Tennessee Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development

(TAMCD)

2010-11 Report

The biggest issue for the TAMCD division at this time is membership.  Recruitment and retention of members has been and will continuously be addressed.  TAMCD represents diversity at all levels – schools, mental health, and universities.  Because of this it should be continued as a division of TCA.  All of the members of the governing council should support TAMCD by becoming a member and encouraging others to join.

The president of TAMCD attended the July 2010 TCA Leadership Development Conference in Cookeville.  TAMCD sponsored a reception on Sunday evening at the TCA 2010 fall conference in Franklin.  Attendance at the reception was low. 

Three TAMCD meetings have been held.  They were all in Memphis.  As a result of the meetings a variety of ideas have emerged to increase membership and to publicize TAMCD.  The new leader for 2011 may embrace some of the ideas and work to bring them to fruition.  Among the ideas were a full day or half day workshop focusing on diversity for the fall of 2011 to be held in Memphis, updating the TAMCD website found on the TCA website, developing a questionnaire for members to ascertain their wishes for TAMCD, publicizing TAMCD at the 2011 fall conference, and to look at grant opportunities from the American Multicultural Counseling and Development organization.

As an outgoing president I would suggest that the president of TAMCD come from middle Tennessee since all future conferences will be held in middle Tennessee.  If that is not acceptable at least the president should rotate among the regions.  For too long the leadership has been based in Memphis making TAMCD appear to be a “Memphis thing” although the membership consists of members from across the state. 

TAMCD must and should continue as a viable division of TCA.  It is my desire that TAMCD leadership will collaborate with the leadership of other divisions.  If all divisions are strong then TCA will be strong.   

Respectfully submitted,

Marylyn S. Washington

2010-11 TAMCD President