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What every company executive should know about the value of technical societies By R.G. (Gil) Gilliland, FASM
ASM Trustee
Over the past few weeks, members of the ASM Board of Trustees have contributed articles about the importance of engineering societies in the face of declining memberships. I'd like to add another viewpoint to this forum.
Up until now, we've talked about how important it is for the individual to recognize and appreciate the value of membership - in ASM International, for example. But it's also clear that an individual's company or organization must also be supportive of membership. To do so, the company's management must be aware of the works of the society and their value to the company and its people.
For me personally, it was my company's management that first taught me about the value of technical societies. My peers and my boss took me to meetings and I was able to see and understand that value, first hand. My involvement with technical societies became a cornerstone of my career.
I can still remember how our senior managers helped to mentor me, and supported my ASM membership and activity. In turn, I've encouraged membership and activity for my staff throughout my career.
I believe that all of us who were mentored when we were young are duty-bound to pass along that knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation of engineers. But, at many organizations and for many reasons, that connection seems to have been damaged, fallen into disrepair or lost entirely. These companies have become more or less "disengaged" from ASM, and we must work hard to re-engage their interest and support.
What can we do to help our companies understand the value of our technical society? I believe there are three things that we must do:
Communicate the value of ASM to corporate management: As one of his main areas of presidential initiative, ASM President Don Muzyka has championed an approach called Corporate Loyal. This approach recognizes that the value of a technical society must be appreciated, not just by the membership card-carrying member but also by the company that he or she works for. ASM is currently developing a program and a schedule for corporate visits, to communicate the value of ASM membership to this important and high-level audience.
Tell your boss and your staff what you get out of membership: You don't need a full-fledged Corporate Loyal presentation to create value recognition for ASM at your company. Make sure you use the many benefits of ASM membership - and when you do use them, make sure that you tell your boss how the benefit helped you do your job better.
Support the efforts of your local ASM chapter: The new chapter year begins in September, and a new group of chapter officers and committee members is working hard to create value for you, their local members. Make sure you attend these meetings - they are invaluable for learning and networking. And, when you find a technical presentation of particular importance for your people, make sure you encourage them to attend. If you're a senior manager, set a good example by leading your company's contingent to the meeting!
Re-creating corporate loyalty won't happen overnight, but it's critically important to the future of ASM. You have the most important role of all. It all begins with a single conversation, perhaps with your boss, perhaps with your newest employee. Over time, through numerous conversations, we can convince our companies that a stronger ASM is a benefit to our employees and our entire organization.
About The Author: Dr. Gilliland is the associate laboratory director and vice president, Energy and Engineering Sciences Directorate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He joined ASM in 1956 and was elected a Fellow in 1994. Dr. Gilliland is a Life Member of the society, a past chair of the Technical Programming Board and a past member of the Awards Policy Committee. |
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