Poll: Do You Belong to a Professional Engineering Organization? - RF Cafe Forums

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Do You Belong to a Professional Engineering Organization?
Yes, primarily for event participation    8%  [ 4 ]
Yes, primarily for networking    4%  [ 2 ]
Yes, primarily for the benefits    12%  [ 6 ]
Yes, for all the above reasons    31%  [ 16 ]
No, not any more    22%  [ 11 ]
No, never have belonged to any    24%  [ 12 ]

Total votes : 51

 Post subject: Do You Belong to a Professional Engineering Organization?
Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:59 pm 
 
Site Admin
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Joined: Sun Aug 03, 2003 2:02 pm
Posts: 451
Location: Erie, PA
Greetings:

Many engineers are a bit dubious about whether the existence of or membership in one of the many professional organizations is worthwhile. Some of the larger ones include the IEEE, IEE, SWE, and so on, with each typically having societies within them that break down into specialty areas. The biggest criticism I typically hear or read is that they are populated primarily by elites and scholars looking to get papers published or wanting invitations for speaking events.

For me, my membership in the IEEE is motivated both by good rates on life insurance and I actually enjoy receiving and reading their Spectrum magazine. It is also good to know that most large organizations have government lobbyists that advocate for our needs.

How about you – do you belong to a professional organization of any sort? After voting, please post your reason for or against membership.

Thanks for your participation.

_________________
- Kirt Blattenberger :smt024
RF Cafe Progenitor & Webmaster


 
   
 
 Post subject:
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:00 pm 
 
General
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Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 12:07 pm
Posts: 236
Location: London UK
BTW the IEE has now been renamed IET, partly I suspect because if managers have not done anything eye-catching for 11 months of the year they are left with only 1 month to do something, anything (change logo, change title, order paper-clips etc).

I have belonged to the IET since graduating, partly to show potential employers (who do not understand the text of the CV, but recognize a qualification) that I am worth the outrageous fee I charge, that is: 20% of a lawyer's fee.






Posted  11/12/2012