA has recently assumed the duties of President of the District of Columbia branch of the Contemporary Freudian Society (formerly New York Freudian Society). In light of her increased leadership role Paula is searching for a member of the DMS to replace her on the CIPS Board of Directors. Any DMS analyst member interested in learning more about this opportunity is invited to contact Paula at paula.ellman@gmail.com 

Institute for Psychoanalytic Training & Research (IPTAR)

As part of "Volunteer Appreciation Month" HumanRight International recently recognized IPTAR as a partner organization serving clients referred from their Human Rights Clinic. IPTAR offers trauma-focused psychotherapy free of charge to survivors of torture and other human rights abuses who are referred through the Clinic. Dr. Brett Gorkin, Administrator of IPTAR's Clinical Center Asylum Seekers Program, recently gave an interview to HRI about IPTAR therapists' experiences in working with torture survivor clients.

  To read the interview click here

Los Angeles Institute & Society for Psychoanalytic Study (LAISPS)

On January 21 over 70 people attended an all-day workshop on the CIPS-sponsored book, "The Second Century of Psychoanalysis: Evolving Perspectives on Therapeutic Action," edited by Michael Diamond and Christopher Christian. According to Program Chair Tom Helscher, "multiple" copies of the book were sold at the event, and a few are still available through CIPS. Participating authors were Hedda Bolgar, Michael Diamond, Morris Eagle, Thomas Helscher, Nancy Hollander, Beth Kalish, Peggy Porter, Stephen Portugues, Linda Sobelman, Alan Spivak and Pete Wolson.

Other upcoming LAISPS events:

• A conference with George Makari, author of "Revolution in Mind", will be held on Saturday, February 11, in Los Angeles.  Makari will present a summary of his lively history of psychoanalytic ideas, and will then be joined by psychoanalytic historians Peter Loewenberg and David James Fisher for discussion.  In the afternoon, Makari will present a lecture on the Enlightenment, and Morris Eagle will serve as the discussant.  The day is expected to offer a fascinating consideration of the evolution of psychoanalytic thought.
• A Memorial Tribute to LAISPS Founder and CIPS Founder, Ernest Lawrence, will be held on Sunday, Feb. 19 at the home of Hedda Bolgar from 3 to 5 p.m.
• A book signing for Harriet Wrye's new book, "Pulling Up Stakes:  Stepping Into Freedom," will be held on March 18 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the home of Hedda Bolgar.
• A screening of the video, "Up Close and Personal," with Hedda Bolgar being interviewed by Michael Diamond, will be held Saturday evening, March 24th. This interview is an expansion of a previous interview conducted by Diamond for "The Second Century of Psychoanalysis," edited by Diamond and Christopher Christian.

Northwestern Psychoanalytic Society (NPS)

The NPS Board of Directors recently voted to create a new position in their Institute called Dean of Students. Dana Blue, LICSW, FIPA was elected by the board to become the first Dean, and to serve as liaison between the Institute and the candidate group.

NPS is also continuing to prepare for its annual Evolving British Object Relations conference for October 19-21, 2012. The theme this year is Transference and Countertransference Today. Any CIPS member, even those outside of Seattle, is invited to join the organizing committee for this international conference. Interested individuals are invited to contact conference chair, Judy K. Eekhoff at jkeekhoff@comcast.net

Psychoanalytic Center of California (PCC)