One of our key responsibilities as SH&E professionals is to deliver the safety message, emphasizing the benefits delivered and value added, in a concise, convincing manner. We must find ways to speak often with senior executives and seek their views on the role of SH&E professionals. The Executive Summit, held each year during ASSE’s conference, is one way that the Society helps members engage in this important activity. The summit is an excellent opportunity for the SH&E profession to connect with the business community.
These conversations and connections are even more important as the dynamics of business continue to change in response to trends such as globalization, workforce reductions and a shift to a more service-oriented economy. As SH&E professionals, we are being asked to assume additional and varied responsibilities that often extend well beyond our traditionally defined roles. In this changing business landscape, employers want versatile workers. The value proposition model is shifting from “Do you have the technical skills required to do the job?” to “How do your skills add value to the organization?”
ASSE is taking the lead in guiding its 32,000 members and the SH&E profession through this transition. The Society is working hard to ensure that the value proposition for SH&E professionals is understood by employers/customers, and we are striving to make sure ASSE members have the knowledge, skills and competencies to compete and prosper in the changing workplace environment.
One element of these efforts is the value of the safety professional study. This study aims to 1) reposition the SH&E profession; 2) reposition the SH&E professional; and 3) prepare safety professionals to become value-add employees. As Tom Cecich, ASSE’s Vice President, Council on Professional Affairs (COPA), says, “A rising tide raises all ships.” If we elevate the safety profession, we will ultimately raise the value of those who practice safety. If we elevate SH&E professionals, we will elevate the safety profession.
Based on the findings of the value study, we have developed a multifaceted action plan. COPA is identifying high-value activities, such as risk assessment, that SH&E professionals are uniquely qualified to perform. The Society is also working to better understand how risk assessment techniques are used globally to identify and manage workplace risks and ultimately enhance workplace safety. Compliance will always be one of our responsibilities. But in today’s organizations, we deliver the greatest value through our ability to assess workplace risks and implement cost-effective solutions.
ASSE is promoting the value of the safety profession in other ways as well. For example, to counteract the influx of unaccredited safety-related certifications, COPA is working to educate employers on what competencies and credentials to look for when hiring SH&E professionals. This will help employers understand the skill sets an SH&E professional should possess.
In addition, we are promoting safety management as an integral component of corporate sustainability. The Sustainability Task Force has developed a safety and health sustainability index that defines socially responsible companies and is preparing to promote this index globally.
The strategic vision driving all of these efforts is that SH&E professionals will be viewed as value-added business leaders who can hold the highest positions in organizations and who have the competencies needed to manage a wide range of risks. The business community and the public must view the SH&E profession as a key component of good corporate governance, and its practitioners as employees who bring value to their respective organizations.
“You don't get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.”
—Jim Rohn
Connect with ASSE's 100th President Trish Ennis
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
ASSE: The Vision & Strategy
Having a vision and strategy are essential during these difficult economic times. Even more vital is executing the strategic plan and continuing to offer valuable products and services to our members. As ASSE approaches its 100th anniversary, major strides have been taken to realize our vision as the global champion of the SH&E professional, a global leader of the profession, and a premier resource for those engaged in protecting people, property and the environment. Furthermore, ASSE has a tremendous opportunity to increase its influence as a world-renowned leader in SH&E.
To clarify our strategic plan in order to better serve members and advance the profession, the Board of Directors participated in a strategic planning workshop earlier this year. We also engaged the House of Delegates to provide input on the Society’s vision, mission, values and goals. This important dialogue ensures that we have a shared vision and strategy as we proceed into the future. Strategic plan discussion will continue during the upcoming Society year.
ASSE’s strategic plan is based on the following eight goals:
1) Develop and promote standards relating to the scope and function of the safety profession, including academic, ethical and certification standards.
2) Influence regulations and legislation that affect the practice of the profession or the activities of the Society.
3) Promote SH&E issues, the SH&E profession and its positive effects.
4) Establish and maintain an effective and efficient organization for the advancement of the Society’s mission.
5) Gather, encourage and participate in development of the body of knowledge relevant to the profession.
6) Develop and maintain mechanisms to recruit, retain and nurture the membership.
7) Deliver the highest quality professional development opportunities to enhance competence and position practitioners for success by understanding the needs of the profession, deliver the highest quality programs that meet those needs and recognizing the achievement of participants in the programs.
8) Establish and maintain a structured program to recruit, retain and nurture student members.
In addition, three strategic initiatives that align with these goals have been identified:
1) value of the profession; 2) body of knowledge; and 3) global growth. I will address each of these initiatives in a future message.
In the article, “Time to Transform? Assessing the Future of the SH&E Profession” (PS, November 2002; reprinted December 2006), I expressed the need for our profession to speak the language of business and incorporate financial principles and related terminology into our everyday vocabulary. Strategically, we must work with business leaders, our members’ customers, to demonstrate the value that SH&E professionals provide to the business community. We must demonstrate to company leaders that safety and health is a vital link in competing in today’s global marketplace.
ASSE is the preeminent safety society in the world. Furthermore, we are in an exciting period in our organization’s history. But resting on our laurels will not provide the blueprint to future prosperity. Great thought, insight, creativity, commitment and energy must be the pillars to build upon our current foundation and ensure continued success. Also, the Board of Directors is committed to making knowledge- and fact-based decisions that have strategic implications.
To reach our vision and secure future prosperity, we ask and seek your active participation. I hope each member can play a role during the upcoming year and help ASSE advance the Society’s vision and mission. Society leaders will continue to listen to members and external customers in order to offer the highest levels of service and benefits. Let’s work and have fun together and make this a productive year as we journey together toward ASSE’s 100th anniversary.
To clarify our strategic plan in order to better serve members and advance the profession, the Board of Directors participated in a strategic planning workshop earlier this year. We also engaged the House of Delegates to provide input on the Society’s vision, mission, values and goals. This important dialogue ensures that we have a shared vision and strategy as we proceed into the future. Strategic plan discussion will continue during the upcoming Society year.
ASSE’s strategic plan is based on the following eight goals:
1) Develop and promote standards relating to the scope and function of the safety profession, including academic, ethical and certification standards.
2) Influence regulations and legislation that affect the practice of the profession or the activities of the Society.
3) Promote SH&E issues, the SH&E profession and its positive effects.
4) Establish and maintain an effective and efficient organization for the advancement of the Society’s mission.
5) Gather, encourage and participate in development of the body of knowledge relevant to the profession.
6) Develop and maintain mechanisms to recruit, retain and nurture the membership.
7) Deliver the highest quality professional development opportunities to enhance competence and position practitioners for success by understanding the needs of the profession, deliver the highest quality programs that meet those needs and recognizing the achievement of participants in the programs.
8) Establish and maintain a structured program to recruit, retain and nurture student members.
In addition, three strategic initiatives that align with these goals have been identified:
1) value of the profession; 2) body of knowledge; and 3) global growth. I will address each of these initiatives in a future message.
In the article, “Time to Transform? Assessing the Future of the SH&E Profession” (PS, November 2002; reprinted December 2006), I expressed the need for our profession to speak the language of business and incorporate financial principles and related terminology into our everyday vocabulary. Strategically, we must work with business leaders, our members’ customers, to demonstrate the value that SH&E professionals provide to the business community. We must demonstrate to company leaders that safety and health is a vital link in competing in today’s global marketplace.
ASSE is the preeminent safety society in the world. Furthermore, we are in an exciting period in our organization’s history. But resting on our laurels will not provide the blueprint to future prosperity. Great thought, insight, creativity, commitment and energy must be the pillars to build upon our current foundation and ensure continued success. Also, the Board of Directors is committed to making knowledge- and fact-based decisions that have strategic implications.
To reach our vision and secure future prosperity, we ask and seek your active participation. I hope each member can play a role during the upcoming year and help ASSE advance the Society’s vision and mission. Society leaders will continue to listen to members and external customers in order to offer the highest levels of service and benefits. Let’s work and have fun together and make this a productive year as we journey together toward ASSE’s 100th anniversary.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
To All of You, I Say Thanks
This month marks the end of the Society year. In July, a new slate of officers will step in to lead this organization. At Safety 2009 last June in San Antonio, TX, I shared with you my vision for this year. I told you that our first priority would be efficient execution of ASSE’s strategic plan. The Board of Directors spent much time the past 2 years reengaging in the strategic planning process and ensuring that the Society’s strategic plan is focused and provides clear direction for advancing our vision and mission.
I also noted that I would focus on four key areas:
1) Utilize technology to add value for ASSE membership.
2) Raise awareness about the value of SH&E professionals.
3) Leverage our influence by partnering with other organizations to achieve outcomes of mutual interest.
4) Execute and refine the new strategic planning process in which the Board of Directors has engaged.
I am happy to report that the staff and volunteer leaders have far exceeded my expectations in each of these areas. We are more active in social media than ever before and are using it in new ways. It has even provided a tool for us to turn webinars into virtual symposia, which provide tremendous opportunities for networking while learning. We are reaching more of our members in ways that are more cost-effective for them and for the Society.
We continue to communicate the findings from the value of the profession study. Our goal is to help our member SH&E professionals better understand what they need to know in order to effectively demonstrate the value they bring to their organizations.
We have developed closer ties with other SH&E organizations as well. This year, ASSE assumed an international leadership role by becoming the secretariat for the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations. We have also improved communication among the informal network of SH&E organizations in the U.S.
And, as noted, the Board of Directors has spent considerable time engaged in strategic planning. We remodeled ASSE’s strategic planning process last year and continue to refine that process. Society leaders will engage the House of Delegates to help us ensure we have a strong strategic plan that supports ASSE’s vision and mission.
This is my last president’s message as my term ends June 30. Serving as ASSE president is the greatest professional honor I could imagine. I have benefited professionally and personally from the opportunity to serve all of you. On a personal note, I have recently started a wonderful new job. I can honestly say that were it not for the leadership experiences I gained through my participation in ASSE, I would not be where I am today.
The success of this great organization is due to the hard work and commitment of many people, from ASSE’s dedicated staff who operate the Society on a day-to-day basis to the hundreds of volunteers who administer our chapters, practice specialties, committees and task forces, groups that are the heart of all the great things we see coming out of ASSE, to the volunteer leaders on the Board of Directors, who are all so passionate about ASSE’s success. To all of you, and to the entire ASSE membership, I say thanks.
I also noted that I would focus on four key areas:
1) Utilize technology to add value for ASSE membership.
2) Raise awareness about the value of SH&E professionals.
3) Leverage our influence by partnering with other organizations to achieve outcomes of mutual interest.
4) Execute and refine the new strategic planning process in which the Board of Directors has engaged.
I am happy to report that the staff and volunteer leaders have far exceeded my expectations in each of these areas. We are more active in social media than ever before and are using it in new ways. It has even provided a tool for us to turn webinars into virtual symposia, which provide tremendous opportunities for networking while learning. We are reaching more of our members in ways that are more cost-effective for them and for the Society.
We continue to communicate the findings from the value of the profession study. Our goal is to help our member SH&E professionals better understand what they need to know in order to effectively demonstrate the value they bring to their organizations.
We have developed closer ties with other SH&E organizations as well. This year, ASSE assumed an international leadership role by becoming the secretariat for the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations. We have also improved communication among the informal network of SH&E organizations in the U.S.
And, as noted, the Board of Directors has spent considerable time engaged in strategic planning. We remodeled ASSE’s strategic planning process last year and continue to refine that process. Society leaders will engage the House of Delegates to help us ensure we have a strong strategic plan that supports ASSE’s vision and mission.
This is my last president’s message as my term ends June 30. Serving as ASSE president is the greatest professional honor I could imagine. I have benefited professionally and personally from the opportunity to serve all of you. On a personal note, I have recently started a wonderful new job. I can honestly say that were it not for the leadership experiences I gained through my participation in ASSE, I would not be where I am today.
The success of this great organization is due to the hard work and commitment of many people, from ASSE’s dedicated staff who operate the Society on a day-to-day basis to the hundreds of volunteers who administer our chapters, practice specialties, committees and task forces, groups that are the heart of all the great things we see coming out of ASSE, to the volunteer leaders on the Board of Directors, who are all so passionate about ASSE’s success. To all of you, and to the entire ASSE membership, I say thanks.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Commitment to the Profession
The recent economic strife has caused continued upheaval and uncertainty across industries and throughout the job market. During my 11 months as ASSE president, I have heard many stories relaying the devastating personal effects that the recession has had on many friends, colleagues and fellow ASSE members. I have heard about the impact of extended job searches, the financial strain on families, the stress on spouses and children, and the health issues related to anxiety about the future.
I cannot help but sympathize with the frustration, self-doubt and hopelessness that often accompany joblessness. As a profession and as an organization, I am urging that we come together to do more for those colleagues and friends currently seeking employment. While many job-seeking tools are readily available on the Internet and elsewhere, I encourage each of you make a personal commitment to help fellow SH&E professionals in their job searches. Consider some of the things you can do to help those searching for jobs:
• Help them build their network of contacts. Call your contacts to get leads or other ideas to expand the scope of their job search. Follow up with these contacts. View this as an opportunity to build and strengthen your own networks so you are better prepared should you suddenly find yourself looking for a job.
• Stay in regular contact with the job seekers. Buy them lunch or treat them to a round of golf. Knowing they have support and someone to talk to will lift their spirits.
• Review their resumes and provide constructive comments and encouragement.
• Help them conduct practice interviews. Offer ideas on what questions might be asked and how to best answer them. This helps build confidence.
• Register to be an ASSE networking partner. In this role, you will work with a job seeker to help that person expand networks and develop job leads. This will be a rewarding experience for you and it may be a life-changing experience for the job seeker. For more information on this program, click here.
ASSE also offers several services and tools to help members searching for a job. For example, the Society recently developed a series of training modules that are available free to members. The modules cover general job-seeking advice; resumes and cover letters; networking; interviewing; using job boards; online social networking; and negotiation. To access these modules and other resources, click here.
In addition, ASSE recently launched group pages on LinkedIn for the practice specialties and branches. Through these groups you can participate in the discussions, search jobs, find resources and network with fellow SH&E professionals. To access these resources, visit www.linkedin.com, select the group directory tab and use “ASSE practice specialty” as your search term.
ASSE is also planning to partner with other associations to increase the number of new listings on the Nexsteps job board (found at www.nexsteps.org). And, the Society is developing resources to help chapters improve their networking and job search capabilities. SH&E professionals shine when it comes to doing what’s needed to help people stay safe and well. Many of us know friends and colleagues who now need help to be employed and stay well. Together, let’s commit to make a difference in their lives. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to support and advance our great profession.
“The more I help others to succeed, the more I succeed.”
—Ray Kroc
I cannot help but sympathize with the frustration, self-doubt and hopelessness that often accompany joblessness. As a profession and as an organization, I am urging that we come together to do more for those colleagues and friends currently seeking employment. While many job-seeking tools are readily available on the Internet and elsewhere, I encourage each of you make a personal commitment to help fellow SH&E professionals in their job searches. Consider some of the things you can do to help those searching for jobs:
• Help them build their network of contacts. Call your contacts to get leads or other ideas to expand the scope of their job search. Follow up with these contacts. View this as an opportunity to build and strengthen your own networks so you are better prepared should you suddenly find yourself looking for a job.
• Stay in regular contact with the job seekers. Buy them lunch or treat them to a round of golf. Knowing they have support and someone to talk to will lift their spirits.
• Review their resumes and provide constructive comments and encouragement.
• Help them conduct practice interviews. Offer ideas on what questions might be asked and how to best answer them. This helps build confidence.
• Register to be an ASSE networking partner. In this role, you will work with a job seeker to help that person expand networks and develop job leads. This will be a rewarding experience for you and it may be a life-changing experience for the job seeker. For more information on this program, click here.
ASSE also offers several services and tools to help members searching for a job. For example, the Society recently developed a series of training modules that are available free to members. The modules cover general job-seeking advice; resumes and cover letters; networking; interviewing; using job boards; online social networking; and negotiation. To access these modules and other resources, click here.
In addition, ASSE recently launched group pages on LinkedIn for the practice specialties and branches. Through these groups you can participate in the discussions, search jobs, find resources and network with fellow SH&E professionals. To access these resources, visit www.linkedin.com, select the group directory tab and use “ASSE practice specialty” as your search term.
ASSE is also planning to partner with other associations to increase the number of new listings on the Nexsteps job board (found at www.nexsteps.org). And, the Society is developing resources to help chapters improve their networking and job search capabilities. SH&E professionals shine when it comes to doing what’s needed to help people stay safe and well. Many of us know friends and colleagues who now need help to be employed and stay well. Together, let’s commit to make a difference in their lives. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to support and advance our great profession.
“The more I help others to succeed, the more I succeed.”
—Ray Kroc
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Promote SH&E During NAOSH Week
Each year, North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week and Occupational Safety and Health Professional Day (OSHP) Day provide great opportunities to tell the world about the benefits of workplace safety and the key role we as SH&E professionals play in everyone’s lives. Not everyone knows that we work tirelessly across all industries and around the world to prevent harm to people, protect property and help our employers be good environmental stewards. We must continue to educate the public and our communities about occupational safety and our great profession. This year, NAOSH Week is May 2-8 and OSHP Day is May 5. 
Through ASSE’s work with OSHA’s Alliance program, more than 50 Alliance program participants and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, NAOSH Week continues to grow and reach more people each year. In 2009, nearly $4 million in services were donated and ASSE members and OSHA Alliance partners volunteered almost 2 million hours. What a tremendous way to show your passion for occupational safety.
Consider just a few highlights from 2009:
• Lamar Advertising placed 10 outdoor NAOSH Week-themed billboards in the home cities of the kids’ poster contest winners.
• American Red Cross hosted a web expo on OSHP Day.
• Region III members donated funds for and provided a brunch for more than 100 people at the National Zoo in Washington, DC.
• Turner Corp. donated bus transportation in Washington, DC, on May 4, and sponsored a lunch held at the U.S. Capitol.
• KL&P Motivation donated funds for 500 NAOSH T-shirts.
• FabEnCo, in partnership with ASSE member Cindy Lewis, donated tote bags distributed during the Washingon, DC, kickoff events.
A record number of participants attended the 2009 NAOSH Week kickoff events in Washington, DC. Many families of poster contest winners paid their own way, while others were supported by ASSE chapters and their employers. It’s an experience those children and their families will long remember. Take a few moments to view photos from the event here.
ASSE members also helped gather 37 state and city proclamations in support of NAOSH Week and OSHP Day—a new record. In addition, the annual Safety-on-the-Job kids’ poster contest continues to grow, with more than 850 entries received this year. Be sure to check out the 2010 winners here.
To help you support NAOSH?Week and plan activities, ASSE offers several tools, from draft proclamations and fact sheets to brochures, technical articles, presentations and much more, all available for free at www.asse.org/naosh10. No activity is too big or too small. For more information and assistance, contact ASSE’s Diane Hurns at (847) 768-3413 or dhurns@asse.org.
I also invite you to join me and other ASSE members, government leaders, Alliance partners and poster contest winners May 2-3 in Washington, DC. Our slate of activities will include events at the National Zoo, the Smithsonian, the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Department of Labor. (Rumor even has it that Iron Man will be on hand to discuss superhero workplace safety tips.) Then, on May 5, ASSE Region I will present a major roadway safety event in Portland, OR, with several partners. And those are just a few of the many activities on tap.
By supporting NAOSH Week and OSHP Day you contribute to our profession, and advance our professionals and ASSE. You also make a major difference by providing your friends, colleagues and communities with important information that can help save lives and prevent injuries. Each year, we reach more and more people with the message to work safely. Let’s keep the momentum going in 2010!
Through ASSE’s work with OSHA’s Alliance program, more than 50 Alliance program participants and the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering, NAOSH Week continues to grow and reach more people each year. In 2009, nearly $4 million in services were donated and ASSE members and OSHA Alliance partners volunteered almost 2 million hours. What a tremendous way to show your passion for occupational safety.
Consider just a few highlights from 2009:
• Lamar Advertising placed 10 outdoor NAOSH Week-themed billboards in the home cities of the kids’ poster contest winners.
• American Red Cross hosted a web expo on OSHP Day.
• Region III members donated funds for and provided a brunch for more than 100 people at the National Zoo in Washington, DC.
• Turner Corp. donated bus transportation in Washington, DC, on May 4, and sponsored a lunch held at the U.S. Capitol.
• KL&P Motivation donated funds for 500 NAOSH T-shirts.
• FabEnCo, in partnership with ASSE member Cindy Lewis, donated tote bags distributed during the Washingon, DC, kickoff events.
A record number of participants attended the 2009 NAOSH Week kickoff events in Washington, DC. Many families of poster contest winners paid their own way, while others were supported by ASSE chapters and their employers. It’s an experience those children and their families will long remember. Take a few moments to view photos from the event here.
ASSE members also helped gather 37 state and city proclamations in support of NAOSH Week and OSHP Day—a new record. In addition, the annual Safety-on-the-Job kids’ poster contest continues to grow, with more than 850 entries received this year. Be sure to check out the 2010 winners here.
To help you support NAOSH?Week and plan activities, ASSE offers several tools, from draft proclamations and fact sheets to brochures, technical articles, presentations and much more, all available for free at www.asse.org/naosh10. No activity is too big or too small. For more information and assistance, contact ASSE’s Diane Hurns at (847) 768-3413 or dhurns@asse.org.
I also invite you to join me and other ASSE members, government leaders, Alliance partners and poster contest winners May 2-3 in Washington, DC. Our slate of activities will include events at the National Zoo, the Smithsonian, the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Department of Labor. (Rumor even has it that Iron Man will be on hand to discuss superhero workplace safety tips.) Then, on May 5, ASSE Region I will present a major roadway safety event in Portland, OR, with several partners. And those are just a few of the many activities on tap.
By supporting NAOSH Week and OSHP Day you contribute to our profession, and advance our professionals and ASSE. You also make a major difference by providing your friends, colleagues and communities with important information that can help save lives and prevent injuries. Each year, we reach more and more people with the message to work safely. Let’s keep the momentum going in 2010!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
An Investment in ASSE & You
As ASSE members, we reap certain benefits from our membership. These benefits vary for each of us as we all have different wants and needs, as well as a myriad of reasons for belonging to ASSE. Some of those benefits are indirect, such as advancing the profession and promoting SH&E professionals. As ASSE members, we also all feel different levels of commitment to the organization.
One thing is certain, however. No matter what you seek from ASSE, it is important that you help choose strong leaders who will advance the Society. March 1 brings us to an important phase in the leadership evolutionary cycle: Society elections. Some of you may be groaning at hearing the annual plea to vote, but history suggests that many of you simply will not vote. I urge you to rethink that. You invest in ASSE—your money, time, resources—and you expect to receive certain benefits in return. Why not help maximize those returns by electing the best possible leadership?
ASSE’s election process is rigorous for the candidates. The Nominations and Elections Committee sorts through all the applications to select the two most qualified potential leaders for each Society position. It is then up to you to decide which individuals will become leaders of ASSE, your regions and your chapters.
ASSE has strict rules about campaigning. This helps protect us from having a process where those with the resources to invest in the campaign have an advantage. Instead, ASSE offers several ways to learn about the candidates. You can read candidates’ biographies in the February 2010 issue of Professional Safety. Candidate bios and platform statements are also posted on ASSE’s website at www.asse.org/elections. Reading this information will help you learn about each candidate and what s/he hopes to accomplish while in office.
Another great way to learn about candidates is to invite them to call in to a chapter meeting. According to the rules, you must invite both candidates and give them both equal opportunities to speak. This creates an opportunity to hear them speak and it generates some dialogue around your members’ interests.
Another way to learn about candidates is to ask around in your network. Most of us look to our networks to find new opportunities or to get guidance on a work challenge, but networks also can be a great source of information about candidates for ASSE office.
Speaking about networks, I encourage you to ask yourself whether you are investing wisely or sufficiently in yours. A network is more than a list of people you can call. Instead, think of your network as a list of people who can, and would, call you. To establish those relationships, you must contribute value to your network. Social networking and electronic media are great ways to achieve this. You also will gain recognition, which will further extend your network.
ASSE has been striving to better utilize available tools to improve communication with and among members. From adding Ning sites to webinars and virtual symposia, and from blogs and social media groups to Twitter, we are finding new, efficient ways to bring members together. As I have said all year, we must continuously seek out and use new, cost-effective ways to serve members’ needs and to reach more of our members with more services.
Whether March is bringing you spring or autumn, this is one of the most obvious seasons of change. Look at it as an opportunity to get motivated and invest in your network and in ASSE. Both investments will produce long-term gains for your career.
One thing is certain, however. No matter what you seek from ASSE, it is important that you help choose strong leaders who will advance the Society. March 1 brings us to an important phase in the leadership evolutionary cycle: Society elections. Some of you may be groaning at hearing the annual plea to vote, but history suggests that many of you simply will not vote. I urge you to rethink that. You invest in ASSE—your money, time, resources—and you expect to receive certain benefits in return. Why not help maximize those returns by electing the best possible leadership?
ASSE’s election process is rigorous for the candidates. The Nominations and Elections Committee sorts through all the applications to select the two most qualified potential leaders for each Society position. It is then up to you to decide which individuals will become leaders of ASSE, your regions and your chapters.
ASSE has strict rules about campaigning. This helps protect us from having a process where those with the resources to invest in the campaign have an advantage. Instead, ASSE offers several ways to learn about the candidates. You can read candidates’ biographies in the February 2010 issue of Professional Safety. Candidate bios and platform statements are also posted on ASSE’s website at www.asse.org/elections. Reading this information will help you learn about each candidate and what s/he hopes to accomplish while in office.
Another great way to learn about candidates is to invite them to call in to a chapter meeting. According to the rules, you must invite both candidates and give them both equal opportunities to speak. This creates an opportunity to hear them speak and it generates some dialogue around your members’ interests.
Another way to learn about candidates is to ask around in your network. Most of us look to our networks to find new opportunities or to get guidance on a work challenge, but networks also can be a great source of information about candidates for ASSE office.
Speaking about networks, I encourage you to ask yourself whether you are investing wisely or sufficiently in yours. A network is more than a list of people you can call. Instead, think of your network as a list of people who can, and would, call you. To establish those relationships, you must contribute value to your network. Social networking and electronic media are great ways to achieve this. You also will gain recognition, which will further extend your network.
ASSE has been striving to better utilize available tools to improve communication with and among members. From adding Ning sites to webinars and virtual symposia, and from blogs and social media groups to Twitter, we are finding new, efficient ways to bring members together. As I have said all year, we must continuously seek out and use new, cost-effective ways to serve members’ needs and to reach more of our members with more services.
Whether March is bringing you spring or autumn, this is one of the most obvious seasons of change. Look at it as an opportunity to get motivated and invest in your network and in ASSE. Both investments will produce long-term gains for your career.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Get Involved
If you are active in your ASSE chapter/section, region, area or practice specialty, or at the Society level, you can probably quickly recite a long list of benefits you receive as a result of your ASSE membership. That’s because you have learned firsthand what you gain simply by participating in this fine organization.
Over the years of my involvement, I’ve heard and said many times that the more you participate, the more you gain. Why do you think that is? What is it that ASSE offers its members?
The standard response to that question includes professional development, networking, recognition and leadership opportunities that help our members succeed professionally and personally. And all of those are certainly true. But what is it that causes the response, “the more you give, the more you get”? I think Robert Greenleaf summed it up well in his essay, “The Servant as Leader.” He wrote:
The servant-leader is servant first. . . . Becoming a servant-leader begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first. . . . The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant first to make sure other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and the most difficult to administer, is this: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?
I believe Greenleaf’s philosophy reflects well why we benefit from participating in ASSE. It is because our greatest desire is to contribute to the benefit of the whole organization. ASSE is a member-driven association. Not only does the Society exist for members, but it is run by members. Last June, we held a wonderful discussion in the House of Delegates (HOD) meeting about the role of the HOD and the governance of ASSE. The voice of the membership will direct how the Society changes as we move forward. We, as members, determine the needs of the Society and the direction it will take. This is not to say that every member will agree with each action or activity pursued. In fact, Society leaders must sometimes make tough decisions based on a wide variety of information. But every decision is made with the best interest—and the voice—of members in mind.
Being member-driven carries some challenges, one of which is engaging members to participate. Some parts of our organization struggle to find the volunteers necessary to drive the activities they wish to pursue. As members, we provide the horsepower that drives task forces, committees, chapters, regions and ASSE as a whole. I urge all of you to consider giving some small part of your time this year to contribute to ASSE. In serving the Society, you set an example for others. And, by getting involved, I know you will feel the same sense of gratitude that I do for this wonderful opportunity to contribute to our profession, our professionals, our organization and our society as a whole.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
—Ghandi
Over the years of my involvement, I’ve heard and said many times that the more you participate, the more you gain. Why do you think that is? What is it that ASSE offers its members?
The standard response to that question includes professional development, networking, recognition and leadership opportunities that help our members succeed professionally and personally. And all of those are certainly true. But what is it that causes the response, “the more you give, the more you get”? I think Robert Greenleaf summed it up well in his essay, “The Servant as Leader.” He wrote:
The servant-leader is servant first. . . . Becoming a servant-leader begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first. . . . The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant first to make sure other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and the most difficult to administer, is this: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?
I believe Greenleaf’s philosophy reflects well why we benefit from participating in ASSE. It is because our greatest desire is to contribute to the benefit of the whole organization. ASSE is a member-driven association. Not only does the Society exist for members, but it is run by members. Last June, we held a wonderful discussion in the House of Delegates (HOD) meeting about the role of the HOD and the governance of ASSE. The voice of the membership will direct how the Society changes as we move forward. We, as members, determine the needs of the Society and the direction it will take. This is not to say that every member will agree with each action or activity pursued. In fact, Society leaders must sometimes make tough decisions based on a wide variety of information. But every decision is made with the best interest—and the voice—of members in mind.
Being member-driven carries some challenges, one of which is engaging members to participate. Some parts of our organization struggle to find the volunteers necessary to drive the activities they wish to pursue. As members, we provide the horsepower that drives task forces, committees, chapters, regions and ASSE as a whole. I urge all of you to consider giving some small part of your time this year to contribute to ASSE. In serving the Society, you set an example for others. And, by getting involved, I know you will feel the same sense of gratitude that I do for this wonderful opportunity to contribute to our profession, our professionals, our organization and our society as a whole.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
—Ghandi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)