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From: ncmagel@ndsuvax.UUCP (ken magel)
Newsgroups: net.cse
Subject: acm dues increase
Message-ID: <247@ndsuvax.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 16-Aug-86 09:40:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: ndsuvax.247
Posted: Sat Aug 16 09:40:29 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 17-Aug-86 10:03:31 EDT
Organization: North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
Lines: 19
Keywords: why


    I understand that ACM has a large revenue shortfall and plans to meet
this in part by increasing dues of students and other members by $15 a year.
I don't understand how this sudden shortfall came about since I have seen 
only reduced services in the thirteen years I have been a member.  I suppose
the NCC problems have something to do with it.  In any event, I am concerned 
that ACM also consider reducing expenses greatly.  I have never seen such a 
high living ( on someone else's money) group of people than many of the ACM
officers, especially at meetings.  Why not cut out one of their gatherings
per year?  Also the ACM Headquarters staff is much poorer than that at the 
IEEE-CS.  They should be pared down by at least five people so that the poor
level of service they provide would be balanced by the number of people they
employ.  Another possibility would be eliminating the research articles from 
Communications of the ACM since there are now several transactions published by 
ACM to which those research articles could go.  Maybe the profitable SIGs
could be given more responsibility for running and supporting the transactions?
     ACM also should look into running more money making ventures.  I think 
ACM could learn an immense amount from the IEEE-CS which in the last five years
has overtaken ACM in size, usefulness and profitability without higher dues.