Feedback Needed from Members

Over the past months, we have been talking about the important self-evaluation that ASME has been conducting as part of the Continuity and Change Initiative (CCI). Since March, several significant studies have been under way, marketing and organizational efforts among them.

We've been refining our strategic objectives through Balanced Scorecard workshops. Two areas of prime emphasis are young engineers and industry/government. These areas promise to enhance the Society. Of course, academia, codes and standards, and engineering have also been emphasized.

And now we are headed toward the International Mechanical Engineering Congress and R&D Expo, Nov. 16-21, which will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. As always, I want to keep you apprised of the progress we are making. You also can visit www.asme.org/change to get updates.

Reginald I. Vachon

The core team that is leading this effort met for two days last month and will meet again this month for another two days to flesh out the details of restructuring the Society. The Balanced Scorecard team also will meet several times to continue the process of developing a strategy map with objectives, measures, targets and initiatives.

I urge you to attend the 2003 Congress next month for a firsthand look at the preliminary plan that will be presented to the Board of Governors on Sunday, Nov. 16. A General Assembly for all interested conference attendees will be held Monday, Nov. 17, from 1 to 4 p.m., to discuss the actions of the BOG. If you are not planning to attend the Congress but live close enough to Washington, and you want to join us on Monday, you will not be required to register for the Congress to attend the assembly.

The purpose of the assembly is to provide awareness and gather feedback from our members. Although many members have participated in online discussions of the CCI over the past months, I ask you to participate in this public forum. Our intent is to present a vision and a preliminary plan, and to review the various processes that were used and how the pieces of the preliminary plan were developed. Because we anticipate a large number of participants, the General Assembly will be facilitated to allow as many ASME members to comment as possible. This will be an open forum to discuss the key points of the plan and to explore issues to reach a consensus.

Four additional General Assemblies will be held in various centralized locations: Jan. 10, in Toledo, Ohio; Jan. 25, in the Hartford, Conn., area; Feb. 7, in Houston, Texas; and Feb. 24, in the Oakland, Calif., area.

I encourage you all to attend one of these five General Assemblies. Even if you can't, I still need your input. We will also provide information on the preliminary plan and a way for you to send feedback over the Internet after the Congress, or contact me directly at president@asme.org.

Every generation needs to take the reins and push for the change that reinvigorates ASME. This is the time to make our commitment to the profession so that the Society fulfills its vision and mission. As we approach ASME's 125th anniversary in 2005, we must be as bold as the Society's founders. We will have a plan in place for genuine change that ensures the integrity of the Society's prosperous heritage.

I challenge you to be part of that plan. Let us hear from you during the next few months through at least one of the venues available to you.

— Reginald I. Vachon
ASME President

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