Environmental Science & Engineering - www.esemag.com - November 2003
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“Membership has its benefits” - supporting our professional associations
By Frank Belfry, P.Eng.
Kerr Wood Leidal Associates, BC
Professional associations play
an integral role in the development
of our engineering industry.
The existence of well-run
professional associations offers multilevel
benefits: to the industry as a
whole, to consultants and public
organizations, and to its individual
members.
The most obvious benefit to the
engineering industry provided by professional
associations is the platform
for education and technology transfer.
Members are able to enhance their
knowledge base and keep abreast of
the latest in technology and its applications,
through conference presentations,
operator training, publications
and manufacturer/supplier tradeshows.
Out-of-town conferences offer excellent
respite from the daily workload
and a chance to build relationships
with clients and become reacquainted
with former colleagues and classmates.
Professional associations also provide
communication channels and the
forum for addressing high-profile
issues. Associations have responded
proactively to address topics of immediate
public concern, such as: impacts
of water quality on both small and
large communities, possible effects of
terrorism and vandalism on our infrastructure,
and managing water shortages.
Associations also offer a unique
opportunity for fundraising by nonprofit
organizations. As an example,
many associations raise funds for
water and sanitation projects in third
world countries. The enthusiasm of the
participating members in these events
significantly enhances the social
atmosphere of association programs.
All association members develop an
appreciation for the wealth of our natural
resources when faced with awareness
of the plight of people who lack
clean drinking water or sanitation
facilities.
For the private sector, there are significant
direct and indirect marketing
opportunities that benefit all types of
private sector services. Consultants
have an opportunity to present their
projects and participate in discussion
forums. Tradeshows improve exposure
and name recognition for technologies
and services.
Individuals gain many intrinsic
rewards from association membership.
Through association involvement,
members have a unique opportunity to
develop and finesse their softer skills
such as written and oral communication,
and organization and planning, by
presenting papers and hosting seminars
or stakeholder consultations. The
networking possibilities are endless.
Members will build relationships with
other professionals who, often unexpectedly,
they will one day work with,
compete with, or work for at some
point in their career. Recognition for
innovative project work is achieved
through awards or publications.
Personal enrichment arises from a
sense of belonging to a fellowship that
shares the same ideals and works
towards the same goals.
Healthy competition is the finest
stimulator of growth in any industry;
however, a well-run professional association
must mandate accountability
and fairness to prevent over-representation
of a single company. Usually,
association members are conscientious,
aware of the implicit marketing
benefits from their contributions, and
avoid leveraging their membership to
navigate an obvious commercial plug
for their own organization.
And what motivates association
members to volunteer his or her time
and energy to professional associations?
It is a sense of social responsibility,
an obligation to give back to the
industry, and recognition that no one
has succeeded without the guidance
and knowledge offered by others.
Our field, though technology based,
has evolved beyond the mindset of
stiff-necked competition and “holding
one’s cards close”. There is a circular
reference that exists in the business
world – what an individual contributes
to benefit the industry, benefits all
organizations and the people belonging
to them. Association members who
have committed their personal efforts
for the good of the industry have usually,
and not coincidentally, enjoyed
the utmost of success and recognition
in their fields.
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