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The Society Leaders' BRIEF

Volume 1 Issue 2 – April 2006

ISA is fortunate to have over 1,200 volunteers working in the various leadership roles available via society units – Sections, Districts, Divisions, Standards – and the society itself. Although dedicated to a particular activity, we are one organization in pursuit of a common objective: serving the membership and industries we represent. To be most effective as a leader, a broad range of information about society happenings is needed. The Society Leaders' BRIEF, a bi-monthly resource, is intended to draw your attention to the facts that can enable and empower your volunteer service.

What Society Leaders Need to Know
.... awareness is elementary....

ISA Spotlight – What's that?

Have you noticed the new ISA Spotlight? Each issue is focused on a particular topic, like Events, or Publications, or Web Seminars and Training. As a Society leader, you are likely to get questions about ISA that are not related to your particular area of ISA expertise. By scanning these Spotlight notices, you can come across as mighty wise when someone asks about Dick Morley's Innovation Alley at Automation West and EXPO 2006. Or you'll know to refer someone to Troubleshooting: A Technician's Guide, 2nd Edition when questions arise. Be aware – scan the Spotlight issues.

What's New for Sections - and on the Drawing Board for Divisions?

New Section Reports were launched online in late March. These real-time reports are getting great reviews, because they are easy to access and provide a wealth of information.

These reports use Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. Internet Explorer (6.0 and above) is recommended for best results. Available are 14 reports useful to the Section. For example, a roster divided into Active Members (dues paid), Active Grace Members (the three months after a Membership expires), and New Members (those who joined in the current month). The reports for email addresses, mailing addresses, or phone numbers respect opt outs of the Membership, which is always helpful.

Sections can run a report that identifies its Members by the Division(s) they belong to – helpful when looking for a speaker on a particular topic. Staff support for Divisions is provided by Rodney Jones, and he is always eager to help. Contact him at 919-990-9418 or rjones@isa.org. Equally useful among the Section reports is the one that identifies the Section's CAP^TM, CCST®, and CIMM^TM certified Members. Some Sections devote a meeting to recognizing their certified Members, especially effective after a training session to prepare for an exam. Contact Kristy Becker, CMP at 919-990-9219 or kbecker@isa.org for ISA certification support.

Finally, a really useful report for Section use is the Suspended Members report. You can identify former Members for the past five years. Develop your action plan now for 2006-07 and be sure to include a membership recruitment campaign to get those former Members back in the fold.

Section Reminders:

1. Your 2006-07 Section Leader Report is due to headquarters 15 June. The form is online at General Information > Leadership Resources > Section > Admin Forms & Guides. Only the coded President, Secretary, Membership Chair, Newsletter Editor, and Web Master can access Section reports. 2.
2. The Section Performance Award submittals are due 1 June. The forms are on the Admin Forms & Guides page, too.

Now that the Section reports are in place, IT can direct its attention to ISA Division Reports. These technical units require complex report writing, but the IT department is equal to the challenge. No launch date is in place for the Division reports, but getting the Section reports done has IT headed in the right direction.

Division Reminders:

14 May May/June Division Leaders Brief transmitted
19 May Deadline for submission of Summer newsletters
1 June Packets sent to Directors for Division Communications Award

The ISA Brand

ISA logo files, design standards, application templates, and other helpful information are valuable resources for ISA leaders. All are available to you and easy to use. Print ready templates for letterhead and envelopes make it easy for Sections, Districts and Divisions to align themselves with ISA's new design to project a professional, family look and feel. Devoting a few minutes to locating these files and learning how to use them effectively will make your ISA job easier and more enjoyable.

To check your resources for the ISA brand, including various logo and template download options, click here.

While you're here, be sure to consider the Member logos available for inclusion on your business card. The options are Member, Senior Member, Life Member, and Fellow.

Mark Your Calendar

District Leadership Conferences (DLC) provide leadership training for all society leaders, yet have a special focus on local activities. Try to remember them when a Member asks about leadership training opportunities. They provide a great opportunity to update your ISA thinking and meet your industry peers for conversation and sharing.

Division Symposia offer the technical content your Members want. Be aware of these dates, so you can provide current information to those who look to you for guidance. Access this link for an update on Division offerings.

ISA's Global Umbrella

Stephen E. Wells – Vice President 2006-2007
Image & Membership Department

I have been a member of ISA since 1974 and have been involved with our Section, District, and Department activities on a regular basis. Because of my continuous link to these Society units, it has been my good fortune to be involved with a number of key developments, such as establishment of the current District 4, which includes South America and Venezuela; plus, the re-organization of the Executive Board; and the forward thinking that embraces globalization.

My interaction with the membership of ISA has increased my knowledge of cultures, communication, egos, hidden agendas, pride, peer pressure – mankind in general - and provided me a degree of awareness in doing my part to mold a society that Members can proudly support.

My goal over the years has been to learn from our Members about the problems they face and the issues that concern them. The people I have talked with most are the same professional groups that Members worldwide interact with daily. They are the people I work with regularly; the individuals who attend the Section meetings; friends I have met worldwide; and most of all for me, the manufacturers' representatives that call on me at work. I am looking forward to using the knowledge and experience I have gained as an ISA Member in my current role as Image & Membership Department Vice President. I am confident that this new position will provide additional opportunities for me to further my understanding and appreciation of issues and concerns challenging ISA Members globally.

The Image & Membership Department is dedicated to enhancing and elevating image and membership programs that meet the needs of Society units and Members worldwide. We strive to accomplish our goal while continuing to contribute to advancing the science and technology of instrumentation, systems, and automation.

To be effective, Image & Membership needs to maintain open communication with the Membership. I'm confident that you have ideas – even concerns – that you want to be heard. On behalf of Image & Membership, I want to make sure that you know how to proceed when you want to be heard. And this procedure applies to any subject you want addressed throughout the Society. ISA has rules and guidelines that direct ideas and potential programs through committees, councils, and boards. Working through this chain, ideas and programs are afforded the attention and consideration they require to assure the best overall outcome. To get started, you can go directly to the Vice President of a specific society unit, share your topic, and ask that the matter be placed appropriately into their review process. Alternatively, you can contact ISA staff and make the same request. If there are changes or adjustments to be made within the rules and guidelines governing new ideas and programs, there are avenues to address them, too. Simply ask a Vice President or staff for assistance.

ISA is a group of individuals with one overriding goal and that is Setting the Standard for Automation. As we reach out globally, we must think in terms of integration – not separation. Automation is the total integration of processes. ISA Members are much the same around the world. We are looking to advance our careers and our profession. We do this locally. Yet, we can show unity from Sections, to Districts, to Divisions, to Departments. Though we are unique, we can visually show our unity by employing the new branding look and logo. That topic is addressed elsewhere in this issue of the Society Leaders' BRIEF.

A task force is currently investigating how ISA functions outside North America. A report is expected at the President's Spring Meeting in Orlando. Although this message is reaching you after that meeting, it is being prepared prior to that meeting. At this point, I do not know the recommendations of the task force. However, I will not be surprised if the recommendations impact the Image and Membership Department's activity. To facilitate new ideas globally will require our joint cooperation and understanding. Considering the needs and concerns of the global Membership will be a true challenge. It must be a "Team Effort" and everyone is a player – not just Image and Membership Development.

Much of this Society's greatness – its strength historically – is due to the unique, diverse, and rich mix of its social makeup. We will do well to remember that those who have gone before us were Members - dedicated volunteers - and staff who succeeded by coming together and working through issues to the benefit of the Membership. The time has come for us to separate our nostalgia for past accomplishments from today's new challenges and opportunities. The world has become flat and a lot smaller.

Please join me – and the Image & Membership Department - in realizing a broader perspective on ISA Membership as we strive to become a truly worldwide organization. Together, through good communication and by using the review processes in place for your ideas and concerns, we can address problems, promote exciting programs, and keep benefits fair and reasonable for all Members – while making good progress globally.

If you would like to suggest or submit for consideration content for the Society Leaders' BRIEF, Laura Crumpler will be happy to hear from you: 919-990-9232 or lcrumpler@isa.org.