Advertisement
If you had your choice, and you do, what would be the 5 most important "things" that would convince you to join and be an active member of an engineering society. Let's design an engineering society together from the ground up.
posted by:
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Unsu...
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Thu, March 25, 2004 - 7:54 AMI've got to admit that the only reason I ever joined an engineering society was to get a discount on my auto insurance. -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Thu, March 25, 2004 - 7:56 AMThat is a good reason and quite a few folks do the same thing. -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Thu, March 25, 2004 - 8:19 AMOther that I've heard include:
1) Continuing education (teach me something on Saturday that I can apply on Monday at work)
2) Networking (find your next job or launch your own business).
3) Social (team up to host a huge social event with entertainment you wouldn't be able to afford with a smaller group).
4) Helping others (actively reach out to folks in other countries)
Would these be of value for your (would you participate in them)? Are there others?
-
Unsu...
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Thu, March 25, 2004 - 8:33 AMI might join to enter competitions, or something like that. Real ones, though, not like what you mostly see on TV. Professionals solving real problems that will help the whole of humanity, in a friendly, cooperative, international arena. But not limited to professionals only. High schools, colleges, clubs, research labs, teams of any size. Unlimited corporate funding. All profits from implementation of the winning entry go to charity, after everybody gets paid at either their regular rate or a living wage, whichever is more. -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Thu, March 25, 2004 - 8:44 AMWhat scale of problem would you suggest for the competition? Local, regional, national, global? -
-
Unsu...
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Thu, March 25, 2004 - 9:00 AMI'd say that first we need to analyze the system to figure out what's the sqeakiest wheel. Probably siomething having to do with the environment. May be that would the first part of the competition. -
-
Unsu...
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Sat, April 3, 2004 - 3:42 PMI'm sorry, Tom. I must have lost track of your original question in my attempts to be witty - I came to see the question as, "What if engineers decided to re-design society."
Interesting concept, however, no? Imagine if we all got to make administrative decisions in our companies.
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Thu, May 6, 2004 - 11:59 AMTwo questions first (and pardon the question being related to a post some two months ago!) isnt the enviroment more in the domain of ISO, such as ISO 14041 (LCA stuff), or are their some kind of related standards in ASTM, although I cant think of how really, ASME? And my second question what insurrance companies give a discount for membership in ASTM or simmilar groups, and how big of a discount? I know I cant get that with State Farm in Washington State :-( I think Im missing out on something here....
Also I dont mean to pry into your personal life or anything Tom, but as a financial planner how do you end up being a moderator for this ASME board? I guess Im wondering how you are connected with the organization? -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Fri, May 7, 2004 - 9:24 AMGood points: There are a series of standard setting organizations worldwide including ASME, ASTM, and ISO. They each have their areas of specialization although the ASME and ISO compete in quite a few areas.
ASME does give discounts on a variety of insurance products. I suggest calling their New York office for a list of products (the phone number is available at their website: www.asme.org).
As for me, I started life as a mechanical engineer and added finance later. Most of my clients (personal and corporate) are involved in engineering. And I've been a member of the ASME for almost 15 years.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Thu, March 25, 2004 - 9:08 AMHere's some thoughts that a gentleman named Craig just sent to me:
Notice the repeated use of the word "Active". Just carrying around a card in my wallet and paying dues doesn't interest me
1 - Active Professional and Personal Networking
2 - Active Projects that attempt to affect real, positive change in the community
3 - Educational Information, sharing of information so all members can find personal growth opportunities
4 - Career information, job listings, resume help, employment trends, skills employers are looking for ...
5 - Entertainment, even engineering needs a little fun and games
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Fri, March 26, 2004 - 4:22 AMSince I am an active member - let me tell you why - a couple reasons anyway
1. I need technical information. I need to know where to get it and who to call - ie Power Division. Note - I've been a Committe Chair and currently sit on 2 technical committees
2. I need to be up to date with the ASME OM Code and Code issues - ie Codes and Standard. Note - I'm a member of OM19 - Air operated valves and most likely will sit in on OM26 meetings this summer, Emergency Diesel Generators
3. ASME allows me to disseminate information to and gather information from industry - ie Conferences. Note - over the next few months, between now and end of July, I have a paper to present , sit on a panel, Co-track chair at one conference and session chairs at 2 others.
4. It allows me to share my passion for engineering with others - Middle and High School kids - Board on Pre-College Education, school visits etc
5. I can make a difference in national energy policy - ie via participation with the Energy Committee
I'll add a 6th - Insurance is cheap
These are a few of my reasons, personal and professional
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Fri, March 26, 2004 - 7:59 AMWhat would you think about putting together a conference and workshop in August for our grassroots members? The goal would be to design what we wanted in an engineering society in a series of brain storming sessions guided by industry experts. -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Wed, March 31, 2004 - 8:24 AMIt's a thought - August right now looks pretty good - we should talk - let me know when you're available and we can strart to flesh this thing out. email me at smu@nrc.gov or call (301) 415-3819
talk to you soon
-
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Sun, April 4, 2004 - 4:39 PMHi Tom,
I have two priorities for involvement in ASME. First is networking. My ASME involvement helps keep my technical skills intact while I am temporarily retired raising my daughter, and allows me to use my skills in service to the society on a variety of committees.
Secondly, the life insurance prices are better than any others we have found, and the long term care insurance is very attractive as well.
The issue of service is important. I beleive that many people enjoy volunteer work. However, it's critical that the organization that one volunteers for is not so wrapped up in red tape that it is impossible to get things done. Also, there has to be some recognition to the volunteers. Unpaid should not equal unappreciated. So far my ASME experiences have all been good ones.
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Thu, October 14, 2004 - 12:17 PMJust finished the finanical analysis of the ASME and compared it to other benchmark not-for-profits. In brief, the ASME is a very expensive society to run and doesn't give a great return on our $118 members dues per year to our members. They return approx 5% of our dues back to local section where a large percentage of our members participate.
We can do much better.
Post your name and a contact E-mail address or E-mail your contact information to me at libertinyt@asme.org if you're interested in meeting as a team in person during January 2005 to discuss the formation of a new engineering society that meets our goals (the ones posted here) and invests a much larger percentage of our hard earned money back into our society. -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Wed, June 22, 2005 - 7:17 AMA group of us met in Philadelphia last week during the American Society of Mechanical Engineer's (ASME) Summer Annual Meeting to discuss the value of engineering societies and the ASME in particular. As a cost savings measure, the ASME plans to reduce funding to their local sections (the backbone of the society) by 25% this year and by 100% for 2006. The question again: Does it make sense to continue membership when the majority of our $100+ per year dues goes toward paying for staff and an expensive headquarters in downtown Manhattan that most people will never visit.
Many people are now seriously considering leaving this and other engineering societies since they offer little value to the working (grassroots) engineer. Instead, we are planning to start an efficient group of local engineering societies with the goal of combining them into a decentralized regional structure that eventually spans the globe.
Insurance and other affinity products will be part of the benefits since many folks indicate that this is one of the primary reasons that they join engineering societies. But the focus is on ensuring that people can meet face-to-face in addition to online discussions. The reason is for:
1) The opportunity to learn from others
2) The opportunity to be part of a global size community that makes a significant difference in the world.
Now we just need to decide what our first project will be, select a test location, and gather commitments from the majority of people to complete the work.
What and where do you want this to be? -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Wed, June 22, 2005 - 8:45 AMAs a member of the AIPLA and ABA (I chose the Dark Side), I can tell you that these societies offer a lot of continuing education. Maybe the new group you want to start should offer seminars also.
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Wed, June 22, 2005 - 6:39 PMWhat is the closest thing to a central location for us? (Or the cheapest Southwest hub, whichever.) -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Wed, June 22, 2005 - 8:15 PMWhere is everyone located (state and country)? I'm in Michigan, USA. -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Wed, June 22, 2005 - 10:50 PMnear Chicago, IL (USA) -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Mon, October 17, 2005 - 10:59 AMLooks like Fort Wayne, Indiana is approximately half-way between Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus and other cities in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. How does a morning meeting at a hotel to be announced in Fort Wayne, Indiana work for everyone on Saturday, November 12?
Agenda:
Starting a new engineering/technology society -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Mon, October 17, 2005 - 12:51 PMpotentially. i may have family plans that weekend.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Mon, October 17, 2005 - 10:46 AMAn update on the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) financial situation:
ASME HQ has announced that the annual contribution to each local Section will be reduced by 25% for this year (2005-2006) and eliminated altogether for the next year (2006-2007)
ASME HQ has proposed an 18% tax on all Section and Technical Division spending to cover the cost of General and Administrative (G&A) expenses at the ASME HQ. Example: Write a check for $100 to pay for a locally organized event and then write another check for $18 to pay the ASME HQ for services that weren't used.
With dues over $100 per year, the momentum continues to grow to start a new engineering society that focuses on one core mission: Continuing education and business networking for Grassroots (local) Engineers from all disciplines. We'll also make available similar discounted insurance programs to make the switch from another engineering society as seamless as possible.
What do you think is a fair annual dues amount? -
-
Re: Designing an Engineering Society
Mon, October 17, 2005 - 12:50 PMi hate to sound wishy-washy, but what i would consider a fair amount varies by what services are offered. maybe we should hold off on the amount until we figure out what will be available.
-
