Should the HPS seek AIP membership?

["Ron L. Kathren" <rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu>]

Michael --

Indeed there has been some at least informal look at this possibility over
the years and I myself investigated the possibility during my year as HPS
President.  Although it has much appeal, there is at least one major
disadvantage:  co$t.  The AIP serves as secretariat and their costs are much
higher than SASC (Dick Burk), for what might be deemed equivalent service
(although I personally think we get rather more from SASC).  AAPM dues are
much higher than HPS and the differential is largely attributable to
administrative costs.  Also, AIP is a much larger operation and hence far
more impersonal;  Dick and his staff really put the HPS (and the Academy,
too) first.  Another possible disadvantage is that the AIP would require
changes in operations and a loss of some operational freedom.  Also, unlike
the AAPM, with a membership composed almost exclusively of persons
academically educated as physicists, the HPS includes many disciplines among
its members, and I daresay that physicists are in the minority.  Finally,
the AIP has a rather cumbersome process and many hoops to jump through for a
would be member society.

Ron Kathren



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