Govind said:
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.