IEEE-USA is working to increase the number of IEEE members in the United States. If successful, the benefits will extend far beyond the organization itself.
“The bigger our membership, the more viable our products and services, and the more influence we can have in Washington with lawmakers,” IEEE-USA President Ron Jensen said. “The bigger we are, the healthier we are.”
So, next time you’re talking to an engineering, computing or technology professional, let him or her know about the advantages of being a member of the largest technical professional society in the world. Here are but a few of the benefits of IEEE membership:
- Work with colleagues on the forefront of the latest technologies, including, among others, Smart Grid, robotics, cloud computing, renewable energy, electric vehicles, nanotechnology and bio-engineering. IEEE’s more than 400,000 members in over 160 countries are conducting research and designing the latest systems, products and services for the benefit of humanity.
- Gain greater awareness and enjoy member discounts to attend the more than 1,000 technical conferences IEEE sponsors each year. IEEE is also one of the world’s leading standards developing organizations.
- Receive discounts for access to the IEEE Member Digital Library. This storehouse of information contains more than two million technology articles and 149 peer-reviewed journals. IEEE publishes nearly a third of the world’s technical literature in electrical engineering, computer science and electronics.
- Network with your peers in 333 sections, 38 societies and seven technical councils. Whatever your career goals or technical interest, IEEE likely has a home for you.
“Most new members join because of referrals and recommendations from existing members,” Jensen said. “So, the more excited our members are about the value of their membership, the better salespeople they’re going to be. The more people we have out there pitching membership through their personal referrals, the more opportunities we’ll have to increase IEEE’s U.S. membership.”
The IEEE Member-Get-a-Member Program rewards individual members, and his or her IEEE Section and Region. Members can earn $15 each for up to six new recruited members and use it toward IEEE dues, society fees, or IEEE products and services.
IEEE-USA is working with other IEEE entities on a major new initiative to revitalize U.S. membership. IEEE-USA will be developing three new programs: employment networks, online career manager and intellectual property (IP) professionals.
Employment networks are local groups of IEEE members who are either looking for work or looking to hire. This employment assistance tool has worked successfully in several sections. The online career manager will be an interactive set of tools and resources for career planning, self-assessment, benchmarking, skills practice and mentoring. For technology IP professionals, IEEE-USA will develop a home for them where they can network, track legal and technological developments and present peer-reviewed technical papers.
IEEE-USA Past President Evelyn Hirt, who helped develop these initiatives, said they will complement efforts IEEE-USA is already undertaking.
“These programs are designed to improve the value of IEEE membership, enhance professional networking and knowledge, and help diversify IEEE-USA revenue streams,” Hirt said.
For more on IEEE and its offerings and services, see https://www.ieee.org/about/today/index.html.
Chris McManes is IEEE-USA’s public relations manager.
