PRESIDENT'S PEN

January, 2010

It is humbling to have been elected President of the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups. When I think of following people like Ruth Middleman, Charles Garvin, Judith Lee, Paul Abels, Jim Garland, Nancy Sullivan, Alex Gitterman and Toby Berman Rossi I ask myself "what am I doing here?" and I remember that at the foundation of this organization and of Social Group Work is the belief, and challenge, to move ourselves and others to a place where none of us is greater or less than any of our fellow human beings. We work together to be in touch with the essence of our humanity which is cooperative. We are developing a method of working with people that includes knowledge, skill and enduring values. (I emphasize working, because work of such importance is never fully complete.) Among those values is the belief in the inherent capacity of all of us to join with one another and to help one another to be all we can be, each and together, social workers and clients, board members and citizens, wealthy and poor, healthy and challenged, individuals and groups and agencies and communities and countries.

Think of belonging and working in an organization that struggles to embrace these beliefs in action. Read through the pages on this website. Pick up a copy of the " Journal of Social Work with Groups". Use the new Encyclopedia, "Social Work with Groups". Ask yourself, "What can I learn?, What can I teach?, What can I get? and What can I give? Then get in touch with us and join with us. You will be welcome.

Steve Kraft
President