EDUCATOR’S PAGE
Professional Memberships: How involved are you?
Michael J. Urban, MEM-1910
As you are reading this student issue of The Professional Geologist (TPG), the quarterly publication of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), you may or may not be familiar with AIPG as a professional organization. In fact, you may or may not be a member of AIPG. For those of you, particu- larly students, who may not be familiar with AIPG, welcome to what could be your first of many issues of TPG! I encourage you to check us out at
http://www.aipg.org/. For those who are already members, welcome back. The article before you considers what it may mean to be an active, or involved, member of a professional organization, which could include anything from a society to a council to a student chapter (and more) in business, education, or even geology (e.g., AIPG). Professional organizations exist for their members, but also because of their members. Are you inter- ested in becoming more involved? If so, now is the perfect time.
With the onset of this new year, you may be pondering your choices from last year in order to take stock and gear up for your upcoming initiatives in 2017. I know I am. All of those failed 2016 resolutions (does anybody make those anymore?) and best intentions about diet, exercise, and finances are almost a distant memory now, thankfully. In their place, dwells the promise of a new year and the clean slate that accompanies it. After recently establishing a few new personal goals for this year, I turned my attention to some potential new professional goals, one of which being whether or not to heighten my commitment and involve- ment in the professional organizations and associations, like AIPG, to which I belong.
A significant factor determining my involvement in any orga- nization is the quantity of them relative to my available time. As I reevaluated the number of professional organizations for which I hold membership, and the cost associated with each, I realized that it may be time to cut ties with a few or redouble my efforts as a way to justify the expenditure. Neither decision is an easy one to make. On the one hand, I believe in supporting all of these organizations; on the other hand, do I really need to be a card-carrying member of six or seven, each routinely sending me yet another journal contributing to an already towering heap of infrequently read, inevitably forgotten, and ultimately recycled paper? [To be honest, I do read quite a few of these journals, but writing as much in the previous sentence only serves to soften the point.] Would it not, perhaps, be better for me to lessen my total number of affiliations, opting instead to devote more effort to the chosen few? After a bit of personal deliberation, I believe the answer for me is a resounding yes.
I have been contemplating just exactly what it might mean to increase involvement in these professional organizations. The word involvement, to me, conjures images of intentional action. These actions may be demonstrated in a variety of ways, includ- ing, but certainly not limited to, activities consistent with a mind- set of dedication and support for the organization. Dedication
to an organization’s mission may mean a member consciously upholds the values of the organization and works to further the positive perception of the organization in the community at large. Support surely consists of the more obvious actions like donating (time or money), volunteering (time or expertise), and serving (on a board, committee, etc.), but also may encompass the less apparent activities: attending or presenting at sponsored conferences; authoring articles in newsletters, blogs, or journals; mentoring students or early career professionals; and providing free advertisement by purchasing and wearing the hat or jacket, or hoisting the coffee mug, emblazoned with the association’s logo. There are unquestionably many more ways to demonstrate involvement than those presented here. I invite you to consider drafting your own list.
For my part, I am involved more heavily in some organizations than others. This is an important determinant for me in deciding which affiliations to maintain: I am noticeably more involved where my passions are stronger, in the realms of geology and science education. Currently, I am a peer reviewer of submitted manuscripts for several professional journals; volunteer at orga- nizational booths at conferences; present at conferences; write articles; donate money and time; purchase adorned clothing and cups; and a few others. As I reflect on my immediate future, this new year, I know there is more I can do to be involved. Make that more I will do. What more might you do?
Featured Resource
This issue’s featured resource is AIPG’s own website: http://
www.aipg.org/
If you have not visited our site, or not recently, you should check it out again to see what’s new. The benefits of member- ship are detailed at the Membership tab, then Why Join?. For students, check out the Students tab, then Why become a student member?. Are you an educator looking for teach- ing materials, professional development opportunities, or other resources? Click the Educator tab. Also, check out our Career Center and Resources tabs, or any of the others to further explore the site.
AIPG is seeking Associate Editor
Articles submitted for The Professional Geologist are reviewed by at least two associated editors before printed. AIPG Members that are interested in becoming an Associate Editor can fill out the required questionnaire. The questionnaire is in pdf format and can be filled out using the Adobe Reader hand tool. After you have filled out the questionnaire save it and email it to
aipg@aipg.org.
www.aipg.org
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