A
amanbhai
Folks Next month I have renew my ASQ membership. I want to know positively should I do that.
Elsmar Forum Sponsor
I can't make the decision for you. There is great opportunity, there is great frustration. I would make a personal inventory of the pluses and minuses of ASQ (both nationally and locally) and make a decision from that.amanbhai said:
Wes Bucey
Prophet of Profit
Yep. Ultimately, it's a personal decision. If you are considering dropping your membership, you ought to at least create a balance sheet with pluses and minuses of membership, but don't stop at just tallying the score.
Consider this: Is there anything YOU can do to change any of the minus items to plus items?
I've always been saddened to hear from ASQ members who have no opportunity to attend local Section meetings and thereby never get a feeling of being part of a "community." Most folks who drop out leave because they feel no connection to other members of the society.
I can tell you this much:
Nobody at ASQ owes you a job or a promotion - those you have to earn yourself. ASQ can help you acquire the tools which will help you get the job or promotion, but you still have to do the work.
Can you get the same tools by merely using ASQ as a publishing house?
Sure, but it seems easier when you have other folks to talk with who have been through the process - a big advantage of Section meetings, courses, seminars, and workshops. (As good as a Forum like the Cove can be, it still pales compared to hands on mentoring from fellow Section members.)
Are all Sections equally good?
Sadly, no.
I'd be interested in hearing what you finally decide and WHY.
Consider this: Is there anything YOU can do to change any of the minus items to plus items?
I've always been saddened to hear from ASQ members who have no opportunity to attend local Section meetings and thereby never get a feeling of being part of a "community." Most folks who drop out leave because they feel no connection to other members of the society.
I can tell you this much:
Nobody at ASQ owes you a job or a promotion - those you have to earn yourself. ASQ can help you acquire the tools which will help you get the job or promotion, but you still have to do the work.
Can you get the same tools by merely using ASQ as a publishing house?
Sure, but it seems easier when you have other folks to talk with who have been through the process - a big advantage of Section meetings, courses, seminars, and workshops. (As good as a Forum like the Cove can be, it still pales compared to hands on mentoring from fellow Section members.)
Are all Sections equally good?
Sadly, no.
I'd be interested in hearing what you finally decide and WHY.
M
mjones2
How active are you?
Tell me more. Have you got to section meetings? particpated in training? used their job board? contacted their placement chair? etc.
I love my section, but then again I am somewhat active in it.
Toledo section rocks!!!
Maggie Jones
Tell me more. Have you got to section meetings? particpated in training? used their job board? contacted their placement chair? etc.
I love my section, but then again I am somewhat active in it.
Toledo section rocks!!!
Maggie Jones
A
AllanJ
amanbhai said:
Before deciding you might want to consider the posts on the thread asking, "What has the ASQ done...".
After being a member for over 20 years or so, I let mine lapse a few years ago. The world did not come to an end. All that I need is available better, faster, more thoroughly, cheaper on the Internet. Having applied the same business skills and rationale I would in my daily professional life to answering the question you pose, I was unable to justify the continued expenditure on the ASQ.
This year, I will discard my nostalgic sentiments for having been an elected fellow of the IQA for almost 30 years, a past nationally elected member of its Council and so forth and move on.
What one does with one's own discretionary expenditure on an alleged not for profit is a private matter. As well as the inappropriate and untimely delivery of largely irrelevant service, personally, I cannot support egregious excess and waste for it is an anathema to my efforts and beliefs as a quality professional.
L
little__cee
Plus and minus
Would anyone be willing to start a list of plusses and minuses in this thread? I'm curious. Am not a member and have not considered it, but still think it could be a good service to have a compilation of generic items in the forum.
Would anyone be willing to start a list of plusses and minuses in this thread? I'm curious. Am not a member and have not considered it, but still think it could be a good service to have a compilation of generic items in the forum.
W
WALLACE
Reformation is good!
The ASQ as great as it is, needs to be reformed from within. If not, it will implode.
Wallace
The ASQ as great as it is, needs to be reformed from within. If not, it will implode.
Wallace
A
AllanJ
WALLACE said:
My dear Wallace, I heard that argument about "change from within" from the IQA twenty five years ago. I see little that has changed at its heart: if anything, the membership has been made ever more remote. I spent nearly 10 years as a Council member (nationally elected, not one of the establishment appointee ones). I eventually left as it was clear a cozy clique of what were called "safe hands" (if you are familiar with civil service jargon) were in control and would never permit any different. Indeed, the very expression "safe pair of hands" was used on more than one occasion when key positions were to be filled. Despite lofty goals and expensive brochures proclaiming 5 year plans, goals and missions, the membership has decreased in the last 5 years or so from about 15K to 12K. Of course, the 5 year plans seem to have been reissued with targets for membership growth adjusted accordingly (a la Soviet style plans). All rather touching, really!
But, I am curious to know what you considered is an "implosion"?
The ASQ has lost nearly half the membership over the last 5-6 years or so and disaffection is rampant. It certainly experienced an "explosion" of membership in the 1980s and early 1990s. So I would think such a dramatic loss of membership is an "implosion".
B
Bill Pflanz
little__cee said:
Here are some plusses and minuses for ASQ:
+ Internationally known organization for quality among quality professionals
- ASQ not known by the decision makers
+ Certifications in the quality bodies of knowledge
- Certifications not equivalent in meaning or relevance as professional engineer, registered nurses and other certifications and licenses.
+ Source for quality literature and publishing
- More information available directly through the Internet
+ Modest cost to belong to a professional organization in quality
- Costs are increasing and less companies are willing to pay membership fees
+ Networking for information and job search
- Internet and electronic communications has become an alternative source
+ Way of supporting your profession
- Must be active member by volunteering time
Like any organization, you get out of it what you put into it. If you do not plan on using its member benefits than the expense is not worth it.
Bill Pflanz
W
WALLACE
AllanJ said:
My particular interpretation of an implosion to the thread context would be:
Internal strife, disillusionment, distrust and professional irrelevance.
Great institutions whether they be social, political, religious or professional always fall by the wayside when they believe they are infallible and, build citadels in preparation for their Babylonian type fall from grace.
Wallace.
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