The on-going debate amongst Local PCOs, Core PCOs and AMCs continued during the IAPCO and AMC Joint Seminar on this week.

Suzanne Pine, Vice President of AMC Institute expounded the virtues and advantages of the AMC, whilst Philippe Fournier of MCI and Vice President of IAPCO, argued the case  for the PCO, both local and core.

“Of course there is room for both” says Philippe “but clients need to be very clear about the service they require. This is not a case of each type of company treading on the toes of another, or indeed poaching the services provided by one company to expand their own. It is a case of being able to provide the relevant expertise.”

He continues: “Some companies restrict themselves to the activities of a Local PCO, others to providing the more extensive services of the Core PCO. Indeed some PCO companies now provide AMC services as a natural synergy to their PCO activities.”

“Sole AMC companies however” retorts Suzanne “provide more than the AMC services provided by a PCO. A dedicated AMC company by definition becomes part of the association, and their remit extends to political lobbying, statistical research, accreditation etc.”

The conclusion is that whilst both organisations respect the professionalism of the service provided by the other, there is an increasing overlap with Core PCOs extending their remit into the area of association management, and vice versa AMCs offering PCO services.

“It is however essential to recognise” continues Suzanne “that where major association congresses take place, an AMC will engage the services of a PCO, but in this case it is likely to be the Local PCO, rather than a Core PCO”.