ASME creates new dues structure for members in developing countries

Emily M. Smith
ASME NEWS

Moving on its mission to increase ASME's global visibility, the Society in April decided to lower the dues rate for engineers living in countries with struggling economies.

The dues reduction was done to make ASME membership — and access to the benefits that come with it — more affordable to an increased number of technical professionals living in countries where earning standards are lower than in industrialized countries.

This new, tiered dues structure will be effective next month, when the dues bill for 2004-05 will be mailed out. The tiered structure will apply to all grades of membership.

"In addition to making ASME membership more affordable, the change in our dues structure will help to expand the scope of ASME's global outreach, while creating a stronger knowledge base for the engineering, technology and scientific workforce," said ASME President Reginald I. Vachon.

ASME's president, Reggie Vachon, met with Lock Kai Sang, president of the Institute of Engineers Singapore.

A 50-percent discount will be offered to engineers and professionals living in countries with economies classified by the World Bank as lower-income. The dues rate for members living in countries with middle-income classified economies will be discounted 25 percent.

The discounted dues structure will apply currently to some 130 countries; 49 will qualify for the 50-percent discount; 77 will qualify for the 25-percent discount.

The classification is based on the annual World Bank World Development Indicators report, which assesses a country's per capita and gross national income.

Discounted dues will apply to more than one-third of ASME's current non-U.S. members. Under the new dues structure, ASME expects to increase its membership in those regions and be more responsive to fast-changing global markets.

For countries classified as lower and middle-income economies, visit www.asme.org/member/countries.html.

 

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