This being my final opportunity to address the membership as the current president I take pause not only to reflect on the past year’s achievements but to also look forward at the possibilities and opportunities that lie in front of us. We can easily identify the ways in which our practices, our teaching and our research is evolving. These evolutions, while sometimes challenging to embrace, are occurring and we are forced to evolve as well. Our organization is no different than any individual or other entity in this regard. To name only a few ways in which we have been impacted, but the most noticeable is the new and more convenient access to information. This has shifted our traditional learning opportunities away from annual conferences as a sole educational opportunity due to increased on demand content, webinars and the plethora of commercial, local and regional trainings. Our journals and newsletters have moved from members only print to open source digital. Our communications have shifted to from deep academic details through email lists to 280 characters and a photo snippet on social media. And yet our mission remains the same.
The ISNR mission is to promote excellence in clinical practice, educational applications, and research in applied neuroscience in order to better understand and enhance brain function. In order to continue to fulfill this mission and offer a significant value to membership, this year’s board has turned our attention to a strong emphasis on advocacy and promotion of neurofeedback. We have identified governmental actions, billing and licensing conversations where it is absolutely essential for our members’ views be acknowledged. We strive to achieve the moment when neurofeedback is ISNR. Among academic and scientific dialogues, we have never been in a stronger position with demonstrated methodology and outcomes illustrated the efficacy of the modalities employed and yet we have heard our strongest criticisms by a few who are adamantly advocating against the implementation of these modalities. Among the public we are seeing a continuing increase in the desire for more information in a consumable and understandable language and terminology with the practical implications and efficacy clearly identified.
These evolutions in the value that membership can provide as well as the needs of the members have initiated the strategic planning and put committees in action for mobilizing on behalf of neurofeedback providers, researchers and our clients. So I challenge each of us to not to simply embrace these changes, but to also get involved and shape the future that we have only before imagined.
As a final thought I would like to thank the board members who have given their time and efforts this past year to managing and inputting on many important topics and initiatives. It has truly been a collaborative effort and I am very happy to have served with these fine individuals and I truly will miss those that are leaving the board this term. And with that I welcome our new president Dr. Roger deBeus and wish him and the new board the absolute best in continuing to push our collective interests forward.
~Leslie Sherlin