Louise Lipman and Jacob Gershoni

Dear friends and colleagues,

The invitation by Peter Felix Kellermann to write a message was very
enticing,
as all the previous ones seem to bring us closer to this "global village of
psychodrama". We thought it a good opportunity to tell you about some of the
psychodrama happenings in New York City.

Our Psychodrama Training Institute, a division of the Sociometric Institute,
is an active and diverse training center, consisting of social workers,
psychologists, educators, creative art therapists and students in training.
Its co-directors, Bob and Jacquie Siroka have trained many psychodramatists,
some of whom became leaders in the field. Bob was trained by both J.L., and
Zerka Moreno. Jacquie's training was originally at St. Elizabeths Hospital
with James Enneis. The training program was established over 35 years ago.
The Institute offers a complete program for students at all levels, as well
as literature review and exam preparation for the CP and TEP level exams. The
staff also includes Louise Lipman, TEP and Nan Nally-Seif, PAT.

The New York Chapter of the ASGPP was established in 1994. Lorraine
Lein-Koenig and Louise Lipman started it by organizing a humble conference
with 59 participants and 19 workshops. Since then the Chapter has grown by
leaps and bounds. It has held two conferences with over 300 participants
attending each of them, and a growing cast of presenters from all over the
world. The NY Chapter has invited psychodramatists from all over to present
workshops. Some of our presenters have been: Zerka Moreno, Jonathan Fox,
Guy Taylor, Dale Buchannan, Nina Garcia, Sandra Garfield and Ann Hale. We
are hoping to have Antony Williams in the fall of 2000. The New York
Chapter is proud to be playing a vital role in hosting and planning the
next national ASGPP conference in the spring of 2000.

The 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and
Psychodrama "Psychodrama 2000: Consciousness, Connection and Community", will
be held at the Roosevelt Hotel in NYC, from March 30 - April 3, 2000.

Zerka T. Moreno, our Honorary President will be giving the opening plenary,
Friday morning, as we begin our 1st conference of the millenium. We are
looking forward to what she has to say about her hopes and dreams for the
future of Psychodrama.

Our Keynote speaker for this year is Dr. Patrick Carnes, a nationally known
authority in the field of addictions and recovery. Author of five books
including: Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction, A Gentle Path
through the 12 Steps; Contrary to Love and The Betrayal Bond, he is the
Clinical Director of the Sexual Disorders Program at The Meadows in Arizona.
He will also be presenting an all-day workshop.

Presenters are coming from all over the world: Brazil, Argentina, Australia,
Switzerland, Canada, Sweden and the United States. They will be presenting
workshops and participating on panels. We have a full schedule. Over 130
workshops will be presented. There will be also be a large Pre-Conference
Training Institute this year. It will consist of beginning, intermediate and
advanced level workshops in Psychoanalysis and Psychodrama, Sociodrama, Body
Work and Psychodrama, Role Theory, Warm-Ups, Expressive Arts Therapies and
Psychodrama, Healing Communities, Psychodrama with Children, Eating Disorders
and Conflict Resolution as well as five Post Conference Workshops.

There will be introductory workshops in Psychodrama and Sociometry for those
who are new to this process, as well as three Master Classes for TEPs, PATs
and CPs. There are many master teachers from other Expressive Arts Therapies
offering daylong, half day and 90 minute workshops in their areas of
expertise. We have a nice mix of old and new presenters and many workshops
that have never been offered before. There will also be several theater
performances and entertainment.

Saturday night, April 1st, The Birthday of Psychodrama will be celebrated
with a Dance Party full of surprises, party favors, great music food and fun.

The momentum is building and we are already getting inquiries about
brochures. People are also excited about returning to the newly refurbished
Roosevelt Hotel, home of many wonderful ASGPP conferences in the past. So
please set this time aside on your calendars, and plan to join us in NYC for
five days full of spontaneity, creativity, sharing of ideas, old friends, new
friends, music, dancing and so much more. The New York Chapter of the ASGPP
is working hard with the National Organization to make this event exciting,
inclusive and welcoming to all that attend. 

So, ushering in the new millennium promises to be very exciting. As we are
both planning to present at the international IAGP conference in Jerusalem,
we would like to think of the upcoming year as combining the best of the old
and the new, ad greet you all with a double take:

NEXT YEAR IN NEW YORK and JERUSALEM!

Louise Lipman and Jacob Gershoni