How time flies. It seems only yesterday when, on a rare boiling hot UK day in August 2003, I settled down to write my first Letter from the President. So, as I now embark upon writing this, my 10th letter, I shall reflect on some of my experiences as President over the past two hectic years and offer some personal thoughts about the future direction of the Association.
I have really enjoyed being president of ISPA. It has been a privilege to work closely with members of the EC and with others who are involved in the Association.s activities. I have never worked in an organisation whose members are so committed and prepared to give up their time so freely in pursuit of ISPA.s goals. Difficult decisions are made in a consensual way and I do not think that any member of the EC has felt excluded from the discussions or unable to make a contribution. Although the EC only meets twice a year, with the constant email traffic, it seems as if we are in permanent session!
But what has been achieved over the past two years? This kind of question leaves me feeling a little uncomfortable. On the one hand there have been many positive developments. Some of these are associated with the ongoing and routine activities of the Association. For example, after a difficult start . with the cancellation of the 2003 China colloquium, the core functions have carried on as before. There was an increase in membership in 2004, the Exeter colloquium made a $25,000 profit (thanks to Bob Burden for all his efforts), World Go Round continues to flourish and the Website just gets better and better. In addition, I have made several new contacts with school psychologists all over the world, all of whom appear to welcome the opportunities for
networking and professional development that their links with ISPA brings.
But is this enough? Should ISPA be more proactive inshaping the development of school psychology around the world? Are we getting complacent, content to enjoy the benefits of being members of ISPA without grasping opportunities to take things forward? As members will know, the whole question of the future of ISPA has featured in the last two Leadership Workshops at the colloquia and in the pages of World Go Round (WGR). Yet nothing much has happened...or has it?
Whilst I do not think that ISPA has undergone a revolution during my presidency, far from it, there are two developments which indicate that the Association has begun to move forward in small but potentially significant ways.
The first of these is the series of ISPA workshops on crisis intervention. This initiative came from the European Committee who were successful in obtaining funds from the European Union to run workshops for key professionals across Europe. Bill Pfohl and Bernhard Meissner have taken the lead running the workshops, feedback from which has been excellent. The workshops have also underspent their budget so that there is now over $4000 available in a special ISPA account that can be used to send experts in crisis intervention to different parts of the world. Currently there are plans to send a team to areas affected by the Tsunami. I hope very much that such a visit is made. ISPA has the expertise to make a real difference in the area of crisis intervention and problems faced by children and families in the areas affected by the Tsunami are ongoing. I look forward to hearing about the outcomes of the visit.
The second area of development is the forthcoming publication of the first ever international handbook of school psychology. This has been lead by Shane Jimerson, on behalf of the Research Committee. Leaders in school psychology from over 36 countries have agreed to write a chapter about developments in their part of the world. The book will be an invaluable text for students and practitioners; it will provide a fascinating overview of positive developments in the profession and of the challenges that lie ahead. Above all, it will provide the knowledge base of current practice that can be used as a stimulus for new developments.
Whilst these two initiatives have the potential to raise ISPA’s profile around the world, I remain left with an uneasy feeling that, given the abundant talent among ISPA members, there is more that could be done! One only has to glance through the membership list in the January WGR or at the list of participants at the colloquia to recognise the potential that exists. And there is a lot of good will and no shortage of ideas, as evidenced by the aspirational intentions that emerge at successive leadership workshops. The trouble is we are all busy people with hectic work and family schedules and most of us do not have the space in our lives to take on any more. Hence we can get enthusiastic when we all meet, but it is difficult to maintain this momentum when we return to reality of life back home.
So perhaps we can never make the huge difference that some of us dream about. Instead we proceed on a step by step basis, grasping opportunities where we can, but keeping our overall ambitions at a modest level.
And I am personally comfortable with this modest vision. In my view ISPA is never going to have the resources or infrastructure to change greatly. But that does not mean that we should underplay our achievements. Far from it! Those of you who have read Anders Poulsen's fascinating personal history of ISPA that has appeared in this, and in previous editions of WGR will recognise the struggles that ISPA has gone through to become established as the only international organisation that represents the interests of school psychologists around the world. I am also struck by the high profile that ISPA enjoys with members of the National Association of School Psychologists. (See elsewhere in this edition for an account of my experiences at the recent NASP convention in Atlanta). And of course there is the colloquium which provides an excellent opportunity for school psychologists from all over the world to come together, to learn from each other, to network and to make new friends. To this end plans for the Athens colloquium are well advanced, the venue is idyllic, the abstracts of presentations are at the cutting edge of developments in the profession and the partying will be memorable. I look forward to seeing you all there!
I will end this letter by referring to forthcoming changes to the Central Office. In a separate section of this edition of WGR I invite people to express an interest in becoming the new executive secretary and in running the central office. Elisabeth Jacobsen and the rest of the CO staff, including Anders Poulsen, will retire at the end of 2006, or as soon as possible thereafter. It is therefore important to begin the process of planning for the transition. I urge longstanding members of the Association to give this some serious thought. ISPA needs a new energetic and committed executive secretary to carry on the good work. Could this person be you?

Peter Farrell, President of ISPA