United by a Common Vision

If you ask any individual ASME member to explain exactly what ASME is, you will likely get as many unique answers as there are members. This means that there may be up to 120,000 different answers to the question. It reminds us of the well-known story of the blind men who were trying to describe an elephant based on different parts that they had touched. The truth is, there are so many different aspects to ASME that it is difficult to give a single comprehensive answer to someone inquiring about what ASME is really like.

Terry Shoup

To some, our Codes and Standards are the most important thing. To others, our technical programs are of prime importance. To many, the reason for joining is our local presence in the form of section meetings. Still others focus on our honors and awards, history and heritage, our publications, and our leadership in engineering education. There are those who set a high priority on our government relations efforts and still others who point to member services like group insurance and financial services as key to their involvement. Many would point to the value of networking to find a new job as key to their appreciation for the Society. ASME is all of these things and much more! Yet, it is a mistake for any one of us to claim that our own personal view of ASME is the only true view of what our Society could be or should be.

As I think about the various views of what ASME is or could become, I am reminded that there are a few key things we all share in common despite which part of ASME we seem to use or enjoy the most. These things are the bedrock of our organization. They are the things that unite us the most. It is important that we identify and celebrate these things as we move into the future.

First of all, we share a common vision — for ASME to be the premier organization for promoting the art, science, and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences to our diverse communities throughout the world.

In moving this common vision forward using the diverse organizational parts of ASME, we try to operate in such a way that we promote and enhance the technical competency and professional well-being of all our members. We do this because it also allows us to contribute to the well-being of all people everywhere.

Regardless of which part of ASME we relate to most, it is important to realize that common values really do unite us. We must recognize and appreciate the values of integrity and ethical conduct. All of us in ASME share a desire to embrace diversity and to respect the dignity and culture of all people. We share a common responsibility to nurture and treasure the environment and our natural and human-made resources. We also share a common desire to facilitate the development, dissemination, and application of engineering knowledge. We share a universal need to promote the benefits of continuing education and of engineering education. We are unified in our desire to respect and document engineering history while, at the same time, embracing change.

It goes without saying that we continue to face the challenges associated with a changing workplace environment, and the changing needs of those we serve. The need to embrace change in an effective way is an important challenge that unites us.

Perhaps the single most important uniting factor for ASME is that it is a place to have fun and experience good times with people who share our hopes and aspirations. Whether you are volunteer or staff, early career engineer or seasoned professional, active locally or globally — the real ASME looks like people! It looks like people having fun while doing things that are worthwhile! The real ASME continues to need each of us to be successful in the days ahead.

— Terry Shoup
ASME President 2006–2007

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