Getting a good attendance in ASQ program meetings are always challenging. Take example our section: We have been getting about 20 to 25 people/meeting for the last 2 years. This is about 7% of Members from our section.

During my visits to conference and other certification volunteer events, I talk to other section officers/volunteers. The % is about the same or even lesser. The advantage is bigger section with member volume of 1500 or 2000; Program attendance is in the order of 80 to 100 people. Although the attendance looks bigger the when compared to member volume of that section it is small proportion.

I thought why not take a poll among Covers?
How many of you actually attend ASQ Program meetings?
ASQ Member or Non Members does not matter. Do you attend?
If not why? Would you mind sharing for learning purposes?
Thanks,
Govind.

Getting a good attendance in ASQ program meetings are always challenging. Take example our section: We have been getting about 20 to 25 people/meeting for the last 2 years. This is about 7% of Members from our section.

During my visits to conference and other certification volunteer events, I talk to other section officers/volunteers. The % is about the same or even lesser. The advantage is bigger section with member volume of 1500 or 2000; Program attendance is in the order of 80 to 100 people. Although the attendance looks bigger the when compared to member volume of that section it is small proportion.

I thought why not take a poll among Covers?
How many of you actually attend ASQ Program meetings?
ASQ Member or Non Members does not matter. Do you attend?
If not why? Would you mind sharing for learning purposes?
Thanks,
Govind.
I try to make anywhere from 25% to 50% of meetings. I belong to two sections, one very large (Chicago) and one medium size (Northeast Illinois.) I would love to attend ALL of the presentation programs. Alas, life is full of conflicts and each month I must choose priorities.

I can say this truthfully: I never decided NOT to attend because of the program. The programs in my sections are ALWAYS top-notch. Some have been so extraordinary, I find myself using references from them two and three years later.

When I was much younger and still had children living at home, family events always came first.

I don't bemoan the low attendance (percentage-wise) at Section meetings. As I see it, there are legitimate conflicts which have higher priority than attending a section meeting to witness a presentation which may have no immediate value in your work life. Most folks who are currently Quality Managers or aspire to become Quality Managers have more incentive to witness the large variety of presentations for some kernel or nugget of information to put with the storehouse of other nuggets to be hauled out and strung together to make a chain or necklace which will make a process run more efficiently, whether it is product-related or personnel-related (tips for subordinates to work toward certifications?)

Frankly, not every member can benefit from every meeting. Folks with certifications should take advantage of the easy recertification units available for attending meetings and for being involved at the section level.

Folks who are considering getting certifications can benefit from networking with members who have that certification and, in many cases, have been consultants on the makeup of the exam.

Folks who have been RIFFED (reduction in force) should stay in the loop and make their circumstances known to get first dibs on job offerings which come through the Section long before they get placed as paid ads in newspapers and websites.

If a member is eager to make public presentations to build a personal reputation, a great source of bookings can come from volunteering to do a presentation for the Section (if the presentation is worthwhile.)

If the presentation needs fine tuning, the fellow Section members are a great source for feedback on improving the content or style of presentation.

Very detailed feedback Wes. Exactly Correct. You have reflected the thoughts that we we collected during our brainstorming session. By the Way 25% to 50% is good attendance record.I fall under that zone as well. Now being a Chair I may have to attend more (probably all) if required.
I also think family appointments, social events are the main reasons. However if we have good incentive for attending programs like

Good Speakers
Topic that can be useful to profession
Accessible location
Useful Networking opportunities, etc

We can attract reasonable % of members. We actually incur loss by running programs. But we have to maintain this member benefit. We did a brainstorming to collect ideas.

Regards,
Govind.

Very detailed feedback Wes. Exactly Correct. You have reflected the thoughts that we we collected during our brainstorming session. By the Way 25% to 50% is good attendance record.I fall under that zone as well. Now being a Chair I may have to attend more (probably all) if required.
I also think family appointments, social events are the main reasons. However if we have good incentive for attending programs like

Good Speakers
Topic that can be useful to profession
Accessible location
Useful Networking opportunities, etc

We can attract reasonable % of members. We actually incur loss by running programs. But we have to maintain this member benefit. We did a brainstorming to collect ideas.

Regards,
Govind.
Cost? Other than a free meal and a token gift, what are your program expenses? Sometimes an officer of the Section has a forgiving employer who allows company facilities and materials to print handouts, sometimes the section resorts to Kinkos (ASQ discount, remember!) Lately, there always seem to be PowerPoint projectors available. Many presenters bring EVERYTHING. One section owns its own PowerPoint projector which it rents out at $25.00/night to any member, presenters at meetings use it for free.

We pick up the dinner tab for unemployed members to encourage them to network within the section. We pick up the dinner tab for a new member's first meeting and make a big deal of welcoming him/her to the section. We have a door prize drawing at the end of the meeting (must be present to win) with a substantial prize to encourage attendees to stay the entire meeting. Any member may skip the meal and attend only one or both presentations for free. (almost always a before dinner and after dinner presentation.)

Everyone who attends gets recert unit. We try not to make attendance an economic burden for anyone. The one thing we can't help is travel time to attend because of traffic gridlock between 4 and 6 pm in a major metropolitan area.

I attend all the meetings, but only because I am chair. We have a 100 - 120 person section, and our typical attendance is about 6 to 12. Our peak was 30 for one session this year.

For the last two to three years, I've tried to attend as many as possible, which usually works out to more than 50%, but less than 75%. It's a bit of a stretch to do so, meetings are usually in downtown Pittsburgh, PA and commute in 1 direction is a minimum of 1 & 1/2 hours.

I'm doing so for a couple of reasons - often the topic is applicable to my current employment and it helps to see different approaches to a problem, a desire to pick up recertification units for my CQA, and a desire for networking with quality professionals. Attendance is usually in the neighbohood of 20 to 25. At one time, I was active in the ASM (American Society for Metals) chapter covering the same area - I suspect but do not know for sure that the section membership size is similar to that of the local ASQ section. When I was attending the ASM meetings, attendance was more on the order of 75 to 100. Not certain why the difference - though I am comparing apples to oranges to a certain extent as the time periods I'm comparing are current for ASQ and early 1980's for ASM.

I have noticed that many of the same people attend the ASQ meetings - with no major change in attendance depending on the speaker/topic.

As I have mentioned elsewhere, I don't attend, or at least have not attended a meeting in several years. The reason is the length of travel time - 1 1/2 hours both ways. So, I would have a minimum of 3 hours invested, for a program that, in the past, would last 1/2 hour to 45 minutes?

My time is better spent at the Cove, I am afraid.

Cost? Other than a free meal and a token gift, what are your program expenses? Sometimes an officer of the Section has a forgiving employer who allows company facilities and materials to print handouts, sometimes the section resorts to Kinkos (ASQ discount, remember!) Lately, there always seem to be PowerPoint projectors available. Many presenters bring EVERYTHING. One section owns its own PowerPoint projector which it rents out at $25.00/night to any member, presenters at meetings use it for free......
We spend approx. CDN$ 380/program. The main expense is the room rent for 3 hours. Rest are Audio/Visual, keeping the bar open, snacks,refreshments, door prize, speaker honorarium,etc. Availability of beer (at member's own cost) seem to be interestingly an expectation during networking session. This practice has been around long before I joined the section.

We have municipal Library facilities available for mere $25 for 3 hours! But No bar access. I don't drink beer and/ or any alcohol. Most the the attendees do. I might gather more inputs from members to know how important is this bar accessibility? If not, this can us save a "bunch" of money.

Regards,
Govind.

There are several ASQ Sections in California. From time to time I speak at dinner meetings. I am a member of Section 701 - Orange Empire - , which has, by far, in absolute numbers, the best attended dinner meetings. Average dinner meeting has from 60 to 80 people. I have seen as many as 125 attendees in a meeting. Keep in mind that the membership for the section is approximately 1600.
The Los Angeles section dinner meetings, in contrast, brings in average 25-30 members per meeting.

I believe that one of the reasons for the Orange Empire success is obviously the great work done by the Executive Board. We have a good number of volunteers and we are constantly polling the membership asking for input and feedback.

The format for the ASQ OC meetings is:
2 clinics, prior to dinner. One of the clinics is the So Cal ISO Users Group, which I arrange speakers for. Then dinner and then the guest speaker. Sessions start around 5:45 and end around 9 PM

I try to make all the section meetings but probably miss around 25% of them.

We usually have in the neighborhood of 50 or so attend each meeting. The meeting itself is free and open to the general public. The meal does cost a nominal fee and it even includes dessert! We encourage students to attend. The speaker receives a nice gift donated by a local business. Often the program is not completely quality related and we even have site visits/tours of local manufacturers and tourist attractions. In December we have a party :agree1:

Jaime

I have been on the board of my section for the last 7 years and have attended most of the section meetings. We average between 10 and 25 attending the meetings. This is for a section of 400+ members. We have an arrangement with a local college to use one of their rooms so we charge nothing to 5 dollars a meeting and offer pizza sandwiches etc. We formerly charged $20-$25 for the meeting at several different local local eateries and still lost money due to the room charges. Now we pretty much break even. The meetings also move along quicker as the food is there and ready to go so there is no waiting to order etc.

One of the biggest frustrations of being a board member is putting all of the time and effort in to arranging the section meetings and then only having the board plus two or three members show up. It makes it difficult to stay enthusiastic about being on the board. We have commisioned several polls of our membership and get very few answers.

....One of the biggest frustrations of being a board member is putting all of the time and effort in to arranging the section meetings and then only having the board plus two or three members show up. It makes it difficult to stay enthusiastic about being on the board. We have commisioned several polls of our membership and get very few answers.

You are not alone..One important item so far posts did not cover is attendance of section executives. We have a standard 33% attendance of section executives in any given meeting. So only the balance 67% is non volunteers.Program Chair with all that effort is also surprised to see the low attendance of outside volunteer base.

Sometimes, the speakers get very discouraged with the attendance. Specifically (all their preparation )to notice only 15 people turned up for the meeting.

I have done analysis on this program data as well. I will share in the next few posts.
Regards,
Govind.

The format for the ASQ OC meetings is:
2 clinics, prior to dinner. One of the clinics is the So Cal ISO Users Group, which I arrange speakers for. Then dinner and then the guest speaker. Sessions start around 5:45 and end around 9 PM

In the US sections, members use terms like
Clinics
Dinner Meetings
Workshops

Canadian Section uses the general term "Program Meetings"

Can anyone explain what this activity means from US section's interpretation?
How they are different from each other?

Regards,
Govind.

As an experienced presenter, I always ask how many can be expected in the audience. If the number seems disappointingly low, I offer to help to "hype" the meeting to generate a higher turnout. I expect the person booking me to be honest with the answer. In any regard, once prepared for a small audience, presenter may modify the presentation for a more intimate setting.

(At this point, let's not enter into whether the "program chair" of the section is one of those driven individuals who has a schedule for 20 months in advance with a pool of backup presenters in the event of last minute illness or accident. Some program chairs are absolutely terrific - others are adrift in a sea of cluelessness.)

Whether the meetings are called clinics, workshops, programs, presentations, speeches is immaterial and strictly personal preference and perhaps local practice.

In my opinion, "clinics" and "workshops" denote interactive sessions where audience members get a chance to have hands on opportunities for input and give-and-take with the presenter and with each other. This could be as simple as pencil-and-paper exercises or (in one case) interaction with a bunch of laptop computers brought in and set up to run on a wired or wireless network for instant "anonymous" vote tallies.

The generic term "program" or "presentation" could also cover clinics and workshops, but usually they are straightforward lectures on a specific topic with Q & A offered during the presentation or saved until after the presentation.

Here's two examples to illustrate what I mean (based on one of our Cove stalwarts, Steve Prevette):

Steve runs a Red Bead "workshop." (http://www.hanford.gov/safety/vpp/redbeadreach.pdf) The folks in the audience actually play with the props from Deming's famous Red Bead experiment.

Steve also has several presentations (a recent one is posted as a PowerPoint program in the Reading Room SPC Overview (http://elsmar.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=12353).) This presentation is a classic lecture. Audience members sit while presenter "presents."

"Programs" have variable meanings according to the Program Chair's point of view.

Some years, I have seen adept Program Chairs map out an entire year's schedule of presentations based on a "program agenda" which may focus on different aspects of various Quality Management System Standards (ISO9001:2000; TS16949; ISO13485; ISO14000; etc.), presenting issues from both auditor and auditee viewpoints. Presentation methods may be two "talking heads" or a panel or one expert who manages to cover all angles.

Interspersed with the general program may be pre-meeting clinics on certification exams, obtaining and organizing recertification units, problem solving, etc.

The best Program Chairs continually evaluate programs that work and those that don't, seeking feedback from members after each presentation.

I consider the best advertising for bringing members to the meetings is a strong monthly newsletter which enthusiastically hypes upcoming programs and fairly critiques the most recent program, giving attribution to good reviews from members while presenting bad reviews anonymously. Reading the newsletter should evoke a desire to be at the next presentation in hopes of catching something as good as the most recent one reviewed in the newsletter. Every issue of the newsletter should have contact information for new presenters or a way to suggest future programs to fulfill a perceived need.

This is a good thread topic, govind.:applause:

Thanks Wes. :)
I appreciate everyone taking time to offer many suggestions for Program Meetings. This is exactly I wanted to obtain from this subtopic ASQ Section Management!
-Opportunity as member to member having constructive discussion and idea exchange to better our section performance.

Thanks for the clarification on Clinics Vs Programs. It made a lot of sense.
I realize we have not done that “clinic” type event so far in the last 3 years. This input is very useful. I would like to hear some examples of Clinics. I gathered from you that conducting a “Red bead experiment” is a potential clinic type event. Iam going to pursue this idea and lessons learned from Steven . P’s program event.

We once did the ISO9001: 2000 –Registrar auditor view and Consultant view back in fall 2002. This is the only event I remember with an attendance of over 60 (16% of member attendance). We could not get this attendance ever after in any format/topic of program.

Program Chair is a very demanding job. I can empathize his/her situation. It is always tense until the speakers show up to the program. We conduct 8 or 9 events + 1 conference a year. This is plenty of speakers/back up speakers to contact.

Recently, I did an analysis by collecting the postal codes of all section members’ address from the database (I was authorized). I sorted out the data and segregated by the zone either they live or work, later by transferring the numbers to a Postal Code Map, I was able to visualize the member concentration by Postal code and location of the current Program event location.

I was taken to surprise by noticing the current Program Location is 180 deg apart from the heavy member concentration area (80 members). I presented this data in our brainstorm session and now we are considering conducting programs in both west and east ends of the city to study this situation in more detail.

I request those who polled “I don’t attend program meeting at all” be kind enough to post the reason. This is a great opportunity for us to learn from you and improve the quality of Program events.

:thanx: Thanks for your patience reading this lengthy post! Continue your poll. I would welcome any ideas of improving the program attendance, suggestions of clinics, program topics, etc.

Regards,
Govind.

I'm glad to hear the Red Bead Experiment come up. I will say that I am willing to do the Red Beads for any ASQ section within reasonable driving distance or would cover an airline ticket.

One problem I have personally encountered as a Section Chair is that I am a known Deming supporter, but am also the chair. I took it "in the shorts" on our Section Survey ran by ASQ Headquarters a few years back, when two AQP members (out of the 4 total who took the survey) basically blasted me as section chair for only caring about statistics. ASQ went so far as to publish the survey results on the open internet, complete with direct references to that horrible section chair person.

So, I am very careful within my own section as the chair not to be seen as pushing Deming or statistics upon the section (I wish the senior ASQ leadership would see this as an example, but they continue to push their own agendas - primarily six sigma).

I'm glad to hear the Red Bead Experiment come up. I will say that I am willing to do the Red Beads for any ASQ section within reasonable driving distance or would cover an airline ticket.

.....

I wish some day we can afford to invite professional like Steve to offer a speech/presentation.We are not one of the wealthy section :(
As I mentioned earlier, we make loss by running 8 to 9 program events every year.

Is there any way, you can do a WEBEX,Conference call and one of us can be your representative doing the demonstration? (Training experts may not agree with approach as not an effective way...)

Read Bead kit- Can this be rented for an event anywhere?

Any suggestions without spending big section $$$?

Regards,
Govind.

I wish some day we can afford to invite professional like Steve to offer a speech/presentation.We are not one of the wealthy section :(
As I mentioned earlier, we make loss by running 8 to 9 program events every year.

Is there any way, you can do a WEBEX,Conference call and one of us can be your representative doing the demonstration? (Training experts may not agree with approach as not an effective way...)

Read Bead kit- Can this be rented for an event anywhere?

Any suggestions without spending big section $$$?

Regards,
Govind.
The "Red Bead" script is available in several places - I'm sure Steve could help. I'm not sure about patent issues, but I'm pretty sure there is no infringement if you make and copy a patented item for your personal use as long as you do not resell it or charge to "play" with it. Therefore, the equipment is readily reproduced (jar, beads, paddle) by a handy craftsman who wants to donate time and materials to his organization.

My guess is the cost of the beads is the biggest number. Any shop could make bead boards of various numbers of holes out of any material ranging from wood to plastic to metal. Any big container for the beads will do ranging from custom lucite to Tupperware or Rubbermaid container from Walmart or KMart. The point is simply the beads, container, and paddle are only props for the game. Expensive props or dirt cheap props make no difference to the "moral of the tale."

Maybe a deep pocket member or corporation can donate a set.

There's one picture of an expensive set offered by Don Wheeler's company at
http://www.knoxshops.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=36&User_ID=57035&st=7113&st2=-80055539&st3=31696804&ObjectGroup_ID=32&Product_ID=166&CatID=16

Another company offers a slightly different version
The Dr. Deming style RED BEAD Experiment ISBN 0-9721828-0-2 consisting of 3200 WHITE colored plastic 6mm beads; 800 RED colored beads; black metal paddle with 50 holes; Rubbermaid 2 qt clear plastic tub with lid; 32 minute video tape ISBN 0-9721828-1-0 and 48 page Study Guide ISBN 0-9721828-2-9 (PDF download)
for 169.95 plus shipping, etc.
Samples of the video and ordering info can be found here:
http://www.redbead.com/
I think it's OK - maybe a little heavy on Japan, Inc. hype.

Use Google and pressure Steve to help you find a way to get your own. The opportunities for using it expand once you have one to use.

Wes,
Thanks for the great suggestions.

Another resource that just came to mind is local university. I would assume any university teaching Industrial Engineering or MBA is suppose to teach Read bead experiment as well. (correct?)

Your suggestion of $165.95 USD option does not seem very expensive. It is still a good idea as a local ASQ section to purchase, use for the program event and later loan free to local Quality practitioners / university to conduct non-profit trainings. (As a quality service from a quality organization!)

Regards,
Govind.

If you get the Red Beads, the next step is to create a Speaker's Bureau from your Section to take the story of Quality on the road. Don't just lend the gear - send a speaker/facilitator along. I can envision a host of tie-ins to go along with the Red Beads, not least of which is membership in ASQ! Add to that having hosts sending employees to training sessions sponsored by local Section (CQE, CQM, SS, SQA, etc.)

I made a homemade red bead kit out of some leftover thin veneer wood (cut two pieces to a paddle shape, drill 50 holes in one, and then glue the other piece to the back. The beads cost me $20 at a craft store. And I stole a bread-loaf piece of tupperware from my wife. Since then, I "inherited" a commercial $400 kit from another Hanford contractor.

The Red Bead script I use is here someplace at the Cove (in fact, it was a request from Wes to post the script that initially got me to the Cove). As far as copyright/trademark goes, always acknowledge that it is Dr. Deming who developed and used the experiment. If you want to go straight to the source, see The New Economics.

I came across this "Program Poll" (side link) in http://www.asqhamilton.com/ page through our Regional Director communication.
I thought it is a Good Idea. Hope other sections could use this approach as well.
Regards,
Govind.

Our section gets about 10% attendance. Got any good ideas on how to increase interest?:bigwave:

instad of cash bar, free drinks would help :lol: (KIDDING!!!)

When I was much younger and still had children living at home, family events always came first.



Wes is right here, especially for myself. In my previous life (bc-before children), I would attend about 50%, and I learned a lot! I really don't see myself ever going again, as it will be number of years before I have an empty nest. Then I retire!!!!

Our section gets about 10% attendance. Got any good ideas on how to increase interest?:bigwave:
I guess a lot depends on geographic dispersal of members and sheer number of members.

I belong to two sections, one about 800 members and the other about 2,500 members (down from ~3,000.) Each section has great programs (a pre-dinner mini presentation and a post-dinner main presentation.) The presenters are more than competent in presenting their material. The price of dinner is reasonable, the food is good, out-of-work members get subsidized dinners. One Section gives new members their first dinner free!

That said, the smaller Section often achieves 10% or greater attendance. I can't recall the larger Section ever having more than about 150 (including guests) at any event. The problem is primarily logistical in that large segments of the membership are unable to get from work to meeting during the evening traffic gridlock (a three hour "rush hour.")

On a smaller scale, the geography and traffic logistics apply to the smaller Section, even though its ostensible territory is only about 1/3 of the larger.

Educational programs and study groups at both Sections are excellent and well-attended by motivated students.

One thing I would consider is what percentage of the membership attend ANY meeting during the year versus considering "regulars" who show up at most meetings. So, one metric I would look at is "who has NEVER attended a meeting." There are bound to be a variety of reasons, but knowing the reasons can help determine whether there is anything the Section can do to bring such members out of the shadows to attend one or more meetings each year. Perhaps it may be as simple as adding one or two weekend meetings instead of having meetings exclusively on weekday evenings. Such a special meeting must, indeed, be SPECIAL in terms of venue, food, program, and well publicized at least two months in advance so members may arrange their schedules to attend.

I guess a lot depends on geographic dispersal of members...

This is probably a huge factor. My local section of ASQ (I'm not a member - yet) covers a huge area of the state, but they mix up the meeting locations so people can at least make the ones that are a short drive from them.

However, my “local” SWE section covers all Eastern NC, yet all the meetings are held at the very westernmost spot in the section at 6:00 no less. For me, it would be a two hour drive to make a meeting. Some people in the region might have a 4-5 hour drive. I’m lucky in that I could crash at my boyfriend’s place (right down the road from where meetings are held) but it would still mean getting in to work early so I could leave early to make the meetings. I haven’t made a meeting yet :(

I belong to the Toledo, Oh Chapter and consider myself very active. Also was a past member of the Columbus ASQC Section (aging myself aren't I)

I find that when the program is basic - quality tools, etc, info for new members the attendance increases. Lean/Six Sigma brings all the regulars. Our Sept. meeting with Quality Tools brought 63 here. We have approx. 600 members.

In Columbus the highest attended meeting was when the speaker was from Victoria's Secret Catalogue. Hmm.....

I really like the idea of footing the bill for unemployed members and plan on pitching that here in Toledo.

I am also a member of the Findlay OH Section and have yet to hear from them. What's up with that? So they have no newsletters, website and unsure as to the meeting.

M.Jones

Well, that got me to thinking about the sections I have belonged to over the years.
Mansfield, O first joined 1967
Toledo, O
Marion/Muncie, IN
Lansing/Jackson 1981-85
Akron/Canton Section 85-94
Marietta,O/Parkersburg WV,94-99
Florence, SC 99-present

Usually I think trunout was about 20%

I'm in the North Jersey Section and I have yet to make a meeting.
The reason is because the meetings are always on Wed nights and my wife has church choir practice on Wed nights so I have the kids.
Her religion trumps mine, I guess. ;)

I do try to make the Spring conference every year though.

I attend meetings if in town. Probably average 50% or so, although much less the last two years due to extensive travel.

Attendance is about 25 of 350 members.

I personally attend to: 1) networks with colleagues, 2) learn, 3) get RUs

I thinkmy current section Washington DC/Metro Maryland, has a good idea on programs. We have, last I looked, about 800 members, which puts us at a medium large size section. Our general meeting attendence hovers at around 30 each month, which sems to be par or a little low. However, we have an ISO Users Group, a SoftWare Quality SIG and a Six sigma SIG which all also meet monthly, and average around thirty or so attendees, with very little overlap. SO we have physical contact with about 15% of the members in a given month and probably quite a larger percentage at least once a year. Since all four meetings are at different locations and different days, we have something for everyone.

Geoff Withnell

I will be speaking tonight at the Orange County (CA) ASQ dinner meeting, and tomorrow I will speak to the Los Angeles ASQ Chapter. Last night the programs chair for the OC Chapter let me know that 96 people had pre-registered for the event. With walk-ins, we should have around 110 joining us for the dinner meeting tonight.

The LA chapter attendance is always smaller. Tomorrow night there should be between 40-50 people attending.

My presentation will be on the proposed changes to ISO 9001, 9004 and AS9100.