University in-plant managers learn about QR codes, PURLs social media at ACUP, Association of College and University Printers conference

By Bob Neubauer

The Future of ACUP

Though praise for ACUP 2011 was virtually unanimous, the association’s future is certainly not guaranteed. At a business lunch on the second day, members and vendors listened as the board of directors laid out some of the challenges and plans still ahead for the new organization.

As the result of a one-time offer, all attendees this year were given free membership in ACUP. To survive, though, the association will have to continually increase its ranks. Attendees were tasked with helping to find and register new members.

A discussion of the new bylaws brought out some heated opposition to the idea of including vendors as dues-paying “associate” members. Many felt the term “member” should apply only to higher-ed participants.

The board explained that, in the new ACUP model, a president, secretary and treasurer will be elected by members. Unlike in the past, the president will not necessarily be the conference host.

Consultant and former ACUP president Ray Chambers noted that he hopes the new ACUP will become an active advocate for in-plants. He suggested that the association promote in-plant successes in publications read by managers’ bosses (to challenge the pro-outsourcing messages they often read there). He also envisions members creating “SWAT teams” to help in-plants in danger of closing. (Chambers noted that, as he is no longer an in-plant manager, he will be leaving the ACUP board.)

It may have looked and felt just like a traditional ACUP conference, but when the Association of College and University Printers met in Dallas in April, it was really a new beginning. This was the association's first meeting as a dues-paying, non-profit organization.

For the 86 in-plant managers in attendance, though, it felt a lot like the 40 ACUPs that had come before it, with all the features they had come to love: informative sessions, socializing with peers, vendor exhibits, field trips and, of course, evening social events. This full agenda was the result of months of effort by Tom Tozier, executive director, and Jennifer Bowers, administrative director. Both former ACUP hosts and presidents, they put together a rewarding event that satisfied both new and long-time members.

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Bob Neubauer Author's page

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.

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