I believe that instead the SPP will be strengthened through growth. If other groups such as pediatric lab medicine, pediatric oncology, or pediatric neuropathology, have the commitment and resources to sustain a similar branch committee, the organization will be strengthened, not weakened. The branch could result in some increased committee workload, such as abstract review, CME, slide send outs. However, this workload can and should be met by those with an interest in the subspecialty, perhaps by increasing committee size if needed. There will be conflicts that need to be resolved, such as the best timing for the expanding meeting agenda.
Amiable solutions are possible.
Eventually, the status of a branch committee would need to be formalized in the by laws. The SPP president should appoint members to rotating roles in the Perinatal Branch Steering Committee every three years similar to other committees. As on other committees, members volunteer to be appointed, but it is expected that those appointed to the committee would have an interest in perinatal pathology. Likewise, it would be desirable to have those on the steering committee to have appointments on the committees with which they are to coordinate activities. The Perinatal committee would meet before the annual and interim meetings, as do other committees.