From the Editor: ACUP Gets ‘Real’
The Association of College and University Printers has always engendered a strong camaraderie among its members. So it’s no surprise that its fans refused to let it wither away. Earlier this year, that fate seemed to be looming. No one was stepping up to host a 2011 conference—something that had never happened in ACUP’s 46 years. This followed the cancellation of the 2009 conference, and a smaller-than-usual gathering this spring.
The decision last month to officially incorporate as a non-profit organization was a blockbuster. It turns ACUP into a real organization, not just an annual conference in the hands of a volunteer host. Though this removes some of the free-form spirit that made ACUP so unique, it also means ACUP can now live on.
Incorporation has been discussed for as many years as I’ve been attending (and I’ve been to 14 ACUPs), but the “if it’s not broke...” mantra always stood firm. A few months ago, with no 2011 host in site, the ACUP board began e-mail discussions about ACUP’s future. They initially talked with the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA) about holding a joint 2011 conference in Charleston, S.C., where IPMA will meet June 5-9. Then an online poll of higher-ed in-plants revealed that just 18.5 percent of those who were not IPMA members would likely attend a joint conference. On the other hand 75.5 percent said they would likely join a formalized ACUP. In short, they wanted to network with other higher-ed managers.
So ACUP was born (or reborn). Past ACUP host and president Tom Tozier, formerly with the University of Colorado, stepped into the role of executive director. He wasted no time in finding a location for a 2011 conference: Denton, Texas, home of the University of North Texas’ award-winning in-plant. The difference this time, though, is that UNT will not be saddled with the hardships of planning the event. Tozier will manage it all.
Many diehards will bemoan the fact that ACUP’s free-form spirit will be shackled by the need for bylaws, elections, dues and other formalities. But this is the price to pay for survival.
All this begs the question, should there be a “rival” group to IPMA? After all, in-plants are under threat more than ever; they should band together, not divide into segments. So argued IPMA President John Sarantakos in an impassioned IPG column last year. “We need to consolidate our position,” he wrote—one large organization would have more power and resources to help its members.
In the end, though, the fervor of ACUP’s supporters couldn’t be ignored. Now they’ll have to follow through on that support to make this work. (My hope is that ACUP becomes a fall event, to avoid conflicting with graduations—and with IPMA. There are, of course, other fall in-plant conferences already, but I'm hopeful that some partnerships and mergers will be discussed.)
ACUP truly has an impressive track record, with volunteer hosts doing tremendous amounts of work, all out of love for the association and its many fans. Each and every host since 1964 must be commended. The fact that this model of selfless giving continued into the 21st century is remarkable. Whether ACUP continues further is now up to its members.
- People:
- Tom Tozier
Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.
