What’s in Store for Membership?

C. David Hudson, CPD, 2006–2008 ASPE Vice President, Membership

The 2006 Convention and Engineering Plumbing Exposition are over, but just like your workplace, things still have to get done. Before I present the goals for the next two years let me tell you that the election this year was very exciding, and I wish to thank, Donald Keith, CPD, Curtis Ray, CIPE, and Gregory Mahoney, CPD, for stepping forward and entering the race for Vice President of Membership. They showed you our best and will ensure the continuance of a strong ASPE for the future. This member and others will call each one to share their talents. I’m sure that in two years they will be running again.

In my first three weeks in this position, there were two BOD meetings and hundreds of e-mails and phone calls. The ASPE staff sent me 100 applications for review and grading so the Society can continue to grow. This is great, but as always there are things that must be reviewed to ensure that this is done in the most efficient way. The programs that Bill Hughes, CPD, put into place are starting to see their bright moments. We are working on faster communication to ensure that each membership application is processed quickly, so new members receive their cards within one to two weeks of staff receiving their application. Remember, in the past this process took anywhere from the minimum best four weeks to 11 weeks.

We also are reviewing the following applications forms: Compassion Wavier of Society Dues, Change of Chapter Affiliation, Life-time Membership, and Drop Out and Reinstatement. A program that started in 2004 to train chapter VPMs to better understand the above forms and how to use them along with the ASPE Membership Recruitment and Retention Manual (that each chapter was given in 2004) will be strengthened to ensure better planning and implementation at the chapter level. The present Region Membership Committee members will be contacted to see if they will continue to serve. A real problem for this committee is lack of budget funds at any level. Paula Letterman (Johnson), CPD, of Western Michigan is the new chair who will work very closely with Curtis Ray to review better ways of communicating and to institute programs that make the chapter VPM’s job easier.

We are looking at various programs to form international chapters that will help ensure world health and safety as we have presently in North American and to share through education with our international members at large.

As you read this article, remember that each chapter member is a part of the membership committee. Remember my words at the convention: “just ask.” Yes, they are simple words. But if you use them when you talk to fellow workers, clients, inspectors, contractors, and vendors and then hand them an application and tell them the next meeting date and subject, they will be there.

This also goes for the long-time member who has not been to a meeting in awhile. Ask them why they joined ASPE. Is the chapter fulfilling their needs like when they joined? What are their talents? Can we use those talents to help that new or long-time member do a better job? After you get these four questions answered, ask the membership committee to review, plan, and implement programs to ensure better educational and, most important, fun meetings.

The bottom line to this article is that great programs start at the chapter level, not at BOD level, for you know what it takes to fulfill your mission. The BOD was elected to make sure you have materials or known sources to get that job done. JUST ASK.