Is ASNP another SNIA?

I received this email this week for the very first ASNP UK Chapter meeting (ASNP is a US based user association for storage people):

<------ START ------>
Dear ASNP Chapter Members of the UK,

Due to low registration numbers, we have decided to cancel the February 23rd ASNP Chapter meeting which was to be sponsored by QLogic.

My apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Meanwhile, we are working on a quick survey that we hope you will answer as we’re hoping to find out what type of meetings you’d like to be a part of going forward.

Please keep your eyes open for that survey and let us know!

<----- END----->

Until November I was UK Chair. I found it difficult to work out what ASNP was for; I couldn't see it collectively lobbying storage software/hardware vendors with issues or for new features, in fact all I could see was an organisation which occasionally offered vendor sponsored "training" or information sessions. I even attended the very first ASNP Summit in Long Beach in June 2004; despite registering, when I got there, no-one could find my registration details; everything was extremely US-focused.

If an organisation exists to further the interests of its members, then there should be a clear statement of what those aims are; otherwise why bother to exist at all?

Will ASNP continue? Probably. I notice though that they still don't charge for membership. Unless they start having more to offer, I can't see how they ever can.