What Name Change Overkill?
Michael Hart -- Tradeshow Week, 2/20/2006
Dear Editor:
Re: "IAEM Name Change Story Overplayed" (Feb. 6, 2006):
In reply to (Events Industry Alliance CEO Trevor) Foley's letter to the editor, I would offer these thoughts:
From my perspective, I don't think the coverage of the name change has been overdone. Tradeshow Week has been reporting the response to a proposal that came as a surprise to many of us attending the December Intl. Assn. for Exhibition Management meeting.
It has yet to be adequately explained, in my opinion, why the name needs to be changed at all. Here in the United States, the majority of those that belong to IAEM are just that, exhibition managers (in the old days we used to call ourselves show managers, a term I am still proud to be called) and I'm told that most of the members who make up the remainder are suppliers to the exhibition industry.
We are what we are — an organization of exhibition organizers and suppliers to that industry. It may be the thinking of some individuals that there is a need to include events in the name. Is this thinking representative of the majority of the membership? Is there a significant benefit to those of us who call ourselves exhibition managers by including events or event managers?
Perhaps, but I have yet to see convincing evidence of that. I am not trying to exclude anyone in the event group who may be interested in joining, but I don't think we need to or should have to change our name for them to participate. If they want to join our group, I say welcome to IAEM.
As for painting a clearer, more dynamic and sexier picture of what our industry is about, I'll leave that to someone else. I'll stick to managing and producing tradeshows.
Patrick J. LaFramboise, President and CEO, Intl. Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair — USA, Atlanta
Letters to the editor of Tradeshow Week are always welcome. Please send them to Editor in Chief Michael Hart (by mail) Tradeshow Week, 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120, Los Angeles, Calif. 90036-5804; (by e-mail) hartm@reedbusiness.com ; or (by fax) (323) 965-5306.
