The following is brought to you from CAMFT’s Board of Directors and Mary Riemersma, Executive Director. The intent is to keep you informed and to provide clarity as to where we stand with our discussions with AAMFT about potential unification.

In an effort to determine what is best for the profession, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and AAMFT's division in California began discussions last June on the potential for merger or for some form of unification between the organizations. No conclusions were reached at that time. However, as reported in The California Therapist, the Board of Directors of CAMFT and AAMFT have agreed to continue to meet and discuss the potential for some form of unification, or some other mutually beneficial outcome.

As one might expect, the initial meeting was, at times, contentious. In the midst of the many positives and many negatives, the three groups found that they could only agree on the following positives: Unification could advance the profession, unify the future, create a stronger voice, provide economies of scale, and allow the profession to speak with one voice. On the basis of these positives, and setting aside the negatives, it was agreed by all that we should continue to meet.

To better prepare for these continued discussions, it was agreed that each organization would share its culture, history, philosophy, and operation with the boards of the other organizations. CAMFT made such a presentation at the AAMFT Board Meeting last October. AAMFT representatives made a similar presentation at the CAMFT Board Meeting held in January of this year. A similar presentation may also be made before the AAMFT-CA Board-however, this is yet to be determined.

It is planned that the Boards of Directors of both CAMFT and AAMFT will meet in April in Washington D.C. to continue discussions about the potential for some form of unification of the professional organizations. Since it was clear at the June 2001 meeting that the groups had gone as far as they could go without some guidance and facilitation of the process, a facilitator who is an expert in association operations will be utilized to guide the discussions.

There are many directions such discussions could go and there are many potential forms of unification, of which merger is only one. Merger discussions or discussions about some form of unification, however, do not necessarily equal a merger.

The CAMFT Board, at this time, has agreed only to meet and discuss. The CAMFT Board of Directors is trying to stay focused on what is in the best interests of the profession as it exists in California-not just the membership, which is itself very important-but focused on what is in the profession's, as a whole, best interests. Given the circumstances of the discussions, this is sometimes a difficult task.

Further, to provide a backdrop, the CAMFT Board, in these discussions, is merely an intermediary. No decision can be made on this issue that will bind the Association without a vote of the membership. Thus, should the Board ultimately decide that a merger would best serve the profession, each clinical member would be given the opportunity by ballot to express their views. Further, there is some history to discussions of merger between CAMFT and AAMFT. There were discussions in 1973 and a vote of the CAMFT membership was taken in 1974. That vote failed by less than one percentage point. In 1976, the CAMFT membership again voted on the potential for a merger. That vote failed once again. For those who were not around at the time, CAMFT was a much smaller and different organization in the 70s. There was much discontent. Membership was less than 1,000 and dropping. Management was run out of a garage and member needs were not being met.

The CAMFT Board, while engaged in these discussions, must carefully examine what the effect will be upon California marriage and family therapists. Will unification help, hinder or have no effect upon the efforts here in California? Will unification help, hinder or have no effect upon efforts at the Federal level? What will be the costs of unification to CAMFT as well as to individuals from within the profession? Will the benefits derived exceed the costs? Can the cultures of the organizations be melded in such a way as to not jeopardize either organization or any unified body that might be created? It is even possible to unite an International with a State organization? Without a merger, CAMFT is already involved in a joint effort with AAMFT to seek Medicare inclusion at the Federal level. Without a merger, CAMFT and AAMFT have utilized the same source for providing professional liability insurance to their respective members. Is it possible to achieve the same "ends" without a merger or some other form of unification?

There is much to consider as we move forward with these discussions. Decisions will not be easy and must not be made hastily. If and when any decisions are ultimately made by the respective Boards and membership, a multitude of details will remain to be resolved.

Meanwhile, even though sometimes difficult, the CAMFT Board strives to stay focused on what is in the profession's best interests. Unification, of whatever sort, would only work if everyone involved believes they are in a winning position-and of course, most important is for the profession to win-not one organization over another-but the profession as a whole. The CAMFT Board and I would encourage your thoughts and comments. Send your thoughts to maryr@camft.org, fax to 858-292-2666, or mail to: Mary Riemersma, 7901 Raytheon Road, San Diego, CA 92111. We look forward to hearing from you.