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In article <1992Aug7.200457.25984@mercury.cair.du.edu>, blanche@diana.cair.du.edu (Blanche Cohen) writes:
|> Let me offer examples of both sides of the issue - what does HQ offer to
|> Chapters and Local Sigs? 

|> What ACM HQ offers to Groups -
|> 1) Mailing lists whenever you ask for them! I'm not sure of the current
|>   policy (lack of communication between LAB and its constituency) but in the
|>   past, 1 set was free each year and any others at cost.

Yes, we try mailing our newsletter to this list every couple of years.  It
ends up costing us huge postage and repro costs, and the new memberships
generated thereby almost never cover those costs.

|> 3) Central distribution/coordination point for all local groups - where 
|>   else are you going to find out what is in the area? 

True. 

|>  4) Coordination for the Lectureship Series. If you've had a bad experience
|>   with Lectureship I'm very sorry. In the Colorado area we've been very
|>  happy with it - much of the success depends on the local group doing it. In
|>   the SoCal area you are fortunate to have a great wealth of technical
|>   resources, many of whom are in the Lecturship book. You don't need it as
|>   much as a more remote area needs it.

No bad experiences, but it is a bit of a hassle to use.

|> 5) Dealing with ths IRS. You may not consider this important, but it is the
|>   main reason for the existence of NYC offices. I've handled 501(c)3 groups
|>   in the past. If you are comfy with dealing with IRS, no problem. On the
|>   other hand, its nice to let someone else worry about it. 

Absolutely.  I had overlooked the tax situation.

|> 6) Managing the operations of ACM - the publications in particular. You 
|>   really think the editors do all the grunt work of making sure the layouts
|>   get to the printers? And keeping track of the 75,000 people on the mailing
|>   lists?

Agreed, but it is not relevant to my specific complaint, i.e., about ACM
support of _chapters_.

-- 

...Russ Schnapp
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La Jolla, California    Unless otw specified, I`m speaking only for myself!