In a vigorous affirmation of the role of science in APA, the Council of Representatives voted at its February meeting to reduce APA dues by 25% for members who also belong to certain other scientific organizations. The nearly unanimous result drew applause from all present. The intent is to implement the proposal with the 1997 dues statements. The Council also approved the establishment of a 6-member task force to examine additional interventions to strengthen the scientific base of APA.

The 17 organizations for which the dues reduction would be in effect are being invited to reciprocate by reducing their dues to the extent feasible for their members who are also APA members. Those who are members of several societies of scientific psychology will be eligible for only one 25% reduction from APA. APA will offer the dues reduction to both current and new members of APA.

"This is a happy outcome-the clearest message we've had that science does retain its rightful home in APA," declared Leona S. Aiken, PhD, Division 5 representative and president of the Caucus of Scientific and Applied Psychologists (CASAP), a caucus of members of the Council of Representatives.

Before the Council vote, the proposal was actively promoted by both scientific/academic psychologists and their clinical colleagues. Their message was one of mutual support and interdependence. Their joint efforts ensured passage of the measure.

"We believe this move will benefit all our organizations, the field as a whole, and most importantly, the individual member who is being overwhelmed with the collective burden of dues," stated Dorothy W. Cantor, PsyD, president of APA.

The need for the dues reduction was obvious, says William Howell, PhD, APA's executive director for science. "It is clear that no one affiliation can fully satisfy all the intellectual, interpersonal, and practical requirements of today's psychologist. And this is particularly true for researchers, since scientific inquiry inevitably leads them into territory shared with other professionals where exciting hybrids-such as behavioral neuroscience, cognitive science, cognitive neuroscience, human factors, behavioral medicine, gerontology, and organizational behavior-evolve."

The new measure should promote communication and cooperation among the many organizations that are now serving the special needs of psychological scientists.

For psychologists who pay APA's full membership dues, the amount will fall from $195 to about $146. With a $40 journal credit, the actual cost of APA membership will be just around $100. In addition, there are substantial discounts on journals and books for members, plus APA's many other services.

The organizations invited to cooperate in this effort are:

American Psychological Society

Member organizations of the Federation of Behavioral, Psychological, and Cognitive Sciences:

American Educational Research Association
Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
Association for Behavior Analysis
Cognitive Science Society
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
International Society for Developmental Psychobiology
National Academy of Neuropsychologists
Psychometric Society
Psychonomic Society
Society for Computers in Psychology
Society for Judgement and Decision Making
Society for Mathematical Psychology
Society for Psychophysiological Research
Society for Research in Child Development
Society for Research in Psychopathology
Society for Multivariate Experimental Psychology