Features Societ Tom Dekle “As an engineering technology student you will find that engineering societies can help you in many ways,” says Dr. William A. Welsh, depart ment head of engineering at Capitol Campus. “There is no better way for me to come into personal con tact with other professionals in my field,” says Larry Lash, alumnus of Capitol Campus who works for Tracey Engineers Inc. of Camp Hill, Pa. After talking with a dozen people in the engineering field—students, faculty, and Brofessionals— it is evident that lere are definite advantages to joining an engineering organization. Most agree that membership adds prestige to a resume. These organizations are also helpful in building con tacts between engineers which can be helpful in finding a job. “In engineering it’s a matter of finding where the jobs are,” says Lash. “The conferences put me in contact with people in my field who are looking for employees.” Many of the organizations also offer publications and technical journals to their members. “The resource iesopento engineers give legal information impor tant to anyone working with materials that may later be us ed by the general public. “The only reason I join the societies is for the valuable publica tions,” was Lash’s comment on the publications. Many of the societies have libraries and information ser vices. material in the magazines put out by the societies is the most valuable benefit these organiza tions offer,” says Wendell Lep po, alumnus of Capitol Campus now working as an electrical engineer for Metropolitan Edison of York, Pa. Some of the societies offer technical updates and informa tion on the standards being set for the industry. As an exam ple, the ANSI, American Na tional Standards Institute, develops, through testing, stan- “There is no better way for me to come into contact with other professionals in my field.” dards for such things as the strength of metals. “Many engineers use those standards when deciding which metal to use in the building of a struc ture,” said Victor H. Hight, engineer for-Gilbert Com monwealth of Reading, Pa. The updates also provide vital infor mation on the daily changes in the profession. There are also publications put out by the societies that As an example of what a society can provide: the lEEE, Institute of Electrical and Elec tronic Engineers, is typical of Larry Lash Capitol Campus Alumnus all the societies. The lEEE of fers a student membership rate. A student who carries at least a 50 percent academic load of engineering courses may join for $15.00 a year. The student member receives a monthly magazine called Poten tials and is kept in contact with various student chapters of the lEEE in the area. In the lEEE there are 31 specialized societies which you may choose to join. As a stu dent, the first sofciety would cost $5.00 and then 75 percent of a full membership cost for each extra society. After college the student may obtain full membership at a reduced $36.00 for the first year; then up to the $61.00 a year full rate. The lEEE, like most societies, offers conferences and workshops. They offer ap proximately 125 conferences across the country a year. At a conference you have a chance to meet with other professional engineers as well as an oppor tunity to attend workshops and seminars. There are many organizations such as the ASM, American Society for Metals; ASME, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers; PSPE, Pennsylvania Society of Profes sional Engineers; ITE, Institute of Transportation Engineers, plus many more. On our cam pus we have clubs in all of these organizations. To join one of the clubs, or to find out what other societies may be of an interest to you, talk to your adviser or anyone in the engineering department. They will be glad to assist you. “Every student of engineering technology,” says Welsh, “should join at least one of the many societies while in college Page 9
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