Heritage:
The ISA Charleston section was established on May 7, 1945, in order to meet the high productivity demands placed on the chemical manufacturers in Charleston during World War II. Since that time, the section established biennial vendor/product shows, created a newsletter, THE LOGGER, to improve communications, and has hosted various symposiums and workshops. Over 25 members have received individual awards from ISA national, while the section itself has been awarded the Kates Award (from national) on six occasions. The section also has supported and will continue to support student memberships in local colleges. Student sections have been established at each college to prepare students for the transition from the classroom to industry.
Paul Arbuckle:
We are very proud to have Paul Arbuckle, the ISA National President throughout 1998, as a member of our section. Paul has been associated with industry in the local area, and a member of the Charleston ISA section (serving as President in 1965-66) for many years. Paul's contributions and support over these years helped develop a strong foundation that continues to support the Charleston ISA section today.
Programs:
Technical seminars are held during our regular meetings. The seminars focus on topics relating to instrumentation in our industry. However, at times we do focus our meetings on other non-technical yet interesting topics. The meetings include a social period, dinner and brief announcements. Each meeting topic is shown in The Logger. Technical tours of local manufacturers may take the place of a meeting.
The tours provide a hands-on opportunity to see the processes and systems these manufacturers use. During the Christmas holidays, the technical seminar is replaced with a Christmas dinner for members and their families. At the end of the calendar year, we have an honors and awards night to recognize individual members for their service and leadership
Membership:
The membership chairman continually advertises the benefits of joining the ISA throughout the year. As people become familiar with the benefits of membership, they may join at any time. This year we are combining our membership drive with our annual golf outing.
Education:
Education is of course the mission and goal of our society. The technical seminars are intended to be educational for members. Though the regular meeting are the main focus of education, we may have presentations scheduled over several nights or as part of the product show, depending upon member interest. Education is made available to our student chapters as with the regular members.
Honors & Awards:
Honors and Awards night is held usually at the end of the calendar year in May. The purpose of this night is to recognize individual members for their service and leadership.
Finance:
The Vice President and Treasurer are in charge of the section finances. Each year a budget is developed and approved by council. The budget is for education seminars, membership drives and of course our program schedule, just to name a few. Officers from our section also attend national meetings throughout the country that may be financed by our section.
Logger/Publicity:
The Logger was first published in 1963 to improve communications with the membership. To this day, The Logger serves this purpose with announcements of regular meetings, special events, technical articles on high interest subject, etc. The Logger is self supporting from the sale of advertising to vendors. Because The Logger is the section newsletter, it is a great source of publicity for the section sponsored events.
Vendors:
Much contribution financially comes from vendors associated with the Charleston Section. Vendors advertise in The Logger and contribute to the golf outing by sponsoring teams usually made up of their clients. Vendors also contribute to the section by purchasing booths for the biennial product show. The product show give the vendors an opportunity to display their product and/or services.
Long Range Planning:
The Charleston section strives to stay one step ahead of our forever changing industry. The Long Range Planning Committee was established in 1985. Long range planning involves making sure the section is prepared for changes that will occur that affects the section both financially and technically.
Convention Delegate:
The society delegate is responsible for representing the section during national meetings. The society delegate will vote during national nominating meetings and keep the section up to date with changes occurring nationally. The delegate's travel expenses are financed by the company he is working for of the Charleston section itself.
Membership/Golf Outing:
The annual membership drive has been combined with the golf outing with the hopes it will bring more attention to people joining the section. Golf outings involve vendors inviting their clients to compete in a four man scramble against other teams. Afterward, dinner and awards are held for the participants.
Biennial Product Show and Seminars:
The first Biennial Charleston Section Product Show was held in 1968. Vendors purchase booth space and display their products for potential clients. The show includes a luncheon and technical education seminars. Admission is free to the membership and to the public, as well as students of local schools and colleges.
