When even industry associations like SITE and ICPA are turning over their organizational leadership to association management companies, you know the AMC wave is going tidal.

More evidence of the growing power of AMCs came out this week in a comparative financial analysis by the AMCinstitute. According to a press release, “AMC-managed associations have management fees covering personnel and administrative expenses that are up to one-third less than those of stand-alone associations, according to data from the just-completed 2004 Management Fee Survey conducted by the International Association of Association Management Companies.”

The AMCinstitute came to this conclusion after comparing data from the IAAMC survey with data from the American Society of Association Executives Operating Ratio Report 12th Edition (Dec. 2003) According to the ASAE report, “an average of 47 percent of the typical stand-alone association budget goes towards internal personnel costs, overhead and general administrative expenses.” Because they centralize operations and roll these expenses into their management fees, AMCs can make running an association less expensive. Maybe that’s why the AMC business has grow 33 percent since 1995.

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Here’s the link to the CIC’s latest research results on why attendees book outside the block. It also contains some pretty good suggestions on ways you can minimize attrition.

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Cool new use for blogs in today’s New York Times—teachers are using them in classrooms to help students interact, share experiences, and all that jazz. Of course, I immediately skip to their potential for adult education—how cool would it be to have a blog for your next meeting, where people share what they’re learning in real time, give you instant feedback on what’s working and what isn’t, and to help the group coalesce as a group?

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Someone sent me a list of serious groaners, which of course I have to share with you all, in slightly modified form:

An antenna was tapped to plan an television association’s annual convention. Needless to say, the keynote speaker got no static from the crowd, and the reception was excellent.

Two hydrogen atoms walk into the board meeting of a major utility company. One says, “I’ve lost my electron.” The other says, “Are you sure?” The first replies, “Yes, I’m positive…”

A jumper cable walks up to the bar at a reception during an automotive show. The bartender says, “I’ll serve you, but don’t start anything.”

At the cannibal convention, the chef got a little creative and cooked a clown. The main topic of conversation during that meal: “Does this taste funny to you?”

The danger of having a seafood disco as evening entertainment: Your attendees could pull a mussel.

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