Transcript Welcome to the Local Sections Committee Meeting

Welcome to the
Local Sections Committee
(LSC) Meeting
Monday – Nov 9, 2009
11:45 AM to 1:15 PM
Meeting Agenda
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50 Year Celebrations
LSC Introductions
LSC Mission
2010 Leadership Development Conference
Volunteer Recognition Awards
Program Planning Grants
John J. McKetta ProjectConnect Grants
“My AIChE”
Working Session
LSC 2009 Goals
Question and Answer Session
2
Celebrating 50 Years
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Columbia Pacific;
Portland, OR
Pensacola, FL
LSC Executive Officers
Spring 2009-Spring 2010
Position
Name/Affiliation
Email Address
Phone
Chair
David Jacobs, Central Sav River
(CSR)
[email protected]
(803) 952-4597
Vice-Chair
Todd Willman
(South Texas)
[email protected]
281-398-9400 *811
Past Chair
Craig Wildemuth
(Nor Cal/Rocky Mnt)
[email protected]
650-543-3390
Secretary
Shannon Brown (Chicago)
[email protected]
847- 391-1157
Local Section/Staff Rep
Lowell Aplebaum, AIChE
[email protected]
646-495-1332
Staff Director Volunteer &
Member Activities
Felicia Gugliemi, AIChE
[email protected]
646-495-1330
CEOC Liaison
Diane Spencer
[email protected]
YP Rep /YPAB
Brian Daly
[email protected]
Chris Dean
[email protected]
713-419-2278
Young Professionals
ESC Rep
Executive Student Committee
4
LSC Executive Officers
Spring 2009-Spring 2010
Position
Name/Affiliation
Email Address
Phone
Division/Forum Rep
Available
Global Rep
Available
ProjectConnect Grants Rep
Karen Bard
[email protected]
845-892-3211
Program Planning Grants Rep
TBD
Student Chapter
Available
LS In Need Rep/ Section
Liaison
James Klein (CSR)
[email protected]
803-725-4203
TBD
Mac Qadir
[email protected]
TBD
David R. (Dave) Eckhardt
[email protected]
508-835-4584
5
LSC Mission
To strengthen AIChE’s Local Sections through:
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ProjectConnect/Program Planning Grants
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Support Leadership Development Conference
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Resource development
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Networking
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Opportunities for sharing information
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Long-term support focusing on Local Sections
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Providing Volunteer Recognition
6
Available Resources
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http://www.aiche.org/LocalSections/Resources/index.aspx
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How to start a Young Professional Group
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Local Section Officers' Resource Guide (updated Spring 2009)
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Local Section Annual Report 2009 Summary
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Local Section Officer Descriptions
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Top Ten Ways to Involve Students in Your Section Flyer
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more ….. Please review the Spring 2008/9 LSC Luncheon presentations for
more complete listing of additional benefits of AIChE membership
7
Leadership Development
Conference
June 4-6, 2010
Presented By:
Noah McMillan & RC Ramaswamy
East Tennessee Section
Kingsport, TN
AIChE Volunteer
Recognition Awards
Presented By:
David Jacobs
Chair, Local Sections Committee
Shining Star - Volunteer
Recognition Awards
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What are the Shining Star Awards?
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Initiated in 2009 to recognize AIChE volunteers nation wide
for their tireless efforts
Support volunteers in attending national AIChE meetings
throughout the year
Aid Local Sections in helping their volunteers to continue to
volunteer
Recognize those that go above and beyond in their service
to AIChE
Free registration and expenses paid (up to $1000) to any
National Meeting (Annual or Spring Meeting or LDC)
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Shining Star - Volunteer
Recognition Awards
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Shining Star Awards Recommendations
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Two nominations per Local Section per year
Independent of the ProjectConnect or Program Planning
Grants
Examples of service recognized:
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Dedication and personal commitment to AIChE and the Local
Section
Willingness to take on a daunting task
Set an example for others
Willingness to step up and help the section when it needed it
the most
A long history of service to the section
Infusion of new ideas / energy into the section
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Shining Star - Volunteer
Recognition Awards 2009
Member Volunteer
Local Section
Description of Contribution
William Bruce King
Baton Rouge (LA)
Has devoted years of leadership
to the LS including serving as
Chair, Vice-Chair, Awards Cmt.
Chair, and working with local
high school students for Eweek.
Chip Lasher
Central Savannah River
(GA/SC)
Co-chaired, planned and
executed LDC 2009
John Steimke
Central Savannah River
Co-chaired, planned and
executed LDC 2009
Delaware Valley (DE)
Has served as Treasurer for the
Section as well as planning and
executing a number of the most
successful Section meetings.
New Jersey (NJ)
Active leader in the NJ section
for over 20 years, serving as
Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary
to name just a few positions
North Jersey
Ten years of leadership to the
North Jersey Local Section,
serving in many positions
including chair.
South Texas (TX)
South Texas Webmaster for one
year while serving as Newsletter
Editor for 3 years
Ken Ford
Andrew Soos
Peter Sibilski
Susan Cannon
12
AIChE Program Planning
Grants
Presented By:
David Jacobs
Chair, Local Sections Committee
Program Planning Grants
 Assist local sections with their membership outreach
efforts by encouraging development of a program plan
that involved more than a single event.
 Supports outreach to broader section membership
Application
March
31,
 Next
Series of
events under an Deadline:
"umbrella" of a larger
program
with
identifiable objectives and goals
2010
 Encouraged to think "outside the box"
 Grants awarded twice per calendar year with maximum
value of $1000
 2010 Deadline – March 31st
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John J. McKetta
ProjectConnect Grants
Presented By:
Karen Bard
ProjectConnect Grants
Project Connect
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Assists local sections with their efforts to reach out to
students, and increase membership and participation of
recent chemical engineer graduates and new engineers.
 Supports
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outreach to new and young engineers and
students
 Typically single event programs
 Evaluated on Innovativeness and ability to become
"best practice"
Grants awarded quarterly with maximum value of $600
Attempt to award $1800 per quarter
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Applications & Awards
Project Connect
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
In
Response,
Award
Value
Increased
Applications
Awards
2
0
Quarter Ending
17
My AIChE
Presented By:
Amit Gupta and Bette Lawler
AIChE
Member Benefits

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ChE On-Demand
Knovel Library
Employment Services
Networking
Professional Community
Continuing Professional Training
CEP
19
Membership
AIChE Professional Membership
Profile
Age
USA
91%
Male
88%
Industry
79%
Over 35
80%
All Other
9%
Female
12%
Academic
Under 35
20%
Texas largest 15%
10/30/09
Industry /
Academic
Gender
Geography
21%
More than ½ of the
members have a
Masters or a
Doctorate
21
Membership Trends
$6.0
50
45
Professional
Memberships
39.9
$5.5
40
Receipts Millions
34.3
32.3
$5.2
$5.0
35
31.0
30.1
29.2
30
$4.8
25
$4.5
$4.5
20
Dues
Receipts
$4.4
$4.3
$4.2
15
Members Thousands
45.0
$4.0
$4.0
10
5
Dues Rate History
$139 - - - $144 - - - $180 - - - $199 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $199
$3.5
0
2001
10/30/09
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009F
2010B
22
Mass Balance Equation for Membership
2008 final
New
Members
Change
3309
Professional Membership trend has not been
positive since 2001
Base of
Membership
Drops
10/30/09
4,62223
Cancellation Rate
Overall = 12%
USA
12%
Industry
10%
All Other
17%
Academic
17%
Male
11%
Over 35
9%
Female
17%
Under 35
21%
10/30/09
24
How Activity in AIChE Affects Cancellation
Activity
% of Engagement
% of Cancellation
Local Section
Membership/
38%
7%
Division Membership
19%
10%
Webinar Attendance
4%
1%
Attendance at
Conferences
16%
16%
Registration with elibrary
30%
3%
Overall Professional Cancellation Rate = 12%
10/30/09
25
Member View by Age
2008
35 – 50 years of age
22 - 34 years of age
Count
Cancel
%
Count
Cancel
%
News
1906
837
30.5%
News
826
465
36%
Renews
3737
989
20.9%
Renews
8422
980
10.4%
Total
5643
1826
24.4%
Total
9248
1445
13.5%
51 – 65 years of age
66 and older years of age
Count
Cancel
%
News
34
31
47.7%
6.2%
Renews
5572
220
3.8%
7.6%
Total
5606
251
4.3%
Count
Cancel
%
News
308
172
35.8%
Renews
9239
613
Total
9547
785
10/30/09
(No age on 743 professionals
315 cancel =43% of those that do no give age cancel)
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Member View by Age
2009
35 – 50 years of age
22 - 34 years of age
Count
Cancel
%
Count
Cancel
%
New
1198
19
1.6%
New
502
4
8%
Renew
4172
1426
25.5%
Renew
7787
1299
14%
Total
5370
1445
21.2%
Total
8289
1303
13.6%
51 – 65 years of age
66 and older years of age
Count
Cancel
%
New
14
0
0%
8%
Renew
5743
297
4.9%
8%
Total
5757
297
4.9%
Count
Cancel
%
New
199
1
.5%
Renew
9231
825
Total
9430
826
10/30/09
(No age on 606 professionals
246 cancel =41% of those that do no give age cancel)
27
Path to Sustainable Relevancy
Benefits Addressing Relevancy

Refine
offerings
Define
Member
Needs


Measure
Participation
What’s
next big best
Thing


Create/refresh
offerings
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Deliver
effectively
Communicate
Offerings
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10/30/09

2005
Professional Liability Insurance
program strengthened to include
Process Engineering
2006
e-Library
Searchable Pubs through Wiley
2007
AIChE Exchange re-vamped
YP Professional Programming
Career Tools Plus / Job Board
2008
Live Webinars
Re-invigorated CEP on-line
2009
Smart Brief launched
ChemE on Demand
Industrial Awards
28
Membership Strategy
Grow AIChE Brand
Communicate
Activate
Grow participation
10/30/09
Engage
Grow Community
29
Activate
Bring Participation UP
Bring
Participate UP
UP UP
CHEME On Demand
Local Sections and
Divisions
E-learning
AICHE
Member Participation
Conferences
And Regional Events
10/30/09
E-Library
30
AIChE
Communicate
CEP
Facebook 1,500 active users
Web
Email 500,000 a month
Exchange
Smart brief 15,000 a month
Smart Brief
Exchange 33,000 a month
Email
Web 57,000 a month
Facebook
Twitter
Linked In
CEP 27,600 a month
AIChE
Our Challenge:
Still the message is not heard
10/30/09
31
Engage
| Portal Concept
A portal for each
stage of the life cycle
where you are
ChEnected to:
‣ tools, information to help you get
ahead (e-library)
‣ forums, events to help you network
‣ job opportunities you won’t find
anywhere else
‣ a source for lifelong learning
‣ recognition awards which help with
career advancement
‣ Everything AIChE
10/30/09
32
ChemE On Demand
Information
Where you want it
When you want it
ChemE on Demand
How to …
Content from
Other Sources
Original
Webinars
from AIChE
Meeting
Session
Recordings
ChemE
On
Demand
E-Learning
Modules
2010
How to
…Content
from CEP
Advice and
Information
Blog
Local Section
and
Division
Webcasts
34
1.1.09 to date: Live vs VOD
Live Webinars
# webinars
VOD
50
# products
123
# purchased
5871
# purchased
1418
# attendees*
3495
# attendees
na
# non member attendees
49
# non member attendees
46
avg size
70
avg size
na
industry/academia (%)
na
industry/academia (%)
94/6
revenue
$2,011
revenue
rating**
75.97%
rating
* includes 26 orders for future webinars
** those answering 'likely' to recommend to a colleague
$453
na
Live Webinars:
1.1.09 YTD vs 7.1.09 YTD
Stat
1.1.09 YTD
# webinars
Stat
50
# purchased
5871
# attendees*
3495
# non member attendees
49
avg size
70
industry/academia (%)
94/6
revenue
$2,011
rating**
75.97%
# webinars
7.1.09
YTD
18
# purchased
1300
# attendees*
788
# non member attendees
avg size
industry/academia (%)
0
44
96/4
revenue
$1,211
rating**
75.44%
* includes 26 orders for future webinars
** those answering 'likely' to recommend to a colleague
‘WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO IMPROVE
THIS WEBINAR?’ REPLIES

I wouldn't change anything. I viewed the webinar using cable
modem/T1 line and it was great! I am so excited that AICHE
is offering PDH certificates/credit for the webinars! (Dust
Explosions)

The Chat feature worked really well for questions. The host
did a good job moderating. (Properties of Materials)

Very good summary. Hard to cover everything in 1 hour, but
good overall review, with occasional specific points that were
good. (NFPA Codes)

I really enjoyed the streaming audio with the WebEx
presentation. It made it easier than making my phone line
unavailable. Thanks to the AICHE tech folks for doing this!
(Career Building)
WHAT’S NEW?
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11/2 first publication up on ChemE on Demand
11/3 600+CEP articles from 2001 on went live
Two weeks after Annual, 450 presentations go
up
After Annual, will be offering professors the
opportunity of using archives from ChemE on
Demand in the classroom. A student member
will be asked to ‘purchase’ and professor will
use for class. Only rule is that ½ the class be
student members.
E-learning Update
Introduction
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Objective: Provide a recommendation to AIChE if and
how we should utilize e-learning tools to address the
educational needs of our members
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Benchmark e-learning tools, opportunities, costs, and risks
Develop sustainable instructional model(s)
Develop sustainable business model(s)
Integrate e-learning solution into traditional methods of
instruction currently offered by the Institute
Committee chartered in July 2009
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Formation of sub-teams to separately focus on instructional
and business issues critical to success
Cross-populated with members on other committees
(Educational Services Committee, Content on Demand
Committee) with diverse backgrounds (academic, industry,
short course instructors)
Instructional Models for an
e-Learning System
possible
segues
webinar
synchronous or
1-to-2 hours
asynchronous
impactful overview
leaves many participants wanting more
short course
1-to-2 days
synchronous
“crash” course
similar to current model
allow for remote instructor option
on-line course
several weeks
self-paced
asynchronous
in-depth learning
instructor-assisted or
stand-alone (no instructor)
Hard media
Web-based content
Evaluating the Current
e-Learning Marketplace
ENTITY
On-line Offering
Quantity
Price
Certificate
ACS
Webcast Courses 2-8 60-150
minute sessions each
30-70
$295-$1095
No mention of
CEUs
Center for
Professional
Advancement
-Live online single 90 minutes
-On-Demand Pre-Recorded
60 minutes sessions each
16
96
$295
$295
CEUs (IACET)
IEEE
5 main categories
Exam by Brainbench at end
of course
3,000 in 10
languages
ISA
- Webinars (live & recorded)
- CDROMs (w/ exam)
- Instructor-assisted
45
300 courses
12
$195-$225
$60-$350
$1100-$1300
CEUs (0.2-7.1)
CEUs (1.8-3.5)
University of
Wisconsin
Self Study Courses/28 hours
each
3
$695
PDHs 28
CEUs 2.8
ICHEME
Self Paced Courses
On-line Testing @ end of
course
16
$150
No mention of
CEUs
ASCE
On-line self paced courses
and DVD’s
50-100
$295 - $795
CEUs
depending on
hours
No mention of
CEUs
Developing a Successful Instructional
Model
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Integrated e-Learning Program
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Comprehensive content responsive to needs of
membership
Coordination of different modes of instruction
Flexibility to embrace emerging e-learning trends
Issues Critical to Success
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Involvement and consideration of current
instructors
Develop timeline and milestones for incremental
achievement
Survey the membership to understand key needs
Develop a strategic plan
Developing a Successful Business
Model

Sustainable e-Learning Program
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Develop a realistic view of the 3-year business plan and
identification of cost and revenue streams
Coordination with current partners (ASME) and transition
within instructional methods (short courses, CDs, webinars)
Certificates and continuing educational credits
Issues Critical to Success
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
Return on Investment: Ability to be cost neutral or
comfortable that e-learning will not be profitable on a standalone basis but provide value to members
Ownership and copyright of course materials
Remuneration of instructors for both synchronous and
asynchronous instruction
Timeline
2009
1Q
Committee Chartered
Data Collection
Member Survey
Review COD Data
Review Short Course Data
Review Pre-Conference Course Data
Local Section Town Hall Meeting
Annual Conference Town Hall Meeting
Business Model
Review LMS Vendors
Review Hardware Vendors
Study Partnering Options
Discuss Options with LMS Vendors
Discuss Options with Hardware Vendors
Develop Pricing Models and Projections
Finalize Sustainable Business Model
Instructional Model
Input from Current Instructors
Town Hall Meeting with Instructors
Identify Resource Needs to Support Transition
Develop Community of Instructors
Define Components of e-Learning Course
Define IP/Copyright Strategy
Define Remuneration Structure
Finalize Sustainable Instructional Model
2Q
2010
3Q
4Q
1Q
2Q
3Q
4Q
Web Hosting
Local Section And Division Sites
The Vision
Realize a federation of
consistent, feature-rich
websites:
• 100+ Local Sections
• 100+ Student Chapters
• Divisions
• Forums
The AIChE Websites Framework


A framework rather than just hosting
Standard look-&-feel
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Easy to use mechanisms for non-IT volunteers to maintain content

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Enable focus on ChemE-centric objectives rather than Computer Science fun
Based on cost-effectively sustainable technology
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3 ‘themes’ today; more to come
Drupal Open Source CMS
“Cloud” hosting
Growing list of ‘features’:
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WYSIWYG editor for content (don’t have to know HTML)
Forms-based publishing for ‘structured’ content like Events (Meetings, Workshops), etc.
Newsletter subscription & mass mailing
Automatically pull-in data from other sites (currently: AIChE Calendar & News)
Full-text search
Build web-based forms for data collection
Online Polls
Photo Galleries
Usage statistics
Etc.
The Vision
Is it working?
- Invested effort over 6 months (May-Oct)
- Worked-out
the technology
• 100+ Local
Sections
Realize a federation of
consistent, feature-rich
websites:
• happy with return on investment
• we have a best-in-class solution
• 100+ Student Chapters
• Divisions
• Forums
- Worked with 4 Local Sections
• 1 live, 99+ to go
AIChE South Texas Section (New)
AIChE Puget Sound Section (New)
AIChE Norcal Section (New)
Challenges
The Process
(1) National creates an “empty”, ready to be populated website
(2) National trains Local Section volunteer(s)
• How to ‘think’ about structuring your website
• How to use the framework
(3) Local Section volunteer(s) ‘build’ the website
Technical
work:
- Optimized
to <1 day
per site
- Can scale to
100+ sites
Operational
support &
facilitation:
- Taking
long time
- Cannot scale
current
modus
operandi
ChemE On Demand

http://apps.aiche.org/chemeondemand/
Credit for 6 FREE downloads per year
 credits each year, good for all webinars (live and
archived) as well as other content.

56
AIChE Web Hosting

Web Hosting

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
South Texas, Puget Sound, Akron, Norcal
Capacity for 400 Sections
Nominally 8 hrs per website
Sample Web Page
Working Session (WS)
Presented By:
David Jacobs
Chair, Local Sections Committee
Working Session



Local Section Annual Report 2009
 Local Section Contact Campaign
 In-Need
 Trends/ Succession Planning Suggestions
Dues/Finances/Fundraising
Grants
WS – LS Annual Rpt 2009

Annual Report
 Total Sections 111
 59 Submitted Annual Rpt
 52 No Annual Rpt
 30 Sections lack leadership/organization
 Potential 83 active LSs total
WS – LS Annual Rpt 2009

Goals
 Boost Meeting Attendance
 Outreach
 Restart

Budget
 Slight Increase in Income
 Fundraising
 Corporate Sponsorship
WS – LS Annual Rpt 2009

Meetings/Attendance
 5-10/yr
 0-5/yr
 0-2/yr
 Avg # of years since graduation
 Leadership mtgs 1-3/yr
 Leadership mtgs 0/yr
24 LSs
28 LSs
17 LSs
15-30
35
15
WS – LS Annual Rpt 2009

Young Professional Groups
 14 in 2009 vs 9 in 2008 (55% increase)
 12 expressed interest

Recruiting/New Members
 Focus on student chapters
 Support of local companies
 Long-term volunteer burnout
WS – LS Annual Rpt 2009

Tools
 Continual AIChE national contact
 Benefits for dues paid
 Shining Star Recognition
WS – LS Annual Rpt 2009

Communications
 Email
 10 with paper newsletters
 Only 6 cite their website
 Majority of sections seldom visit AIChE.org
 3 Sections use Groups

Benefits
 Networking
 LS Committee Help
LSs by Region/State
LSs “In-Need”


No Annual Report
No National AIChE Member(s) in key leadership
positions






Chair
Vice-Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
No contact with LSC
If you think you are In-Need or will be –
Contact the LSC!!
Reasons for Becoming Inactive





Job Relocation/Market Shift
Loss of a Significant Leader
Retirement/Low Recruitment
Low Attendance/Low Volunteerism
Leader Burnout
Trends-Why are Sections
Struggling?

Volunteer
 Lack of volunteers leading to burnout
 Apathy of leaders
 Charismatic leader loss
 Members not feeling able to contribute any longer
 Competition from alternative, more focused professional
organizations
 “What’s in it for me?” attitude
 Competing interests social/family/retirement
 Changing, more demanding work environment that does not
allow (time) for supporting volunteer professional
organizations during working hours
 Some members able to contribute more in summer vs
academic year, but sections usually off then
70
Trends-Why are Sections
Struggling? (cont)

Local Section
 Geographical spread of section
 Decreasing membership dues
 Industry
 General decline in the economy, folks are more focused on
their immediate needs
 Shifting industrial base
 Few industries pay for memberships as a perk
 National
 Decreasing grant applications/Increasing grant availability
 Young Professional
 Student Sections
71
Ways to Restart/Prevent
Becoming Inactive

Start Small – Kickoff Meeting + 1
Contact your members personally
Gauge Interest
Recruit Young Professionals
Delegate to Retirees
Reach out to a Professional Society / Local
Section near you
Contact the LSC

Delaware/Balcones Fault have restarted!






Succession Planning


“No organization plans to fail, it just fails to
plan!”
Prepare for leadership transition




Communication Strategies




Define goals, roles and responsibilities
Keep a record of all member information, accounts,
contracts and passwords
Have at least two people on bank accounts
Consider using free email services (Google, etc)
AIChE Web Hosting – “manage content not tech”
Newsletter/Social Networking
Volunteer time is $ - maximize its impact and their
success
Analysis of Local Section Dues Rate
and Section Defections
Emmett R. Miller
November 9, 2009
Local Sections Committee
AICHE Annual Meeting
LS Dues 2009


LS Membership is declining
69.1% of National members DON’T pay LS dues



Average LS dues






LS Members12,277
National members 39,748
Mean
Median
Standard Dev
$13/yr
$12/yr
$5/yr
No statistical correlation has been seen in the data
to indicate LS membership (dues) inversely related
to LS dues.
Voluntary Contribution on Annual Dues Statement
Continue to study to establish national trends
LS Dues/Finance Questions








Where are you?
How much of your annual budget is based on dues? Fundraising?
Corporate Sponsorship?
What is your spend out each year? Carryover?
How many of your LS members are National members only? LS
only? Both?
Do you recruit National only members to be LS members and vice
versa? Recruiting doesn’t stop with Young Professionals or new to
the area.
What value does the LS provide for the dues? What’s In It For Me
(WIIFM)! Networking, Tours, Technical Talks, etc.
Do you apply for Grants?
Do you use off the shelf financial software (Quicken,
Microsoft Money) or Excel? (Treasurer’s Rpt Item?)
Fundraising

Fundraising


Corporate Support for Mtg/Newsletter
Budget Control Strategies


Meeting Rooms without fees
Combine with other professional societies
LSC Goals for 2009-2010




Contact all Local Sections
Assist Local Sections “In Need”
Support Host Section for 2010 LDC
Award Program Planning Grants


Award up to $7,200 in ProjectConnect Grants





Have at least two applications for Programming Grants
Award full $1800 per quarter for 2nd and 3rd Quarter 2009
ProjectConnect Grants
Award Shining Star Volunteer Recognition Awards
Solicit nominations and recommend host for 2011 LDC
conference
Facilitate Information Sharing between Local Sections
Have at least one instructional Webinar for local section topic
78
LS Goals for 2009-2010

Recruiting



Young Professionals
Senior Members
Tools
79
Good News!
Graduates follow the $$$ and ChE
jobs are on the increase
(Energy/Chemicals)
80
THANK YOU!
For attending the Fall 2009
LSC Luncheon
81
Question & Answer
Session
Q&A Session

What is the single biggest problem facing your
section?






Getting volunteers to help run the Section?
Meeting attendance
Finances
What is your biggest Success?
Grants?
Other?
83
LSC Contact Campaign


XX of 111/113 Sections Contacted
2009 LS Annual Report Summary of Sections
59 "Active", 52/54 "Inactive" (definition: Active = filed LS report)
16 Inactive 1 year
4 Inactive 2 years
6 Inactive 3 years
5 Inactive 4 years
4 Inactive 5 years
3 Inactive 6 years
1 Inactive 7 years
13 Inactive > 7 years

Lowell Aplebaum visiting LSs along with student chapters
Who’s In Need? (2004-2009)
Improving Local Sections

Who considers their section “in need” or
struggling?
2004
2005
San Diego
Saudi Arabia
2006
2008
2009
San Diego
San Diego
Alberta
Central OK
Central VA
Chattanooga
Mid-Hudson
Penisular FL
Pensacola
Rio Grande
San Diego
Tallahassee
Terre Haute
Texas Panhandle
Texas Panhandle
Toledo
Tallahassee
Terre Haute
Texas Panhandle
Toledo
Tallahassee
Terre Haute
Texas Panhandle
Toledo
Twin Tiers
Twin Tiers
Twin Tiers
Wichita
Wichita
Wilmington
Wisconsin
Syracuse
Tallahassee
Terre Haute
Texas Panhandle
Toledo
Triad
Tristate?
Twin Tiers
W. Kentucky
W. Michigan
Witchita
Wisconsin
Considered "on-the mend" in 2005
Toledo
Wisconsin
El Dorado
Iowa
Nebraska
Balcones Fault
Improving LSs (cont)
2004
2005
2006
Great Salt Lake City
Great Salt Lake
Guadalupe
Guadalupe
Guadalupe
Iowa
Iowa
Iowa
2008
Guadalupe
Oregon
Iowa
Singapore
Las Vegas
(they are not in Timms)
Baton Rouge
Nashville
Lehigh Valley
Low country
Lowcountry
Low country
Mobile
Tappan Zee
Nashville
Nashville
Nebraska
Nebraska
Oregon
Oregon
Palmetto
Palmetto
Palmetto
Peninsular Florida
Peninsular Florida
Peninsular Florida
Pensacola
Pensacola
Pensacola
Permian Basin
Permian Basin
Permian Basin
Rhode Island
Rhode Island
Rio Grande
Rio Grande
Rio Grande
Low Country – no activity
Saudi Arabia
Mobile
Mojave Desert
Nashville
2009
Las Vegas
Nashville
Tulsa
Alabama-Piedmont
Netherland/Belgium
Palmetto – has a chair, but no
activity
Palmetto – organizing kickoff
Peninsular FL
Southwest LA
Pensacola
Syracuse
Permian Basin
Triad
Columbia Pacific
Rio Grande
Fairfiled County
Improving LSs (cont)
2004
2005
2006
2008
Akron
Akron
Alabama-Piedmont
Alberta
Alberta
Alberta
Alaska
Alaska
Balcones Fault
Balcones Fault
Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas
Central Arkansas
Central Illinois
Central Illinois
Central Illinois
Alberta
Central Pennsylvania
Chattanooga
Chattanooga
Balcones Fault
Ichthyologists
Western SC
Central IL
Central Sav River
Columbia Valley
Dallas
Great Salt lake
Chattanooga
Chattanooga
Louisville
Coastal Carolinas
Mid-Michigan
Mobile
Dallas
Dayton
Akron
Central AR
Central OK
Central Pennsylvania
2009
New Jersey
Dayton
Orange County
Detroit
Detroit
Eastern NC
Eastern North Carolina
El Dorado
El Dorado
El Dorado
Fairfield County
Fairfield County
Fairfield County
Pittsburgh
El Dorado
Southern CA
Tide Water VA
Relationship Between Local Section Dues Rate
and Section Defections (1)
Relationship Between Local Section Dues Rate
and Section Defections (2)
Relationship Between Local Section Dues Rate
and Section Defections (3)
What is the Issue Here?


Of the some 39,784 (or so) members of AIChE, only 12,277
(30.9%) have elected to retain local section membership. This is
of serious concern to the local sections, which rely to a large
extent on local section dues collected by National to fund their
programs. As such, it therefore threatens the viability of the local
section structure as the grass roots underpinning of the Institute.
Set individually by each local section, dues rates vary widely.
This exercise is a test to determine statistically the premise that a
relation ought to exist between dues rate and dropout rate. If
such were found to be the case, it should be possible to find an
optimum dues rate that would maximize the revenue to the
sections.
Defections versus Dues
Defections versus Dues
with Regression Lines
Observations and Conclusions



Based on the general linear regression model, y = a + bx, the constants, a and
b, were determined by least mean squares fit. The parameter used to evaluate
the significance of the relationship (if any) is “F”, where F is the ratio of
regression variance to residual variance, as determined from the data. The “F”
test, then, compares the calculated F with the required value at the chosen
confidence level.
As can be seen, the calculated regression coefficient, b, was found to be slightly
negative (-0.0016 +/- 0.0074) and the intercept, a, did not come anywhere close
to the origin. These observations did not bode well for the premise. Further,
the F ratio was found to be 0.2331 (based on grouped data analysis), well short
of the 3.928 required for significance at the commonly accepted 95% confidence
level.
A plot of the data, with the widely scattered results among the 110 Sections,
gives vivid support for the lack of correlation. Going a step further, the
correlation coefficient, r, was calculated to be a miniscule -0.0412. Its square
(0.00170) is a quantitative measure of the fraction of data scatter that can be
attributed to the assumed cause. Clearly, there is no relationship between local
section dropout rate and the amount of dues set by the sections, at least over
the data range that prevails.
Observations and Conclusions (continued)


Given that conclusion, we are left with puzzling issue of identifying the real
factor(s) that are then responsible for the alarming loss in section membership.
Possibilities that come to mind are:
 Time limitations for sections activities
 Remoteness from the hub of section activities
 Lack of interest in section programs
 Membership distribution between the academic and industrial communities
If a significant relationship had been found, it would have been reasonable and
appropriate to further test the data by means of another regression model, y=
bx, with the a-priori assumption that no defections would occur at zero dues
rate. As a matter of interest, this test was applied, anyway, with the remarkable
and unexpected result of being very highly significant (52.47 vs. 3.93) in spite of
the scatter. However, because of essentially no correlation between the
parameters, this model must be rejected as inappropriate.
ERM 10/15/09