Continuity and Change - this was the theme of the Colloquium in Eger, Hungary - and for the past two years, being a member of the Executive Committee as President Elect .I feel this is a theme that has continued to be important in our association. It is a dilemma in fact that has to be faced by the International School Psychology Association as an organization. Continuity and change can be understood as antonyms if so one wishes: when either extreme can be viewed as an opportunity or threat - depending on personal preferences. BUT continuity and change can also be viewed as denoting development. And indeed in the very beginning ISPA was a handful of school psychologists who were interested in how school psychology was practiced in different parts of the world.
The efforts to organize seminars and study trips were spearheaded by Calvin D. Catterall. In this stage of development we can say that concepts grew richer. If we want to use terms of Piaget’s cognitive development theory we might say the process of assimilation ensued, where existing structures are enriched. As a result of our forebears’ continued efforts numbers interested in international exchange grew and as a response accommodation as a change process took over, whereby new concepts emerged: like a formal organization, thus an organization was formed, an executive office was established, and World-Go-Round became a planned and organized newsletter.
Since then a number of changes . which can be seen as element of an assimilation process . have taken place to adjust to a changing world and the changing needs of membership, thus the following enrichment of existing organizational boundaries emerged:

- A Financial Aid Fund has been named after Cal Catterall
- A Central Office has been set up
- Committees have formed
- Affiliate membership established
- Ethical Standards have been set
- Standards for the preparation of school psychologists has been put forward
- Professional archives have been set up
- A Colloquium handbook has been written & revised
- Budgeting has been made more transparent with regular lines of budget-planning and budgeting
-A web-page has been established, now online registration and payment has been made possible, and most recently a members only page established and by the end of 2006 voting on-line will be possible
- Liaison with United Nations have been set up- and indeed we have achieved and NGO special consultative status - being one of the 500 elite NGOs recruited from all over the world
- Active participation in UNESCO Children’s Rights programs have earned us the opportunity to be represented in a book published by UNESCO against child-abuse
- By successfully applying for EU funds the International Crisis Response Network now has a pool of professionals with expertise and the necessary financial funds to indeed be able to offer help and act in the world.

Many more developments have occurred during the years as a response to a changing world ? that I may not have mentioned. All these changes ? as enriching assimilation elements have contributed to the growth and well-being of the association. The question is whether assimilation, i.e. small adjustments or accommodation processes, i.e. introduction of radically new structures are to take place in reaction to the challenges we are facing now?
What are these challenges?
Undoubtedly a need for change of our central office is the most salient question that needs to be resolved in the coming year. At
this point I would like to take the opportunity to urge persons interested in taking on the position of executive secretary to write to Peter Farrell, who as Past-President is responsible for nominations or any other EC member so we can start information exchange?.
To address the question of moving the central office an extra Leadership workshop was convened last year to assess opportunities - and I would like to use this chance to thank all participants for foregoing interesting scientific activities to help us think about this complex question. During this meeting two polar opposite views emerged. One alternative is to take a leap forward - and indeed a bit of a leap into the dark - and turn to professional organizing agencies OR to maintain the organization functioning basically the way it is.

Having put this to paper I must hastily add that there is no ONE good solution. One very important outcome of this meeting was the analysis of finances, which clearly indicated we cannot afford any changes that would substantially increase
central office expenses - at this moment in time.
This brings another factor into the focus - finances. Most school psychologists feel uncomfortable with this issue, but if we want to develop and grow we must face this challenge in creative ways. Thus we have to address the question ? how do we generate more income? Several ideas have surfaced and some have model value: One possibility is to make colloquium income more predictable. One possible way of accomplishing this is to sign a contract with ONE international conference provider. This idea emerged as a response to the fact that a professional conference organizer has been involved in all recent and known future colloquia. Contracting with ONE conference provider could ensure a more predictable running of future colloquia as well as taking the most timeconsuming
tasks off the shoulders of the local organizing committee.
A way to increase extra funds for organizational expenses and special projects could be to write bids for grants that include ISPA as a mission partner. We have an exceptional opportunity within our reach as we have members from over 30 countries ? and affiliates from 4 continents. Unique to our organization is the blend of professionals working in practical, administrative and research settings. These qualities of our organization make writing proposals and carrying them out a viable project. A very good example is the project spearheaded by Bernhard Meissner. The successful proposal via FELS to the EU has generated 5 thousand USD income for the International Crisis Response Network. I would really like to urge everyone who has an idea or a half-ready project to contact us either through e-mail or the members only section of ISPA-web. Of course such an undertaking requires the committed efforts of individuals as well as that of affiliate organizations.
A further source of income may also be generated by assuming responsibility for accrediting school psychology training programs based on the Standards of professional preparation of school psychologists. ISPA is certainly qualified and strategically positioned to undertake this role and there seems to be a valid demand in countries where no accreditation procedures are present or where they consider ISPA accreditation as a positive reaffirmation of an existing program. Five countries have already inquired.

And why are we doing this? The most comprehensive answer is provided by the very theme of our colloquium this year ? TO PROMOTE THE WELLBEING OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH by providing services. We have had the privilege of visiting an exceptionally
prominent school financed by the Filekpaideftiki Etaireia. As we have been informed this network of private schools ensures all possible means necessary for children and youth to develop to their full potential. ISPA has set out to foster an even greater goal - our goal is that every child be provided with such an educational opportunity. In order to reach our goal we must drive home our aims in as wide a circle as possible - thus in the future we should invite the national UN representative of the country hosting the Colloquium and the representative for the Education for All centre - this way not only our voice - but the voice of children can be made heard, as well.
As school psychologists we want to reach this goal by providing the best possible service to children. We can accomplish this by striving for professional excellence, be it practical or theoretical, these two spheres being mutually dependent. No only individual information exchange is important, but on another plane of thought the professional assistance of emerging school psychology services is important as well ? this being a hind-thought and driving force in deciding to hold colloquia in certain regions and countries. One of the ways we hope to further our goal is by organizing Colloquia in countries where school psychology is an emerging profession. The activities leading up to the colloquium and the event itself heightens awareness in the given country regarding school psychological services ? often resulting in growth and support. Another prominent example of this is the International version of the Woodcock Johnson Test of Cognitive Abilities. Fueled by Dr. Richard Woodcock and the Woodcock-Munoz Sandoval Foundation - the International version of the test was adapted and standardized in Latvia, Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republic and Hungary, thus providing the direly needed reliable and valid assessment tool.

And to cite a project that points to the future: As a result of having established standards for professional preparation of school psychologists we are in the position to advocate high-standards by offering approval to SP preparation programs. The Professional Development and Practice Committee with the leadership of Bob Clark has undertaken to develop a Program Approval Handbook by this time next year. This initiative will undoubtedly be instrumental in furthering our goal of promoting the use of sound psychological
principles, as well as encouraging the training and employment of school psychologists (articles 1a and 1c).

I would like to end this Presidential address on a personal note.

I attended my second colloquium in 1990, held in Rhode Island partially sponsored by the Local Organizing Committee. That very year the Rhode Island School Psychology Association became the sister organization of the Hungarian School Psychology Association and has helped to develop our profession in our own country by providing tests and professional materials. I had partial sponsorship from the Local Organizing Committee of the Colloquium held in Istanbul, Turkey where they had provided three Hungarian participants with free accommodation. I had attended a colloquium on a Cal Catterall Fund scholarship twice. Once as an applicant and once, thanks to an unknown benefactor who had covered my participation costs via the Cal Catterall Fund in Dinan, France -
whoever he/she is I take this opportunity to thank this act of generosity. As you see, many people have contributed so that I can keep contact with ISPA, continue professional growth and maintain involvement. As the President of the Association I hope to return this investment with a compound interest in the form of persistent hard work for the future prosperity of ISPA.

Nora Katona, President, ISPA