Hello,
I'm the president of the Cape Cod Chapter of MALSCE (Massachusetts Association of Land Surveyors and Civil Engineers) and I am excited to no longer be the president of the Cape Chapter. I have bigger and better things to do, like volunteer for the convention or be on the Educational Trust. Or get more involved in RISPLS (Rhode Island Society of Professional Land Surveyors).
How do we get more people involved in our volunteer organizations? I recall a few years ago being at a MALSCE round table (it was rectangular) and we were trying to get more youth involved. I was the only one in the room under 30.
Our chapter meetings are variably attended. Usually people come in and talk about the good old days when they would get drunk or some old timer would pass out at every meeting. We have some decent topics but we need to attract more people.
I guess my motivation is waning.
Thanks,
Thadd
Interestingly I just got off the phone with an associate that will be speaking at our (Oklahoma Society of Land Surveyors) annual convention next month. His lament was similar to yours.
My suggestion was to hire an attractive young (female) assistant to either change the subject sheets on the easel or click the mouse for the power point presentation... That might keep some of them awake...
Seriously, I have a whole lot better attitude toward get-togethers when there is CEUs involved (Continuing Educations Units) which are required for our licensure renewal. Meetings and presentations are a lot easier to endure when you get to take something home.
Maybe a stipen of CEU time for meetings could be arranged?
The Board of Registration is still kicking around the idea of CEUs. One of the PE members decided CEUs are just a way to add income to MALSCE. We'll get them someday.
As a suggestion, consider the Louisiana case. I am on the LSU faculty of Civil Engineering at LSU. A couple years ago, our research center decided to put on a two-day seminar, and we were wondering what would be involved in getting CEU credit for the Land Surveyors and Engineers that would attend. The State Board of Registration, (LAPELS), informed me that since the LSU College of Engineering was ABET-approved, anything the faculty put on was automatically covered for CEU credits..
Most faculty get paid anyway, and presenting at professional meetings count for publications/presentations as per requirements to maintain tenure or to qualify for tenure considerations. We get "attaboy" credit for presenting.
Go to the nearest university that offers surveying courses and invite the faculty to present at your meetings - it's likely that CEU credits will be automatic for the attendees. "Attaboy" credit and a free rubber chicken are likely sufficient enducement to get them to agree to present.
Rubber Chicken...
Why didn't I think of that?;-)
Rubber Chicken...
Isn't that (one of) the definition(s) of "genius?"
🙂
TMI
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