Todd, 'back in the day' ... we in ARMA used to have Industry Action
Committees (IACs).  The Utilities IAC was one of the most dynamic and
successful; we won IAC of the Year many times.  (Larry Funky Cold Medina
was a member, by the way)  We hosted a Mid-Year Utilities IAC conference
every year, in the spring.  We had excellent speakers and topics very
pertinent and timely to the utilities and energy industry, excellent
networking, had a good time, and ... we made money.  ARMA Int wanted the
money and control.  So..., they wrested control and started grouping
mid-year IACS together to make the money.  Control... $$$  They felt the
mid-years were taking away from Annual Conference attendance revenue, thus
cutting out some of their revenue.   So, they did away with them.    $$$
and control.  For those who were whelped, weaned, and raised on large
cattle ranches..., they managed the 'herd' to make the most money.  It is
what my Dad did; his focus was on making money; not enhancing the
professional lives of the cattle.  Eat mor chikin...

There was discussion within the Utilities IAC at the time of splitting away
from ARMA and forming our own professional association.  Serious
discussions.  Not sure if ARMA Int. ever knew this.  About 18 years
previous to that NIRMA was established for many of those same reasons, by
the way.

Later, ARMA instituted Industry Specific Groups (ISGs); same thing as the
IACS essentially, but with ARMA control.  Those became a threat to ARMA Int
also, and it was feared that those groupings would take away from
attendance at the Annual Conference.  So, the ISGs went bye-bye; deleted;
destroyed, purged without a certificate of destruction.  Now we have
Industry Roundtables..., and ARMA begrudgingly provides space for these at
the Annual Conference; one meeting per year...  No money in it for them;
why bother with us; why bother with what members might need..., if ...there
is no profit in it for ARMA?

Focus on what the members want and need..., or focus on what brings profit
to Int.?  And..., I know very well the need to be fiscally solvent as an
association.  Nevertheless, what is the focus/reason for the association?
Why do we have members?

On a little different topic.., now ARMA Int. is trying to gain control $$$
of the annual Regions' Leadership conferences. Trying to group those;
CONTROL ($$$) those.  Never mind that some chapters will not be willing or
able to foot the cost of sending as many Board members to a joint Regions'
leadership; additional travel; and likely additional lodging costs.   ARMA
Int will probably act surprised at the results of their attempts to control
($$$) Regions' Leadership conferences.  They may not realize it yet, but
they kicked a hound dog sleeping content in the middle of a gravel road in
rural America/Canada.  Not smart.

I expect I will hear from some people I have know for several decades on
this.  Many privately and in support; some public and trying to keep the
peace.  Some challenging what I have seen in my 31 years in the profession
and as a member of ARMA Int.

I hate paper.

Best regards, Steve
Steven D. Whitaker, CRM, IGP


On Tue, Nov 18, 2014 at 11:44 AM, Todd Johnson <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Larry said: "What happened to the CONTENT and the STRUCTURE of the
> conference?"
> <snip>

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