The ACUP Bond

I just returned from the Association of College and University Printers (ACUP) conference in Boston, and what a terrific event it was. About 135 managers from all over the world—including Australia, New Zealand and the U.K.—were there, and I enjoyed mingling with them and hearing their stories.

What made ACUP so great was not just its interesting sessions—though Steve Dimond and his staff at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology did an excellent job organizing them, along with a nice vendor exhibit and some enjoyable evening activities. What made ACUP stand out was the constant interaction of the attendees.

At every opportunity managers from different regions were huddling in small groups to share information about their in-plants. Those who had never met became instant friends by virtue of their common higher-ed background. Even the IPMA conference, which I had attended the previous week, did not exude the level of enthusiasm that charged the air at ACUP.

Perhaps this common educational background is the reason ACUP has succeeded so well for 41 years now, despite lacking the staff and structure of other associations. Members feel an instinctive bond, which draws them naturally together each year, where they relish the chance to open up to one another.

I’ve always found college and university in-plant managers to be the most willing of all managers to share information. At ACUP, I picked up scores of leads on new systems being installed or investigated at in-plants, from CTP to digital color to shop management systems. It seemed every time I stopped to talk I ended up jotting something down in my notebook.

Whatever the reason, I’m grateful to everyone at ACUP for accepting me so willingly and treating me as one of them for each of the 11 ACUPs I’ve attended. Based on the leads I got from attendees this year, I’m certain you’ll be hearing more about their activities in the coming months.