Thank you, volunteers!

By Rebecca Lintow, CAE, Executive Director | TLT Headquarters Report April 2025

STLE’s excellence depends on the support of our dedicated member volunteers.
Six hexagons, each with a photo of a smiling person inside it
Each year, nearly 300 volunteers actively participate in STLE committees and local sections, contributing to the advancement of tribology and lubrication engineering and fostering the growth of our organization. From April 20-26, 2025, organizations like STLE recognize National Volunteer Week, an annual celebration of volunteerism aimed at promoting and appreciating the hard work and dedication of volunteers.

In honor of National Volunteer Week, STLE would like to thank the dedicated, talented individuals who have given their time and expertise to make STLE the valuable resource that it is today. They are leaders in our community and in their own fields, representing all technical areas in tribology and lubrication engineering. A list of current volunteers is available at www.stle.org/currentvolunteers.

You can see the impact of STLE volunteers in every event, publication or other benefit STLE has to offer. Some STLE members volunteer their skills and expertise by participating in technical, administrative or educational committees. Committees advise on a wide variety of topics, from certification to scholarships. Volunteers share their technical expertise in a variety of ways, including presenting an STLE Webinar or Industry Insights, participating in a certification committee or planning the program for one of STLE’s conferences. In fact, each issue of TLT involves the contributions of many volunteers from diverse technical backgrounds—thank you, TLT Technical Editors, for your dedication to TLT’s continued excellence! 

Another volunteer group that deserves special recognition is the STLE Board of Directors. This group of 24 volunteers steers the organization to align with our mission through the development and execution of the STLE Strategic Plan. The volunteers who serve on the board have dedicated considerable time and expertise to STLE, working through many volunteer positions before earning this prestigious role through election by their STLE member peers. Each board member started their STLE volunteer journey with a small step, whether it be getting involved in their local section or applying to an open committee. If you aren’t already volunteering with STLE, taking that small step today can open many possibilities in the future.

If volunteering your time isn’t an option right now, you can still support STLE and the future of the tribology and lubrication engineering field by making a donation to the NextGen Fund. Your donation to the fund will directly support the STLE programs that provide financial assistance to students and early career professionals as they gain essential knowledge and experience. Your tax-deductible gift supports Early Career Awards, Student and Early Career Research Posters, Local Section Matching Funds, Tribology STEM Camp Initiatives, the Presidential Awards Program and more. Be sure to check with your employer about matching donations to maximize your impact. For more information and to donate, visit www.stle.org/donate.

At the 2025 STLE Annual Meeting, May 18-22 in Atlanta, Ga., you can participate in Technical Committee meetings, which are open to all registered attendees to discuss technical or programming topics, as well as present recommendations to committee leaders in a public forum. For more information, email committees@stle.org.

These are just a few of the ways you can enrich your experience as part of the STLE community. Volunteer opportunities require as little as an hour each month. Start small and you’ll see the benefits with professional development. For more information on volunteering, visit www.stle.org/volunteer. For questions, email volunteer@stle.org. To all of our past and current STLE volunteers—thank you for your service! Your dedication enables STLE to nurture our industry, foster new talent and grow the organization as a whole.

You can reach Certified Association Executive Rebecca Lintow at rlintow@stle.org.