The Society Leaders’ BRIEFVolume 2 Issue 2 – April 2007Just the FactsISA 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. Virtual Leadership: Contemporary Methods for Team-building, Meetings, and TrainingFor the D06 Leadership Conference held 13-14 April in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, DVP Joe Zegan asked Dr. Gerald W. Cockrell, Professor at Indiana State University and longtime ISA Member and leader, to facilitate a session from Indiana on virtual leadership. The experience was a hit. Each site (Indiana and Wisconsin) had a camera, so attendees could see Dr. Cockrell, and he could see who was in the DLC meeting room. Distance Managers (and volunteer leaders) unite highly qualified people in different locations who rely on the competence, work ethic, and integrity of others. Virtual leadership is managing within a boundary. Getting started requires the development - and maintenance - of a trusting relationship. While the means of communication is relatively new, managers must be competent in the same leadership activities as face-to-face managers. Dr. Cockrell mentioned these specific competencies: So, what does an employee (fellow volunteer) want from a Distance Manager? According to Cockrell, it’s clear that they want: Tips for the Distance Manager include creation of a team charter to provide a sense of purpose and a clear definition of the team’s role. A set of operating guidelines will clearly define team member roles and responsibilities. So, how do you get started with building trust from a distance? Cockrell recommends: Finally, virtual leaders (business and volunteer) are encouraged to use all the tools available to accomplish the goals and objectives of their project. These tools include email, online conferences, chat rooms, file sharing, discussion boards, text messaging, cell phones, internet cameras, pod casts, and virtual meetings. Welcome to the virtual world! Expand Your Meetings with TeleconferencingDiana Bouchard Didn’t make quorum at your general assembly or executive meeting … again? Tired of discussing issues with only half your executive there? Finding it hard to recruit new people because of the effort they have to make to attend meetings? Teleconferencing can help, though it’s not a cure-all. At the Society level, various boards and committees have been holding teleconference meetings for several years now. They’re almost a necessity when your members are scattered from coast to coast and even across oceans. The benefits of such meetings in bringing together many more people than could travel to attend a face-to-face meeting have become, I think, evident to all who participate. To read more about the Montreal Sections’ experience with teleconferencing go here Mark Your CalendarLeaders’ Summer Meeting (LSM) – Full information about the upcoming LSM in Scottsdale, Arizona, 23-27 June, is online here Technical Information Section and District Leaders – District Leadership Conferences (DLC) - Dates and locations are listed online at Certification - ISA offers three certification programs: the Certified Automation Professional® (CAP®), the Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®), and the Certified Industrial Maintenance Mechanic® (CIMM®). To review program details visit www.isa.org/certify. All of these exams are available electronically through testing centers worldwide. To view testing details visit www.isa.org/examschedule . Questions should be directed to ISA Customer Service at info@isa.org or (919) 549-8411. Standards – Some of ISA’s best known standards committees will meet at the Summer Leaders Meeting (visit link above), including ISA-SP18, Instrument Signals and Alarms; ISA-SP84, Programmable Electronic Systems for Use in Safety Applications; and ISA-SP91, Criticality Ranking for Instrumentation. In addition, other key committees have meetings coming up, including: ISA-SP100, Wireless Systems for Automation, May 22-24, Austin TX; and ISA-SP95, Enterprise-Control System Integration, May 22-24, Redmond WA. ISA-SP67, Nuclear Power Plant Standards, and ISA-SP77, Fossil Power Plant Standards, will hold meetings in conjunction with ISA’s Power Industry Division Symposium, 10-15 June in Pittsburgh, PA. For more information, visit www.isa.org/standards.
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