Excluding STLE, which professional and personal organizations do you belong to and why?
TLT Sounding Board August 2010
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STLE members are joiners, according to the 138 TLT readers who responded to this month’s survey. 77% of them belong to more than one professional or technical organization, and 21% of them belong to four or more such groups. Among the list of organizations readers belong to are familiar names such as ILMA, NLGI, ASME and SAE. But also included on our readers’ lists were regional-based groups, including the Central Kentucky Main Council, the Dallas Paint & Coatings Association, the Polish Tribology Society and even the Forum of Lithuanian Scientists Abroad. On the personal side, many STLE members belong to organizations dedicated to charitable work such as the Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. Others belong to hobby-based groups, including motorcycling, stamp collecting and, yes, home brewing.
Professional
National Lubricating Grease Institute and Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association. Belong to network and learn about activities in industry.
Society of Maintenance and Reliability Professionals, International Council for Machinery Lubrication and Association of Maintenance Professionals.
American Petroleum Institute to offer expertise.
Institute of Council for Machinery Lubrication. Mainly for technical certification in machinery lubrication and oil analysis because in my language and my country (Spanish and Colombia), I could not access other types of certification in specific skills of lubrication.
American Society for Materials, Materials Research Society, American Vacuum Society.
American Chemical Society. I am a chemist, and this is the leading organization for chemists.
Including STLE, how many professional/technical associations or societies are you a member of?
1
23%
2
30%
3
26%
4
12%
5
4%
More than 5
5%
Based on responses from 138 TLT readers.
Society of Automotive Engineers. I am active in the technical committee activities for grease, ATF and gear oils. Association of Iron and Steel. On the lubes committee. American Society of Testing Materials. Help to set the testing standards. American Gear Manufacturers Association. On the lubes committee.
American Chemical Society, which offers resources for industry news and analytical chemistry and helps me as a lab manager. American Society for Quality, which offers resources for designing and implementing quality systems. American Institute of Chemical Engineers, which helps me with Chem-E basics and relates to my plant.
I am a member of the Central Kentucky Main Council. It is a local council primarily made up of trucking companies, truck dealerships and other related service type companies serving the trucking industry. We meet monthly and bring in guest speakers to discuss upcoming industry/maintenance practices. Good for me to keep up on what’s new and what problems the industry is facing at the local level.
Society of Plastic Engineers.
American Society for Testing and Materials, which provides technical and industry information.
Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
Forum of Lithuanian Scientists Abroad. Being Lithuanian, I get to meet fellow Lithuanian scientists who work in various technical fields. Since tribology is a very multidisciplinary field, we often find a common topic and discuss it in great detail. This additional knowledge sometimes is very helpful.
National Lubricating Grease Institute. I belong to this organization to further immerse myself in the lubricant industry and to provide the best possible opportunities to learn and keep myself in the forefront of lubricating technologies.
Precision Metalforming Association.
American Society of Testing and Materials. We use many of their procedures in our lubricant test lab.
Dallas Paint & Coatings Association, National Association of Chemical Distributors.
American Vacuum Society and American Chemical Society. These along with STLE benefit me because I don’t just identify with one discipline. I am a chemist and surface scientist as well as a tribologist.
International Israel Tribology Society.
Association for Iron and Steel Technology, because I used to work in steel and still deal with the industry in my current role.
American Chemical Society because I get free coffee mugs and subscriptions to some journals which otherwise cost inordinate sums per article.
Polish Tribology Society.
I’m only a member of STLE. As part of my OMA II certification, I’ve presented at, participated in and attend vibration institute and SMRP organization meetings and seminars.
American Chemical Society and American Institute of Chemical Engineers. My degree is in chemistry and I have graduate hours in chemical engineering. I am retired, so my professional associations enable me to keep current in the field.
American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers.
American Marketing Association. Excellent monthly speakers from both local and large international companies.
ASTM. I like to work on the committees reviewing the test methods. SAE. I like to keep abreast of engine technology requirements.
South African Institute of Tribology. I can share my knowledge, contribute to develop the knowledge and gain knowledge. Actually I try to actively participate in as many tribological issues as possible.
Royal Society of Chemistry.
Singapore National Institute of Chemistry. They organize talks/lectures/courses related to chemistry issues which may be related to work and interest.
Tribology Society of India. They are a group of professionals working toward solving industry problems in India.
American and Egyptian Chemical Societies. My life experience was in lubricating oils, and this helps me keep in touch with what is running worldwide.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, because it includes mechanical designs and material properties. SAE, because it has industry-specific activities.
Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists. Certified Industrial Millwright. One or the other are requirements or improve the chances for certain jobs in the maintenance field.
Nigerian Society of Engineers and Council of Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. Benefits include professional membership, industry networking and exchange of technical ideas.
Wire Association International & Association of Iron and Steel Technology. Main reason for both is they are more relevant to specific markets in which I am involved.
Think of the professional/technical society that you consider to be your primary membership organization—do you or your employer pay the membership fee?
I pay
35%
My employer pays
65%
Based on responses from 138 TLT readers.
Personal
Rotary Club. I get personal satisfaction in doing charity work that is appreciated by others.
Experimental Aircraft Association. I receive information related to personal aircraft including custom-built vehicles, antiques, classics, warbirds, ultralights, etc.
Boy Scouts of America. The benefit I receive from this organization is to witness the growth of young men, both physically and mentally, through opportunities of outdoors activities along with community and civic service.
Lions International, which is devoted to community service.
Vintage Chevrolet Club of America. Great magazine and an opportunity to visit with other old-car enthusiasts.
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Cultivation of Jewish living among conservative Jews.
The National Philatelic (stamp collecting) Club in Colombia. This gives me the opportunity to meet people with my same hobby and to share experiences with them.
A local antique society that deals with the preservation and restoration of antique farm machinery, tractors, engines, etc. it is a great way to meet some of the older people in the area, learn from them and keep my interest in not losing this part of our history.
Local country club, a great tool for networking locally.
I belong to L.A. Fitness, a gym because I want to stay fit and sexy and get rid of that “smart, nerdy guys can’t be sexy” stereotype. I’m like uber smart and even uber-er sexy.
Central Bucks Bike Club, which has organized outings.
I belong to a community orchestra. The main benefit that I derive from this organization is the camaraderie that I share with adults who truly love to perform great music.
Red Cross. We’re ready when the time comes and help support hurricane relief efforts while contributing to the community.
ABC Mentoring Initiative, which provides one-on-one mentoring with high school students in all aspects of their life choices (school, hobbies, interests). I benefit from seeing situations from a wider perspective when with my mentee.
Habitat for Humanity Food Bank of Central Iowa. Lets me assist others less fortunate than myself.
American Motorcyclist Association. Protects motorcyclists’ rights on the road.
Bearded Collie Club of America. Social interaction with other owners of the breed.
National Rifle Association, which supports my second amendment rights. Heritage Foundation, which supports constitutional rights. Pheasants Forever, which supports hunting rights.
Local ballroom dance group—exercise and entertainment.
Church—so I can get a little help from above!
Nuts ‘N’ Bolts Foundation. This is a non-profit organization designed to provide volunteer services to schools and communities, thereby enhancing the lives of children and senior citizens.
International Society for Krishna Consciousness. I am getting purified of all my bad tendencies and habits from the meditation program they conduct.
Michigan Volkswagen Enthusiasts. Gives me the opportunity to teach my hobby (building race and show cars) to others and also to trade parts around.
A voluntary group of my school buddies. Through this group we provide support to underprivileged children to enable them to have access to education. We also provide support to retired school teachers. We do not expect to get any benefit from this endeavor; we just try to give back a little to the society for all that we have received.
American Homebrewers Association. Networking with other home brewers, sharing techniques and recipes.
I am involved in a home-based Bible fellowship affiliated with The Way International. It teaches me how to read, understand and apply the Bible in my life and also have a base of strength for facing life’s situations.
National Model Railroad Association. I play with trains.
Where does STLE rank among all the professional organizations you are a member of?
STLE is the most important professional organization I belong to
57%
STLE is the second most important professional organization I belong to
32%
STLE is the third or fourth most important professional organization I belong to
11%
Based on responses from 138 TLT readers.
Editor’s Note: Sounding Board is based on an e-mail survey of 13,000 TLT readers. Views expressed are those of the respondents and do not reflect the opinions of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. STLE does not vouch for the technical accuracy of opinions expressed in Sounding Board, nor does inclusion of a comment represent an endorsement of the technology by STLE.