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In the CEO session on trust in governance, Lois Schoenbrun from the American Academy of Optometry related the experience of her organization wrestling with the decision of whether or not to combine annual meetings with their larger competing association. Financially, it looked like it would make sense. She said her membership was split right down the middle—with plenty of people on both sides willing to tell you their position loud and clear.

Ultimately she and her board decided against the idea. They decided that their show was perhaps the most important part of their brand, and it was something they needed to keep.

I’ll admit my first reaction was negative because it sounded like a decision to keep the status quo. But then I thought about it more and that’s too harsh of an assessment. Deciding not to do something can be very important, and does not mean you are turning your back on ideas or innovation. The key, and I’m sure the academy is doing this, is to not rest. Just because they decided not to take that step doesn’t mean that they’re not trying to take other steps that will improve their meeting and their organization.