July 22, 1997
Note: due to a large number of requests from members to leave this article online, we've decided to do just that. Here it is for another week:
IAPHC's Kevin Keane ponders the Dollars and Sense of IAPHC Membership
"In last week's Monday Morning Fax newsletter produced by my good friend Bob Hall, editor of Quick Printing magazine, Bob noted that the name change of the IPMA has done little to increase membership in that organization of primarily in-plant shops. Bob said the IPMA (which now stands for the International Publishing Management Association) has about 2,000 members today.
All trade associations in our industry are facing interesting times.
Rumors fly that PIA and GATF are in merger talks. Other old line associations discuss merger too.
And several organizations try membership cost reduction gambits to try to lure new members.
For example, the NAQP offered a $149 membership special -- the quick printer who signed up by May 31, 1997 got member benefits through 12-31-97.
The Printing Industries of Minnesota offered all Minnesota Insty-Prints franchise owners a deal on July 9th. If all owners agreed (probably a difficult proposition at best) the discounted membership fee per owner would be $200 per year. As the offer letter breathlessly noted, that's only $17 per month.
On July 3, 1997 Bruce Kenworthy the retiring president of the Calgary Club sent me an e-mail with the following observations:
"Your vast well of knowledge is an asset to our organization and to our Calgary Club. The Knowledge Network is probably the most profitable advantage of being a member of the IAPHC. This is also a feather in your cap as you are the author of this wonderful tool"
While I appreciate the kind words from Bruce the more important point is that we have tremendous assets in the IAPHC, and their value should not be understated.
Our new Mission Statement reminds us that we are dedicated to individuals in our industry "for the purpose of their self development, their companies' success, and the enhancement of the printing and graphic arts industry in society"
IAPHC membership is a bargain. A deal. A steal. For each of our individual members.
I have been a member of both the NAQP and the PIM. Both are fine organizations and are ones I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
But our membership is an unbelievable bargain.
Even for a member-at-large, our dues are only $4.16 a month!
And yet each member can obtain individual self development, aid in their companies' success, and help enhance our industry in society through active use of IAPHC membership. And most of you who read this message on CraftNet can see what a fabulous tool CraftNet already has become in furthering the Mission of the IAPHC.
Tom Conley of Diamond Graphics was preparing an entry for the recent hugely successful International Gallery. He called me to inquire about the entry fee. When I told him it was $25 he commented: "That's too cheap; that's just too cheap."
When compared to our competitors like the PIA Premier Print Awards or the Gold Ink Awards (both of which charge $75 per entry) we certainly are inexpensive!
Chris Grayczyk was a judge in this year's International Gallery. He has also been involved in competitions sponsored by the Ad Federation. Chris asked why we don't charge a "hanging fee" for the Gold Winners much like the Ad Fed does. This additional fee would be used to present all the Gold winners for review at the next IAPHC Convention. Definitely food for thought.
The point behind all these ruminations is that we don't have to apologize for what we charge and that indeed we are a remarkable mission driven bargain.
We have been very successful as a group in driving the International Gallery to new heights. We can do the same with our membership.
Let's do it."
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