If planning is done well, staging the annual meeting is relatively simple. The meeting, in fact, is largely "made" before it begins.

There remains, of course, the actual conduct of the program. This calls for a competent presiding officer. With well laid plans, even someone with little talent can do reasonably well, but a good one can ensure success.

Although the presiding officer carries the chief responsibility for the final effectiveness of the planning, a corps of behind-the-scene aides is needed, each knowing his or her job. The presiding officer can be compared to the captain of a team, calling signals at the appropriate time.