The President serves but one year. While most presidents have considerable prior experience on the Executive Council, one year provides little continuity. Changing conditions require a new balance between staff and governing body. Funding is the Achilles Heel of the Society. RIMS has a history of strong resistance from its members to higher dues.
Members argue that their superiors always resist increases.
While they want more services, they don t want to pay for them. This led directly to the overwhelming financial importance of the Society s annual conference, which raises more than half of the annual operating budget. They vote with their attendance, and the figures speak for themselves. The financial dominance of this conference over the RIMS operating budget puts extraordinary control in the hands of exhibitors and vendors. Of course, if RIMS changes and enlists a large number of associate members, this point is no longer valid.